Giraffes & Elephants...But No Mermaids

We had a blast this afternoon at the zoo. We met up with friends Jamie and Ariel and their kiddos Olivia and Titus. It's probably been over a year since Belle's been to the zoo. She was really excited. And she got over the fact that there were no mermaids at the zoo. =)

Belle started out with her "leash" on, but it didn't last long. All in all she did ok. You just can't take your eye off her for a second, because the girl has no fear. I tried to atleast keep her in the stroller between exhibits.


The "leash" came in handy later though when Titus gave it a try. It lasted about as long on him as it did on Belle.

I'm proud of Belle. She did a lot of things she would never do before. She touched the goats and fed the giraffe.




Ethan was golden. I didn't hear boo out of him the whole time. I thought for sure he'd fall asleep, but he didn't. I think he was just taking it all in. He was such a good boy. Jamie freed him from the stroller and I imagine he was glad to stretch his legs for a bit.





And I was reminded again how hard it is to get little ones to sit for a picture.

A Big Deal

I'm on a blogging spree, can you tell?

We had a good dinner tonight. It may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but for us, it's huge. Belle is a horrible eater, HORRIBLE. Well she's getting better. And tonight was the first time, probably ever, that she had a completely well rounded meal. She had some applesauce before dinner. Then for dinner she had grilled chicken with BBQ sauce to dip in, peas and a biscuit. The key was letting her use a toothpick instead of a fork. She thought it was so much fun and ate so much. It happened without begging on our part too. Whoo Hoo!!

Belle even helped Ethan. Ethan was loving his peas too. He's been on a veggie strike here recently, but has been eating some veggies if we mix it with applesauce. It was so cute, he'd open his mouth each time Belle put a pea in front of him. He loves his sissy.

More ramblings

Me: "Belle come get your shirt on"

Belle: "I wanna wear heart one"

Me: "You'll be too cold in that shirt, lets wear the giraffe shirt since you're going to the zoo and will see some giraffes"

Belle: "Effalants too?"

Me: "Yea, elephants"

Belle: "Mermays too?"

Me: "No, no mermaids"

Belle: "Wiiiide?" (why?)

Belle Ramblings

I'd like to blog Belle's little ramblings more so that I can keep record of the crazy things she says. And while most people can't understand her when we're out and about, she seems to speak pretty clearly at home.

I'm sitting in the kitchen smooshing a banana for Ethan when Belle runs past.
Me: "Belle what are you doing?"
Belle: "Gettin keys, I gonna drive this car"
(Ellen was giving away a car on her show and she was going after some baby keys that I just pulled out of a box)

Ok, Belle, whatever you say. =)

Great Pictures

There is just something special about getting a professional photographer to take pictures for you. I get my share of pictures taken at JCPenney and have my own fancy camera, but there is just something extra when you have someone who knows what they are doing.

We took the kids to Sharon Elaine Photography in Tipp City, OH to try and get a picture for my mom's mother day gift. After leaving I thought it would be some sort of miracle if anything usable came out of that session. Well she must of worked a miracle, cause there are some truly precious pictures. I've attached some of my favorites.

I think I like this shot of the kids. I like the coloring effect as well. I think it'll look nice in my mom's dining room.


This picture pretty much sums up how the whole thing went. How do you get three under three to look at the camera at the same time? I think it still turned out cute.


I can't decide between the next two of my kids



I may just use this as Belle's three year picture. I think it would look nice in her room. I've got a series of three pictures up (birth, 1yr, 2yr) and will swap out a picture every year.


There were just too many pictures of Ethan to choose from. They were just all too darling.


I don't know what it is about this picture, but I keep coming back to it. It's unique in some way and I like it.


Some of you may remember this session we had taken by Jessica Strickland when Belle was 15 mos old. I just love those pictures still.

LOL

You've got to watch this.

"A new study confirms that pulling your hair back into a ponytail is not the same thing as taking a shower"

That one had me rolling on the floor. =)

Ethan's First Girlfriend

We went to Ohio last week to see my friend Anita. I also got a chance to see my friends Sarah and Kelly (and forgot my camera, darnit).

The last time I saw Anita, it was for our reunion and we looked like this.


It was neat to get the babies together and let them meet. Lyla has the most beautiful eyes and what a great complexion. Ha Ha, she looks so tan next to Ethan. He got my skin unfortunately. We laid the kids down and they played a little bit with each others hands. It was cute.

New Cousin

The kids got to meet their newest cousin last week. It was funny to see Ethan as the big kid.

Baby Waren was born Easter Sunday.

Improvise

Belle has been going on and on for weeks about going swimming. If we drive by a retention pond, she'll ask "go swimming?" When we drive past the high school she'll say "go pool in there". Its funny that she remembers taking swim classes there last August. Now I'm kicking myself for not signing her up this year. I just couldn't get excited about the 80 degree pool water.

So we improvised and Belle wore her new swim suit in the bath tub. Hey, she was happy with it. =)

Under Construction

We've had a big project going on around here. My Father-in-law came over Easter weekend and helped Nic get a major portion of the porch up and Nic has been chipping at it ever since. Unfortunately we've had some crappy weather and then Nic got a stomach bug, so progress has slowed a little bit.

Me and the kids sat in the yard and watched.


The ear muffs are for the sound of the saw. They kept her from flipping out. Can't you juse see her 'tude in this pic.


Here it is the first day.


Nic putting up the last two columns




I'm excited to hang a porch swing and have a spot to sit during thunderstorms. And now I can sit outside while Belle plays and I don't have to be in the sun, cause we all know how much I hate the sun.

Happy Easter!!!

I'm way behind on blogging. I hope to get some stuff up soon. I've had my nose in a book for the last week.

