Different girls same Get-up!

The first picture is ella at 9 months and the second is Eliza at 9 months. 

Eliza's late update (8 and 9 months)

I am terribly late on updating my blog on Eliza's growth and stats.  I love being able to look back and see what she was doing at different stages as she grows.  I am so late posing this time...seeing that she is almost 10 months!  I cannot believe her first year is almost over.  I have already begun thinking about her first birthday, knowing that it will be here before I know it.

At nine months:

Eliza weighs about 16 pounds and is 28 inches long.  I have vowed to stop worrying about why she is a little on the smaller side in weight, and just accept that God made her that way.  She is rather petite and dainty and such a sweetie.  I am still nursing her twice a day and she is taking formula for three feedings.  I hope to wean her by her first birthday.  This has helped us so much because she was not wanting to nurse much at all during the day.  She was distracted by every peep her big sister made...and her sister makes lots of those.  I felt like I was spending all day trying to get her to nurse...which is not fun and restricing to what we could do.  Her drinking some formula has helped so much because I can monitor exactly how much she has taken in and I'm not constantly having to nurse and stop and nurse and stop.  Things are just different when you have more than one child and I am learning to monitor and adjust! This was a great adjustment for us.

Eliza is now on the move.  She is pulling up and starting to cruise from one item/furniture to another.  She loves crawling after her sister.  She follows Ella all over the house.  Eliza is becoming more and more of a daddy's girl and wanted him over mommy for the first time the other day.  I could tell this made his day!  She has got the cutest little wave and can blow a kiss.  She loves to clap and patty cake and loves her little pink blankie square like crazy.  She loves to nuzzle her face right in it and love it like she's missed it all day.  She generally crawls while carrying it in one hand.  She can hold her own cup now and she likes to drink it in the swing.  A few weeks ago, she began refusing to eat more than a bite or two of anything on a spoon.  I was leary to start her on table food since she had no teeth, but she has done great.  She is a little eating machine.  Last night she sat and ate continually for about 35 minutes.  So far she has tried:  peas and carrots, black beans, baked beans, avocado, rice, pasta, chicken, bread, tortilla, banana, apples, pears, and peaches (cooked and softened).  She pretty much has eaten anything we have given her so far...and don't worry Mimi, I mush it all really good!

She gets upset when sissy takes toys from her or when mommy has put her somewhere to sit and walks by without getting her.  She goes to sleep well, but is often very fussy if she gets woken up early by....sissy!

Eliza, I love you so much.  I love when I pick you up and you pat my back.  I love when you say mama.  I love to watch you eat and make a huge mess, because I know you are getting your little tummy nice and full.  I love to watch you chase your sister around the house.  I love to see you get excited when daddy walks in the door.  I love to watch you reach your hand out of the car seat to hold onto sissy's hand.  I love to hear your little squeals and laughs.  I love seeing how happy your blankie makes you.  I love you and I think you are such a wonderful little girl.  I am so thankful that the Lord preserved your little life throughout some challenging times in your pregnancy and I am so thankful that He has a wonderful plan for you.  Love, mommy

