Happy New Year

Well, here we are at the end of another year. Each one seems to pass with greater speed than the year prior, and I am sure that will continue to be the case. The end of the year always seems to sneak up on me though. 365 days seems like such a long time until you get to the 364th day, and then WHAM! you've been through a time warp.

I don't know if 2010 was a transformative year, or a learning year - I feel neither changed, nor smarter or wiser, but usually those feelings come retrospectively, so I suppose I need to wait a little...... I think it was a year that made me want to hold even tighter to those near me - both in spirit and in proximity. 2010 taught lessons in how fleeing life really is, and how it should not be taken for granted, even when unexpected.
The children each grew so much in this year that looking back at pictures from last Christmas, they are almost unrecognizable.

I look forward to 2011 and hope to fill it with more even love, laughter and togetherness. I wish the same or better for all of you.

Merry Christmas

We had a really nice Christmas weekend. Here are some pictures I took with my phone.

We went to Mike & Nancy's (Agape Acres) yesterday to look at and feed the baby goats. The first pictures are of Ella and Max with the kids (Sam & Josie).

What is she up to now?

I realized we haven't posted anything lately about what Ella is doing. For those of you who are not Grandparents, this will not be a very exciting post, so feel free to skip it!
In the last couple of weeks, her vocabulary has grown by leaps and bounds. We've felt a little guilty that we haven't read to her as much as it seemed that we read to Max, but now, I don't think we have anything to worry about.
She pats Zooey on the head and says "dog dog" - actually, it's kind of hard to tell if she's saying "dog dog" or "woof woof", but either way, she makes the same sound each time she sees a dog. She also makes a monkey sound when you say the word "monkey", says "sheep" and "baaa" (which sounds a lot like laughing -very cute), duck, and will say "moo" anytime she sees a cow.

She says "shoe", "sock" and "sit". Bows for her hair are "pretty", and of course she is really good at saying "Mama", "Daddy" and "Bubba". She has also started to say "milk" and is making the sign for it, as well as saying and signing "more" and "eat".

Ella also now knows herself in the mirror - this weekend she pointed and said "Ella" (it really sounds more like "Eya".

pictures from my phone

Here are some recent pictures I took with my phone

Ella at Lowe's with a sassy Santa hat

Ms. Pilgrim and Chief Shining Sun eating their turkey dinner

Please can I have some ice cream daddy?

A Toast to the holidays

Dear friend Jessica sent me this & I had to share it. Couldn't have said it better myself.

To nearest,
To dearest,
To the crew,
To cahoots,
To the ones who've been there,
To the ones who'll be there,
To dropping everything,
To saying anything,
To no judgements,
To no doubts,
To loyalty,
To trust,
To favors,
To lifelongs,
To been too long,
To nothing's changed,
To having history,
To having your back,
To moving away,
To never too far,
To growing up,
To settling down,
To your second family,
To friends
To celebrating the holidays with those who matter most

Haloween

Halloween pics, Enjoy!

glut of pictures

Sorry there haven't been too many posts lately. Between work, juggling the kids, life in general and a wonderful visit with Grandma and Chief last week, things have been crazy. Here's a glut of pictures that has basically been our October.

From October

From October

From October

From October

From October

Day Out with Thomas

Last weekend Nanny came to visit everyone went to Max's special surprise, Day Out with Thomas. Max got to ride on Thomas and see other trains and characters. A special thanks to Nanny, this was part of Max's birthday.

Last few weeks

Here are some pics from the last few weeks. Ella got chicken pox in late Sept and was out for about a week. Then I got them last week and have been out a week. No fun at all.

Fit to be tied

So, our dear sweet boy has turned into an irritating little shit - at least that's what he was tonight. When I picked him up from school today, we were walking down the stairs and I noticed his shoes were on the wrong feet. I told him, "Bub, your shoes are on the wrong feet." and he snapped back, "No they're not." He was angling for a fight about whether or not his shoes were on the wrong feet - and they clearly were!
It didn't get much better than that after we got home & on through the evening until bedtime.

It is so frustrating because you really cannot reason with an unreasonable person. It's also frustrating because the "fight or flight" instinct does not distinguish itself by age. After a long day, when the primate brain is the only part of my brain that is functioning, when confronted by a belligerant 3 year old, mama ape is ready for a fight.

And that doesn't do anyone any good, and certainly doesn't teach him any lessons - other than what buttons to push.

So, I'm adopting a new tactic. When we tell him "no" and he tries to argue, I don't argue back. I respond, "I understand you want to wear your shoes on your ears, but shoes go on feet, and we will not argue about that". Then, the dialog ends.

2nd new tactic - he is a lolly gagger and if he is playing, it is impossible for him to hear you when you are trying to get him to do something. New rule: I ask once, then I take the toy away. He can have it back when he does what I need him to do, but I'm not going to ask again, and again, and again.

Now, wish me luck that I can have enough higher cognitive function.......

Sept so far

Here are some recent pics and video from our Sept. so far. Ella is pretty much walking, taking up to 8 steps without help. Max is doing great in his new class. We got to go to the kids' first baseball game on Labor Day. The Dell Diamond is a great park and had a lot of activities other than the game. We especially liked being barefoot in the grass behind the outfield.

From Sept

From Sept

From Sept

Sam's Visit

Our friends the Tritico's came up for a visit this weekend. Max and their son Sam had a grand time playing. They did great together. So well it made me wish we were closer so they could do it more often. We took them to Locomotion and indoor bounce park and turned them loose. They also had fun playing with trains and anything else they could find at the house.

