Gabby 3 month pics

giggles and our crazy life

I figured I'd better play catch up since we have an exciting rest of the week we'll have to blog about. Tomorrow Gabby gets her 3 month pictures taken and then we are off to San Diego for the weekend...we are winging this vacation (which is hard for us planners) but I've learned it's better to go with the flow when two little ones are involved.

So here are some pictures and videos from the past few weeks. I love how Joel was reading to Bella the other day...but it is amazing that we can have that much laundry (that pile was ready to be folded minus two loads that were finishing)!
Thanks to Granna, the girls got Dr Seuss outfits "Thing 1"and "Thing 2". It was hard to get a picture with the words, but more importantly Gabby's is a 9 month onesie and it fit her.
This is Gabby's Michael Jordan's impression - she has her arms out like she flying and she's sticking her tongue out!
This picture represents a typical morning at our house during the week. I figured out why it takes me 2-3 hours to get dressed and out of the house. I love cherishing all these little moments with the girls so it takes awhile. So last week, Bella was being so sweet. She helped me feed Gabby and held her hand and sang to her while she was eating. Then she started playing mommy with Teddy and Giraffe. Teddy had to be in the car seat and Giraffe had to swing. Mind you Bella is dressed for school minus the shoes, so I figure I can go change we can be off (we left an hour later and all I did was change my clothes and brush my teeth). Anyway after I get dressed Bella comes walking in only in a diaper. I brush my teeth and Bella wanders back in but this time with Gabby's Dr Seuss onesie on like a diaper. I then come out and she has put on her nightgown upside down and inside out - yes through her feet (see video below). Finally we are all dressed and I am trying to get the diaper bag ready and all of Bella's stuff for school - Gabby was in the car seat and starting to cry...Bella comes pouncing down the hall - "Mama Mama" she said. I said why are you screaming my name and she replied "Mama let's go". I guess she didn't want to hear Gabby fuss anymore.

Bella is all about loving on Gabby.
We found some Ohio State shoes we had gotten awhile ago so we decided Gabby better wear them before she outgrows them.

Bella and shoes...she now walks around in my heels...and put Joel's dress shoes on the other day.

I broke down and bought Gabby a Bumbo. She's so chunky I don't know how long she'll last in it.
Now to our exciting videos. Gabby is giggling and is really ticklish; however, Joel can get her going with just noises.

This was Bella being sweet with Gabby the other day

So listening to the radio the other day on the way home...Bella picked up a new word "Booty". Also notice all her ponytails...the teachers love to play with her hair....probably because most of the kids in her class still don't have very much.

This ones a little dark, but tonight Bella decided she was going to drive.

Finally - Bella changing into her nightgown - please notice the onesie she already has on!

Gabby lives up to her middle name.

Typically we talk about all of Bella's antics...but we are going to start out with Gabby this time...don't worry Bella will be next. Anyway, Gabby is such a JOY that she is living up to her name! She could be the happiest baby ever. Bella was a great baby, but Gabby is even more laid back and so happy all the time. She gives the biggest smiles and her chubby cheeks and rolls make me just want to snuggle her forever. I can't believe next week she will be 3 months. I packed away all her 3 month clothes two weeks ago and we are now into her 6 month outfits! She is sleeping through the night (almost) she'll go down about 9 and sleep until about 3 or 4 (if I give her a nuk she'll sleep 2 more hours). She loves exploring her world and LOVES her big sister. I think she smiles the most when she sees Bella. She's so peaceful when she sleeps. I work at night in her room and just find myself staring at her at 1 am in amazement. She is drooling like crazy so I'm thinking she's going to be like Bella and have teeth at 4 months. She is cooing which I love and stares at the fan, the fish on her swing and the animals on her mobile and her light up star on her einstein mat (which Bella loved too). Well here is our little JOY...grinning with all her might.
So last Friday was water day at Bella's day care. She of course had such a blast. Some kids just stood there...Bella was running around and squealing...it was funny.

Then I picked her up and we headed to Papa and Nana's house to see Uncle Chad and Aunt Steph's new puppy...I thought Bella would love the puppy but she was more annoyed that Emme kept grabbing her broom while she was trying to sweep the grass!
Then Sunday we got to spend time with the Hodges...I know I'm a little late in posting since Brent and Jess got their pictures up that night...what can I say. Anyway here's Mason with Gabby

Then Mase and Bella went out and played in the sandbox. Bella wanted nothing to do with the sand at first, so I'm thinking in my mind what a great trip we'll when we go to San Diego in a few weeks; however....
she finally got in and loved the feel of the sand between her toes. I can't wait to play with her on the beach in two weeks!!! We had such a great time with Brent and Jess and we can't wait until Cash gets here in a few months!!
So even though Gabby is so smiley...she also gives a great big frown when she's hungry. I've been trying to get a picture of it, but this is as close as I've gotten.
Cosmo is getting pretty old and slow these days...he is 13. I think Bella felt sorry for him since we got home the other night and she gave him a pillow and a blanket and then rubbed his back!
Gabby was so cute in her sundress the other day...the flip flops were a little big but I still had to get a picture.

