Fourth of July

We had a fabulous fourth of July weekend! On Saturday some of my friends from Seattle came down, the guys golfed and we all BBQ'd after. Then Sunday the 4th we headed over to Fox Island. The plan was to spend some time with Bernie's family and then head over to the other side of the island and finish the night off with the Costanti's.. We quickly learned that Ella was having so much fun at our first stop and since it was her birthday we just went with her schedule (needless to say we didn't make it to the second party.) She played so hard, we kept thinking she was going to wear herself out but she just kept going and going. They had a bounce house that she wasn't sure about at first but once she saw the other kids having so much fun she jumped right in! It was so much fun to watch her play so hard, she had a great birthday. When we got home we watched the awesome fireworks that neighbors were lighting off and Ella kept saying, "fireworks for Ella's birthday!" She was sure everyone was celebrating her birthday, I think I will let her think this for a few more years :) Ashley slept through most of the party but I was able to get a short little video of her doing her newest trick...talking. It is so cute she tries to have little conversations with me and is so proud of her new found voice. Both of the girls are so much fun right now and are growing up before our very eyes...I really wish there was a pause button!

Little Miss Independent

July 4th 2010

July 4th 2009

 

July 4th 2008

Happy 2nd Birthday Ella! We love you more than you will ever know and are so proud to be your parents!

Hives

As I was getting Ella ready for bed the other night I noticed a rash on her thigh that looked a little weird, within ten minutes it had spread all over the back of her legs and arms. I was really nervous having never seen anything like it before. I had my mother-in-law come over to take a look and she said it was hives so we gave her some benedryl and within a half hour they were gone. The next morning she woke up with a few more so I again gave her some benedryl and once again they disappeared. Later that day as I was in the garage doing a project Bernie comes running out and says they are back...at this point we decided that we needed someone to take a look and let us know what to do. So off to the Mary Bridge ER we went, for the second time in the past three months...ugh! The doctor said yep they were in fact hives and it is unlikely that we will ever really know what the culprit was but to keep an eye out if something she is around consistently causes these flare ups. My own mommy instincts tell me that it was a plant or flower in our back yard that she got into, she likes to help me water the plants and at times has thought it is a good idea to pull the flowers off and smell them so I wouldn't put it past her that she may have even put one of them in her mouth for a second or two. It was so awful to see this rash all over her small little body but we are so thankful that it wasn't something more serious.  

Ella Says the Darndest Things!

Ella and I were playing tonight, we were laughing and having so much fun I didn't even realize it was an hour and a half past her bedtime when she grabed me and gave me a kiss and said, "Mommy I'm happy!" I don't think it gets better than that! That little girl melts my heart :)

Three Months Old

Ashley is three months old and growing like crazy. She is smiling all the time now and laughed for the first time yesterday. She loves any attention she gets especially from her big sister. Ella still loves to play with Ashley and always talks to her in a voice that is three octaves higher than normal...so funny! What a lucky mom I am to have two sweet little girls :)

Busy Days

We have been busy with house projects lately but have tried to get out and have some fun too. We spent one day at the Zoo with Janelle, Miley and Kellen and although it was hectic for Janelle and I the kids had a great time! Miley tried to get Ella to ride the Camel with her and I thought this time she was actually going to do it but once they put her up there she wanted no part of it. Miley loved it and was all smiles, maybe Ella will try again next time! On sunny days we have been spending a lot of time in the backyard. Bernie and I have been doing some major yard work and Ella has been keeping herself busy playing in the water. By the way normally I would have her in her swimsuit but we just put in some new grass and I was watering it when Ella decided that this was a great time to run through the sprinkler for the first time...fully clothed. So I stripped her down and just let her go for it. I have never heard her laugh more in her life :)

Party Time

Definitely Sisters

Ella at two months

Ashley at two months

I think it's time to start labeling pictures!

Ella at 23 Months

It is about that time to update what Little Miss Ella is up to these days.

1. She seriously will repeat anything you say...be very, very careful!
2. She likes to emphasize the words not and no. Example, Apollo you are NOOOOOT going or NOOOOO Mommy! These are two of her favorite phrases.
3. She was a fabulous potty trainer for a few weeks and now needs many, many bribes to sit on the potty. Although she is an awesome cheerleader for the rest of us, if she ever hears a toilet flush she screams Yay Mommy and claps her hands.
4. She wants nothing to do with me when she sees a comb and a spray bottle in hand, the girl fights me with everything she has to get her hair done every morning.
5. She is still an awesome sleeper...twelve hours a night plus a two to three hour nap.
6. She loves her baby sister and is always trying to give her a bottle or binky and loves to hold her.
7. She has nicknamed Ashley Ashweewee. Which has in turn got Bernie and I calling her that!
8. She loves to play with her friends and looks forward to all of the activities that we have each week MOPS, Co-op, playgroups. Thank God for all of these groups I don't think I could entertain this active child on my own :)
9. She surprises me every day. The other day I couldn't find her and I was calling, "Ella where are you?" She responded with, "I'm in here reading a book!" There she was in the glider reading a book! Seriously how do they grow up so fast.
10. She can sing her ABC's along with a few other favorite songs and can count to 20. I would love to take credit for this but the first time she did it Bernie and I both looked at each other wondering if the other one taught her that. I am pretty sure I have only counted to 10 with her! Thank you Sesame Street!
11. She loves being outside.
12. She has a thing for shoes and tutus!
13. If you ask her what color something is she will always say pink.
14. Not quite sure where she got this but when you ask her how old she is going to be she says sixty-nine. We are working on this one!
15. She is a dairy farmers dream, her favorite foods are cheese, eggs and milk!
16. It is almost impossible to get her to eat any vegetables besides corn and potatoes and if I try to hide veggies in something she always finds them and picks them out.
17. If she sees anything purple she says, "GOOOOO Huskies!"
18. Her favorite movie is Nemo, I think I can recite the whole movie by heart now.
19. She can be pretty sensitive and if she gets in trouble out goes the lower lip
20. If she doesn't believe something you are saying she says, "No Way!"

