Before and After

Just for fun! I am trying to learn how to use my fancy camera and I was playing with the manual settings today, indoors which doesn't work without light, and so I tried to salvage some of the 300+ pictures I attempted to take. Sigh, I have a lot to learn yet.

He's Walking

It's official. I'm pretty sure we can call Evan a toddler now. Just shy of his first birthday and he's walking more than crawling. He's a seasoned pro at standing up from sitting in the middle of the floor with no support, and I knew it was only a matter of time before walking took over. I really knew we were close when he walked across my parents floor last weekend. So tonight I had hoped to catch him on camera. I sort of successfully did. It's a bit shotty because I was trying to film him but also make sure he didn't go bashing his head into the table. For those seeing this on facebook click here.

You Capture - Happy

Nothing make baby girl happier than hats. She LOVES Mommy's hat. I had a heck of a time getting it away from her. So this was our evening of playing "got you" as she calls it. Basically she runs from me with whatever she isn't supposed to have, and then yells "got you." My big ole goof ball!



This was a bit fuzzy, but still funny.



STATIC!

Little man just waited for us to play with him too. I tried to get his smile on film, but he kept looking down.

I LOVE his eyelashes, and that cute little chin.

For more "Happy" captures, visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.


  



More Turtles Mama

So tonight I tried out a fabulous new recipe, Tortellini Primavera. It was absolutely scrumptious. I started dinner a little early so I could eat in peace without trying to feed the kids. I took my dinner to the living room where they were watching cartoons. Arabella saw a bowl in my hand and instantly thought, "Oh, ice cream." Not winning mother of the year here am I? So, I proceed to tell her through a series of "Bite ice cream Mama!" that it is actually tortellini. She looked at me and said "bite?" So I obliged, then she started asking for more "bite turtles." Sure baby, what ever you say.

He CAN Walk

He can walk, when he wants to. He proved it yesterday. I got him to take about five or six steps at home before we left for my parents house. Once at my parents house he decided that he would walk across the living room, one end to the other. I wanted to get it on camera so bad, so we tried to make him repeat it and it was a no go. He just wanted to play with all of the toys scattered on the floor. I'm a little sad, but I'm thinking we may be able to catch him at home doing it. It's official though, he's turning into a toddler.

Fun In The Snow

We decided to go visit my parents today and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to let Arabella play in the snow. After all she has been begging us to let her out at home, but I just wasn't ever in the mood really. So as we got ready to leave we packed up all of our snow gear, but it just ended up being me, her and the camera outside. She had a blast. After a while I knew she had to go in because we didn't have the right boots for her and her gloves were covered in snow balls, so I knew her hands were freezing. And as I'm sure you can guess she threw a hissy fit and I ended up having to pick her up and take her inside. In a short amount of time I managed to take over 300 pictures (thank you continuous shoot). Here are just a hand full and the rest I'll be putting on facebook.

Yes, she did try to throw a snowball at me but instead hit herself in the face.



"Let's make a snowman Mommy."

Arabella was so proud of her, uh, snowman.



Sliding down the snow pile is fun!



It was a good day.



It's Gone

Her first removed tooth. The box is only an inch long, so cute.

Arabella had her extra tooth removed this morning. It was nerve wracking for several reasons. Yesterday and last night we got a foot of snow dumped on us. I had to snow blow the driveway so Adam could leave for work. Then he gets to work and messages me that he was nearly ran off the road getting out of the neighborhood because a couple of doofuses were coming down the hill in the middle as he was  going up. This morning he had to snow blow the driveway again so we could get the car out, it drifts really bad. We slid a few times getting out of the neighborhood, but we made it to the dentist safely.

We arrive ten minutes early only to find the dentist office dark and locked. So we stood in the hallway for maybe 5 minutes when some of the assistants arrived. They had forgotten their keys, so they had to wait on the doctor. It was a few minutes later and he showed up, so it wasn't too long of a wait considering the conditions outside. I promise, I'm getting to the story.

