COSI

We spent our day today at COSI.  They have a new Dora exhibit that I was so excited to take Ella to.  Ella loves Dora and Boots.  I could barely keep up with her.  She was running all around the place.  We met some friends there too.  What a fun (and exhausting) day we had!

Ready for a fun-filled day!

H&H 

Ella imitating Dora :)

Just doing some gardening..

Ella insisted on wearing the butterfly wings around...getting geared up for Halloween I suppose. 

Of course she had to throw a squishy face in there!

Ella and Emma looking through their telescopes.

Peek!  There's Ella!

Emma, Ella, and Ava with Dora and Boots

We then went up to Kid Space.  Love this place!  They have great security...you know your kid isn't getting out of there...which is SO great for moms that have more than one kid to watch! 

Ava and Hailee (yes, I know she looked like a little boy with the blue raincoat and no hair:) playing in the water table. 
I LOVE that the twins are getting old enough to participate in some things like this now. 

Fun with water

Concentrating hard on getting the water in the funnel.

Hailee stealing a toy from a friend..nothing new. 

I wanted Hannah to play too, but when I went to grab her to put her raincoat on she was sleeping! 
Slept through the whole thing!  Love her one leg up though :) 

Could not get this girl to stop drinking the water!  Yuck!

Then she realized she could suction the cup to her face.  Hahaha!

What a fun day!!!  :)

Mum mum mum mum

Hailee and Hannah had their first Mum Mums the other night and just like Ella....they LOVED them!  The very same night, I found a little tooth that had poked through Hailee's bottom gum.  Hannah has no teeth yet, but will probably be starting soon!  My friend Kristen was over and confirmed that Hail's did in fact have a little toofer in there!  I don't think she believed me until she felt it for herself ;)  You know how hard it is to SEE them when they are that small with baby's little tongue sticking out every time you try to take a peek.  :)

Hannah lovin her Mum Mum

Hailee, I think you may have something on your face :)  Hehe

Of course Ella had to have one of the tasteless meltaways to fit in

Little Alexa dreaming of the day she can have her first Mum Mum :)

Proud Mama

Today marks a milestone in my book.  Hannah sat for the first time, for a long period of time, with no support.  She even sat long enough for me to grab my camera and snap a photo!  The girls are about 8 1/2 months old, just a couple days over 6 months old adjusted.  So, Hailee is ahead of her adjusted age (she's been sitting for a couple weeks) and Hannah is pretty much on target for this milestone.  Sitting is considered a 6 month milestone.  Yay for my little twinkies!!! 

Of course her first time sitting was when she was busy staring at her sissy. 
They love each other!

I sat her up again and she sat here for a while too.  What a big girl!!

Baby Legs

If you don't know what Baby Legs are, you will now know.  Baby Legs are the cutest little leg warmers for babies and toddlers.  For babies, they can wear them with onesies and it eliminates the need to take pants off for diaper changes...brilliant!  I love the convenience, I love that their little toes stick out the bottom, and I love the patterns they come in!  Too cute!  I had to add these photos of Hailee and Hannah in their cute Baby Legs from yesterday.  I have another pair with bright colored hearts on them that I'm going to do a photo shoot with as soon as they are sitting a bit better.  :)  Enjoy!

Cannot get their hands out of their mouths these days...

They look so long and lean here :)

Cuties!

Hannah sitting for one second before she fell into Hailee.

Much better and more comfy on her belly :)

The Milestones of a Two Year Old

I can't believe it's been so long since I have last blogged!  Sorry to anyone who checks this frequently :) 

We have all been doing well.  Hailee and Hannah are rolling everywhere now, all across the room like Ella used to.  Hailee is sitting good and Hannah is getting much better.  They go through about 35-40 jars of baby food per week.  They just love it and cannot get enough!  They eat about 6 oz every 4 hours, still half breastmilk and half formula (I am starting to wean however, pumping is getting TOO old!). 

Ella is the child which whom I have my hands full with.  I believe there are 3 major milestones we will have to conquer with her this year.  We put her in a toddler bed a few weeks ago.  That is going ok.  She doesn't get out during the night, but does get out each morning and after naps.  If I don't hear her to get up there quickly, I can guarantee that her dresser drawers will be emptied and she will be laying on the floor trying to change her own diaper by the time I get her.  Ella HATES dirty diapers now.  This brings us to our second milestone...potty training.  I have tried the whole "put them in underwear and let them go" idea a few random days.  Ella peed all over the floor more than a couple times.  She got so upset, cried, I cleaned her up, and she did it again.  I will probably have to stay in and not go anywhere for a few days for that method to really work.  I really do think she is ready, she loves her undies, hates being wet, especially poopy.  I just have to find the time to get it done.  Our third milestone will be getting rid of the darn paci.  Yes, Ella still has it for naps, nighttime, and when she is upset and crying.  I hate it, I know it has to go, I just don't know if I can handle her throwing tantrums and stealing her sister's paci's on my own.  Paul is not ready to go through it either.  I have a feeling I will someday just get so fed up with it that I will pitch them all and just let her throw a fit for however long it takes.

Besides Ella getting in to the "terrible two's", she is just so hilarious now.  Yesterday we were at a friend's diaper party, Ella had already ate 4 chocolates, 3 cookies so we told her no more sweets!  She went up to this table with cupcakes on it and took a big bite of one sitting right on the side of the table!  Didn't even pick it up.  Frosting was all over her face.  It was so funny, but we of course had to yell at her.  People around were cracking up.  Her newest thing is that when she doesn't want to listen to me, she pretends like she is sleeping.  For example, I tell her to pick up her toys, or that we have to leave a friend's house...whatever the case may be, she will lay down on the floor or wherever, close her eyes and ignore me.  Where does she get this stuff?!  It is hard to discipline such an adorable, funny little girl!  Paul does better than I do with the disciplining part.  :)

Ella and her friend Adelynn go to gymnastics together on Thursday evenings.  Ella loves it.  She loves being with her friends.  She still loves dress up, especially heels and necklaces.  Ella's favorite things are Dora, Elmo, and her baby dolls.  She loves being outside.  She LOVES her sister's and that they can somewhat "play" with her now.  She gets them belly-laughing and it is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. 

I wish I could think of other funny things Ella has done lately, but of course while I am sitting here thinking, I can't.  There are just so many that I always think "Oh, I'll have to blog that" and then of course, I forget. 

Other than our kids, everything else is going well too.  Paul's work is good.  He's been SO busy!  My photography business is going great too!  I've had people referring me to other's which is fantastic!  I am now photographing people who I don't know at all, which is good!  I went from friends, to friends of friends, and now I'm starting to do friends of friends of friends...if that makes sense.  I just took some Halloween pictures of my own kids yesterday and will be sending out little Halloween cards to friends and family.  Just wait until you see my little pumpkins ;) 

Here are some photos of our afternoon at the park this past weekend.  Ella's friend Jack is the little boy in some of the pictures.  Jack and Ella were born only a week apart from each other. 

Hailee

Hannah.  Hannah is normally much more smiley than Hailee,
but at this time I couldn't get her to give me one!

Ella showing off her sister's.

Ella

Ella and Jack driving their car.

Cute!

Hannah and Hailee

Hannah stealing Hailee's toy...

and Hailee eyeing up Hannah's. 

Telling secrets  :)

They love their bellies now :)