flashback friday

Not sure why I totally forgot to post this way back when...

Alex's 2nd bday party
Travis's
Both a fan of Sesame Street!

a little of this and a lot of that

I will just get it all out in one massive post!

The big news in the house this weekend was that Buzz lightyear- wings pop out buzz, you have to differentiate because we have several- was found! We realized he was lost and did an all out search mission through the house. We were all nervous that he would never be found again. Seriously. This is THE Buzz and he can't be replaced. But to my surprise I recovered Buzz Sunday morning when I went to pack Ellie's backpack for church. We were all very excited. Alex keeps saying "found Buzz in Ellie's back-pack! haha!" He also said he put them there because Buzz was in time out.

Alex used this the other day for the first time! In the back of my car outside the library. Success! I like it! and for a potty update- things have been going well. I kinda took a step back after the initial party because Alex was pretty anti getting in the bathroom. I just stick him in pull ups and try not to worry. I had kinda given up and thought he was too young. But then he all of a sudden stepped up to the plate! The child started coming to me and telling me he had to go!! I was shocked! and he was staying dry! I am so proud of him and his progress! We are still doing pull ups just for my sanity, but we will get out of that when he is a little closer to 3.

He has been earning stickers on a sticker chart. If we catch him being good/sweet/listening/following directions the first time- sticker! 12 stickers= prize! So far we have done 2 charts and got a buzz and woody waterbottle and snack catcher, and a new Cars movie car and Superman shirt.

Today before school. It was a mohawk kinda hair day so we went with it.

I am so glad its working to keep things positive! (well, sometimes it works) We were in a big rough patch there for a while. Lets just say that sister jealousy has kicked in big time.
Alex really likes superman. He got these awesome pjs from cousin ryan. We were beyond excited! love hand-me-downs!!


We went to Evans for a Presidents Day playdate. Evan loves presidents so it was very fitting. It was fun! Playing, making star necklaces, and decorating cakes like flags...well, sorta :)



I got my friend Shelby to take some pictures of Ellie in this precious outfit. I wanted them to be 9 month pictures but it became more like 10 month pictures because I kept putting it off. Anyway, Shelby didn't let me down! She captured my angel perfectly.


Thanks Shelby!
This weekend we switched out carseats. Ellie has now graduated to Alex's old one and he got a big one that transitions to a booster. It was a good time to clean out the snack crumb infested car too. Way over due. Everyone helped.

and just because

thanks GA for the cuteness!

we love Kalyn's hand-me-downs too!
"dino-saurus"- this is what alex calls all dinosaurs because you have to admit, a lot of the names end in -saurus. He hears them on Dino Dan. He is really into ROARing. I wish he wasn't so good at it sometimes.

Off the phone...
Super Papa!

Alex totally crashed this soccor practice at the park. The coach came up to meet us bc he thought we were on the team.
I love the full seat! We have started to carpool with Evan for school. Ellie loves it and laughs all the way home. Evan is really sweet to her and she loves it! but I think its time for a bigger car!

Sesame Street Live!

Last weekend we went to Sesame Street Live! We didn't have anything going on and Travis and I have always wanted to take Alex so we just decided at the last minute to get tickets. We got pretty good seats (middle, middle) and had a fabulous time! It was fun- for taking 2 kids downtown to see a show. It's always work. When Travis and I do things like this we tend to walk away saying "well, I am proud of us!" Just getting out as a family deserves a star! :) And then if it goes well and is fun, its a real bonus! Well, in Alex terms- we had a big time!
Alex loved it as expected, smiled big, did some dancing, and just kept looking at us open mouthed. He asked me yesterday if we could go to see Elmo Show again- he mumbled some nonsense about Big Bird said to come again!
He had pretty good behavior until the very end and he got a little antsy. He kept saying he needed to go to the bathroom which we were pretty sure he didn't need to since he just went at intermission. And then when we went out to the lobby at the end, he had a full out melt down and layed on the floor. Nice. He was very excited to get Whataburger for lunch on the way home. And ordered his favorite specialty drink- "emommade" (lemonade). He had a dream day!
Ellie did pretty good at the show. She was a wiggle worm and kept wanting to watch the people behind us. I am sure they were not amused and thought that Elmo dancing was a much better show to watch. She liked the musical numbers (smiled, clapped, and stared in awe) and I just kept shoving food in her mouth the rest of the time. She was about to fall asleep actually and then came intermission. Thats when she got her second wind. And then she made it till the last 5 minutes and she finally fell asleep. Which is pretty impressive considering the craziness going on on stage. Lil thing was just all Elmoed out. But really her ability to go with the flow never ceases to amaze us. She was smiling, laughing, and clapping all the way home after only having that 5 min power nap!
In general, I loved the show! I know, its no Broadway, but I thought it was very well done, entertaining for all ages, and really cute! I even laughed out loud...well, maybe that was at the poor saps that have to dress up as fruits and veggies and dance but I did laugh out loud. Some things we learned- 1. you dont have to show up early. we were there way too early for nothing. 2. Bring your own snacks and drinks! We were so glad we did! We did buy a snowcone because we were trying to be fun for Alex and he said he wanted one. He didn't even know what it was and when he realized it was cold he opted for the pretzels we brought. Travis enjoyed it thoroughly though.

snacks and stretching at intermission

Everywhere a Quack Quack 2

Remember this...

