PeekaBoo

I was feeding Reese lunch on Sunday and we some how got to playing peekaboo.  It was the first time she participated, I loved it!

     

RSV and Sunglasses

This past week has been crazy with a little fun mixed in.  I was supposed to have a fun day with the girls since their school was closed for President’s Day.  Unfortunately Reese ended up sick with RSV.

Luckily it was a pretty mild case, but she did end up not going back to school until Thursday. It was her last week in the baby room at school, she will move on to the 12-18 month room on Monday.  She was home with Jeff on Wednesday and fell asleep on the floor, too cute!  She looks so big, so far from my little baby that was born just yesterday in my mind. 

Ella, my other big girl, has become obsessed with sunglasses.  We got her own pair and she wears them constantly, can’t even get her to take them off at dinner.

Déjà vu

The weather is getting a little warmer, so we let our walker out on the patio for the first time to roam free. I knew I had a couple cute pictures of Ella in the same outfit, but had no idea they were taken on the same day exactly two years earlier.  I think the pictures are even indicative of their personalities.  Ella is a wild child, not afraid of anything, just lets loose (she is unzipped, Reese is not).  Reese is pretty mellow, but a little more cautious.
Here is Reese 2/18/11.  She was a little a little unsure at first, did not like the grass, but loved being able to wander outside:

Here was Ella, on 2/18/09.  We had no idea we would be blessed with Reesie just a year later, but are so glad we have her!

Sisters

The last few weeks have been very busy with me out of town for a few days for a sales meeting and then two dinner meetings in a row this week.  These were taken when we got home from school and work on Tuesday afternoon.

Our routine these days seems to be Austin starting on homework, or the Wii, Ella throwing on her heels and playing and Reese following her around.  In the last week or so she has become a pro walker and now goes from room to room.

It is not just the purses, they also are both on the phone, which luckily we have two of.  (Jeff says they are copying me, I do have a minor addiction to my blackberry:)

 

Reese has also discovered Ella’s chair and is in LOVE!  You can see in the pictures that she got a little cut on her nose the other day, but she is healing quickly.  Ella decided Reese should get her own chair for her birthday, pink just like hers.

    

Here is classic Reese laughing – eyes squinted and tongue twisted.

Rodeo Time!

We skipped the rodeo last year, but decided we were ready to try it again.  The last time we went Ella was actually Reese’s age and it was a little challenging. 

Reese stayed at home with Grandma Chris and we got some nice quality time with Austin and Ella as we hit the grounds.

I just used my blackberry to take pictures, so the quality isn’t great, but here is 2/6/11.

Ella has recently become obsessed with sunglasses and always wants to wear mine.  Here she is on the way to the rodeo.

I think the highlight is always the petting zoo.  Ella was a little unsure at first, and did not like the goats, but she warmed up and we all thought it was pretty funny.

Hard to believe, but here is looking back at 2/2/08, when Austin was Ella’s current age and I was 32 weeks pregnant with Ella.    

Reese wants to go to school too

I cannot believe it, but Reese will be 1 two weeks from tomorrow!

She usually wakes up as Austin is on his way to the school bus, but the other day she got up early and came downstairs to play.  She found Austin's backpack and started carrying it around downstairs. 
It is so much fun to see her personality bloom and her interacting more with Austin and Ella. 

She is usually so happy to see them.  I say usually because we did have our first bought of rivaling sisters the other day.  The girls and I were playing downstairs, Ella climbed in my lap as I was sitting on the ground.  Reese was not pleased and decided to bop Ella on the head.  Grandma Chris was witness and thought it was HILARIOUS!  Ella gets a little upset if Reese tries to take her things, but for the most part is so loving and often gives her kisses on her head.

Messy Eater

Reese is increasingly desiring to feed herself.  On this night I gave in and let her go to town, she had a blast and was so pleased with herself.
I am also noticing that she laughs at so much, and when she does, she shuts or squints her eyes:)

    Also, that isn’t a tooth, still no teeth.

Happy Valentine's Day

The kids and I made Jeff a valentine's cake, we all sprinkled our love in:)

My 33rd Birthday! A bridal shower and Reese is on the loose.

Jeff is very happy now, he loves that we are the same age for a few months every year.  I had such a great 33rd birthday, I think there were 6 celebrations over the span of a week.  The one that meant the most was of course with my family.  It has become a tradition that the kids help bake me a cake…YUMMY!
I may be exhausted, and sometimes grumpy because I am so exhausted and depleted…BUT (and it is a big BUT), I am so lucky and grateful for all that I have and feel like a pretty lucky 33 year old!

Here was the first cake, made by Austin (almost 3yrs old) for my 30th!  (About 32 weeks pregnant with Ella)
 

I am so lucky to have so many wonderful friends! I didn't get pictures at the other dinner, but we had a fantastic time at Max's Wine Dive and can't wait for someone to have another birthday so we can do it again.

Now that Reese has discovered she is mobile, her favorite things to do are play with the fridge magnets and play underneath the kitchen table.
   My brother, Nathan, is getting married at the end of February.  My mom threw Susana, his fiancé, a bridal shower at the end of the weekend.  Ella is going to be a flower girl so she came along.  Amazingly, a pen and paper and a pair of kid scissors and she was entertained for 2 hours! (Didn’t so much cooperate with the picture, but I can’t ask too much.)
We are so excited to have Susana in our family!!!

Reese starts to walk!

46 weeks old or almost 11 months and she is off!  These were taken on Jan 22 and Reese had started letting go and taking steps by herself!  Since I am a few weeks late in posting this, as of Feb 6, she is full on walking by herself.  Will walk across a room, still shaky, but that is why they call it toddling.  Can’t believe my baby is almost a toddler and leaving baby far behind.

(Ignore the dirty shirt, she had a snack of mum-mums) She is so proud of herself and so are we!  We love you Reesie!

Here was Ella on Jan 23, 2008 walking around at 10 months.  In classic Ella style, she just took off arms out and ready to run.

Ok, bad parents.  I don’t have any pictures of Austin’s first steps.  We were moving back from California, changing jobs, buying a house, it was crazy!  This was Austin on 3/18/06, so 11 months and Austin just starting to stand on his own.  (Hmm, same messy shirt too:)