Update

1) I have lots to blog about, but I need to upload a ton of photos first!
2) I still don't know how to upload pictures from my new camera.  You have to do something weird like converting files. So, for now, I will wait on Kev who is swamped with paper writing.
3) Eliza's first little tooth popped in today.  Glory to GOD in the Highest!!! 
4)Each child is so different.  Ella never had any trouble or really any fussiness when teething.  In fact, I used to not really believe people when they blamed issues on teething.  Let's just say...Miss Eliza has had some issues.  Poor thing...she has been so fussy which is not like her! 
5) Ella has been calling Eliza and I her PALS lately! 
6) I am usually a pretty motivated person, but I have been so lazy lately!!
7) I am dying for highlights and a trim.  I have 50.00 in my hair envelope (aka budget) and my next installment is still a bit away.  What to do...what to do!
8) Eliza LOVES real food.  She is chowing on black beans, peas and carrots, avocado, peaches, pears, , pasta, cheese and anything else that is mushable!  Maybe the Lord IS answering my prayers for a good eater in her. 
9) We had a great time watching the fireworks on the beach on the 4th.  I did put Ella on a leash (aka) backpack(It was pitch black and crowded in my defense).  Some people have very strong opinions on these, as did my husband.  Let's just say, Ella keeps me humble.  I'd rather lose my pride, than my child.  I can think of nothing worse.  And yes...we do discipline...A LOT!
10)I really wish my girls liked to sleep in a little like their mama.  They are always up around 6:30am.  I am just NOT a morning person as much as I wish I was. 
11) Ella uses expressions now like, "Of course" and "Probably!"  It always makes me laugh.
12) Ella is a pottying queen now!  She prides herself at climbing on the pot all by herself.  I love when I find her taking a sitting.  She is no longer terrified of a public potty.  In fact, she finds them quite entertaining. 
13) I have this thing with dressing my girls to match holidays.  I think it correlates with my obsession when I taught school to have desk tags that correlated to the season or holiday!  I love seasonal wear...what can I say.  (In my mind, I am picturing me wearing a long jean jumper with leaves....and no this is not the seasonal wear I am thinking of...and no I do not own one)!
14) I somehow gained 4 pounds over the fourth.  I am serious!  I think I have figured out how....we made homemade Oreo ice cream and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life...and I have eaten a lot of ice cream!  I looked at one of the whipping cream containers that was leftover and that stuff has 5 grams of fat per Tablespoon!  Let's just say it had a lot of it and that was only one ingredient.  Maybe I should be glad it was only 4.  Don't you just hate that!
15) Since I am talking food...I love love love sliced and salted avocado.  Of course I would love the most fattening vegetable...or is it a fruit???  Either way...I love them.  I buy them for Eliza (she needs the fat) and we share! 

have a great night...pics to come!

Family Date

We had a little family date last weekend with a couple from our Sunday school class.  We hadn't really planned to take the girls, but it ended up working okay after all!  Hopefully, our friends who have yet to have kids of their own, aren't scared to death to have them after hanging with us!  We ate at a cool little restaurant on the harbor.  We ate outside and thankfully there was a little breeze to keep us all from roasting!  The girls managed to entertain those around our table and Eliza kept trying to teethe on the highchair (eek!)  Bless her little sweet soul if those toothers don't pop through soon...you know she is 9 months already!  I think it is time!  Here are some pics from our fun date!

lately

We had a fun and busy weekend...but aren't they all that way!  It sure seems so at our house!  I was thinking the other day that I must either be getting older or more mature or maybe I just need a little break.  I was thinking about how I used to never like the travel part of traveling.  You know the long ride in the car.  In this stage of life, I am finding myself enjoying a few hours with everyone strapped in their seats, confined to one small space, when mommy can relax for a bit.  I assure you it is not due to the fact that our girls are super travelers either...but they do nap really well in the car...and so do I!

I feel like this stage of life is full on mommy mode.  I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything.  Kev and I had a long talk on Saturday, because it is easy in this stage of life to rush through our evenings with dinner, bath time, bedtimes, and then we both are so tired and stressed that we just crave some alone time.  When I say alone time I am not meaning alone as us together, but individually.  He likes to unwind by lifting weights and working out and I unfortunately like to unwind by watching TV or getting on the computer.  I think we both have realized that we need to work harder at this.  I remember the days when we were dating that I would sit beside him and watch hockey or football for hours, just so that we could spend time together.  I am not saying that I necessarily want to do that now, but now it really takes an effort on both of our parts to spend time together.  I think this stage in parenting can be rough on marriages for the single fact that you give and give and give until you feel spent.  I don't want to leave the leftovers of me for him (the tired, grouchy and bossy me)!   

Eliza will be 9 months old tomorrow.  Do you think anyone will notice if I slip a few rocks in her diaper for her 9 mth check-up?  Lil peanut is little and although everyone says, "She's just going to be petite," since I am the only one who feeds her, I feel like it is somehow my fault that she is tiny.  I know she is growing and learning and so I am not concerned about that...just hoping she is getting what she needs. 

