Bookclub

The past weekend was bookclub and it was a perfect weekend. The group has grown exponentially. There are 6 girls and now 5 little girls. And a little boy on the way. Soon the little ones will outnumber us! Luckily we had some time away from them and were able to have quality adult time as well!



Thanks for a great weekend!

Funny Girls

The day that Ella was born JD held his tiny daughter in his arms and gazed at her. And he lovingly commanded to her "You will be funny." Each day she proves him right over and over again.

This morning Ella was sitting in the back of the car wearing her little winter coat (yes, it gets chilly here at times) with the hood up. I told her she looked like an eskimo. She responded, "No, I am a bear. A tiny tiny bear. Now I am too much bear. Now I am a hiccupy bear."

"Those dishes are dirty Mommy. I don't like dirty dishes. You need to clean them."
Um, yes ma'am?



Reading a book about Elmo and noting all of the stuffed animals that Elmos sleeps with Ella said, "I sleep with my big Pooh bear, another Pooh bear, little tiny Pooh bear, my paci, my other paci, my fifi and my water. It makes me happy."

Ella, I think you said one more thing this morning that made me laugh. Do you remember what you said? "Umm, I said Happy Birthday."

On another note, Ella has decided that the name Charlotte is just too short. So for Charlotte's nickname she now calls her Charlotte Bear.

She is adding smiling to her list of tasks - sleep, eat, smile, sleep...



But mostly, sleep...




Charlotte loves her bath. And looks an awful lot like her grandma!

Happy Valentine's Day

I know, it is the day after Valentine's Day and I am just posting this, but we were wishing everyone a happy Valentine's day yesterday, I swear. We just forgot to tell you.

My mom mentioned that the last post was all about Ella so I thought I would post a little about Charlotte's likes and dislikes.

Charlotte Likes:
sleeping
being swaddled
milk
her sister
being in the bath
her white noise machine (make that LOVES)
being naked

Charlotte Dislikes:
being taken out of the bath
her car seat

So far she is just a wonderful wonderful baby who loves to sleep (yay Charlotte!) and really loves being swaddled. She is not loving sleeping not swaddled (ergo, sleeping on the go is not her favorite thing) but she is learning. She just started smiling and although it is still rare it is happening more and more and is beautiful!!

Charlotte and her Pooh Bear


Measuring a two year old by the height of her block tower


At what age do meals become less messy??


Ella and Daddy play Monster (roar!)


Valentine's Day photo shoot. Our photo shoots are about 5 pictures long. Charlotte needs a bit more stamina.


As for Ella, she has started saying the funniest things. I know I can not remember most of them, but a few that really cracked me up:
I offered her a taste of my grilled chicken (with visible grill marks) and she said, "No thank you, mama, it's dirty."
I asked her what she dreamed about and she said "Pooh bear and a ghost." Where were they? "At the store."

Ella is really enjoying motherhood. Baby Lucy is her baby and she does whatever mommy does with Charlotte, from nursing her doll to bouncing on her little blue ball while mommy bounces Charlotte (for what feels like hours) on the big ball. Sh reads her stories, sings her songs and has even figured out a rudimentary swaddle. It is quite adorable to say the least. Though strangers may question why a two year old is lifting her shirt and sticking her doll up it. Maybe a hooter hider for Ella?

Language wise - well, she is a talker. She speaks in paragraphs, and is now fully capable of sharing her amazing imagination with us. A lot of it currently involves snakes. Why? Who knows. but if Charlotte is crying, it tends to be because she is worried about snakes. Two cute "Ella-isms" - the word "yes" at times is changed to Yem. It is her most matter of fact yes. Also, me, my or I is "My's". And when she wants milk (with which she is truly obsessed) her request is for "too much milky."

Charlottoe continues to sleep, eat, sleep...we are still waiting for that beautiful baby smile, but until then we are just soaking up every minute. She continues to be a sweet, calm girl, unless she is tired and then she cries until someone has the time to bounce on the big blue ball with a tightly swaddled Charlotte.

G2 with Charlotte


G2 tickles Ella (at her request)


Grandpa and Charlotte


Sleeping Charlotte


is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby?


She's awake!



Ella and "My's Charlotte" Eah morning the first thing Ella says is "Where's my's Charlotte?"


Charlotte and Melanie (Lillian's baby sister) - the next set of Ya-Ya's