18 Months!

She's well over 19 months now, and truth-be-told, I took these pictures veeeerrrrry close to the 19th month mark. But, they complete the set and they're pretty cute, so I know you won't mind=) Callie's 18th month went by just as fast as the 17 other months before it. She's a bona fide toddler now although she continues to wake up twice a night for a bottle, just like a baby:/

I'm less inclined to rush her through bottle-weening because it's her last vestige of babyhood. She's so much fun these days and just a bundle of affection and giggles. It's awesome to watch her really play with Ben and Emily. She loves to do naughty things that make them laugh;) Here's the last set of "chair pictures" for my last baby:..( Wahhh!

Look at the difference! Awwwww, it *almost* makes me want another;)

Welcome To The Jungle

Dan took Emily with him to Woodland to watch the Super Bowl with his dad which left Ben and Callie at home with me. Ben was pretty sad about being left behind until Mimi and I came up with a special day for us to spend together! We had lunch at Ben's fave restaurant(Taco Bell) and then went to The Jungle. Callie has never been there to play before and she, obviously, loved it. She spent most of her time in the ball pit but also loved running around. Ben was just so happy to spend the day getting to pick what he wanted without Emily around to try and veto anything and everything he wants=) Here are some cute pictures from our Jungle adventure

An Egg-cellent Idea

Emily asked if she could have the empty egg carton and then ran away gleefully. I expected to find it destroyed with pieces of Styrofoam everywhere. Instead, she brought it to me and proudly exclaimed: "Look! I put them all in their carseats."

I especially like the way Snow White is sitting and how the mommy is bent over. I imagine they went out partying with 2 of the 3 Wise Men, Thomas, the blond chick and the mechanic leaving Joseph and the dad at home to babysit Baby Jesus and the sheep. I know, I know. Blasphemy isn't funny. Well...it sort of is;)

Mall Rats

We spent Saturday morning at the mall. We got there early to let the little monkeys play in the kids zone before we started our shopping. I have TONS of pictures of Ben and Emily playing in this play area. We used to come here every weekend when we lived just down the street. It was fun watching Callie explore it now that she's a big-shot toddler=) It was especially nice that there were only two other toddlers there at the time.

During regular mall hours, that place is teeming with kids of all ages(mostly kids who are too big and too wild for the little ones to play with!). It's a well-kept secret that most malls open their doors hours before the shops open. You can get there early, let your kids play without getting trampled and do some window shopping before the crowds get there! Here are some cute shots of our little Mall Rats:

Oh my goodness. Callie reminds me so much of Ben as a toddler. She is all over the place. My friends laugh at her and say she looks like she's speed-walking=) It's exactly what it looks like. She just has places to go and people to see, I guess.

Such a big girl:(

Most new things get the "Lick Test" lately.

Is it any wonder we're always sick?!

Emily happily posed for this picture. Callie...not so happily;)

She is 18 months old, but check those pants out. Size 6-9 months. 6-9 months!! The shirt is 18-24 months. She is skinny as a snake.

I realized Ben is *almost* too old for this place when I watched him run around like the wild kids I always glare at;)

Happy Birthday To Me!

January 25th was my 29th birthday. I spent a lovely, low-key day with my fam-fam=) We did some shopping, had a picnic at the park, fed the ducks, relaxed during nap-time and went our for Mexican food for dinner. Here are some photos from my big day!

Happiness is a free-range baby at the park;)

The lovely view as we walked to the creek

Feeding the ducks

Callie wanted to dive right into the creek. She has no fear!

Be kind to our fine, feathered friends. For a duck may be somebody's brother.

Ben loves doing this=)

Hop-hop-hopping

It's impossible to get good shots of Ben. He's just so fast.

Callie has discovered the slide at the park!

Decorating my cake

Callie enjoying my cake

A failed attempt to get them to pose with me;)

A better shot, but minus my little guy:(

Ring-Around-The-Rosie

Poor Ben and Emily have been going stir-crazy lately. Between simultaneous bouts of illness followed by one sick mommy, we've missed a lot of school and playtime over the past couple of weeks. They know how to make their own fun, though;) I told them to play nicely with Callie and Ben came up with with the idea to teach her Ring-Around-The-Rosie. They had a blast playing this for over a half hour.

Ladies Who Brunch

My cousin Maureen and I hosted an Apres New Year's Brunch! We invited my aunts and female cousins over and spent a perfect afternoon together. B.E.C.(Ben, Emily & Callie) had so much fun showing off their toys to my cousins and it was just nice to spend some time with the ladies in my family without those boisterous men taking things over;)

Ben continues to hold his title of Best Big Brother=)

Although he despises Dora, he loves his baby sister enough to play with her,
even when she's playing with Dora.

My beautiful cousin Julie with her fellow fair-haired girl, Emily.

Callie's favorite part? The food!

My sweet cousins played with the kids the whole time.

Maureen, Callie and my cousin Eileen(Maureen's younger sister)

Mimi with her sisters! Aunt Moe on the left, Aunt Colleen in the middle.

Maureen, me, Callie, Eileen, Emily and Julie.

We got this group-shot by creatively anchoring my camera on top of the wall-heater;) Not bad!