Easter 2016 Highlights

Eloise & Preston kicked off the Easter holiday by indulging Mommy with a themed photo shoot.  These 2 were a blast and loved the big carrots we used for props.  These 2 bunnies are too cute and were worth all the sweating and crazy antics to get some cute photos.  

 

Operation: Holiday Sweat Shop

I bought plain wooden bunny frames for Eloise to paint for all the grandparents' Easter gift. With each frame, she'd ask who it was for and pick her colors accordingly. 

Easter Fun at school 

Thanks to some of my fellow moms at daycare, I got the full report on Eloise & the Easter fun at school. When they were outside Eloise said to one mom, "I wonder who's in that bunny costume." She said, "Eloise, it's the Easter Bunny. That's not a costume!" Eloise responded with, "No...I think I saw some skin." Another mom told me that she didn't want her picture taken with the bunny and said, "maybe next year when I'm older." 

She had razor sharp focus when it came to the egg hunt.  She came home with a basket of eggs. 

I absolutely love putting together Easter baskets!  It is so much fun finding stuff the weeks leading up to the big day.  Eloise was so thrilled to see what the Easter Bunny brought her.

Preston's basket is a little lame this year given that he is only 10.5 months.  However, that little man loves his Gerber snacks and was happy to wear his little baby aviators. 

 We hosted Easter Brunch with Grandma Carrot, Papa Kevin & company.  We had a wonderful spread with some special treats like Auntie Lo's homemade Maple Bacon Breakfast Sausage (aka P2) and homemade Apricot Coffee Cake by Grandma Carrot.

Best joke of the day goes to Brad as he exclaimed, "He has risen!" in response to Preston standing on his own for the 1st time.  Extra credit goes to Grandma for capturing that moment. 

We wrapped up the holiday with Easter dinner at Grandma Sandy & Papa Mike's.  The 4 big girls all participated in Papa Mike's egg hunt and according to Alex they are pretty much rich now with all the money inside their eggs.  Just wait until next year when Preston & Brooke join the Egg Hunt.  The Easter Bunny may need to consider some "refinancing" and change from quarters to pennies with all these kids!

Preston: 10 months

Happy 10 months Preston Bradley! 

Bubbas is completely done with baby food. The only thing he will let you feed him is yogurt & applesauce. Everything else he likes to shovel in his mouth by the handfuls. He's eating breakfast, lunch & 2 snacks at daycare. Some of his favorites right now are waffles, blueberries, bananas, pasta & peaches. The picture below is after his first try of Chipotle. The rice & beans were a hit! 

He's even tried pizza and loved that too! 

He tries to eat dog food every day...seriously...every day. 

Unfortunately, Preston endured ear ache #5 this past month. This poor kid is miserable when he gets them especially with the high fevers that accompany them. 

After he completed his antibiotics, we made the much anticipated visit to the ENT. Thankfully his hearing is perfect but he definitely needs ear tubes. We are scheduled for surgery at the end of the month.  This was us at the ENT office taking selfies while we waited for the doctors. 

Preston is getting stronger and faster every day. He doesn't know what it means to stay put and tries to pull up & walk around wherever he is. 

This stinker is all boy as you can see by the bruise on his forehead. He thinks it's funny to head butt from time to time and can be found banging his head when he's having a baby temper tantrum. 

It's been a tough winter with all of his ear aches so we are ready for Spring! 

Eloise: 3.5 years old

Ms. Eloise is 3.5 already. Where has the time gone? Here's a rundown of what this self proclaimed princess is up to these days. Enjoy! 

#girlygirl

Current Life Goals

Get bigger like Alex (her almost 7 y/o cousin)

Grow yellow hair longer like Auntie Lo

Be Line Leader every week at school 

Get more ponies 

Interests

Lipasticka - Chapstick

Play Doh

Ballet class

Shopkins

My Little Pony 

Fun times in Preschool Room #2

Ms. Laura & Ms. Blanca 

Reading with her BFF Lauren in the tree house. 

Sometimes it feels like I'm playing a never ending game with you but I don't know the rules or the rules keep changing. Such is the life when you have a threenager. 