Well, I put these duck pajamas of Alex's on Eliana the other night and it just brought back memories! (Now I just noticed that they were different duck pjs! Oh well) I had to round up our duck brigade! I had a little trouble finding them all but this is most of them. We have added a few more to the collection, including cheerleader duck. Eliana is a fan just like Bubba was.

a love ride

this was on valentines day, taken with my phone...apparently I am not the only one that loves Ellie girl

10 Months

this month bear pic was a little tricky, not much to choose from
I love a baby in a onesie and this month I have decided that you need to remind me that you are still a baby!

Oh, how the months fly by! Can't believe I have to start thinking about your first birthday coming up!
I have to start by saying that this has to be my favorite baby age! Hands down! You are soooo sweet! Soooo happy to see me! You get so excited to see Daddy when he comes home! We are in a good routine! You are doing more and more big girl stuff everyday! Your little personality is starting to show. It's so fun!
Big girl skills to add to the resume...
Drinks out of a sippy cup! just switched to a real spout too (no more chewy top)
Claps hands
Dances
"reads" books! (love this!! and it happens to be a great way to get you to be still on the changing table)
puts arms up and bounces on your knees when you want to be picked up! or when you are excited!
I swear you waved at the phone repairman today! ha! and brother yesterday!

The big news this month was your first and second tooth!! Woo hoo! finally! (I love the way you rub your tongue back and forth over them.)

first tooth pic when it was itty bitty

You are a sleeping beauty- giving me a couple of all nighters this month, but more often you wake just once a night. Sleeping from 7:30ish to 7:30ish. Still a solid 2 hour nap 2 times a day!

Its time to buy stock in Cheerios again! (anyone else love cheerio breath?!) You like them way more than puffs. Its so funny to see you go at em like a starving child and shove them in with handfuls. You also love banana, blueberries, green beans, and crackers....these all get leg kicks and happy "more! more!" grunts! I have totally given up on baby food. We do all finger foods or soft foods. You are still not a big eater and you are super slow.
You are eager to eat Alex's snacks and we have found you several times sneaking his snack catcher. It's funny because you know you are not supposed to have it- picture a greedy lil animal hunched over, shoveling the food in as fast as possible, looking back only a few times to check to see if anyone has noticed, and being careful to not make a commotion. :) It is sad when I have to shut the party down.

you babble more and more. (Did I mention last month that she says Da da da da?)

You cry if we don't take you outside when we go. You are the official trash take-er out-er helper.

You love your butterfly mobile! You light up, give a huge smile, and look at me with those eyes of "do you see these momma!? Wow! I wanna touch em!"

You are interested in walking. I have to force you to sit down. You like to walk around in the walker and you are getting better about maneuvering it. You can balance on your own for a bit too! You can use the push walker but you just don't show a whole lot of interest (it doesn't last long) so we don't do it often. This is all okay with me...I am totally okay with you holding off a bit! I want you to be a baby as long as you want! :) I also know that my world will be flipped upside down when you start walking.

You like to get into trouble. You give me looks of innocence and sweet grins as you play in the fireplace, touch the dvd player, flush the toilet, and crawl into new rooms to go exploring. You never stay put for long.

You really like to get "non-toys" -real life things that catch your interest

You have started to like tv a little bit more but nothing like brother. You like the music mostly and will stop whatever you are doing to sit, clap, smile, and laugh.

You love to laugh. I love to watch. It works out beautifully.

Here are a few random videos. I have realized with Alex that you forget the little things and its fun to see video of just how they are. I love her little hands slapping the tile as she crawls fast. I love how she stops and sits and looks back at us with a big smile. I love her little laugh. I love her riding the motorcycle bc its just stinkin' cute how she held on and kicked her legs. That part was from back at the beginning of Jan.


Sweet baby girl, you are my sunshine! I Love you!

my sweet valentines

Will you be my Valentine? (Do you even have to ask!?) and a few more because she is just so darn cute and I made her a Valentine shirt

ok, moving on...

I get a kick outta you!

true love

What a wonderful, beautiful day with all my valentines it was! I love you all to the moon and back!