Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend - we sure did! Jeritt was off on Friday, so we took a trip out to the Skokie Exploratorium and met up with our friends, the Smith family (their kids, Harper and Harrison, are the same ages as ours). Ella wore Jeritt out climbing through the maze of tunnels and slides, and Jack pretty much slept through it all. On Saturday we joined our friends, the Borgmeyers, for an Easter egg hunt in their neighborhood. We did the same one with them last year, and Ella has definitely learned how to hunt for eggs in the past year. She hit her 15-egg limit very quickly! Ella was very excited to meet the Easter Rabbit (that's what she calls him), and loved the petting zoo. Later in the day, she ended up getting sick, and we're still not sure if it was the result of too much candy and cupcakes at the egg hunt, or if she's got a bug. Regardless, Ella stayed home with Jeritt today while Jack and I attended Easter lunch with the Short family. And upon our return, we took a nice, long walk to enjoy the fantastic weather - while it lasts!

Happy Easter from Ella and Jack!
Ella was impressed with her egg coloring ability

Sharing her eggs with Gary. 

Jack sporting his Easter tie.

Making cookies with Mommy.

Thanks for the cute outfit, Aunt Joan!


Her latest best buds - Gonzo and Alligator.

Wearing her apron (or 'acorn' as she called it) to make cookies.

Pretending to take a boat ride.

Yes, she dressed herself for bed.

Jack can sit in the Bumbo chair!


Easter egg hunt.




Sampling the goods from her Easter basket.

Jack riding in the carrier during our trip to the Exploratorium. 

Playing at the water table.

Ella loved the goats and bunnies at the petting zoo.

Meeting the Easter Rabbit.


Encouraging her friend Mia to meet the Easter Bunny. 


Jack enjoyed eating his tie.

Hugs for the Easter Rabbit!


Sunday, March 24, 2013

On a Roll

We had another good week, filled with play dates with friends and more progress on the potty front. Along with her interest in wearing underwear, Ella is in the independent stage, where she wants to do everything herself. It can be both helpful and frustrating, but entertaining nonetheless. She is also in a singing stage, especially 'Wheels on the Bus,' and we often find her making phone calls on her play phone. As for Jack, we're trying to get him into a bedtime routine, but it's slow going. However, he has made progress with the bottle, and hopefully we can start giving him enough before bed to help him sleep longer! Finally, in big news, Jack rolled over for the first time! During tummy time he now rolls over onto his back, and is pretty close to rolling from his back to belly, too. Of course, he wouldn't perform for the camera, but we'll try to capture it soon.

Cheesing for the camera at a play cafe. 

Ella and "Morgy" (Morgan). He lets her boss him around:)

She loves her hat so much that she sleeps in it.

With potty training, she's been pants-less a lot lately, and adding mommy's heels completes the look.

Sibling tummy time.

The hazards of dressing yourself - you get stuck.

The hazards of refusing to nap anymore - you get stuck when you should be sleeping!

Reunited with her buddy, Harper. They were so funny, just laughing and talking like they had so much to catch up on!

Jack and Harrison, born one day after Jack.


Moo Cow has to be in the photos, too.



He's enjoying his ability to hold toys and chew on them!

Even if he doesn't always have full control:)

Sunday, March 17, 2013

It's Potty Time!

What a difference a week makes! With Jeritt traveling yet again last week, Grandma C. arrived on Sunday to help us for a few days. While Jack is still struggling to take a bottle, we did make progress on sleep with both kids, and, in very exciting news, Ella has been using the potty! I realize that next week could be back to diapers, but she's interested in wearing 'unnies' (undies) and sitting on the potty, as long as she gets to watch the "Potty Dance" afterwards (thanks, Grandma C.!). I'm crossing my fingers that we can continue our progress with another good week!

Nothing says "party time" like an Elmo birthday hat and undies. 

Jack sporting the sweater that our good friend, Beth, made for Ella.

We went to lunch with Grandma C., and Ella devoured an entire thin crust pizza! 

Refuses the pacifier but loves his hands.

She said she was getting ready for a trip to Target, which is where she's been shopping most of the week with Gonzo:)

Hanging out in the little tub while I got Ella ready in the big tub.

"No nap," means she has more time to spend getting into unusual spots in her room...


This little girl sure missed her Daddy!






Giving Jack kisses.

A diligent dad manually pushing the swing so that Jack could sleep after we ran out of batteries. 


Jack and Lyla, who was born four weeks before him.

Ella and her buddy, "Mimi" (Mia).