Ella is...(not quite sure how to finish that sentence!)  She bouts between being so loving, sweet, and helpful to very difficult many times throughout the day.  Last week we went with a friend to the water park.  I just took her and left Eliza with my mother in law.  We had such a fun time together.  She was such a good listener and it was a really good day.  I think I even made the comment, "I think all of our consistent disciplining is finally paying off!"  (When will I learn to just never make comments like that!)  So I decided to venture out to her first real movie the following day with both girls.  Let's just say that I ate my words as I carried two girls to the car...one having a major meltdown (I mean major as in a kicking screaming tantrum) over the concession stand and games.  Thankfully, the movie was free!  If you saw that, I do indeed apologize and assure you that the situation was taken care of!

One thing I know is I really need the Lord as I try to be a Godly mother.  It is demanding and sometimes really stressful.  Some days I feel spent and needy myself.  I know without a doubt that this is the hardest, best and most important job that I will ever have!

And because no one likes a post without pics...
Mommy and Eliza at the park!

Daddy and Ella watching the World Cup...aka Ella stalling bedtime!

Eliza doesn't like flash! She does this whenever I get

the camera out!

This is called Where's Eliza! Ella was trying to help...I think!

CH-Ch-ch changes!

In case you are wondering...I decided to do a little changing to my blog.  I have changed my title to one without our last name and I will be changing my url shortly.  I have lots to catch up blogging about, but for now I'll leave with a new picture of my littlest cutie!

Ella Update

I figured it has been a while since I have written an ella update. I started my blog when ella was about 8/9 months (I think), and I am glad to have those updates to look back at now that eliza is the same age.

Ella...where to start!! She is full of life, energy and spunk! She lives her days to the fullest...I assure you! Ella loves people and tries to make friends everywhere we go (just like her daddy). She loves to be on the go. She is becoming a much better eater finally at 2 1/2... thanks to ranch dressing that she will dip almost anything in! She is a good big sis and loves her sissy, yet she still doesn't understand personal space and gentleness. My favorite moment of the day is when I hear ella saying, "Mommy, sissy wakin. Oh, sissy...you so cute!" Ella loves the pool and the beach and isn't afraid of the water at all....which makes them all the more challenging. She loves to color, slide, sing, and play with her babies and stuffed animals. She still likes organizing things into piles and lines. She has an awesome memory. She doesn't forget a thing. For example, the other day she was talking about our vacation to Disney and she said, "Mommy, I saw Pete's garage and Minnie's House. Mommy, I not listen in Minnie's House." And sure enough that was the exact spot of a little tantrum. Yesterday she told me, "Mommy, we gotta rock and roll." I said, "What?" She said, "We gotta rock and roll like aunt joy!" And then I could clearly hear my sister joy saying that as she rounds up her kids.

Ella is very interested in Jesus and the Crucifiction story! This past Easter we gave her a little book about Easter and a Jesus kiddie movie. She is trying so hard to make sense of it all in her little mind. We seriously talk about this many times throughout the day. My favorite thing that she says is, "Jesus die on the cross. I die on the cross too. I do it all myself!" That's about as two year old as you can get. She also says, "Mommy, I need to pray to the cross!" (Very seriously) Then she'll pray, "Jesus I pray your cross all better, Amen!" She is concerned over Judas and also says, "Judas not a good friend" and does not like that the solders hurt Jesus. The other day she told me, "Mommy, I love Jesus' cross!" I told her ella, "Mommy does too!" I love hearing those little wheels a turning in her mind, as this most important story begins taking root in her little life. I just hope we get all the theology kinks worked out as she grows!

Ella now knows most of the (first)sounds for the entire alphabet (just short vowel sounds). This is thanks completely to Tad's Letter Factory and not her first grade teaching...phonics loving mama. She blew me away the other day when she went letter by letter telling me the sounds. While we know the sounds we are still working on recognition of many of the letters. Kids really can learn some good things from videos and mama gets a shower and we are all happy!!

I cannot believe that ella will be 3 in a few months. I am so thankful that God gave her to us and I pray he will smooth over our rough spots and work in her heart. I pray God will give me energy and patience as I teach her, discipline, her and care for her. I pray she will grow to have a real and personal relationship with Jesus and will make Him her Saviour. I pray she will continue to love others and will learn to be a giver. I pray she will continue to live each day with zeal and fun...even when mommy is tired. I pray for safety and that she will continue to obey and respect authority. I love you Ella bella!