June ELLIA update (after the fact)

Ellia adjusted to the new house very well! Sometimes if she couldn't find a toy she would say "Aw man...at old house...aw maaan..."
This month she went bowling for the first time. She has a 'new move' when she's proud of something she's done. It's the athletic "YES" with the arm pump.

During the days that were actually warm and sunny this June, Ellia got right into the summer swim season. She felt very special to get swim instruction with star Register reporters Jen and Laylon who taught her to "motor boat".

She always enjoys her time with Mikayla ("kayla"). She'd pretty much do anything Mikayla asked, she thinks so highly of her.

Yay! Finally her own pool! We bought a cheap-o blowup pool & I bought a nice sturdy slide from a dad on Craigslist. She's loving it and we're loving her having her own backyard.

June CLAIRA update (after the fact)

Claira had many new adventures this month:
- Playing while sitting up, 1st tooth, eating baby food
Claira continues to be a wonderful, chubby, smiley little girl.
She is showing a determined and concentrated personality while also being easy going;
one that seems to dive right in to new challenges.

May update (after the fact)

The month of May found us very busy:
- Adjusting to our new "get-out-the-door routine" with Grandma/train, Ellia/school,
Mommy & Daddy/work
- Packing, packing and more packing

- Moving into our 1st house!

Portraits

These, at one point around Easter, were NEW photos of us. However, in dealing with our busy schedules, moving out of one home and into another...these pictures somehow aged very quickly. I'll mail photos out to family and friends as soon as I can find our address book and the stamps I bought pre-move!

Ellia's 1st Hop-Scotch Attempt

Longest Week of My Life!

I thought the first week of adjusting to two children in the house was the Longest Week of My Life - but oh no, no, no. The "transition" back to work started on Monday, April 13th. UGH! Our daily life is so hectic:
MORNINGS = Claira's night-time feedings & then up for day at a soul-sinking 5:00am, Ellia's up & needs potty/vitamins/apple juice/clothing, parents need to shower/dress, Claira needs to be held/breastfed/entertained, Mommy must leave for work after spending 2 hours with Claira and 1 hour with Ellia.
EVENINGS = Mommy must weave through 5 FWY traffic with NASCAR precison to get to Ellia's school before 5:00pm so that Grandma can be relieved of Claira-caretaking at 5:10pm, Mommy feeds Claira, Mommy gets dinner going with one hand while jostling Claira with the other, Mommy doesn't want Ellia to watch 1 hr of Sesame Street but usually gives in to get dinner on the table, Mommy tries to get Ellia & Claira out the door to go for a walk, Daddy home just in time for bathtime (usually), Mommy gives Ellia bath while Claira cries with Daddy downstairs, Mommy and Daddy put kids to bed at 8:45pm.

Whew! This wears me out more than taking care of Ellia & Claira around the clock during maternity leave. Now, the foot is always on the gas pedal-go go go, next next next.

It's proving hard to stop and stare in awe at my two precious children and just soak them in for a precious moment...

Happy Easter!

"1st Annual Cousin Easter Bash"
Egg Hunt / Egg Decorating / Dinner
Cousins: Ryan, Lauryn, Issac, Ellia, little Ben and little Claira

Ellia kept her adorable furry rabbit ears on for as long as the shutter on the camera took to take this photo. (sigh)

"More! I need find more!" is what we heard from Ellia the entire time.

The expression on Ellia and Lauryn's faces were a mixture of adrenaline and panic as they despirately tried to claim eggs.

Ah, the beauty of a dyed Easter Egg. It was such fun to relive this time honored tradition through the eyes of these little kids! The had a great time while also concentrating very hard on the coloring and stickering process.

Of course, no cousin reunion would be complete without a game of "CHASE ME! CHASE ME!" Oh do they love to go round & round and squeal. Thanks Dooro and EJ for opening up your house to us and hosting this 1st event (of many)