Gymnastic and our talking toddler

Monday mom watched Gabby so I could actually watch Bella's lesson. Mom enjoyed Gabby alone (which hardly happens) and I enjoyed Bella's class and a short trip to the mall for Daddy's Christmas present (which she promptly told him we bought as soon as he got home that night). Anyway...Bella is so cute in gymnastics. She loves trampoline time

It's hard for me to remember she's younger than everyone else by over a year when she's bigger than them.

On the "big" balance beam

practicing

Now onto my growing toddler...I can't believe she is almost 18 months. It's hard to believe I was 7 months pregnant when Bella was this age. Bella seemed older, but it's probably because I'm trying to keep Gabby as much as a baby as I can. However, she is anything but little anymore. She is so smart and is putting two-three words together. Much earlier than Bella did. Last night she said "Mama blow" and then helped me blow on her mashed potatoes. It was so cute...she would test them and say "okay". She loves books and mom was surprised when she sat for about 30 minutes just looking at books with her. She's great saying what the pictures are and is obsessed with Elmo right now (her Christmas present from Bella although mommy bought it online so Bella can't ruin that surprise too).

We (I) love to make pancakes for dinner, and Gabby loves to dip them.

She was so funny and wanted "gatrade" so much she picked up and brought them over to me...she's a little impatient too. I loved her face. Her hair is getting really long and she isn't looking too much like a baby anymore.

Being silly for the camera. She is getting into so many routines. After a meal she says down and then runs over and climbs up the stool to wash her hands. She has so much fun playing in the water. She also loves to brush her teeth and runs into the kitchen and climbs back up and grabs her toothbrush. At school she'll run to the fridge for her cups and then to her teacher to get her paper for the day.

She was rocking out the other night...just like her big sister. This weekend we got the girls tent out....but they wanted daddy to go in but it's a little small. It was so cute if you can see both girls hands are patting him night night.

Playing puppets

They love to tackle each other

We've been practicing letters...she looked so studious.

Both girls are so similar...their independence is growing. They are pretty good about sharing but Gabby's new favorite word is "mine". The other night Bella was playing with my purse and I asked her to leave it alone (this was after several conversations of needing to listen to mommy and daddy). She put it down and promptly said "I didn't want to play with it anyway" spun around and stormed off. Joel ran to the bathroom cracking up. Sometimes it's just so hard not to laugh.

Tonight Gabby was in the back seat and said "Mama movie" and pointed to the screen that I had turned off because Bella didn't want to watch any more Hannah Tanna, but in the end they compromised and Bella will get to pick what we watch tomorrow.

While I was at our provider dinner Sunday the girls found the Christmas presents while Daddy was ordering pizza. He came out and they were trying to get the princesses out of the packages. Then we went to Target on Monday and Bella goes "Oh Mommy I want the big package of princesses" (apparently the individual wrapped ones aren't as cool even though they are the same). We decided after the over spending last year on stuff that the girls didn't need that we would limit gifts this year to one present from everyone, so Gabby will get a present from us, Bella and the big guy in a red suit. I'm hoping I can keep to this as all the shopping is done for everyone (except Ryan and Chad), as I want to focus on the real reason of Christmas, continuing traditions and enjoying moments instead of stressing over presents they don't need.

I have been enjoying extra snuggles lately as I was reminded of how short life can be. Our small group pastor's wife past away after a huge battle with cancer. She had been in remission for quite awhile, but the cancer came back over the summer and last week she finally met our Savior. She had a 16 year old daughter and they were definitely best friends. Bonnie was a fantastic mom (and Juno a great dad) because McKenzie is amazing. I had only met Bonnie once at the silent auction mom and I helped with to raise money for her and she was just a person people gravitated too...she was a light and had a fondness with Ryan. Anyway, thinking of all she will miss as McKenzie graduates and gets married and has kids it's so sad. So even though Bella and Gabby have both been trying to stay up later but I've been holding Gabby longer and giving into Bella's attempts to stay up "Mommy I want a big hug, now a baby hug, big kiss, baby kiss, Eskimo kiss and butterfly kiss". The funeral is tomorrow and trying to explain that McKenzie's mom is in heaven to a 3 year old is quite challenging with all the "whys" but not having any answers.