So after taking so many pictures...I got this face...which reminded me of...
this one...Bella gave the same face when I took a bunch of pictures of her at 2 1/2 months too.

Anyway back to our smiley girl.
I don't know where Bella gets the need to clean everything...yesterday she decided to clean Gabby and wiped her head with a towel and then moved on to wiping the couch down.

Bella has been such a talker lately...of course the favorite word is yellow right now (it used to be purple), but she's starting to combine words and I'm able to figure out what she's saying better. Anyway, I bought her a new stool that has two steps so she can reach the sink...and look at herself, she is quite the drama queen. She makes faces and even fake cries to see what she looks like...it is so funny! Anyway...here she is just chatting away.

Gabby is starting notice the world around her. Yesterday in her bouncer she was concentrating so hard on the animals. She would bounce and they would move and her eyes were so focused. Don't worry she's not foaming at the mouth...just a lot of spit bubbles and drool!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

funny videos

Two kids is a roller coaster of emotions...there is so much to describe but it is hard to put into words. At moments I want 10 more because they are so fun, amazing, little miracles...but then in a split second it's hard to hand two. Bella has been going through her Jekyll and Hyde stage. In an instance she can be either one and when Ms Hyde comes out it is a whole new ballgame. For the most part she is so good with Gabby and keeps us laughing most of the time, but she has a little streak in her and she has the meanest little faces that I almost think daggers might come out of her eyes when you tell her no. She also started to fake cry last night, which was hilarious...it always seems to be something new. Gabby is so laid back (thank you Lord)...I think it's because she knows mommy would have to be committed if she was a fussy baby. She just goes along and sleeps or plays. The only time she fusses is when she's hungry or overly tired or cold. I feel blessed to have such amazing little girls. Watching them together is so fun...I love when the three of us snuggle or play. Well that was a lot of rambling that probably didn't make much sense...so here are some pictures and videos....

Gabby loves being snuggled in blankets. I love how she is holding the edge of this one.
Gabby loves Bella...anytime Bella is around she starts smiling....could be because she has a silly sister. Gabby sunbathing once again...it was only 112 that day! Good thing she's like her mommy...who loves the heat.
Saturday snuggle session
On Friday I took Bella swimming with Papa T...it was the longest she stayed in the pool and we had so much fun. Papa and Nana got two new friends for the house...Mowgli and Houdini
Thursday night we painted Bella's toes
Now onto a few recent videos. Here is Bella (okay me) singing If you're happy and you know it...

Dancing in mommy's shoes.

And we couldn't leave Gabby out...here she is talking.

Big Smiles

So I finally got a video, but the file was too big to upload :(, so here's a picture of her big grin.
Bella loves SHOES and hiding, so mommy's closet is perfect.
Last weekend we went to Chuck E Cheese with the Oestreichs....Bella had to go to the big slide and of course Joel and I both took our turn with her...they are not made for adults.
Bella and Logan were not very impressed with the giant rocking horse.
On Monday I put water in Bella's pool in the back and Gabby lounged outside under her umbrella.

Well Bella has moved onto putting stickers on Gabby...and bracelets.
Yesterday, we went and visited Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Shotton.
This morning Gabby was all smiles.
Then Bella wanted to hold her. She went and sat on the couch and then got off and grabbed the boppy and got back on...it was funny. She kept playing with her hands and toes

2 months

Well to say the past two months has flown by would be an understatement. Gabby had her 2 month appointment today and both was she the opposite of Bella (unfortunately). She screamed the entire time...from the time I undressed her she was crying and/or screaming. It was not a pleasant experience...I figure she'll hate getting dirty and getting hurt. Bella always takes her shots like a champ...has only cried once. Anyway, she weighs a hefty 11 lbs 15 oz and is now 22 1/2 inches. I thought she was bigger than Bella at this point, but has slowed down a bit and is shorter and a few ounces lighter than Bella. Despite the crying the doctor said she looked great. She's been really smiley the past few days and I've been trying so hard to get a good picture, but this one will have to do. She makes the funniest faces until she can get the grin out...trying to get a video of that one too.
After I posted the pictures on Saturday the door bell rang and Pappa and Granna had sent the girls a box of Christmas presents - Christmas in July. Bella thought it was so great to open presents and loves her new crayon/markers.
Sunday could have been Joel's all time favorite church service....because it was wear your jersey to church day...so in true Ohio State form the ENTIRE family had to wear OSU...let me just say we were the only family all dressed up...and Joel couldn't have been prouder. I still contest OSU fans are cult like...we went to shake hands during service and the people behind us started O-H...I-O.
I think Gabby was practicing being the "H"...since football season is right around the corner.

