Pink Fluffy Hippo

Today was my first day back at work after being on family leave for the adoption for 3.5 weeks.  It felt great to have so much time off and to spend all of it with the kiddos.  I can't believe how much they grow and change in just a few short weeks!  I'm looking forward to taking another couple of weeks in September and going to see the Derichsweiler grandparents in North Carolina!  (Hopefully we won't be there during any hurricanes...I think that's around the season for them!)

It was easy to transition back into work and it felt like I was just there yesterday.  Needless to say it's good to know they can function well without me.  My current boss has accepted a new job overseas so this is his last week in the office.  There isn't a replacement for now, so I'm boss-less for awhile!

I have been completely lazy about pictures and video lately.  I just haven't been in the mood to take any pictures...I need to pull out the camera and start some clickety-click of the kids before you don't recognize them anymore!

I can give you a cute update about Cooper though!  His favorite color is pink.  We always offer a choice to one of the kids (it switches at each meal/snack time) on which color sippy and which color bowl/plate they want.  Cooper ALWAYS choose pink, and if that's not an option he chooses the color closest to it - purple, red, orange.  However if you offer a pink cup and a red cup (or purple or orange) he will always take the pink one.  Charlotte doesn't discriminate on color...she just wants her food and drink as fast as humanly possible.

We are trying to convince Cooper that I am not his lovey.  Charlotte falls in love with anything soft and comforting and has always had a lovey.  Hers looks something like this except it's pink and worn out!

But she also loves her FP Laugh and Learn Puppy (so creepy when you hear it go off through the monitor "Got my toes!"):

She is also loving her blankey lately (kind of like this but a different color):

Of course she will also take the seahorse if we offer it:

Cooper on the other hand has had several different 'almost' lovey's.  He first loved burp cloths and blankets, particularly covering his face which used to freak me out!  We've had this owl shaped crib toy that has teethers, a mirror, and crinkle wings which he used to hold or suck on but now he tosses out of the crib.  I started a mission to find him a lovey so I took him to Target with me and handed him every item that resembled a lovey until something stuck.  He tossed all the stuffed animal blankies, all the stuffed animals, the rattles, the blankets, burp cloths over the side of the stroller...until I gave him this:

A musical pink fluffy hippo.  You pull the tail and it sings a lullaby.  He hugged it and loved it and wouldn't put it down.  Of course we got home and it wasn't so amazing anymore.  I stuffed my bra with it for a day or two and now he will cuddle with it while falling asleep.  I think we may have found Cooper a lovey other than me!