Bunch of Stuff - It's a long one.

So I know it's been awhile but our corporate year end is today so it's been a little busy. So I think subheadings will work best for all our updates, so here goes...

GABBY

Well Gabby had her 4 month check up last week and she came out a whopping 15 lbs, 1 oz and was 24.25 inches. Which put her in the 80% for weight and 60% for height. She's tracking right along; however, she was 2 inches shorter then Bella was at 4 months...so I'm thinking Bella's got the Newell height and Gabby may be closer to the Floras lack of height. I guess we'll see. Here's Gabby at her appointment - loving the paper.She is talking so much...a lot more than I remember Bella doing. She sings when Ryan plays the piano (see video). It is too cute, she stops when he stops and then picks right back up when the music is on.

She's been a great sleeper but has croup (what they now call RSV); however, she's doing a lot better and it hasn't gotten into her chest yet so that is a blessing. No teeth yet but I'm thinking any day we'll see them poking through. She goes through about 5-6 bibs a day of drool. She sleeps like Bella when she was tiny - arms in the air like she's on a rollercoaster.

She was so tired one morning I found her asleep hanging half way off the bouncer. Guess it's time to strap her in.
So one thing we aren't sure about is what happened to all of Gabby's hair? She had so much hair when she was born and now it is so light but a lot of what was on top has disappeared somewhere. This was at a few weeks...look at how much she had!

BELLA

We always have a lot of stories with Bella so I'll try to limit them. She had her 2 year appointment last week when I took Gabby. She is now 31.2 lbs and 35 inches. I can't believe she's that big and wearing some 3T clothes already. She still in the 90% for height and weight, which makes her one of the tallest in her class.

I finally finished her room this weekend, but she discovered that she could leave her room about a week after we converted her bed. She scared the crap out of me the first few nights because I would roll over and she would just be staring at me. She wouldn't say anything just stare..it was creepy. Luckily that only last a few nights. Now she gets only once usually around 5am , then I (she never wakes Joel up) get up and take her back to her room where I think she just plays for another hour until she reappears next to me. A few mornings I found books on the floor next to my nightstand. I have no idea how long she sat there reading. Yesterday she was telling her dragonflies (that I just put on the wall) "no". I was wondering who she was talking to, then that night Joel told me she was yelling at the dragonflies on her wall. Not sure what they were doing since they are stickers that don't move.

Here's the girls in Bella's new chair.

She still loves coloring and has been obsessing about tracing feet. She traces her foot, then mommy's and then Gabby's. She even tries to have Gabby color with her and hands everyone a crayon and paper to color on. All three of us have our own. She's starting to make circles and get really into what she is drawing instead of just putting a few lines down. Tonight she was coloring post-its at Papa's house and I was trying to leave and she said sit down mama...apparently she wasn't done with her artwork.

She didn't want to wait for bath time to use her bathtub crayons so she jumped in and started coloring.
Puzzles is another big thing. She surprised me this past weekend when she got all of the pieces in the spots by herself (see video). She likes her shape and animal puzzles. She's starting to figure out that sometimes she needs to turn the piece until it fits, but she figures out where they need to go. I loved puzzles and still do, so I guess she's taking after me in that respect.

She continues to surprise us. She is so loving and sweet. She is talking so much and it's fun to actually figure out what she's saying...makes life so much easier. She gives kisses to Gabby which melt my heart to see that unconditional love between them. She has become such a great big sister and loves to help with Gabby's baths and giving her blankets and her toys. She loves to read books and grab Gabby's hand to run it over the fuzzy animals.

Joel reading to her the other weekend and her sitting in her new chair.
SATURDAYS/FOOTBALL DAY

Saturday's are great family days. Well it's all about football right now. Joel has succeeded in having Bella do the second part of "O-H I-O" (see video). In addition, he has also taught her to give everyone a nice "good game". Cosmo isn't even safe.

SCORPIONS...YEP ANOTHER ONE

Yes, I found another one bigger than the previous one. Actually I screamed when I saw it at 12:30 in the morning when I was going to the bathroom and it was sitting on a towel in the hamper. The towel we had used on one of the girls a few hours earlier. Yes - I made Joel get out of bed to kill it. After I talked to my mom's bug guy he said since we've only found them in the bathrooms it's pretty common for them to live above the bathrooms because we have a tile roof and they can get water that way, and that they fall through the vents (which was right above the hamper). So Joel spent all of Saturday putting up wire mesh in the vents to keep them out. Hopefully no more little friends will be found.

