Happy Halloween

We had so much fun dressing the girls up last night. Bella was a monkey and Gabby was a giraffe. It didn't take long for Bella to figure out trick-or-treating. We started about 6 and just went up and down Nana and Papa's street. She made monkey noises for all the neighbors and said trick-or-treat and thank you. She was quite the entertainer. No other kids were out until later and then Bella wanted to go out again. She walked in the house and said "My bucket please daddy"...so nana and I took her down the next street by half through her "oo-oo-ah-ah" monkey noises turned into "oo" and her "trick-or-treat" turned into treat. She was so tired.

Wednesday the girls and I carved a pumpkin.

I have more pictures and videos from the past few weeks and I'll try to get them up soon. I can't believe it's November.

Joyous Chaos

This past week and a half has been hellish. No other word for it (well I could think of a few but figured I should keep this Bonnie-rated (family joke)). Anyway amidst the mood swings from both girls (I'm not sure if I'm glad they do it opposite of each other or if I should wish they both threw fits at the same time) there are the amazing moments that give me back a little sanity. Here are some of those moments caught on camera....

Gabby has become a big fan of her exersaucer...as long as you are next to her.
Sunday Joel was going to take Bella to the mall to go birthday shopping for mama (we both had worked until 2 am so we were skipping church, plus Bella was throwing up Friday night so it made for a long weekend), but Joel put her in the car and she kept saying church...so the two of them went. She looked so grown up in this picture.
Getting ready to read books before bed.
They are so cute together.
Playing peek-a-boo this morning.
Yesterday, Gabby started cereal. It didn't take her long to inhale it and want the spoon.
Today, she wasn't happy in the jumper...but I finally got some pictures of her pouty face.
She's lasting longer with no help...so hopefully she'll be up by herself and can play.

VIDEOS...

Yesterday I was looking for my shoes and I heard both girls laughing. I came back in the room and Bella was playing peek-a-boo with Gabby. The really high pitch squeals is Gabby laughing at her big sister.

Gabby loves to spit...this has made feeding interesting...but she entertains herself and cracks me up when she does it.

This weekend after dinner Joel and Bella were at the table and Bella started mimicking Joel.

Bella and her harmonica...we'll have to go play with Great Grandma Shotton soon.

Potty Training Update: I have to say that Bella is day time trained and about 50/50 at night. She had a few accidents Sunday because of her stomach bug and the Sunday school teacher not getting her to the potty in time (although Bella said she told her), but other than that has been dry. She wears pull ups to sleep in but has been getting up to potty in the middle of the night...among doing other things like playing at 2:00 am. This morning (2:30) I rolled over and she said here mama and handed me my knob from my dresser than she had decided to take off in the middle of the night. She also "decorated" her bed about 3:00 am with all her pull ups and sometime in the middle of the night walked around in my shoes. Crazy child. We could opt for the easy way and put her bed with us instead of getting up 8 times like last night but I'm afraid she would never leave, so I attempted to put her down later tonight in hopes of getting sleep. Well it's midnight and I still have work to do...so I better stop writing and get back to it.

Playing Dress Up

Since I am known for my shopping habit (yes I realize I have a problem, having two little girls doesn't help), I've had fun getting the girls stuff for our December Ohio trip. I don't really have time to go to the mall so I love shopping online. Gabby's winter hat and Bella's coat came today. How cute is this baby!!!
Bella and Gabby's Halloween outfits also came. Bella was hilarious running around being a monkey. I showed Joel the pictures tonight and he said it perfectly "She is ridiculously cute"

Gabby was supposed to be a lion but the costume was too big. I had gotten two backups since I the original was on back order and I didn't know how big she would be at the end of the month . . so she's going to be our little giraffe (or "raffe" as Bella calls them). It was time to eat and she wasn't too happy we were trying on costumes instead of eating...but she was so cute I had to take a picture.

Bella was accessorizing Gabby the other day with sunglasses.
I stopped by Nana's house today since I didn't think we'd make it to pick up Bella and back without eating. She was funny in the grass. I love this picture...like she's laying there pondering life.
She also sat up for a few seconds on her own. She's concentrating very hard.
Tonight she kept pointing her toes. It was so funny. The rag is in the way but she has some major thighs! I took her to the doctor this week since she still has her cough and at a week shy of 5 months she weighed 15 lbs. 15 1/2 oz. They said since she didn't have a fever to keep doing what I had been doing and wait it out.
How precious is that face? Don't you just want to pinch her cheeks?

Potty Training Update: Bella is doing great (I'm sure there are horror stories out there), but it's so hard to understand why she can use the potty once and then turn around and have an accident. Yesterday she had quite a few accidents even though she had been about 50% and telling us when she had to go some of the time. Today was much better with only 1 accident all day!! I'm sure I just doomed myself for saying that. Her teachers seem impressed that she's doing that well so fast, since we just put big girl panties on her yesterday but I'll just be glad when this process is over. Well it's 1 am, I should probably go to bed but I'm sure Bella will be wondering in our room in the next 60 minutes to go potty :)

Bella's 2nd birthday extravaganza!