We get into the little room where they do procedures as to not scare other children, which is great in my opinion. We put Evan in a stroller so it would free both Adam and I up to assist however we were needed. The assistant lets Arabella pick her "flavor" of nose piece for the nitrous, she chose Bubble Gum. We allowed them to use the nitrous just so she could be calm for the procedure and the machine was on timers so that she wasn't over exposed. A few minutes after the nitrous starting taking affect we tried to see if she's lay in the chair, but that was a no go. The dentist said that was okay, they'd lay her in his and Adam's laps, it was easier that way and what they typically do for little ones. The dentist started to numb her up and she discovered that Dora was on the ceiling t.v. A few minutes later he administered the "sleepy juice." She never even new he was using a needle. She just laid there, never even flinched. I was so proud and relieved. A few minutes later the dentist pulled her tooth and that was that. She never cried, never flinched, never grimaced, nothing. She just laid there as relaxed as can be.

Everyone was so impressed with how she did. They said the normally get at least one tear out of every child, and usually the older crowd cries a bunch. They had never had a child not shed a tear or show no reaction to what was happening. It made me super happy to hear just how awesome she did. They were so impressed she received two tokens to the vending machines, in which she picked a bouncy ball and a necklace. She also received two rubber ducks, and a balloon.

I'm very glad it is over. I did have to look away during the pulling, but other than that I think Adam & I being calm kept her calm. Now we look forward to the next six plus months as her new tooth comes in farther and hopefully twists into its proper location.



Kicked back watching Dora...she's relaxed wouldn't you say?



Peanut Butter Carrots

I seriously, 100% thought Adam was crazy. He said as a child he would eat peanut butter with his carrots...umm, eww. Well he had me try it the other day and to my surprise it was pretty good. So this afternoon Arabella decided to turn into a little garbage disposal. She busted through cottage cheese, the remainder of our grapes which she pulled off the stem herself, almond milk, apple juice, and carrots with peanut butter. At first I just gave her carrots. She nibbled, but didn't chow down like she normally would. So I offered her peanut butter and she was all about that. So now, if she's not in a carrot mood I can ask if she wants a side of peanut butter and I know she'll eat her carrots.

I can do it

Gah, it's so frustrating. He can do it, when he wants to. He's taken steps here and there, but when we try to make him walk more than three steps at a time he refuses. Either way he's now going from sitting to a crouching position and trying to stand up from crouching without support. It's quite cute until he attempts it in the bath tub.



Look Mommy, no hands!



Hitchin A Ride

I found Arabella "riding" on the back of the walker while Evan was so graciously playing the part of the limo driver. I was very surprised to see him actually able to drag her around the kitchen...love these kids.

FINALLY!

Teething sucks. :/

Evan has been trying to cut more bottom teeth for what seems like forever. Finally, one of them has cut through. The one on the opposite side is still trying. By comparison, he is way behind where his sister was at this age. It still hasn't stopped him from trying to eat table food.

Big Chip

Yesterday for lunch we had our first family healthy meal. It was The Eating Well Taco. Arabella found out, as did I, that the meat was too spicy. She also refused the romaine lettuce. Normally she chows down on lettuce, but we usually eat iceberg (I'm trying to change that). So, after an unsuccessful attempt at eating her own bowl of food she begged for a bite of my shell. I decided, if she likes it she can have her own, and I grabbed a multi-grain tortilla from the bag and she went to town. It was hilarious because as soon as she saw it in my hand she started demanding for the "big chip." Awesome.



Munching on the big chip.




Peek-a-boo. She looks like Gru from Despicable Me.




Don't know why but she had to take a bite, turn it, and take another bite. Weird little girl.



Mother Hen

The other day I caught Arabella dumping an entire container of puffs on to Evan's walker tray because "he was hungry." That's what I get for multi-tasking, aka cooking dinner while parenting two children.

This I have no excuse for. I look up in time to see Arabella feeding Evan her berry mixed dried fruits. I rush over and he's happily chewing and she looks at me with this look. It's so hard to describe. It was something like "I didn't do anything wrong, he wanted me to feed him" look. I guess, the pieces are so small there's no harm, no foul?

But it leads me to this...when did she turn into a mother hen? I've caught her more and more lately trying to smack his hand for getting into the trash or telling him "no, no, no" or trying to redirect him. I just want to know when did she pick up on this stuff and assume it's her job to "mother" Evan? It's cute, but sometimes annoying.