Christmas Eve Photo Attempt

I am not a photographer as  you can tell from the photos below.  However, as you can see, I also do not have the most cooperative two year old subject. 

Ella insisted on wearing her sunglasses.  Not a bad picture, but I wish they were closer together (touching maybe) and I could live without the sunglasses. 

Hug.... 

Ella is actually looking at the camera, but refusing to smile.
Abby looks picture perfect. 

Ummmmm.... no and no. 

Another failed attempt. 

And seriously folks, this is what I got.

This just about sums up the health of my household during the month of December. 

7 Months

Yesterday Abby turned 7 months.  She celebrated by visiting the Big Man (pictures and post to come tomorrow?) and by getting a 102.7 fever.  Awesome.

No joke, this was our third visit to the doctor's office in three weeks between both girls.  First, Ella was sent home from school with a fever three weeks ago.  She was sick for 3.5 days and had a temperature that reached 103+.  Then last week Abby had a cold and eye goop.   She missed a day of school.  And luckily now I am on winter break because my sick days are disappearing fast.  Pretty soon I am going to be all tapped out.

Sick Abby eating her celebratory Mum- Mums or Bun -Bums as Ella calls them.  

Abby appears to be in decent spirits in the above picture, but let me tell you, she was pitiful and pathetic today.  Poor baby girl was just not herself. She looked sick.  Her eyes said it all.

Go Me....

I have been husbandless for a full week (minus the 16 hour whirlwind "visit" that was mostly spent sleeping).  That is a long time.  I am mostly used to it, as a pilot's wife, you have to be.  With the new job he was gone for six weeks while training on the new plane.   However, since that training he has only been gone a handful of days due to an unusually quiet schedule.  Not this week.

As a result, this week seemed long after having him home for such a long stretch.  Perhaps it was because it was the week before Christmas Break or because both kiddos were recovering from some sort of illness or because I have a gazillion and twelve things to do like finish my shopping and wrap presents while managing a full-time job and two kiddos.

One of the the to-dos on my list was to take the girls to go see Santa.  I wanted to squeeze it in over the weekend because this up and coming week is busy, busy, busy too.  So, on Saturday I dressed and bathed both the girls, dressed them in holiday finerary, and trudged to the outdoor mall.  Ever the planner, I assumed there would be no line because by now EVERYONE should have already visited Santa.  I mean, Santa has been in the malls since Thanksgiving week.  Surely, everyone who was going to visit the big man must have already done so.  Wrong.  Dead wrong.

So, after all my holiday primping and prepping, we waited in the outdoor line for precisely 10 minutes.  During those ten minutes I was formulating a plan to get my two year old to agree to leave the line and return another day.  She happily agreed.  Thank YOU, Ella, because I believe we would still be in that line waiting.

Along the same lines, today we made it to church.  I dressed them in their same holiday outfits and let me tell you, we were actually on time.  This is a first.  Is it just a coincidence that I managed to dress them, and get them out of the house husbandless?  You decide.

Awww... Sisters

Wearing a headband... a holiday miracle

I love this dress, and Abby, of course. 

My First Homemade Ornament

Without a doubt, my favorite ornament on our tree

Sweet Tooth...

For those of you who don't know our momma she  has a sweet tooth, she is a bit crazy when it comes to the holidays, and she likes to plan parties.   Hence, she is the one who begins planning a cookie exchange in October for December.  Yes, our momma sent out evites before we even wore our Halloween costumes!

But, we agree (and so does daddy) that cookie exchanges rock.  Just check out our freezer, as we have a freezer filled with milk (don't ask unless you want to know) and cookies.  Cookies of all sorts.  Chocolate chip.  Brownies. Fudge.  Candy-can ones.  All different and all equally yummy.

Heck, we would not be surprised if our momma was planning cookie exchange 2012 as we speak.

XOXOX,
Ella and Abby

Not going to lie, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our tree.  And I kinda dig my apron too.  

Just some of the cookie loot.  Two other varieties did not fit on the table.  All of these cookies make me insanely happy. And I am 100% serious about that. 

My tree... Squeal

Bakers... Friends... Neighbors...
So lucky

One of the best things about Junior League... Mama Heidi

Ella was in heaven and tried to swipe some cookies of her own.  She is so mu daughter.

Ok.

Turning 6 Months is Painful ...

For mommy... 

All Smiles  

Three shots are nothing Looney Toons band-aids can't solve... (and Ella was pretty jealous)

6 Months...

Dear Abby~

Almost three weeks ago you turned six months old.  It is so hard to believe that you are six months already.  In fact, it seems like you have always been a part of our family, but on the other hand, these six months have flown by.

You are currently wearing size 12 months clothing although 18 months works just as well.  You are still in size three diapers although those days will be coming to an end sooner rather than later.  You have started eating solids and are a natural.  Unlike your sister, you did not grimace at your first tastes of cereal, carrots, avocado, or sweet potatoes.  You are a natural eater (like me), but more likely, you are just so easy going and easy to please. I love that about you.

You have a laugh that just makes me happy.  It is a deep belly laugh that lights up my heart. I want to bottle it and keep it with me forever.  You are so happy.... all the time, and you hug.  Yes, I swear you do.  You wrap your arms around me and squeeze.  I would not believe it if you it didn't happen on a regular basis but your teachers say you do it at school too.  Precious.  Abby, you are a love bug.

Turning six months is also hard work  It involves a trip to the doctor and THREE shots.  

Height: 29 " (99.55%)

Weight: 22.5 lbs (99.54%) 

Abby, I love you always in all ways... 