So talk about a long, busy weekend...the party just did not stop! This is for everyone that couldn't make it...I hope you can understand how adorable my now two year old is from the pictures and videos below. She kept us all laughing...she had so much fun. Friday, Bella got up and showed me how old she was .... TWO! So we put on her tutu and did up some pig tails for school.
She started with her "Dad-Dee" Friday morning but then was funny because she kept wanting to see the video after she did it...as you can tell at the end of the clip she says "I see"

I took her cupcakes to school Friday afternoon. She was so cute passing them out to her friends. She was being very careful and took time to pick the right one for everybody. She tried to get the whole thing in her mouth and would open as wide as she could - her lip was quivering she was opening it so big...it was hilarious.

Here she is picking out her cupcake and Nana's (who didn't want one but Bella got her one anyway). We then took one to Papa and saved two for home that night so she could share with Daddy. He walked in the door and she said Daddy, cupcakes! She also woke up Saturday morning wanting them.

Friday night she opened a few presents from us and Gabby. I'm not sure if the Little Mermaid brush, word puzzles or her noisy instrument set was her favorite.
Saturday morning (at 3:00 am) I heard Bella coughing...so I finally went in after I figured she wasn't going to sleep to give her some medicine (surprised she hadn't gotten out of bed)...however, I opened the door and Granna was sitting with her. She had woken her up to go potty in the middle of the night and then kept getting her up. Finally she came in and slept with us so Granna could get some sleep (since their flight got in at 11:30 that night). I woke up to feed Gabby and Bella was sideways with her toe in Joel's eye...he said he didn't feel it but I'm not sure how that was possible.
Party time. We had so much fun with just family. The weather was perfect in the 70s. I even had to change the girls after awhile because it was getting chilly.My babies.
Gabby's new outfit...good thing Nana had bought her this fall outfit with pumpkin hat! She was so cute. The pants by the way are 6-12 months! Joel borrowed a bouncer from the receptionist at work...which everyone enjoyed (Joel, Chad, Steph, Phoebe, Shannon, Nana, Papa T and I all got in we were worried some wouldn't make it out)



Pizza time...she kept opening her mouth like she did for her cupcake--loves food just like her daddy!



Granna, Pappa and the little pumpkin
Daddy and Uncle Chad helped Bella open her presents! She didn't quite understand that when we told her who it was from...she kept trying to give it back to them...instead of thinking it was hers to keep. Our living room looks like a toy store now!
Great Grandpa and Grandma Shotton gave her a keepsake from Mexico.
Papa T bought Bella an indestructible digital camera. She kept going around saying cheese and taking everyone's pictures. She actually got some good ones, but of course there are many of her toes and the grass!

Blowing out the candle.

Our pumpkin
The birthday girl
Happy Birthday Bella B! After everything was cleaned up we decided to let the balloons fly. Bella cracked us up. She loved her balloons all day (so did Gabby) so we thought she might cry, but she loved it. She would say bye-bye and blow kisses and then run in for more. Here she is letting go of two balloons.

This process was taking forever so we thought we do the rest all together...but Bella wouldn't let them go. She would count but wouldn't let go. We finally had to do one at a time again.

This morning Bella lived in her ball pit from Nana and Papa. Gabby even had a blast in there.

She decorated pumpkins with Granna and Daddy.

We decided to have a tickle/tackle daddy moment.

Tonight we headed to Red Lobster for dinner. They even took a lobster out for Bella to look at...they asked her if she wanted to touch it and she said "no".

We had so much fun this weekend and Bella was so excited that Granna and Pappa came from Ohio to visit on her special day (weekend). She became obsessed with her Pappa this weekend and was very concerned when she didn't know where he was!

A few other funny stories (not that this hasn't been a long enough post)! During the week Bella got a few cards in the mail; however she thought they were broken because they didn't sing. A few weeks ago we gave my mom a singing card for her birthday and then my aunt gave Bella a singing Tinkerbell card last week...so I guess she thinks they should all sing now. She opened a few up and kept saying help...it took me a while to figure it out!

Lately Gabby's been working on her grasp...she is one strong little girl. Well she got a good grasp of the little hairs on the back of my neck the other night, which hurt. Soon after that I was sitting holding her and Bella was next to us and Bella screamed Baby's pulling my hair! Sure enough she got a good chunk of Bella's too...I'm sure that's just the first of many sisterly moments.

Bella has been doing great at Potty Training. She's been telling the teacher at school and they have only had to change her once a day. Even this weekend she told us some of the time when she needed to go. I haven't completely focused on it so this week is potty training week! We are going to start with big girl panties so we'll see how that goes.