Well I'm headed to bed.

State Fair

Yesterday we headed to the fair with Uncle Chaddy and Aunt Stephie. We weren't sure if Bella would go on any rides, but we were shocked by her dare devil spirit. When she was little she was fearless and would climb and jump off everything. Then she was scared of the merry-go-round last year at the zoo so I wasn't sure what to expect even though she loves the merry-go-round now. But she loved all the rides and kept pointing to the adult rides to go on.

Daddy and Chad made the climb (barely) to the top of the slide and came down with Bella. For a second I thought Bella was going to just sit down and go by herself but Joel grabbed her.
She seemed to like this ride, but this pictures shows otherwise...

She did love the helicopter she went on by herself.

That's Joel and Bella at the top of the ferris wheel. I thought she might freak out at the top, but she would not stop asking to go on it (I think because we have a carnival book with a picture of cookie monster on one she wanted to ride it). They even had to stop at the top to let someone else one and Bella was looking over and waving and the seats were swinging...I think Joel was a little scared she would try and stand up or fall off.

Gabby even had a little ride on a tractor. She seemed to have fun but think next year will be more fun when she can ride too.

Bella giving her sister a little love after the ferris wheel

Gabby did enjoy petting the pigs in the petting zoo. Bella freaked out though. Chad had bought food for the animals (as you can see his friend sneaking under his arm) and they swarmed us when we walked in. This was the only time Bella would stand on the ground until Chad's friend came over. There were lamas, sheep and goats and some were pretty big and jumped up on Chad.

Of course you have to play games...

which means you find a booth where you are guaranteed a win (when you are the only one to play).

Bella won a giraffe, but Gabby quickly claimed it as "mine" (her new favorite word). She would not let go of it, even when she was out of the stroller she was carrying it around and dancing with it. Luckily Bella was too busy with the rides to care that Gabby was now the owner of the "raffe"

Food was another focus of the trip...I couldn't wait for curly fries and Indian fry bread (both were fantastic). Gabby wasn't sure of the cotton candy. It was so light she couldn't figure out that you ate it.

but both devoured their corn. Gabby just kept looking for more kernels and it finally had to get taken away when there was none left.

We had a fantastic sunset to finish off the evening.

Drawing Tigers and Sharks

Bella seems to be blossoming everyday...and I LOVE watching her grow and learn. Besides her new fondness of making up stories, she has started connecting her drawing/coloring with actual objects. The other day at the ENT's office they have a giant chalkboard. Waiting for over an hour gave her lots of time to play. She was so intense and drew a rectangle and then a square inside of it. I was pretty impressed since all of her previous drawings were just lines and circles all over the place. Then she made a tiger with stripes. She added eyes, ears, tail and stripes. It looked more like a bug but she was so detailed with creating this tiger. Today when I picked her up from school she had drawn a shark and fish. She was so excited to tell me all about her picture (two ovals with dots in them).

Tonight when we were working on letters she says out of the blue, "Mom I have a great idea" and then ran and got a different marker to write with, then would say again "Mom I have another idea" and would go and get another pen. After she did her letter "L" she wanted me to help her with the letter "T" and eventually just wanted me to do the first page. When I was done she said "Awesome. Good Job Mommy. Okay my turn" She's such a great little cheerleader.

Gabby is such a cuddle bug. Tonight I told her to tell Bella good night, so she ran up to her and tackled her to the ground and just laid on the biggest snuggle and kiss. Bella was trying to get up but Gabby had her pinned and just kept hugging her. It was the cutest thing and I couldn't get to my camera fast enough (actually I didn't think there was any angle I could get to capture that moment, so I just enjoyed the moment).

Poor baby seems to react to antibiotics. She had 3 blow out diapers yesterday at school...so when I went to pick her up they had put on a spare outfit. It was a yellow striped ducky romper...but was a 3/6 month size, well Gabby is in 24 months. I don't even know how they got this thing snapped...but it was so funny. When I picked her up today...she had only one blow out (apparently it was huge though) but her poor bottom is so red from a rash...but the first thing she said was "poop" and pointed to her bottom. It was so pitiful.