My Little Cleaner!

Ella Grace is a cleaning machine! Let's hope she continues to like the chore as she gets older!

Ring! Ring! Hello?

This week Addi Kate has kept me very entertained. She has been very chatty and silly. For starters, she loves Mardi Gras beads and wears them. She loves hats too. And it doesn't really matter if they are too big...

...or just the right size.

But the thing she has started doing that makes me giggle the most is this...

That is Addi talking on the laptop power adapter. Yes, she's using it like a phone and has a conversation consisting of words that I can't understand except for hi, hey, and bye or bye-bye!
She's not particular when it comes to "her" phone either. It might be a hat or her hand, but my favorite is this...

Yes, that's the remote control for the TV!

Meow!

Ella Grace has been meowing back at our cats for quite some time now. It still makes me giggle!

Sunny Days...

Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

Come and play
Everything's A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That's where we meet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street

It's a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To Happy people like you--
Happy people like
What a beautiful

Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame street...
How to get to Sesame Street
How to get to...

The familiar lyrics of one of my favorite shows has also become a favorite to my girls. I made breakfast the other morning and sacrificed watching the Today Show (one on my guilty pleasures in the summer) and tuned into PBS.

Here is Ella and Addi Kate, happy about breakfast...

Until that catchy tune comes on, then...

Silly Girls!

Tonight while the girls were feeding themselves dinner, I decided that I'd quickly vacuum the floor in the kitchen and dinning room. While I was running the vacuum, I noticed Ella put her fingers in her ears! She would put them in and pull them out and giggle! It was pretty cute watching her!

Matthew got home from work shortly after the girls finished eating dinner and we sat on the living room floor with them. Matthew and I were trying to encourage Addi Kate to walk back and forth to us. I've finally figured out why she won't walk! She squeezes her eyes closed as tight as she can get them!

I have a couple of silly little girls! They make me smile!

Giggles!

I took today off from packing and chores and spent it with my little doodlebugs. I must say, it was sort of a strange day. Addi and Ella didn't get up until 10:15 this morning (they went to bed at 8:00 last night)! I kept cracking open their door to make sure they were okay! Then they took a 3 hour nap this afternoon!

After nap time, I decided to let them swim a little. I cleaned out the little pool we had stored for the dogs while they were sleeping. They haven't been in out backyard before so they stared at everything for a little bit and then the fun began. They got to chattering with each other and then got the giggles. I LOVE baby giggles! They have to be one of the best sounds ever!

I also snapped a couple cute pictures while they enjoyed the pool!

Pool Fun & Packing!

Yesterday was a busy day for the girls and myself! My mom kept them for me so I could start getting some packing done. Addi Kate and Ella got to have fun at grandma's while I worked. I must say, I'm a little jealous! Anyhow, my mom blew up their pool and let them play in the water for an hour. She said they had so much fun that they cried when she finally made them get out!

I packed 21 boxes yesterday; almost half of which consisted of books from our library. I got all our stemware packed. The walls look bare too as I took everything down from the living room, kitchen and and man cave walls. I hope we are able to close soon. It's going to be hard to live like this for very long! I'm excited to finally be getting into a house of our own, even with all the packing and unpacking that looms ahead of me. Have I mentioned how much I HATE moving?!?!

It's Awfully Quiet...

Any mother knows that a quiet house is not necessarily a good thing. After baths tonight, I ran into the kitchen to wash dinner dishes and it was then that I noticed it was too quiet. I hadn't put the girls to bed yet, so I wondered what they might be up to and went looking for the answer. Here is what I found...

Hungry?

Do you think this means they are hungry?!?!

They were hungry! I had to cook dinner!

16 months

I had no idea 16 months could go by so quickly. My little girls are not so "little" anymore. Last month they went in for their 15-month well check and got three shots apiece. We also learned that they had only gained a pound each since their 12-month well check. I promise I feed them! Ha! Here's what they are up to:

Addilyn

• likes to eat mandarin oranges, fish sticks, and strawberries
• is not much of a morning person
• squeals in delight rather than giggling
• is taking her time walking
• is our thinker, can sit for long periods of time turning the pages in a book
• weighs about 18 pounds 9 ounces and is in the 59th percentile for height
• wears size 3 diapers and size 3 shoes
• wears 12 month size clothes and 18-month size pajamas (too long for 12 month sizes)
• says: mama, dada, papa, banana, bye-bye, hi, night-night, woof-woof, bawk-bawk, heehaw, kitty-kitty, go, more, oh-oh
• loves to blow kisses and wave bye-bye
• loves our cats and dogs: Chloe, Grace, Jack and Izzy; and my parents cat Chance and dogs Odie and Ellie May
• has four teeth, two on top and two on bottom
• takes a while to warm up to new surroundings or new people
• is content to sit in the shopping cart or stroller during outings