GRANDPA

This past weekend Grandpa gave us a scare. The doctors said it was a TIA since all of his tests came back negative for a stroke or heart attack. He was able to go back home today. I went up and saw him yesterday and it was so sweet to see him hold grandma hand. It's amazing to see how much love they have for each other after 68 years of marriage (almost 69). Thank you to everyone for their prayers I know it made a difference.

THINGS I LOVE
Finally, I wanted to write down all the things that I love right now. Since I've been so swamped and have had so many thoughts in my head lately I wanted to write them down so I could journal the girls scrapbooks later (if I ever find time again). So here goes...

I LOVE...

• the unexpected kisses from Bella
• when Bella comes up behind me and gives me a hug
• watching both girls discover the world around them
• how Gabby gazes at me and then gives me the biggest grin when I look back at her
• how Bella always says good-bye to Cosmo in the mornings
• the sound of Joel reading to Bella
• when Bella sings
• Gabby's squeals
• hearing Bella say "mama" and "daddy"
• hearing Joel make Gabby laugh
• how Bella says I love you - "Luv voo"
• how Gabby plays with my fingers
• the smell of the girls after their baths
• Bella mimicking me when I get ready in the mornings
• the feel of their soft chubby cheeks
• when Gabby gets excited and kicks her legs around in delight
• when Bella twirls around
• the sound of the girls' giggles and laughter
• watching Bella wear my shoes around the house
• how Bella shows Gabby how her toys work
• the unexpected things Bella says
• Gabby's tiny toes
• hearing Bella run up and down the hall
• watching Gabby sleep so peacefully
• Bella snuggling with me in the mornings
• holding Gabby until she falls asleep
• watching Bella try new things
• how fearless Bella is
• seeing Joel with both girls
• when Bella holds Gabby hand unexpectedly
• Gabby cuddling with her little blankets
• chasing Bella around
• when Gabby has a conversation with you
• the way Bella accessorizes her outfits with purses, bracelets and sunglasses
• how Bella talks along when she watches Bee Movie and parts of Nemo
• how Gabby moves her mouth like she has so much to say but nothing comes out
• having Bella pick out books and reading to the girls at night
• playing peek-a-boo with Gabby
• watching Bella make faces in the mirror to see what she looks like

We are so blessed and I am reminded of this every time I look at my family. Thank you Lord for all you have given us. Sorry this was so long, but I don't want to forget since time seems to be flying by. I still can't believe Bella will be 2 next Friday!

An unexpected day with both girls

So last night Bella threw up all over her bed. I'm not sure if it was something she ate or a bug (she did enjoy her bath at 10 pm though). She got in bed with Joel and when I came in around 1 from working Joel was asleep but hanging halfway off the bed. I'm still not sure how he didn't fall out. It was pretty cute to see her snuggled up with her daddy though. So she stayed home with Gabby and I, since she's been a little congested this week too. I was already exhausted from not much sleep this week, Gabby napped and I laid on the couch with Bella watching her sing-a-long videos (she added a few more songs to the ones she knows since we watched the videos ALL day). We took about an hour nap...but she was so sweet curled up with me. Then we played for a few more hours - so of course I had my camera ready for my cute girls. Both girls laid down again and I got about 3 hours of working on reports done. It was so fun singing and coloring and snuggling all day.
After nap time I put Gabby in Bella's bed and couldn't believe how big she looked. She's getting so big so fast.

Check out that drool.
Gabby also practiced sitting by herself.
Another bath with bubbles to top off the night.
and then into her new monkey pjs she found in her drawer.
I just had to add this one. Yesterday was picture day at school. She was so cute in her new jeans. A month ago they were about 2 inches too long, but I put them on and they fit great....I thought she had been growing. Anyway I happened to have my camera when I went to pick her up and they were playing outside.

Anyway, she seems to be feeling better but still has a runny nose and cough. She is becoming so sweet - better than her biting phase - when we left school yesterday she went around and gave hugs to all her friends and a few kisses. It was too cute.

A weekend of firsts

There are alot of pictures - but I take so many it's hard not to put a whole bunch up...plus the week is always packed so it leaves me the weekend to get the whole week updated...so here goes.