Meal time fun 

To be called to the table to eat for any meal, we must say: 

"If you have yellow hair and (insert the item of clothing you are wearing), come & eat!"

If you eat all of your food, we let you have a treat or candy. Every time you ask us how many pieces of candy you can have by saying, "can I have 3 or 4 or 2?" The answer is always 2 but can't blame a girl for trying. 

Cheese Sandwich = Grilled Cheese. 

Don't call it grilled cheese cuz you won't eat it if we do. 

Coffee = Hot Chocolate from the Keurig

Crackers & Cheese = Lunchables

Life Lessons

• If you have a baby in your belly, you ate a baby. 

• If you laugh too much, your teeth will fall out. 

• If you're the line leader, people can't go in front of you. If they do, they are rude. 

• If you don't stay by your mommy or daddy, a stranger will get you & that's not good. 

Big Sister status: Awesome

Eloise is so good with Preston. We really couldn't ask for a better relationship between them. No matter where we are, she often tells us, "I wanna give Preston a hug or a kiss." She does this everyday when I'm dropping them off at school. In the moments when she is losing her patience with him and requesting that I "move him from her area," I think about how tender she is with him on the car rides home during the week. Preston hates car rides & will often scream the whole ride (35-45 minutes). Eloise talks to him so sweetly and says, "it's ok Bubbas...no need to cry...it's ok." Sometimes she even sings to him or makes funny faces. It's precious. I love it when she calls him "Prestie" or "Bubbas" or "Monkey Man." He absolutely adores her and loves watching her. 

Lately, she has shown some subtle signs of jealousy so I'm trying to do more one-on-one activities with her where she truly has my undivided attention. She has learned the phrase - Girls Night Out - and I love it! 

Eloise loves her books. Each night she picks out 2-3 books before bed. We read it first and then she "reads" it. Her memory is impressive when she recounts the story but her imagination is even more impressive when she decides to make up her own story. 

 

It's true what they say - the days are long but the years are short. Before we know it, you'll be 4 and headed off to Pre-K. But for now, live it up with your threenager status and keep us laughing everyday. 

Happy 9 months Preston

Happy 9 months Bubba Chubbas! 

It's hard to believe that we are in the home stretch of your first year with just 3 months left until your 1st birthday.  You are an active little boy these days as you are crawling at lightning speed and pulling up and cruising on every surface.  I have a feeling that you will be walking well before your 1st birthday.  I still can't believe that you have 8 teeth.  Because of that, we are moving forward with trying more and more finger food.  Every meal is a battle between you wanting to feed yourself and me wanting to make sure you are actually getting some food into your belly as opposed to onto your lap.  Lots of Ba-Ba, Da-Da, Da!, Da? 

Nicknames

Bubbas

Bubba Chubbas

Prestie 

Juicy 

Monkey 

Ju Ju Monkey 

Weight: 21 lbs (68%)

Height: 28.75in (63%)

Head circumference: 18.35 in (89%)

After a few attempts to escape the baby bath, we finally decided to put you in the big tub.  Your little expression says it all.  You love it!

While your sleep at night has gone back to normal thanks to the break in the teething & ear ache dynamic duo and some tough love from Mama (aka crying it out), your weekend naps are another story.  For some reason, you REFUSE to nap in your crib on the weekends.  If you aren't being held, there is no nap going on.  It did make me feel better when you pulled the same thing at daycare with Ms. Tee too.  Here is the photo proof!

Favorite Foods

Bananas 

Yogurt 

Avocado 

Puffs & Gerber snacks 

Waffles 

Pancakes 

Pizza (mostly crust)

Blueberries 

Mini Rice cakes 

Graham crackers 

Vegetable Fried Rice

Bread

You are having a blast starting to eat big kid food at daycare.  It's so fun to hear that new things that try each day.

At the end of the day, this is where I find you.  Standing at the door of your classroom, watching the big doors to see if Mama is going to come thru next.  Every time I see you do this, I'm reminded of Eloise doing the same thing.  

No matter how many toys we put in front of you, all you want is Eloise's ponies!  You are driving her crazy but it's fun to see you try to play with her.  

Just when she thinks that she can have a moment of peace & quiet and watch some My Little Pony on the iPad...