Bella has been her typical split personality self lately. I jinxed myself this morning because she was so good with Gabby and has been that I thought we'd finally turned a corner. She snuggled up with me this morning while Gabby was eating and Gabby was playing with Bella's hair which Bella loved...then when she was done we would make faces at Gabby to see if we could get her to smile. She's also been giving her kisses...then tonight everything was great (Gabby was pooped from her traumatic doctors appointment) until Gabby woke up and needed to eat and Bella lost it...it got so bad that I had to call Joel to come home, since both girls at that point were screaming hysterically. Bella kept saying Baby in swing and then up please (it was so sad...because she was trying everything possible to get me to hold her and put Gabby down) and Gabby was so upset because she was hungry and Bella was screaming...it was not fun. They both finally calmed down about 5 minutes before Joel walked in the door.

Anyway...here is our little diva helping me water the plants when we got home.
So this morning Bella held a long conversation with her monkey chair...it was so funny that I had record part of it. She is getting so talkative these days. She had another conversation earlier in the week with Nana and Papa T's clock. It had a plaque on it and it looked liked she was reading it.

Getting into a Routine

Well it has been a crazy couple of weeks...seems to be the story of my life these days. We did a software upgrade at the office, which didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped but we're getting there. We are starting to get into a routine during the week, since I'm now back to working (from home mostly). We get up and get ready...Gabby usually passes out in her swing while Bella and I get ready, then it's off to take Bella to school. By the time I get home I usually still have a good 1-2 hours with Gabby sleeping to get some work done. Then it's lunch time and playtime. She'll then take another nap and I can work a little more then we go get big sister. We have playtime dinner, baths, books and then Bella goes to bed. By the time Joel gets home around 7ish...it's his turn with Gabby and I finish up working a few more hours. It seems crazy, but I get to spend a lot of time with the girls separately and together.

Bella is starting to like being a big sister and I think they'll be great friends soon. Since Gabby is more alert and watches her, she's getting better with her. The other morning Bella got in bed with me (Gabby was already there) and Gabby looked at her and gave the biggest smile to Bella. Gabby grins a lot but a big smile is hard to catch it usually happens really fast.

Well here are the pictures from the past couple weeks. Joel asked the other day to look at the ones I had taken this week...he didn't know that there were about 150. Yes, I have a problem with taking pictures, but they grow so fast I just want to capture every moment I can. Bella was all about saying cheese now when she see the camera she won't look at me! Anyway here they are. Bella at school. I love seeing her sit in the little chairs.
How cute is that face...you have to take a picture of it. Sometimes it freaks me out because I look at Bella and I see me (well she looks like my baby pictures) and then I look at Gabby and see Bella and me...it's crazy.
Bella has enjoyed showing Gabby her animals and teaching her their noises.

Gabby is getting stronger and stronger. We go for her 2 month check up this week, so I'll be interested to see how much she weighs! Look at her beefy arms.
Last night we had our open house at the office...it's not too often I actually have time to get ready. I've lost almost all the weight from Gabby (so that's exciting)...now I just have 20 more pounds from Bella to lose! Getting there a lot faster this time...chasing Bella and eating just salads for the most part have helped drop it really fast.
Bella hung out with Chad and Steph most of the time...every time we turned around Steph was giving her another little cake to eat! Steph said it was because she kept saying please so she couldn't say no (Bella sure has her number...Nana's too) I think she had eaten about 10 by the time daddy took her home.
This is our lobby...the picture doesn't do it justice, but the office is beautiful (thanks to Ryan and Mom).
So our sprinklers are broken (see the dead plant in the background) and we haven't had time to get a repair man out, so I've been watering the yard usually after Bella goes down in the evening...but she helped the other day and had so much fun...and was drenched by the end of it.

I wrapped a towel around her and she started spinning...it's a pretty cute video.

Gabby and her curly hair after a bath....look at those cheeks.
I love Saturday mornings....we all get to hang out together. Usually Joel goes to McDonalds for breakfast and then we watch cartoons. This morning Bella was snuggling with Gabby and then went over and just planted one on her...it was too precious, and she did it again once I got my camera...of course she did have her nu nu in her mouth the 2nd time.
I love Gabby's pjs...there are little bears on her feet.
I attempted to put Bella's hair in a ponytail...I got most of it since I was chasing her around trying to do it. She looks so grown up...I can't believe how big she's getting.

Well that's it for now...I guess I have to do some work now!