ella's 2nd birthday party

Have you ever tried taking a pic of a 2 year old?

Her dress up clothes were a big hit!

She was so proud of herself for blowing out her candles!

We FINALLY celebrated ella's 2nd birthday this past weekend. We had planned to have it early in September before eliza arrived, but I went on bed rest the week before. I was sad to have to postpone it(I had just mailed out the invitations), but we really didn't have a choice. Thankfully, I had almost everything already made (I can assure you that it wouldn't have gotten done otherwise!) Ella has been to several parties in the past few months and was really anxious for her party. In fact, she asked me most days when she could wear her party dress!

I really enjoy planning her birthday parties and making the decorations. At times I as ask myself if it is really worth my work...but it totally was when I heard her reaction. She said over and over, "Mommy, So pretty!" She had tons of fun with her cousins and enjoyed the Cheetos and cake (of course she would)! She was too cute after blowing out her candles. I don't think she really expected to blow them out (she had a little help from her cousins)! I am glad that she had fun and I enjoyed celebrating her 2nd year of life!

Fall Fun at our house!

Look who is growing!

She's not sure about not wearing pink today, especially since her

sis calls her Titus!

Wishing she could find that thumb again!

So Cute!

Ladybug #1

Ladybug #2

Our Church's Trunk or Treating!

Happy Fall Yall!

Favorite ella sayings at 24 months

"Titus, soooooooooo tute!"

"Shoooo.....daddy!" (even if daddy is at work)

"Praise you....we praise you....clap, clap, clap!" (This is in her singing voice and she sings it all the time!

"So Pretty!"

"I love sissy!"

"Where paci go? Dentist say all gone! Oh no!"

"Okay" (which is her favorite word)

We are having a good day today. We got out of the house a little and both girls are napping. I should be too. Eliza is growing like a weed! In five weeks we've gone from preemie diapers being big to size ones! Last night she slept in her first 0-3 month sleeper although it was a little large. I am thankful she is growing but sad to see those newborn days passing so fast. She is the sweetest little thing and we are all crazy over her.

I promise to one day blog about something other than ella and eliza! Happy Tuesday!

Hello World....

or whoever is out there reading my blog other than my sister and my mom....I am tired today. I am super tired and feeling very sleep deprived! I think the nights of 2 or so hours of sleep at a time are beginning to catch up with me and my brain isn't working so well.

For example, I keep waking out of a sound sleep in a panic because I think I've forgotten to put eliza back in her bassinet. Of course she is fed, swaddled and sleeping soundly, but it sure is not a fun way to wake up. I also keep having to stop think if my dreams were real or not. I keep having a reoccurring dream of ella getting out of her crib and being off playing throughout the house, and I am trying to find her. (I am sure I keep dreaming this because I know eventually she is going to figure out that if she throws her leg a little higher she could escape!)

Are you beginning to see a theme??? Fear??? I have been struggling with some fear issues lately. Maybe it is all this swine flu talk and I am trying like crazy to protect my girls from it! Maybe it is the fact that I know that eliza would need a full medical work-up if she got sick (for about three more weeks!) Maybe it is the fact that I have a toddler that likes to love her, kiss her and get right in her face. Maybe it is because I have a doctor's appointment next week that I have been dreading for a while. Maybe it is a lack of faith and trust in God. Maybe it is because I do know that bad things happen to good people and people who love the Lord. Maybe it is because eliza's angel care monitor went off yesterday afternoon while she was napping and scared us to death. (If you don't know what this is or if you have a young baby I highly recommend it!) It is a monitor that detects her breathing and movements. If she doesn't breathe or move for a few seconds an alarm will go off. We got this to help calm my fears about SIDS. I really struggled with this when ella was a baby. I have been doing really good getting eliza back to sleep and being able to go to sleep myself....I never thought the alarm would go off. Maybe it just malfunctioned or maybe she did stop breathing for a second or two but I am just thankful she was fine. So that is where I am today.

I know the Lord knows my fears! I continually pray that He will place a hedge of protection around us! I pray that He will help me to balance my need to be an informed and cautious mommy with complete faith and trust in Him. Sometimes it is hard to fully surrender those things we love most. The precious little 8 or so pounds of sweetness I am holding right now and the worn out little red head who is sleeping safely in her crib. I have to daily surrender them so that they can grow to be and do what God has for them. Help me Lord...being a mommy is hard!

Baby Look-a-like

It is always funny to me how people have so many different opinions about who kids favor. Some say ella looks just like me and then some say she is all Kevin. Now we are hearing some say eliza looks a lot like ella and some people think she looks very different. From the first time I saw her I saw a lot of ella, yet her own unique look too. What do you think? Can you guess who is who???
1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

11. 12.

13. 14.

1. ella 2. eliza

3. ella 4. eliza

5. eliza 6. ella

7. eliza 8. ella

9. ella 10. eliza

11. ella 12.eliza

13. eliza 14. ella

Pizza, Painting, Pumpkins and Doughnuts

I am always trying to think up fun family traditions for our little family. You know the kind of things you will do each year that you hope your kids will one day remember and cherish. For example, we go out to eat for breakfast on Christmas Eve, we have an Easter egg scavenger hunt inside, we cook a big thanksgiving kind of meal the week of Christmas, and a few more. I decided we'd add a new fall tradition of eating pizza, carving/painting pumpkins and making homemade doughnuts. We had such a wonderful family time that I almost want to do it again this week. Ella helped me with the doughnuts and she worked so hard on painting her pumpkin. Kev found a Minne mouse template on-line and worked very hard creating Ella and Eliza a Minnie pumpkin. He did awesome. He is such a great daddy to his girls.
















Just in case you want to try some homemade yummy doughnuts on your own they are so simple and surprisingly a little healthier than the store bought ones. I just got the small canned biscuits. I think you could have three for like 160 calories. We used the top of a water bottle to cut out the middles (save them because they are your doughnut holes). But 1/2 to 1 inch of veg. oil in a pot and heat on med. Add in your doughnuts a few at a time and they fry up in a few seconds. We coated some in cinnamon and sugar, some in powdered sugar, and some in choc. icing and sprinkles. So Yummy and so much FUN!

Tonight is Ella's first night to go to sleep without her paci. We have been putting this off as we didn't want to rock the boat with a new baby . So far she is not screaming. I still hear her talking and it has been a while, but so far it is going way easier than I expected. Thank you Lord!

Pumpkin Patch

I've looked forward to our pumpkin patch day all year! I love fall and what says fall better than a fun pumpkin patch. We had a fun family day...until it was time to leave. Let's just say ella wasn't ready! Kev had to carry her to the car kicking and screaming....all in a day's work of being parents! So thankful for my two little pumpkins!

Daddy and his girl!

Mommy and the lil pumpkin...poor

eliza..I didn't know her hat was covering

her eyes!

Loved the mini maze!

The tall slide was her favorite! She did

it over and over!

Let's find a pumpkin!

Maybe this one??

I got it!

My sweet eliza!

It was a great day! (First photographed smile..

might just be gas...but I'll take it!)