The First of Many...

So here are my girls in their very first matching outfits purchased by their Auntie Chrissy and Uncle Eddie! This is just the beginning girls :)

Bring on the Sun!

Ella's newest outside toy! Seriously the best money I have ever spent, she played with this thing for hours and is always asking to go outside and play with her "water"! Now we just need some sun!

Duck Parade

We took Ella to the University Place Duck Parade for the second year in a row. Auntie Janet and Uncle (Papa) Bill went with us too. Auntie Janet taught Ella to salute the American flag and Ella left her hand across her heart for most of the parade...so cute! Our friends the Costanti's marched in the parade again this year and made sure to save some candy for Ella :) After the parade they had a festival in the park where Ella got to ride on the Cho Cho Train which she thought was pretty cool. Next year I think she will be ready for the bounce houses!

Progress

I am happy to report that I am somewhat rested this morning since our sweet little Ashley slept for over seven hours last night! She slept through the night for the first time on her two month birthday and then did it again a few nights later. I am just praying that this will soon become the standard. We were spoiled with Ella who slept through the night at six weeks and was consistently sleeping through by eight weeks. With Ella being our first and not knowing any different I assumed this was the norm. but after talking with girlfriends I have heard very different stories. Keep up the good work Ashley...I am a much happier mommy when I have sleep :)

Our Little Golfer

Bernie and his dad took Ella to the driving range for the first time today, and Ella had the greatest time. Gramps let her use his putter and she was hooked. Once it was time to go Ella was not pleased and the whole ride home cryed, "but I wanna hit balls, I wanna hit balls!" I don't think Bernie could have been prouder. Ella says something that makes us laugh on a daily basis, it is so much fun watching her personality grow along with her vocabulary. We may have another golf pro on our hands :)

Two Months Old

Ashley is two months old and once again time is flying by. She is such a sweet baby and even though she looks just like Ella did at this age their personalities couldn't be more different. Ashley appears to be a much more serious baby then Ella ever was. If you want a smile out of Ashley she makes you work for it...but it is so worth the effort. The other night or rather 4:30 am I was trying to rock her back to sleep, I was completely out of it and doing everything I could to keep my eyes open when I looked down at her and she had the biggest grin on her face. It made being awake at that hour all worth it. Her little smile melts my heart!

You Will Be Missed

My aunt Cecy died today at age 59. She was always so spirited and loving and had the ability to brighten up any room just by entering. She will be greatly missed and this smile will never be forgotten.

Luau at Fox Island

The Costantis had everyone out to Fox Island this past weekend for a hawaiian pig roast. The little girls even performed a hawaiian dance, well Ella basically stood there and watched but it was still super cute! We always have a good time at Fox Island. Thanks to the Costantis for such a fun day!

ABC's

I saw this tutu and couldn't resist. I have to say now that I have two girls it is rare that I buy anything that isn't pink! Here is Ella singing her ABC's. She loves to sing, especially to Ashley...even if she is on the other side of the baby monitor :)

Happy Birthday Apollo!

Apollo, my very first baby turned nine years old on Mother's Day! Just like I predicted Ella and Apollo are best of friends :)

Happy Birthday buddy...you are the best dog any family could ever ask for!

A Mother's Day to Remember

Mother's Day started out as the perfect day. Bernie let me sleep in and then took me to brunch at Chamber's Bay Golf Course. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the gorgeous view with our mimosa's in hand. After breakfast we came home and had some family time and then all took a much needed two hour nap. Then we were off to Bernie's parents house for dinner. They had the whole crew over and Ella enjoyed eating ribs for the very first time! Then the day day took a turn. All of the cousins were running around playing and I heard a thud and turned to find Ella laying on the cement. She had fallen off the stairs of the deck and landed right on the cement head first. After she had calmed down a little and I had checked for blood she said, "mommy head hurt!" After further inspection of her head we found a huge goose egg that was growing rapidly on the side of her head. Not wanting to mess around with a head injury it was off to Mary Bridge ER we went. She was such a trooper through the whole thing, when we went into the exam room she didn't want to sit on the bed she said "no, mommy's bed!" She had remembered from when Ashley was born that I was in a bed just like that...so I had to sit up there with her. And as we waited (as patiently as you possibly can with a 22 month old at 9:00pm after a very long day) for the doctor to come in Ella was banging on the door saying "somebody, doctor, somebody r'u!" She made us laugh...just like always. Although this was not where I wanted to end my perfect Mother's Day I was so glad when the doctor checked her out and said she was all right....what a relief!!! I am guessing this will be a Mother's Day I will remember for a long, long time!