One Week 'Til TWO!

With one week left until her 2nd birthday, I can't help marveling at how much she's grown and changed in these last 12 months. It's just as remarkable as the first year, in my opinion. She went from being a baby to a toddler to a little girl in just 12 short months. She walks, runs, jumps and climbs. She talks and sings and knows how to charm a crowd. She's funny, sassy, unbearably sweet when she wants to be, just unbearable occasionally and the most beautiful little girl I've ever clapped eyes on(until she shares that title with her baby sister, of course!). I've gotten to focus on and enjoy this second year of life for her in a way I didn't get to with Ben. He wasn't even two yet when she was born, so much of his second year was regrettably overshadowed by Emily's first year. Having two toddlers has been so much more fun than I ever anticipated, though. Watching them grow up together is such a gift=) Enjoy these photos of my sweet girl during her second year of life. Many have been featured on the blog before, but they're cute enough to see again!

13 Months and giving me the Evil-Eye

14 Months and posing prettily in her wagon

15 Months and laughing as her daddy plays with Libby The Dog

16 Months and proudly perching on a rocking horse at the park

17 Months and doing her tiger impression "Rawr!"

18 Months and lovin' the slide

19 Months and gazing lovingly at her new dolly


20 months and looking none too pleased at Red Robin

21 Months and realizing she doesn't actually WANT to be a big sister!

22 Months and getting ready to lick someone. She using licking as a form of affection. She's weird. I know.

23 Months and using licking appropriately; big girl, big cone. Them's the rules!

Emmie and Hazel

While Ben was at school, Emmie and Hazel desperately wanted to get outside and enjoy the lovely May weather. We took a little walk to the small playground near-by and spent some time making new friends, playing on the slide and generally being adorable(Emmie and Hazel were adorable. Me...not so much).


Emily, showing us exactly why the nickname, "Monkey Girl" is so perfect for her!

This is Emmie's new friend, Maya. The sat there and chatted for over 10 minutes. Maya was enamoured by Emmie's Dora shoes. Emily loved the way Maya used a tissue to "clean up" the steps. They introduced themselves about 50 times. "I'm Emmie. What's you name?" "My name is Maya. What's your name?". "I'm Emmie. Thas Mama. Thas Hazel. What's you name?" It was darling!

While Emily made a new friend, Hazel enjoyed the slide. She also loved walking around and saying "hi!" to all the parents inside. She's is SUPER friendly! I love it. It reminds me of Ben when he was this age--'hi' was his favorite word=)

Leaps and Bounds

Ben has turned into an Underwearin' Machine! It felt like such a struggle to get him to that first goal of the ice-cream. Ever since then, he's been happily wearing his underwear every time we ask him! He earned his next treat, which was a trip to the toy store to buy a special toy. He picked out a toy guitar(guh-targ, as he calls it) and went on to earn the doughnut with no issues. He's pleasant and enthusiastic now and seems to really be enjoying this experiment. Emily has really been enjoying it, too. Not only has it piqued her interest in potty-training, but she benefits from Ben earning his treats=) She loves wearing his Elmo underoos and doesn't mind that they are for boys. She even has three pairs of her own Hello Kitty undies, courtesy of Mimi=) When Ben uses the potty, or whenever she manages to get her diaper off by herself, she runs to the bathroom and says, "Emmie turn! Go peepee potty, too!". She doesn't quite understand her body's cues when it's time to go(we've had more accidents than successes so far), but we're doing our part to nurture her enthusiasm. It doesn't hurt that her all-time FAVORITE movie is Elmo's Potty Time, either! She's loved it since babyhood, so who knows? Maybe she'll be fully trained before Ben!

Photos By Ben

Ben has been loving our camera lately! He's actually getting pretty good at using it, too! Dan isn't too pleased that I let our 3.5 year old use our$200 digital camera, especially since Ben has his own, kid-tough camera. But, hearing him say, "Smile! Say Cheese!" to every thing he points his lens at is adorable. Especially when it's at something that can't talk back...like his toy cars, the cat, the stairs leading to our floor. I prefer to think I'm just nurturing his gift, as opposed to being careless and indulgent. I think Ben agrees, too=)

Self-Portrait of the Artist's Toes

Down The Stairs

A Ben's Eye View from the balcony

Hazel

Bad Hair Day

Dan wore this wig one Halloween and we've kept it on-hand for some unknown reason. Emily LOVES trying it on, which usually results in hysterical laughter from all of us. She loves to be in the spotlight! She has great comedic timing and really knows how to make us laugh=)

Emmie Visits My OB

I got the supreme pleasure of bringing a still-sick Emily with me to my OB appointment on Friday! Despite a too-long wait, she did really well. Especially considering she was due for a nap and still feeling crappy. I tried to keep her occupied, but ended up having to use every trick in my limited arsenal before the doc even came in to see me:/ Eventually, I'd run out of snacks, toys, images on my camera and other lame attempts to entertain her. She HAD to get out of her stroller. The first thing she explored was the dreaded exam-table. She didn't know yet to fear and loathe those lovely stirrups! She checked them out, sat on the table and had a grand 'ol time. Maybe she'll grow up to be an OB/GYN!

As for my visit, everything looks great! I passed my Glucose Tolerance test, meaning I DON'T have gestational-diabetes again(I had it with Emily, but not with Ben)! I've gained 13 lbs to date and Callie's heart-beat sounds perfect. I've started having Uterine Irritability again, resulting in frequent, often uncomfortable Braxton-Hicks contractions(practice contractions, for the unenlightened). I'm supposed to drink tons of water, rest on my left-side when I can and take it easy whenever they start up. IF I don't go into labor on my own in the early part of my 38th week(as I did with Ben and Emily), we're looking at a birth date of July 9th, 13th or 14th(depending on my doctor's schedule, what the hospital has available, etc). I will start seeing my doctor every other week over the next six weeks and then we hit the home-stretch. Holy crap. This baby is coming soon!

Little Sickies

My poor, sweet babies have been sick all week:( Ben got sick, first, running a fever last Sunday and quickly became a congested, coughing mess. Emily followed suit Tuesday, waking up with a fever of 104.6! She was so sick that we ended up taking her right to the doctor. He gave her an antibiotic and recommended rest, fluids, Children's Benadryl and Motrin for the both of them. Their fevers have broken, but they are still congested and coughing worse than little old men with emphysema. Emily keeps waking up at night and wanting to come to bed with us. She's just so miserable that I can't refuse her. I usually regret the decision once she's pushed me the very edge of the bed, leaving me in a super-uncomfortable position and fearful that any movement will wake her up. Get well, soon, Ben and Emily! PLEASE.