From August

From August

From August

August

Well now that August is almost over here are some pictures from earlier in the month. This has been an incredibly busy month. Both kids are doing great. Ella is pulling herself up and holding on to anything she can grab and walking around until her legs give out. She's started to take a step towards Jen or I as well. Won't be too long before she's walking. She's also started saying "Hi" and "love-love" (our words for when she's sweet or affectionate). She's made a little game of grabbing one of our hands then laying here head into to and saying "love love" too sweet.

Pictures and video of them are below.

August Videos

From August

update

The Tritico family came for a visit this weekend. Sam & Max had a great time playing at Locomotion (the jumping place) on Saturday. Max was so exhausted, he even took a nap at home yesterday (and that is a rarity!). We really enjoyed having them for a visit.

Today is the first day of school. Max and Ella are still at Apple Tree Learning Center, but today, Max will be up in the 3 yr old room full time. His new room is upstairs -all the younger class rooms are downstairs. His room is very cool. I asked him what his favorite thing was & he took me to the music corner - a little stage built into the corner with a kareoke machine and some musical instruments.

Rest of July

Here's our pics from the rest of July. Both kids are doing great. Ella just started crawling up the stairs this weekend.

Max's 3rd Birthday Party

We had a wonderful 3rd b-day party for Max this past weekend. His friends from daycare, Ava and Mason, were able to come as was the "other" Ella, Ella Glass a classmate of our Ella, and her family too. We grilled burgers and the kids got to play in the pool. Then Max got his presents, a Woody doll from Ava, a Hungry Caterpillar game from Mason, a Tidmouth Sheds Roundhouse from Nanni, and a cool soccer shirt and homemade cookie cake from Ella G's mom Gabbi. We had homemade strawberry cake and the cookie cake to finish up. Thanks to everyone for the great birthday, Max had a great time.

From Max's party

From Max's party

From Max's party

From Max's party

Max's 3rd Birthday

Our little man turned 3(!) on Monday. We had a special day of activities for him, namely going to Zilker Park to ride the train and play all morning. After that he got a good nap and lunch. Then he hit the presents, a drum and a rescue helicopter, and topped it all off with homemade strawberry pie. Enjoy pics and video below.

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

From Max's 3rd videos

End of June and Early July

Here's some pics of Ella and some from our July so far.

Ella crawling video

Plus some other good ones below

From June 2010

From June 2010

From June 2010

From June 2010

From June 2010

From June 2010

From June 2010

June so far

Trying to catch up a little on the photos. Ella started full on crawling last weekend. She really wants to start walking and has been taking some baby steps with much help from Mom and Dad.

I had a great Father's Day. I got a sweet cast iron dutch oven and our first meal to cook with it, pork roast and veggies, turned out wonderful. The kids took a good nap and Jen snagged a really good picture of me and Ella.

May Video

Also belated video for your viewing pleasure

From May 2010 videos

From May 2010 videos

From May 2010 videos

From May 2010 videos

From May 2010 videos

Belated May Photos

Here are some much belated May pictures. Ella started feeding herself towards the end of the month. She's growing so quickly.

Fast and Furious

I think nearly every time I post from here on out, that could be the title. There is so much going on right now, time is just flying by. The kids are growing up so fast & as parents, I think we are doing everything we can to keep from screwing them up, but there are days when I wonder if any of us will survive un-medicated.

So, for the grandparents (and anyone else who thrives on the minute details), here's an update on what the kids are doing right now:

Ella is pushing herself up and rocking back and forth - she knows she's supposed to do something, but hasn't quite figured out how to coordinate her legs and arms into a cohesive motion yet. She has gotten really good at rolling around,sitting up, and will even pull herself up from time to time When on her tummy, she does a 360 scoot. She babbles "dadadada" ALL the time, and has started picking food off of her tray and feeding herself. She absolutely adores big brother Max. He plays games with her and it is really a joy to hear her laughing at him. Their favorite game to play is "look at me down here" where Max crouches down in front of Ella's high chair (Max calls it her hiney chair), then jumps up and says "Rowr!". He laughs, she really laughs, hilarity ensues.

Max is getting better and better on "the potty train". He loves his Thomas the Tank Engine big boy underwear (and you have to call them underwear. If you say underpants, he will correct you!). When we get home in the afternoons, he will change into his underwear and has gotten really good at going pee pee on the potty. Still isn't ready for #2, but I know he'll get there when he's ready. He knows if he goes poop on the potty he will get a new Emily train, so when that becomes a big enough draw for him, we'll be one step closer to 100% big boy underwear.

Max is also learning to test his boundaries. He started learning some time ago, but he has gotten smarter and much better at pushing my buttons, so it's much more challenging now. Last night he bit Ella, wouldn't listen & ended up in time out. He kept attempting to climb out of his time out spot (the pack & play), so each time he swung his leg over the edge, I added another minute. 6 MINUTES LATER, he seems to have gotten the picture - at least that time. I have to keep reminding myself that he is so smart, that actions like this are his way of testing the independence I hope we will be able to foster as he gets older. If not, I guess the college fund can always be used for therapy.

April videos

And some videos from the last few weeks.

From 5-30

From 5-30

From 5-30

From 5-30

From 5-30

From 5-30

From 5-30

From 5-30