Here's Gabby sitting on the couch with all her toys
She also started squealing this week...it is so funny!


Bella like her daddy (and Granna) has become obsessed with flavor ice. She asks for it constantly of course it's called "yellow" (like everything else). She even had a complete melt down Friday night and cried so hard because I wouldn't let her have it for dinner...they are now hidden high up in the freezer so she can't see them so when she's looking for them at every meal.
Saturday morning she made eggs with daddy.
Gabby is drooling buckets as you can tell by her shirt.
Saturday we went to Logan's 2nd birthday (I even charged by battery to take my camera and remembered the camera but forgot the battery - I was so bummed b/c Bella was cute playing baseball and eating/shoving popcorn into her mouth by the handfuls). Anyway, Joel was allowed to dress one of the girls in OSU gear. He was a little upset that the entire family wasn't decked out...but it looks like it wouldn't have helped anyway. But Bella was adorable - Thanks Pappa and Granna for the bibs.

Saturday was also the day we converted Bella's crib into her toddler bed. I wasn't sure how that was going to go since Friday she freaked out when I suggested changing her bed. However, by Saturday helping daddy was fun.
No more pooh bear. Onto purple and yellow dragonflies.

I laid down with her for her first nap - which took her 2 hours to fall asleep (these are not made for adults to sleep in). Since then we've just laid her down and she's gone to sleep like usual...so far so good. I don't think she realizes she can get out and open the door yet. She still waits for us to come in and get her. This morning she was sitting in her bed playing with the clothes in her drawer under her bed. The only thing she could reach while still being in bed. Not sure how long it will take her realize she can get out, but I'm sure she'll scare me soon in the middle of the night when she comes into our room or while I'm working.
Our other first of the weekend happened this morning - Gabby rolled over from her belly to her back all on her own. It took Bella forever to roll I think she was almost 7 or 8 months...even then she hardly did it...so we'll see how much of a roller Gabby is.

Gabby in her cute dress for church this morning.

Bella feeding Cosmo...she loves her new chore.

Tonight we went over and celebrated Nana's 59th birthday.
Papa made mashed potatoes which Bella LOVED it was the only thing she ate at dinner and she had 3 huge helpings...they were all over her face.
Then it was time for brownies, ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce - her belly was so huge by the time we gave her a bath.
Well - I hope every one has a good week. Hopefully next Saturday will be a little better for OSU and ASU (but I am pretty sure OSU has better chances for a win than ASU against Georgia)

"Sing Song"

So I had a scare last night. Everything was going great with Bella's bath until it was time to get out. She slipped and I thought she had bumped her head. She hit it hard so I figured she'd cry. She started to scream and looked up and there was all this blood coming out of her mouth. So of course we called Papa and he came over for a house call. Luckily she just cut the inside a little bit so no stitches. Good thing Bella loves ice...today she woke up and no bruising or swelling so she was ready for another day. Crazy child.

On a funnier note - today we were getting ready to leave Nana's house and I had told Bella that we were going to go to McDonalds on the way home. I asked her what McDonalds had (thinking she would say french fries as she does everyday we pass it) and she replied E-I-E-I-O. I guess we've been on a singing kick and she was thinking Old MacDonald instead of McDonalds. Ryan and I started laughing so hard.

Not to leave Gabby out - I bought her some little blankets (monkey, lion and pink giraffe)...well she loves them. I think because they are so soft she can snuggle or eat them. She was quiet in her car seat today for the first time just holding on to her monkey...yeah I may have found something that works.

Anyway - here are the videos promised from earlier in the week - I attempted to get the girls to wish Granna a Happy Birthday but had no luck - sorry.

Here is Bella singing Wheels on the Bus

ABCs - she gets a few letters here and there.

And for those of you who enjoyed Bella's song in the tub a while back - here's a new little ditty she has made up...part of it she is whispering so you may not be able to hear it. I was trying to get a video of Gabby being so happy with her monkey...but Bella stole her thunder.

Here's Gabby talking the other day. She was so talkative then I brought the camera out and she quieted down - of course.

Getting so big

Well we are still recovering from vacation. We finally got the house put back in order today but I'm okay with the fact that it will never be completely picked up until the girls are older.