Ella

• is very happy in the morning and is usually bouncing around like a monkey
• giggles and will tell you tickle-tickle when she wants you to tickle her
• weighs about 18 pounds 8 ounces and is also in the 59th percentile for height
• wears size 3 diapers and size 3 shoes
• wears 12-month size clothes and 18-month size pajamas
• says: mama, dada, papa, banana, hi, bye-bye, hat, hand, duck, puppy, dog, kitty-kitty, woof-woof, bawk-bawk, meow, heehaw, night-night, baby, Addi, tickle-tickle, oh-oh, bite
• also loves to blow kisses and wave bye-bye
• loves our cats and dogs
• loves to be around new people and see new places...she is very social
• will sit in the shopping cart or stroller for a little bit and then wants to walk wherever we are
• chatters nonstop and often talkes to her baby dolls or stuffed lion and tiger
  
  

Popsicles!

Right before school was out I grabbed popsicles on a hot day thinking my girls would love a cool treat. The pictures that follow are a bit deceiving! They look like they are enjoying yummy strawberry flavored goodness, but in reality, my mom and I ended up with a screamfest on our hands! It was pretty funny to see their reaction and hatred of popsicles! I wonder how they will feel about ice cream...

When It Rains, It Pours...

Matthew and I have had to deal with an abundant amount of problems lately. We have been "under contract" on our new home since the beginning of April. Our closing date was set for May 17. That has come and gone. Our new closing date is set for June 10. We have a feeling that is also going to come and go. Fannie Mae currently has possession of the house (since we are buying a foreclosed property) and it is taking them forever to make decisions regarding the property. The agreed to fix a leak in the pipes under the hall bathroom tub. Now we are waiting for them to agree to fix the leak in the sewer line under the kitchen sink. Once they agree and the work is complete, we are ready to get moved!

The air conditioner went out in the house we are living in, and that had to be fixed. The high today is expected to reach 100+ temperatures. We also have a leak under our foundation that has turned into a small stream of water running down the hill in our backyard.

And then, my poor car. I hit a pole going through the drive-thru at Braum's. I just didn't see it. With all that has been going on, no wonder I can't focus on driving! Thankfully, my doors open and close and lock, and the windows work. I suppose it could have been worse.

We really need a break though. Getting moved into the new house and being in town would really help relieve some stress. Hopefully Fannie Mae doesn't take three and a half weeks to make the decision about the sink. Matthew and I have to close on the house by June 30 in order to qualify for the tax rebate being offered by the government. Lets hope that happens!

The Park

A couple weeks ago Matthew and I took the girls to the park in Canyon after I got home from work. We took the wagon with us and walked around it a couple times. The girls enjoyed crawling in the grass and swinging in the swings. As a matter of fact, when it was time to go, they both cried their pretty little heads off!

I am thankful for summer and the time I will get with my little doodlebugs! I also can't wait to get moved into our new house! We can walk right down the street and be at the park! It is going to be so wonderful!

First Steps!

Ella Grace has finally taken her first steps on her own!

House Hunting

Three years ago, I started this journey on my own. And then I met Matthew. I knew from the beginning that our relationship was different. I put "house hunting" on hold. After a whirlwind courtship, marriage, and birth of two babies, here I am again.

Matthew and I decided it was time to buy a place of our own over spring break. We went through the pre-approval process at the bank shortly after, and I began looking at houses after work. We had decided it would be best for me to "pre-screen" houses. If they had potential, then Matthew would take his lunch break at work and look at the houses I deemed worthy.

I looked at 14 houses on my own. Matthew saw 3 with me. Number 14 was the lucky place. It was the third house I'd looked at that day, and although I liked it, I left my realtor and went to pick up my girls. My realtor called me shortly after and told me that there was other interest in the house. I in turn called Matthew and soon afterwards, we were walking through the front door of that house less than two hours later.

What was supposed to be "looking" at the house turned into writing up an offer at 10:00 p.m. I'm not sure how I slept that night. Maybe because I didn't get home until 11:30 p.m. and couldn't go to sleep until 1:00 a.m. The next day at work was so long anticipating a call for my realtor. Finally it came, and our offer was accepted!

