Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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!

Monday, October 26, 2009

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!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

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!

Monday, October 19, 2009

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!)

Saturday, October 17, 2009

My 2 year old


What I love about my 2 year old...

1. I love how full of life and energy she is...although some days it wears me out...I wouldn't want her any different.

2. I love how she loves to snuggle in our bed early in the mornings.

3. I love how she is learning so much. Tonight she said for the first time, "Mommy what's wrong?"

4. I love how she loves people. She will talk to anyone and older people love her.

5. I love that she loves for me to fix her hair...she asks me to straighten it everyday...seriously!

6. I love her spunk...of course she would call her baby sis Titus!

7. I love how she says, "I sorry mommy!"

8. I love how she won't tell us that something is red but instead tells us that it is either elmo or mickey's car....both of which are red!

9. I love that she still wants me to hold her!

10. I love that she is a daddy and papa's girl! She thinks they are tops!


It is hard to believe how fast two years can go by. It seems like just yesterday we had just brought you home from the hospital. Our greatest prayer for you is that you will grow to know and love Jesus in a real and personal way. We pray daily that you will come to know him at a young age and live for him your entire life. We pray the Lord will give you a heart for people. We pray that you will love those who are different from you. We pray that you will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He works in your life. We pray you will always respond to the Lord as He teaches and directs your path. We pray that you will grow to be a strong servant of Jesus. We pray the Lord will put his angels all around you and protect you from harm. We love you more than you know!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

My Girls















Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!