Finger food

Gloria has discovered her fingers. She fits as many as she can in her mouth these days and she's really kicking up the drool factor.

She's such a happy girl lately too. It's real easy to get her to smile. (I haven't seen any dimples yet)

We put her in the excer-saucer for the first time the other day. She's still a little wobbly in it, but between the toys and Noah playing with her, it really captures her attention.

Birthday pictures

Ok, I'm catching up on my pics. Here are ones from Noah's birthday.

Movin' Out

Noah has made the move from crib to his "Big Boy" bed. We bought him some new toddler bedding with Elmo and company on it. He was excited about Elmo and excited about sleeping with his new pillow and blankets. He's spent the last 2 nights there with no problems. Our little boy is growing up!
More pictures to come soon.

Birthday

Yesterday was Noah's 2nd birthday. We had such a nice day. It was perfect weather here. Sunny and warm, around 80 degrees.
Our neighbors were having a yard sale. Noah really likes our neighbor Wayne. He followed him around all morning. Wayne lets Noah go behind the desk at the library and lets him help check in books. Noah gets such a kick out of it. Yesterday he rode his bike in their driveway, played soccer with Wayne's girlfriend, Pat. He was getting real good at kicking the ball around.
Later, Angie and Andy came over. Angie took care of Gloria while I made dinner. We ate dinner and then opened presents. Noah was slow opening the wrapping paper at first but then got the hang of it. He got Baby Einstein Flash cards, an alphabet puzzle, a Tee-ball bat and stand, Jo Jo's Dance mat, 2 dvd's, and some books. One of the books Angie got him has a night light in it. It's perfect for him to take to bed.
After presents we had cake. We tried singing Happy Birthday, but for some reason that seemed to scare Noah and he started crying. I guess we must really sound bad! Noah's cake had Elmo at the beach. He took the toy Elmo and fed him some of his cake. He got a little messy, but not nearly as bad as last year!
After cake, we put Gloria to bed. I thought after all the juice and cake Noah would be too wound up to go to bed, but Wally read him a story and he went right to bed.
And after all that, Mom and Dad got to enjoy themselves by playing a game and having a few drinks with Angie and Andy. We had a great time and a lot of laughs. It was a good day for all.

Just like butter...

She's on a roll. Little miss Gigi rolled half way across the room today. She's doing front to back and back to front. She's much quicker than Noah was at this age. I wonder if that's really true that girls develop faster than boys. Having one of each sure is a science experiment sometimes... or is it just my kids?

Sleepy teeth

There were 5 things I thought of that I wanted to tell you today. Let's see if I can remember them all.
1. Gigi slept through the night Monday and Thursday nights this week. I'm talking, slept from 8pm to 7am sleeping through the night. In her bassinet, by herself. We are feeling rested!
2. Noah's getting his 2 year molars. I've noticed he's been putting more of his hand in his mouth lately and sure enough, we have an upper left and lower right. How odd to come in on opposites sides like that.
3. Noah also has a new "baby." He's always liked to push the umbrella stroller around and lately he's taken to putting the volleyball in the stroller and walks alongside me and Gloria. We're calling him Wilson.
4. Today Noah traced my hand and his when coloring. Something he remembered Mommy doing weeks ago.
5. I knew I wouldn't remember all 5. Oh well. There'll be time later.

A language explosion

Within the last 2 weeks, Noah has just exploded with new words and phrases. Granted, I can't understand all of them just yet!! But he's jabbering non-stop now. Plus, he understands more complex directions. His favorite things to do and say at the moment... Go outside, watch Bear (of the big blue house fame), play ball, ride bike and lello (which somehow means color, but sounds more like yellow.) I think we got confused one day using the yellow paint. Oh, and we got some great washable paint the other day which was a lot of fun.

Beautiful Baby

I'm on a quest to find the perfect picture of Noah to enter in Regis & Kelly's Beautiful Baby contest. (can't enter Gigi, she's too young.) I'd like to find one with him smiling, but you know how hard it is to get a toddler to pose, smile and stand still??!!

Baby Canning

I wish I could take these kids of mine and can them (like tomatoes) to save for later. That way I could keep each of these beautiful stages that they reach and take them out and eat them whenever I want. (I realize that last statement sounds a little like the witch from Hansel and Gretel.) There are times when I can't wait for them to hit the next stage in their lives, thinking it'll make mine just that much more easy. But there are days when I want to keep them like they are forever and touch their baby softness and delight in each hug, kiss and toothless grin.

Roll over roll over

I want to think it's early for her to do this, and I checked my baby books and it seems that it is, but she's rolling over from front to back anyway. We had some tummy time today and she just sprang right over. Of course, I'm sure it helps that she's 90% for weight at this stage. Yep that's right, we went to the doctor and she's 12.2 pounds and 23 inches (75%). Her doctor said that if all her kids were as healthy as mine, she'd be out of business. As it is, Noah's only seen her once or twice other than his well visits. For that I am more than thankful.

Security and literacy

It's gotten to where Noah cannot go to bed without a book in his hand. I think it's sweet. My Aunt Chris has gotten him some great books over the last 2 years and those are usually the books he chooses. He also has a "potty" book that he likes to take with him as well. This book has a button that when pressed makes a flushing sound. So occasionally we'll put him to bed and about 5-10 minutes later we'll hear his toilet "flush." I like that books are his comfort item. I hope it lasts.

Smiles and haircuts

Noah got a new haircut the other day. I wanted them to make it short. Boy look at how those cheeks really pop out now!























































And speaking of cheeks, Gloria is really showing us her smiles these days. Big ol' toothless grin.



































And she's giving me that one-eyed popeye look of hers.

2 months ago there came a baby.

A few baby updates for the "baby book." Gloria found her thumb all on her own today. She's also getting stronger evey day. She can hold her head up fairly independantly by now. She's smiling at all of us a lot and she sleeps almost all night. We all seem to be settling into a daily routine and life is getting back to "normal."

Happy Happy 2006

Happy New Year. I'd like to sit here and tell you all my resolutions for the new year, but frankly I'm too busy enjoying my visit with my mom and enjoying her with the kids. Here's a few pics from Christmas. I will update you more in the coming weeks. Thanks to all of you who thought of us at Christmas time. We have been blessed with 2 beautiful healthy children and we are really enjoying ourselves.

Gigi

Ah the wonder of Christmas lights.







Also, Gigi enjoying some activity and just waking up.

Christmas is in how many days ??

Wow. How time flies when you have two kids.

Noah learned to dress himself today. Of course, it was with one of my shirts (maybe that was easier)

I was also cleaning out my pantry the other day and Noah just had to help. Here he is moving all canned goods.

I'll have some pictures of Gigi up tomorrow.

Future Psychopath?

I don't know how well you can see this picture. Last night as Noah was playing with his "Little People" He deliberately set them all face down on his blanket. If I turned them over, he returned them to the face down position. I thought it was a little disturbing...

Awww...

These kids of ours...