Tulips!

Not much going on today. We were hoping it would rain so we could jump in puddles, we had to pretend instead.

Eisley couldn't quite make it through lunch. The beautiful tulips and bluebells were a May Day gift from my nanny kids! Beautiful!

Dancing Emmett

About 2 months ago we went to see Yo Gabba Gabba at the Mall of America. I recorded Emmett dancing to the music. Maybe it's because I'm his mom, but I can't watch this video with out laughing. Hopefully it will at least bring a smile to your day!

And yes, the very last instant on this clip is just as Emmett is knocking into Eisley and she falls down. I always turn the camera off one split second too early!

My little Monkey

Video of Eisley climbing the ladder taken a couple weeks ago.

Brotherly love

This is Emmett.

And he LOVES being a big brother!

Speaking of being a big brother, here are a few updates about Emmett's little brother's/my pregnancy:

- Baby is measuring big so ultrasound tech recommended moving due date to 9/5 based on the 20 week ultrasound but the doctor is keeping it at 9/12 based on the 6 week ultrasound.

- My weight gain is 6 lbs. Hoping that 6 lbs half way through is representative of only adding 6 more lbs in the second half! That's wishful thinking!

- Ultrasound tech said he's REALLY wiggly!

-My placenta is posterior - it's been anterior in the past.

- I feel lots of movement - I love feeling baby movement!!

- I'm having major sciatic pain and pressure. That's really my only pregnancy complaint.

20 weeks

Crazy that I'm already (over) 20 weeks. Halfway or so through this amazing journey. It's funny because with Emmett, I had no idea what I was missing before he was born. I had no urgency for his birth. I loved being pregnant and although I was excited to meet him, I was content with him staying in me as long as he wanted. With Eisley, I already had an idea of what I was missing. I knew how amazing these little people are and couldn't wait to meet her. Now with this little boy, I feel the same urgency to meet my new son. To be completely honest, I also know how hard labor and the first couple sleepless days (weeks, months) are so I kinda just want to get that over with so we can settle into our new routine. Instead of being anxious I will treasure this time. It's precious time with my two first born babes. It's precious time as I hold my developing son in my womb - how I love being pregnant. How I love feeling his flutters, his kicks, his stretches (no hiccups yet).

With out further ado, here is my 20 week belly shot. These self portraits are not very flattering but I'm not going to worry about it.

My sweet little Eisley Belle

My sweet little Eisley Belle is a spunky, spicy, feisty little girl. She never ceases to amaze me with her vocabulary, her ability to comprehend what I'm saying and communicate with me. Each day she seems to learn something new or surprise me in some way. I can't think about her without smiling. She is just amazing!

Potty Training

She still goes diaperless at home but wears a diaper out and about. She has about 1 accident per day, only a potty accident. The past couple days she's done all her BMs in the toilet. I am so proud of her. I know eventually I'll need to take the plunge and go diaperless when we leave the house. I'm just not quite prepared to run to the bathroom at every beckon or to bring 7 pairs of pants with me. And just for the record, this potty training thing was totally her idea, not mine at all. She asks to use the toilet and often pulls her pants off and puts them back on herself.

Vocabulary

She speaks so much I can not even begin to count or list all of her words and phrases. One of the cutest things she's doing lately is saying, "Otay." So I'll tell her, "It's night night time now." She responds, "Otay." She uses the word completely in the correct context all the time and it's just darling. Now, when it's not "Otay" with her, she'll say, "No tank tou." What a doll.

Siblingness

Yesterday when she woke up from her nap I heard her not crying, not calling to Mommy or Daddy, but calling out, "Emmett! Emmett!" I went up to get her and the first words out of her mouth were, "Where Emmett?" She always wants to know where Emmett is and what he's doing. Luckily, he's not yet grown tired of this.

Shoes

This girl LOVES shoes. It is a frequent activity to take out her shoe drawer and try on various types of shoes. She often picks out a pair of shoes to wear to bed, which I allow her. I figure she can take them off herself if she wants too. Her favorite pair right now are a turquoise patent leather pair 2 sizes too big.