So here's an update. It seems like the girls are constantly changing. Bella has been growing again and I had to go buy 3T tops (she sort of skipped over the 2Ts) since by the end of this week none of her shirts fit her anymore and I was afraid I wouldn't find any short sleeve since all the winter clothes seem to be out...however, she's still in 24 month bottoms. She started feeding Cosmo as her first chore and she thinks she's so big now. While on vacation she started to finally say thank you and thanks...her other new favorite line is let's go. She seems to be talking more and more and singing more words when listening to her songs. When you're talking to her she almost always says the last word of the sentence. Tonight she asked for her spaghetti - I looked at Joel and he was like yep she said spaghetti. Football is another new word - which just makes her daddy so proud. She is also getting really loving. She's always given hugs, but now just comes up and gives us kisses out of the blue. She says good bye to her friends at school with hugs, waves and sometimes kisses - better than biting! We are going to convert her bed into her toddler bed as soon as her new bedding comes that I just ordered. I can't wait to redo her room in her favorite colors purple and yellow.

Gabby is growing too - more wide than tall. She is starting to sit up with little help...but when she gets excited and kicks her feet she falls backwards. She is still laughing and now laughs when we laugh, which Bella thinks is hilarious so she laughs at Gabby trying to get her laugh even harder. She's "talking" more too and loves just going back and forth. She's starting to hold onto things longer and loves the mirror and peek-a-boo. She's not very happy in her swing anymore and would rather sit and look around than have tummy time or lay on her back. She is just so precious that all three of us are having fun watching her get bigger and bigger. Luckily we got blessed with another great sleeper. I was a little worried since it took her longer to sleep through the night, but for the past few weeks she is now down usually by 7:30 and sleeps until about 6:30 or 7 in the morning.

Anyway, we had a fun weekend. Yesterday Bella went to the office to be an extra in the office video that Uncle Chad is making, then it was to Denny's for lunch and then she took a 4 hour nap! Meanwhile Gabby was decked out in OSU gear for Saturday football and hung out with daddy - all I can say is look at that Belly!
Last night Joel went to the ASU game with Tim, so I was home with the girls. Bella played with her play dough most of the night...she was having so much fun with the animal shapes I made her.
Today was cleaning/playing day. Gabby was shaking her rattle and then chewing on it.
Bella holding Gabby - sort of
Gabby is into putting everything in her mouth - I have a feeling she's going to get her teeth early like Bella did at 4 months.
This was Bella after nap - notice 3 stuffed animals (including beloved Shamu) and 3 blankets. This picture started our crazy afternoon with her - she cracks us up and wears us out.

I finally hung up Gabby's newborn pictures with Bella's help as the foreman.
Then she wanted bandannas on her head and as a skirt.
Then it was another headband to help daddy make dinner.
Then it was time to make cookies which she was too busy eating the chocolate chips off the top instead of actually helping.
Here are some videos of Bella on the beach. I have some from this weekend of Gabby talking and laughing and Bella singing, but I couldn't edit them since I'm in the office and Gabby is asleep for the night - so I'll post those later this week.

A small victory

Well we had an exciting achievement this evening. Bella peed in the potty. Like usual she was saying she had to potty so we went and she hopped on then of course she hopped off like usual. So I figured since she was half undressed we'd get ready for a bath...well a few minutes later she started to pee (yes on Nana's floor - sorry Nana that's what happens when you're in Mexico) so I grabbed her and stuck her on the potty. I think she was scared at first but then she finally went and was so excited when she was done (probably because I was so excited and making a big deal out of it). I know we have a long road of potty training but hopefully this was the first step down that road that I've been dreading.

I'm a wuss

Yes, I had to call Joel to come home today and kill the scorpion I found while I was washing my hands...of course it was sitting right where my bare feet had been. I was armed with knives and then remembered the spray we had in the garage (that we've been meaning to spray the house for a few months)...well the spray didn't work too well (so much for it killing scorpions) it numbed it at first and I thought I'd killed him...but then he started walking again, so I sprayed him into a corner and I think paralyzed him again until Joel could come home and cut his tail off. I know I'm bigger than this little scorpion but they creep me out...needless to say the house has now been drenched with insecticide so hopefully we won't be seeing anymore...please cool down so they'll go away.

I had to remove my scorpion picture - it was creeping me out scrolling through our blog.

First Family Vacation

We headed off to San Diego on Friday and had a blast. The girls were great the entire time and Bella had so much fun at the beach and at Sea World...it was hard to narrow down the few hundred pictures we took...but here's a glimpse of our weekend!