Check Up Stats

Sylvia and Georgia went to see Dr. Hannah yesterday for their annual check ups (a little late).

Sylvia is weighing in at a whopping 31 lbs and stands 35.25 inches high. I've heard you can estimate height by doubling their height at age two. If so, Miss Sylvia may end up over 5'10". Am I doing that math right?

Georgia weighed in at 39 lbs and is 42.75 inches tall. She's still long and lean and has always been trending a little tall on the charts. I've never been a fan of the percentiles Dr.'s use to tell you how on track your baby is.

Sylvia has been referred to an allergist, as we have been having some problems with certain foods and her reactions to them. I'm hoping to find an herbal solution with my sister's help. But if anyone in the blogoshpere can recommend some homeopathic / herbal remedies for allergies, I'm open.

Belated Daddy's Day Post

We did, in fact, celebrate Father's Day last Sunday. It was quite a weekend, so Sylvia's pics trumped the Father's Day pics. Jeb got to sleep in and woke up to fresh coffee and wonderful bagels before joining the Striewe clan for brunch at Zest. Here are a couple photos of Jeb reading all the wonderful cards Ramona made (there were about 5).





Here is a retrospective of why Jeb is the best dad ever...

He swims with his kids

He knows how to relax

He's got a great sense of masculine style

Happy Father's Day, Jeb. We are grateful for all you do.

Birthday Extravaganza

Today is officially Sylvia's 2nd birthday. I can't believe my youngest girl is two years old. Wow, time flies. She's definitely moving into two quite aggressively with her new word combos and short sentences, "I wan gummie (candy)," "Gimme me silkie," "Ho me mommy" and lots of fabulous others that can't be recalled because she is peacefully sleeping at the moment and not using all her new words. She is also gaining strength and bravery every day, for which we are thankful and scared. Physically, the word "tank" comes to mind. She takes challenges on with brute force and climbs whatever is in her way. Whew...who knew the third could be so drastically unique from the other two?

We celebrated Sylvia's birthday early (Saturday, June 14th) with friends at the 61st & Broadway splash park. It was the perfect day, with great sunny weather and we managed to snag a picnic table under the pavillion before lots of other families showed up, so we could set up for lunch and cake. Sylvia's three girl friends: Maddie Rocchio, Metta Judkins, and Emilia Touw were in attendance, as well as her helpful sisters. A good time was had by all splashing and swinging and eating and generally being silly little girls. Just about three hours after the party ended, each of the presents had been opened and put to use by Sylvia and Georgia, everything was a hit!

Party Pics

Yummy ice cream cake!

Sylvia gets a hug from Maddie

Ready to take on the splash park

Banners love cake!

Sylvie digs in!

Post party painting with new supplies!

So You Think You Can Parent!

Quote of the Day: "Mommy, I have so much love in me it's coming out of my nose!"
- Georgia Banner

I think we had a bit of false confidence once we knew Ramona was going to St. Louis with her grandparents. Two kids, no problem! It's been a study in monkey see, monkey do without big sis at home to mediate and model maturity. If Georgia does a somersault, Sylvia does a somersault. If Georgia puts flour in her hair, Sylvia puts flour in her hair. If Georgia wants the big floatie, Sylvia wants the big flotaie. I think you see the pattern here.

This time as two little sisters, has also given the girls time to bond and Georgia the opportunity to be a little leader. Last night we went to a after-work get together and the girls both acted shy at first. They held onto each others hands and walked around the back yard in their own sister world. It was very sweet and something that we haven't seen much of yet. Georgia stepped up as Sylvia's protector and served well in the role. We left with no bumps or bruises and no tears.

Here's a glimpse of this week's activities:

Swimming in the Deck Pool






Saturday Morning Biscuit Making





Georgia's hard work paid off...perfect golden biscuits.

The Flooding in Our Front Yard (which keeps happening)

Haircut Anyone?

Tonight mommy gave Ramona and Georgia haircuts. Ramona got about 6 inches taken off and Georgia just got about an inch trimmed. Beauty school here we come!

Check out Ramona's new summer style:



Tomorrow Ramona heads south to Cousin Peter's first birthday party. The girls all contributed a little bit of art to the card before bed. It is 9:40pm and they are all tucked in for the night. We're working on getting a bedtime routine worked out. Suggestions welcome!

Sixth Anniversary!

Today was our sixth wedding anniversary.

It was a gorgeous sunny day in Indy, similar, but not as hot, to the day we were married. Ramona and Georgia went to church with Jenny's parents, and instead of honoring each other with gifts (Iron is the gift for six years) we went to breakfast and looked at iron sculptures in the Broad Ripple Art Center's Art Garden with Sylvia. We didn't get a pic of any of the iron pieces to kick off this blog, but we got some really cute pictures of Sylvia.


Sylvia in the shadow of her own curls.



Other posted photos are from last weekend (Labor Day) of the girls having fun or being silly, you know how our girls can be. If you don't know how our girls can be, by the time there are a few posts on this blog, you will see how truly unique each member of our brood is.


Sylvia (left) with her buddies Maddie and Metta.


Ramona in her second badminton tourney of the weekend.


Georgia showing off her newly painted finger nails.


A photo from spring break 2008, giving a preview of the girls uniforms for the summer!