I just have to finish up saying how much I love my family. Joel is great with the girls and Bella and Gabby give us so much Joy. It is so over whelming when you can see your child so happy. She is so loving and kind to everyone and now loves Gabby so much. She loves holding her and was so cute playing with her today. Bella gives great unexpected hugs and kisses and thank yous...and Gabby's smile can just light your heart. I just love them to pieces. Anyway...this one could be a record for length but I wanted everyone to be able to experience a little of our weekend since I know we have so much family far away that we miss!

She went potty!!

So around 1:30 am, Bella woke up and I heard her talking so I headed into her room. She kept saying potty...I figured she had wet her diaper already, but she wouldn't lay back down and she got out of bed and headed to the potty...and what do you know she was dry. So we sat on the potty and it finally happened...she peed!!! I was so excited but it was so late I didn't want to get her hyped up. I think she even fell asleep while she was sitting there. Anyway she ran to our room thinking she was going to sleep with us...then she realized daddy was home (sleeping) so she woke him up and told him...then we finally got back in bed.

On a side note, she has started getting up in the morning and wandering around the house. This morning I found Joel's head shaving cream on my night stand (the lid was behind her bed), luckily it was an empty bottle. She also left a pretty picture on my desk - on my work! I think I'm going to have to put a bell on her door so I know when she gets up.

New Tricks

I'm going to try and make this quick since I'm tired and still have work to do. Gabby and Bella both have been changing so much this past week. I can't believe Bella will be 2 on Friday. She has started talking non-stop and I am amazed at her vocabulary and how she puts words together. She is starting to read along in her books too and I love having her read her books that just have one picture per page...she pretty much knows all of the pictures. She also said pink and green on Monday when we were coloring...finally not everything is yellow or purple anymore! This morning she got into bed with me and I put on cartoons for her...after about 20 minutes she said "mama time to get up". She also has been saying Daddy, Baby and Gabby in a really funny voice. It's really low and she draws out the last part...Dad Deeeee. I don't have a video of it yet, but will post it once I do. Anyway onto pictures and videos.


I love when Gabby's on her tummy she crosses her feet.Last week the girls and I went to Abuelos with Papa and Nana. Papa colored with Bella while we waited for the guacamole.
My Aunt was in town because of Grandpa, so we had a cookout on Saturday. Bella was all about hanging out with Uncle Chad.

Using Daddy's leg to hide from Chad.

Aunt Pam holding Gabby.We also attempted potty training this weekend...we still have yet to go on the potty, but she finally will sit on her potty instead of the big one (easier for me); however, she reads magazines while she sits there...it's pretty funny. She learned really quick how to get candy. Tonight she was in her chair at the table and she looked at me and said "mama candy, I have dry pants". So we did a pant check and sure enough they were dry so she got a Reese's pieces.
We tried on her winter gloves for our trip in December...she loved them, not so fond of her hat, but loves the gloves. She also loves her tutu!
Gabby is starting to sit up for a few seconds on her own...however she's a little top heavy so it may take a little bit longer.
Tonight I was getting Bella's "trees" out of the steam bag in the microwave and didn't have anywhere to set Gabby so she got the highchair - she looks so tiny. She kept peering over the top to watch Bella.
She also found her toes. I don't think she can get them in her mouth since her belly seems to be in the way!
Gabby is going to be quite the talker. She is finding new sounds with her mouth. She makes a razzing noise now - like she didn't have enough drool to begin with. I think she must like how it feels on her mouth...because once she starts she doesn't stop.

She is also getting more playful and grabbing things. She can catch the rings on her dragonfly and pull it towards her. She also loves anything that crinkles. And peek-a-boo is a favorite.

Last but not least...when she's upset...she complains about it. Whether it be taking the bottle away to burp or too much tummy time. It's so funny because she is so mad and is trying to get that across by making so much noise (and it's not just screaming or crying...it's complaining).

My precious babies

Tonight as I was reading to Bella and she snuggled up next to me with her blanket and just leaned on me while we read. She is learning the words in her books and loves to sing, so we ended the night singing twinkle, twinkle. She gave me a great big hug and kiss good night...and reminded me to turn off her light as I left (however she was up two seconds after I walked out and Joel had to lay her down again).

Then it was Gabby's turn. Joel headed to the office to work and I went to the bedroom to feed her (she can get a little upset when you take the bottle away to burp her so I didn't want to wake Bella up). After the bottle she was just looking at me with those big blue eyes and holding my fingers. After a tickle session we put on pjs and got her wrapped up in her blanket. She hung on to her little monkey and just kept feeling it and looking at it. She would smile and then give a little giggle. Soon my precious little one was sound asleep in my arms snuggling her little blanket. She looked so peaceful and I sat there in wonder. Thinking what adventures my girls will get into. What will they be when they grow up? Just praying that they are as happy as they are right now. I am amazed every day by these two beautiful little miracles. Thank you Lord...those three little words just don't seem adequate for the blessings you have given us...but Thank You.