Momma

Deja Vu

Yup, these are my girls wearing the exact same winter gear at about the exact same age. Can you tell which one is which?

Baby Girl A

Baby Girl B

If you guessed that Abs was A and Ella was B, you are correct!

Cutie ... Just Cute

Besides the stupid spot that keeps showing up on ALL of our pictures (even when edited out), this picture is one of my favorites because Abby looks so doll-like, so perfect, so dang huggable... so her.

And... ummm... who isn't envious of those baby blues?

Can you believe she is just shy of 6 months?

October in a Nutshell

Abs sitting pretty (and cozy). 

Baby blues...

Ella riding Sugar, the little pony.  Ryan and I are fearful of her love of horses.... cha-ching!

Yes, that slide is as scary as it looks!  Yet little Ella LOVED it... 

Cider doughnut, yes please!

Ryan said it was an uncomfortable as it looks. 

All dressed up for Miss Ruby's party.

Pumpkin patch visit number 2....Ella dressed herself. 

Face paint

Henry's Halloween Party... so fun!

Party Girl

Abs turned 5 months (and boy, she looks like Ryan here)

Ella insisted on wearing her "Big Girls" over her pants when we went to dinner. Sure, why not?

Abs first taste of cereal. 

Abs BFF, Miss G the ladybug

Ladybugs were all the rage in 2011

Abs first Halloween

Abs and Momma

Trick or Treat

Abs.. sitting like a big girl

Party Girls

The end of summer was marked with a family wedding.  And it was a special wedding.  It was full of little details that were .... so THEM.   From the symbolic invites to the handmade banner flags to the cute salt and pepper shakers to the food cart to the music, it was Alex and Emily.  And my entire family loved every minute of it, especially Miss Ella.  She frolicked, she ran, she ate, and she watched the band.  She had a BALL.

During the ceremony the bride was escorted down the aisle by her brother.  It was sweet.  Parked in the field of her in-laws property was an old baby blue Chevy (I am guessing at this) truck that belonged to the groom's grandfather.  This truck was beloved and symbolic.   Now I don't know much about trucks, but I do know a lot about grandparents and grandparents are very special people.  It was symbolic, special, and sweet.  And it was also... them.

Anyways, I digress (and I realize this is a rambling post), but when Emily walked down the aisle I had a vision.  It was of Ryan and Ella.  It was of Ryan and Abby.  Daddy and daughter walking down the aisle on their wedding days.  And already being a sucker at weddings, I was a goner.

Ella and Grandma watching the bride walk down the aisle. 

Abby taking a snooze... 

A+E= Love

Picture perfect reception 

My happy family....

This and THAT

It has been a whirlwind of a month around here.   Hence, that is why my blog has been neglected.  I have plenty of topics to blog about, just not the time.  By the time the girls are in bed it is past 7 and by the time dinner is cleaned up and the house looks somewhat in order, it is after 8.  By that time I just want to decompress and watch the boob tube.  As you can imagine, I am often ex-haust-ed by then.  To prove my point, my alarm actually goes off BEFORE my working husband!  Six am comes early when you are up in the middle of the night tending to a teething child.

Anyways, in the past month we have landed a new job, had Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, attended a wedding, gone on vacation, turned FOUR months old, got shots, had play dates, given up naps, attended a birthday party, grown two teeth, rolled over, and fallen out of the crib.  The last three events occurred today.  It was a busy, busy, busy day.


Four Months

Happy four months, baby Abby!

Abs turned FOUR months old this past Monday.  I am not sure I actually believe it.  It has been four amazing months with the sweetest, easiest, most chill baby.  We are beyond lucky.  Abby is easy.  Don't worry, I am well aware that she will give us a run for our money when she is older.  For now, I am relishing in her calm temperament.  

Turning four months means 2 shots and an oral vaccine.  It also means updated statistics.  We all knew she was a big girl.  But , we had NO idea that she would weight 20 pounds, 1 ounce  (99.99 %) at 4 months old and measure in at 28 inches (99.99%).  She IS incredible and likely the biggest baby EVER!

 


Rolling Over
Ella is becoming quite the master at the potty, especially when she is "napping".  She knows just how to manipulate mommy into taking her out of the crib.  All she has to say is "wanna go potty".  And she does.  She goes, pours it in the big potty, and wants to try again.  Then she goes.... again.  We spend lots of time at the potty when she should be napping. Stinker.

Well, today was no different.  Abby and I were having some time together while Ryan was at Costco, of course.  Then I hear the infamous quote, "Wanna go potty."  So I place Abs on the play mat and head upstairs.  Abs is content.  Ella does her thing once.  Then twice.  And while she it trying for her third little sprinkle I hear Abby wail.  And I knew, I just knew.  Poor Abs rolled over with no cheering squad, no round of applause, and no one there to comfort her.  I ran downstairs and there she was, panicking.  To make matters worse for her I wanted to take a picture.  I rummaged through the diaper bag looking for our camera.  Can't find it.  Look again.  Not there and so I empty out every pocket.  Abs is beyond herself but to help ease my mother's guilt I want to get the REAL result on film.  It was not meant to be.

Minutes later via  phone Ryan informed me the camera was in the big pocket.  Silly boy,  that pocket is for the changing mat, nothing else.  Uggggghhhh.  I totally missed the shot.

Here is the reenactment:

This is where Abby was when she did roll over except she had tears... lots of them. 

The mess mommy made looking for the camera.  Mommy fail. 

Sweet baby girl rolls over on September 25. 

Coming soon: Party Girls!