A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017 

Big:  This girl is seriously fun to spend time with.  We went to the park up the road, and she was disappointed at first because she was hoping for playground equipment.  But we spent time walking, and talking about the leaves and the trees, and looking for animals and acorns.  We even saw turkeys and a deer.  When we left she said she wished we could stay longer and she was surprised because she had so much fun.  She’s been asking daily to go back and have another “picnic”

Little:  Would have loved to crawl off into the prairie or forest while on our journey.  She is so very curious and inquisitive it’s quite dangerous at times. 

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017 

Big:  This week was our annual trip to get pumpkins and she can now pick up a pumpkin almost as big as her.  Much to my surprise, she can also pick up her sister, whom she walked into the kitchen carrying one night while I was cooking dinner. 

Little:  Also loves the pumpkins.  She’s been enjoying sorting the ones on the porch, and also eating their stems. 

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017.

We lost one of our dogs this week.  She was 14 years old, and drove me nuts with her food stealing, kid threatening antics, but she was part of our family and we loved her.  For 14 years.  It was hard.  A lot harder than I expected.  I’m grateful these two wild children to keep me too busy to get inside my own head right now.

Big: Is learning how to walk and feed our little remaining dog on her own.  She’s always called him her best friend, even though he’s well known for peeing on everything, leaky anal glands and humping his bed.  We sort of kept the kids at a distance with the dogs in the last few years as our older dog had some issues with aggression.  Allowing her the freedom to create a deeper friendship with this little dude has been really nice to see.

Little: Does not have the gentle calm with animals of her sister.  When our little dog was laying next to her in bed, she reached over, grabbed his ear and yanked.   Hard.  She seems to care about the concept of gentle about as much as she cares about not eating leaves.  Meaning she DGAF.  She is truly a little wild animal. 

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

Both girls seem to have hit growth spurts out of nowhere and suddenly pants are ankle length and dresses are tunics.  The baby, although still tiny in the weight category (a whopping 18 pounds), is in the 85th% for height and finally wearing some clothing sizes ahead of her age range, as opposed to behind.

Big: We went back to her old school this week for a play, and she had so much fun.  It’s like she remembered who she was and just turned back into that girl.  When we got home she was so emotional.  There were outbursts, and crying and anger for seemingly no reason, but likely for all of the reasons that have been piling up.  We’ve struggled a bit this year, she started a new heart medication this spring which effects mood and it’s been difficult for her sometimes to manage her aggression and emotions.  She only does so with the people closest to her, but it’s hard to know that something she needs is making her feel out of control sometimes.  

Little: She got through her 12 month check up relatively unscathed considering she had vaccinations and a blood draw.  I’m hoping doctor visits are a bit less stress inducing for her as she ages than they are for her sister.

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

This week was crazy busy for us.  There were birthdays and parties for each of these girls, an event at school, doctors appointments and Wizard World Comic Con.  It sort of felt like we never stopped running.  If you want to see more photos of these two dressed up like Wonder Woman head over to Instagram. 

Big: surprised me by deciding to participate in a run at the school picnic and the costume contest at Comic Con.  Although her nerves for the contest meant I had to get up on stage with her.  

Little: got to try her very first doughnut for her big sister birthday celebration.  I’m pretty sure she liked it.