Toys

She's not a doll girl but every once in a while, and it's getting more frequent, she pulls out a "bebe" and puts her in the stroller, or puts her to bed, or just snuggles with her. Today she cared for a baby as well as her "dogghhhgh" (She very clearly pronounces the G consonant at the end of the word, in a rather guttural way.) Here are pictures of her hugging, petting, and kissing her dog.

Feisty

I'm writing this all down so that I can look back and see who my little 17 month old daughter was. Therefore, I can not leave out these details. Eisley is feisty - or as my friend calls it, "spicy." She pinches, she scratches, she bites. She laughs when she's disciplined. She flails on the ground screaming. She walks directly to her corner when you ask her to take a time out.

Organized, and not

Eisley picks up toys without being asked. She puts her sippy cup on a table or gives it to me. She helps unload the dishwasher and put wet clothes in the dryer with out being asked. She seems to have a very organized mind and loves to be helpful. That being said she also loves tipping her plate over - while it's still full of food. She love dumping out entire baskets of toys. It's not uncommon to see toys being tossed over her shoulders.

What else can I say? I know I'll publish this post and think of a million more reasons why this little girl is absolutely incredible and more than I ever could have imagined. I'll remember all the things I want to capture in writing so that I'll never forget who this amazing little 17 month old is.

Pictures of our baby boy

Here are the ultrasound pictures of our little boy!

Brown's Syndrome

Emmett goes to the pediatric ophthalmologist every 6-9 months to have his Brown's Syndrome (or here) evaluated to make sure his vision hasn't worsened. Today he told me, "I think I'm big enough!" "Big enough for what?" "Big enough to be here!" he replied. I thought it was pretty cute. He loves the "games" they do and today for the first time he sat in the big chair by himself the whole time.

After having his eyes dilated.

Internet is back and other tidbits

Today is the day we celebrated my nanny girl's birthday. Her favorite colors are pink and purple. So we made pink cupcakes.

With pink and purple frosting. Per usual, my awesome idea of having the kids decorate the cupcakes was better in theory. 1/4 of my kids decorated, 1/4 of the kids slept, 1/4 of the kids observed, 1/4 of the kids devoured before given a chance to decorate. It's your opportunity to play, "How well do you know my kids?" Guess who did what...if you want to of course.

The child decorated cupcakes.

The adult decorated cupcakes.

Then we did some scissor cutting practice, I mean "games".

Followed by an intense building of a house for the dragons.

PS: We got internet back today. Yea! I'll attempt to resume my daily blogging. How I've missed my blog!!!

Only a Dad

Only a Dad sets up baseball batting practice in the living room while watching the Twins game.

And then tops off the day with some letter writing and letter sounds.

Emmett is one lucky boy!

Rainy Saturday

This is what our home looks like on a rainy Saturday morning before 6:00am. A little playing outside in the rain.

Followed by some snuggling.

Wagon!

I received an amazing blessing today. I've been wanting this All Terrain Radio Flyer Wagon. It typically runs over $100, even close to $200 (I looked online to make sure my memory was serving me right).

This weekend was our city's garage sale festival. So on Friday I took the kids on a 2.5 hour walk/park tour. Emmett on his bike, 2 kids in the stroller, 1 kid in the backpack and one in my belly. We were a walking circus and I wish I had a picture.

While we were walking around we stopped at a garage sale where I saw a wagon...THE WAGON. I have a few garage sale moments where I see what I want sitting there in the drive way. It's as if a spotlight is aimed at the object and in slow motion I walk towards it, hoping no one else as spotted this amazing treasure. As I walk towards glowing object I think to myself, "How much is too much? What will I pay for it?" Well, this was one of those moments. When I saw $25 on the wagon I was SOLD! The kids are enjoying it too!

Arboretum's Tulips

We received an Arboretum membership from my nanny family for Christmas. The nanny father told me the tulips were in full bloom so Eisley and I made a quick trip to check it out. It was beautiful!