The kids and I went to church by ourselves this morning since Nic and my father in law were trying to finish our porch. That was not fun, let me tell ya. Belle decided that she'd throw a fit for the first time EVER when I tried to get her into sunday school. She's usually more than willing. So dealing with that all the while having a baby on your hip was no fun. I'm glad our Easter Dinner was Pizza Hut and I didn't have to make anything special.

They sure did look cute this morning though.

Sitting Up

Well look at Ethan's new trick. He's progressed from a few seconds to bout half a minute before he topples over. Mr Ethan is just a little over 6 mos now.

He's also starting to babble. Not just oohh and ahh anymore. Sounds like Dadadadad, Nahnahnah and bababababa.

Big Boy seat

We moved Ethan into his big boy carseat. Baby Warren will be coming in a few weeks and will need the infant seat. There is something about this seat, because now Ethan can somehow get his head up and watch Belle's dvd player behind him. Only bummer is that Ethan no longer has Mr. Fox hanging on his carseat. I'm sure the age of throwing toys over the seat is on the horizon.

Just this afternoon, Belle held up her hand and said "No, Ethan, my TV". Ha Ha.

I love our Britax seats so much.

Happy Birthday to me

I had a good birthday this weekend. Ugh, 29, one more year til 30. Its all downhill from there. Ha Ha.

We went home to Ohio. I got all kinds of good things, some money to shop, the Twilight movie, 2 Twilight books, and earrings.

Here is a picture that was pretty funny from this weekend. Belle was sharing cake with Brody.

It's here!

My blog book is here. I ordered the book from Blurb and am pretty happy. I'm excited to have my blog in print and something that Belle can have forever. I need to get working on 2008 now.

Nothin cuter than a baby butt

Ethan was airing out a horrendous diaper rash so I decided to get some nakey pics. I think naked time might have to be a daily thing for him, he was having a blast.





He's been doing this a lot. If he gets the front going like the back, he'll be off and running.

Spring is Here!!!

We're so excited about the warm weather. Means new summer clothes, working in the yard and playing outside.

I've even been trying to find Belle a swim suit. Its not going well. I've got an almost three year old with no butt, an itty bitty waist and a long torso. I've already returned one suit. I exchanged it for this bikini from the Gymboree outlet, it's an 18-24mos (notice her "Feed the Children" gut). The tinkerbell suit is from walmart and it's a 3t! The bikini fits, although the top is a little tight getting on and off. The tinkerbell suit fits although it's a little short in length and I'm afraid of Belle's boobies hanging out by the end of summer. So I think I'll keep the 18-24mos suit and maybe exchange Tinkerbell for a 4T. Thats an insane difference in sizes.



While outside playing Belle has showed us a new trick of hers. She must of learned this at Parents Day Out. She's a pretty good somersaulter.




Here is how Nic improvised how to get stuff done when he had both kids while I was out shopping. Pretty funny. Notice Belle in front making sure she was in the pic.

In mourning

Well I'm now realizing that Belle is no longer a baby. She has given up napping and as of last night, gave up the paci. What I'm really mourning is the lose of the nap. I see the kids naps as much for me as it is for them. My mental health needs them. Ha Ha.

While at the mall the other day we walked Belle through Build-A-Bear and talked up how she'd get one if she threw her pacies away. That night she decided that she still wanted her pacies, but the next mourning she said "Go build a bear?". I told her she had to throw her pacies away and she did. I made an attempt at putting her down for a nap since she was so whiney. That only resulted in a 3 hour power struggle. When Nic got home we made the trip to the mall and made Tinker Bear.

I was cautiously optimistic as bedtime approached. She didn't really cry and only asked for the paci a couple times. Mostly I think she just wanted to get out of bed. I ultimately had to take the bear's outfit off, but she did eventually fall asleep with the bear. And slept all night, well to 5am anyways. I tried to put her to sleep again, but that just resulted in her screaming....for the paci. Ultimately I got up. We'll see how tonight goes. This morning she said "Pacies for babies, I have Big Girl Bear". How cute is that?



And here is this little man. This picture cracks me up for some reason. I just love the look on his face.


Dont watch unless you want to cry.

Darius Rucker - New Music - More Music Videos

Never a dull day when Belle is involved.

I suppose this is a good place for me to write all this stuff down, so we can look back down the road. (Note to self: need to archive blog in print through one of those nifty sites)

Another good Belle story today. I had a doctors appointment and had to take both kids, a recipe for disaster in itself. Well I was sitting, filling out paper work while Belle was in the kid section. They call my name and I tell Belle to come on. She waddles out from around the half wall where the toys are, acting like she's got this gigantic load of poo in her pants. So there she goes waddling past the packed office of patients, it was obvious she had either crapped her pants or just got off a horse. She in fact did not poop her pants, but rather peed. She's had #2 under control since the first of the year but still has accidents when we're out and about and she doesn't stop what she's doing to tell me she has to go.

I've changed up my strategy, and rather than just put a pull-up on her I put underwear and then a pull up. That way she'll feel the nasty wet feeling and also give me the peace of mind of not having wet pants while we're out. Well it worked, sort of, because she was not liking the feeling and thus walking like she was. The look on the nurse's face was priceless as I made my way back. I just said "she's got a pull up on so we're good". After Belle's panicked "GO POTTY GO POTTY!" the nurse offered to watch Ethan while I took Belle to the potty.

Well it didn't stop there. While I'm up on the table, Ethan starts to fuss and I ask Belle if she'd talk to Ethan. Her response "uhhhhh NO, I color Dora". A minute or so later, I ask her to put Ethan's paci in, again "uhhhh nooooo". Good thing I was on the table and she was out of arms reach. The nurse thought it was pretty funny though.

Oh to know the thoughts going through everyone's heads. And I'm sure they all got a good laugh at our expense when we left.