Matthew and I had to go in and initial 19 more pages of paperwork. Our new place was inspected on Saturday, and things went pretty well. Now we are just waiting on the test the plumbing company runs on the pipes and sewer, and we will be closing on our new home by May 17th. I can't speak for Matthew, but I am so excited! I think he is too!

I am posting some pictures. No one has lived in the house since at least November, so it needs a little love, but we will make it great with time!

Quickie Update...

Addilyn and Ella went in for their 12-month checkup on Friday. My poor little girls both got three shots in their legs. Ahh, the noise, NoIsE, NOISE! That was most unpleasant, but mostly for them. I imagine just about everyone in the office heard them holler! Their pediatrician has finally realized they are going to be petite! Addi is 29 inches long (average) and weighs 17 pounds 11.5 ounces. Ella is 28.5 inches long (also average) and weighs 17 pounds 6.5 ounces. They are both still able to wear some of their nine month size clothes and some 12 month sizes although they gap a bit in the waist.

They are healthy and happy and still good sleepers! We really like that. Addilyn's top tooth on the left has finally popped through the skin and her right top tooth is getting close to breaking through as well. Ella is still sporting just her two front bottom teeth.

Neither of them are out right walking, but both are cruising along furniture. It's a matter of time! Thank goodness I'm running! More on that later.) Today Addi stood on her on without me holding on to her and maintained her balance for a good 15-20 seconds. Ella decided she wanted to walk and took off pushing her lion at my parents and walked down their hallway holding on to it. I can't believe how much they have grown since we brought them home from the hospital a year ago. I will blog later this week and post pictures of their first birthday party.

About my 5K training...I have surprised myself. When I began this 5 weeks ago, I could hardly run 1/4 of a mile without feeling like I was going to die! Now I can run 2.5 miles without walking and I have finished week 6 of the C25K training program. I have also started strength training with Jilllian Michaels' 30-Day Shred DVD. I already have plans to train for an 8K when I finish this program. I plan to actually run my first 5K in April. I have come to enjoy running more than I thought I would. It's a great way for me to lose tension and stress and clear my mind. Matthew told me last night that he could see me training for a full marathon someday. Who knows...maybe!

Catching up...

I've fallen off the blogship. Sorry to all of my followers. I guess I needed a break, I assure you in more ways than just blogging. Since I haven't blogged since November, I have a lot of catching up to do.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were a whirlwind. Christmas was a bit stressful. Ella ended up getting Croup. We ended up in the ER the Saturday night after Christmas. Ella had a fever of 102.7. She was feeling better after a few days, and thankfully enough, Addilyn did not get it. I took the girls to see Santa. I was shocked that neither of them cried!

I enjoyed being home with my girls over the break. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it so much, that I am now looking into starting my own website. (More on that to come at a later date.)

January 9th my babies turned 11 months old. I can't believe the last eleven months have gone so quickly. Here's what they are up to:

Addilyn ~

• pulling herself into a standing position (has been for about a month)
• opens her mouth and lets her food fall out when it's something she doesn't like
• takes toys away from Ella
• loves our cats and gets excited to see them
• talks gibberish more and more everyday
• has actually said these words: mama, dada, Ella, Elmo and hello
• weighs 17 pounds 13 ounces and is over 27.5 inches long
• wears a size 3 shoe and size 3 diaper
• still wears nine month clothing; 12 month fits, but I have to roll the waist down
• has two bottom teeth
• likes to play Indian, complete with sounds
• races me to the bathroom when she hears the bathtub filling with water

Ella ~

• just started pulling herself into a standing position
• eats anything we giver her (thank goodness!)
• also loves our cats and meows back at them when they meow
• has said these words: mama, dada, nana, papa, meow, hello, baby
• shakes her head "no"
• weighs 17 pounds 3 ounces and is over 27 inches long
• wears a size 3 shoe and size 3 diaper
• wears the same size clothing as Addilyn
• also has two bottom teeth
• also likes to play Indian (with sounds) as well as Peek-A-Boo
• likes to play "I'm Going to Get You." Momma pretends to let her crawl ahead and then I tell her I'm going to get her and she laughs and laughs!

Tonight I began replacing an ounce of the water in their bottles with whole milk and mixing it with their usual amount of formula. I'm hoping this will make the transition from formula to milk easier.

Anyhow, It has been a busy day, so I'm off to relax and watch a little TV, something I rarely get to do. One more thing before I sign off. I'm training for a 5K in April. Yes, I know! I'm crazy...maybe! I feel better though since I've started running and have even gotten Matthew to do it with me!