It's a Zoo Around Here

Most of the time it just feels like a zoo...with all the roaring and poop smells, but yesterday we really did go to the zoo.


E's school had Fabulous Friday at the Montgomery Zoo. It was really fun. The weather held out until we were ready to go home and the girls were (mostly) good. There was a mini meltdown over some pretzels, but once we got some lunch in us, all was well.


Checking the map
Flamingo Impersonation
Love

Taking a break

Mermaid on a rock

Holding AM after lunch

Train Ride- so enthusiastic

Train Ride 2

Train Ride 3

Happy Baby on the way home

Randoms

AM loves cereal!! She gets very excited when she sees the tiny bowls and spoons. When you put the loaded spoon in front of her, she opens her mouth really wide and flails her arms and legs. She's really gotten the hang of it quickly.

And this week she found her feet!

And Ellie apparently found Elton John's wardrobe closet.

Why yes, that is a princess dress over jammies with pink furry slipper/boots and weird heart sunglasses.

Reassurance

Me: random silly growling noise to the baby

Ellie: "Oooh, Mommy, you scared me!"

Me: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Ellie: "It's ok Mommy. I'm not mad at you. I still want to be your daughter."

Me: (Phew)

The other day I cooked something in the crockpot and when we got home it was VERY well done. I didn't think it smelled too bad, but apparently Ellie did. When I came out of my room after feeding AM, this is what I saw.

Don't worry, they were clean.

One of our favorite times of day is first thing in the morning. Once everyone is awake, we gather in the big bed for some snuggling. Another fun time is when E is in the bath and plays peek-a-boo with AM. It will make her laugh so hard, it's contagious. I don't have a pic of that on account of all the splashing.

And here are some shots from Valentine's Day. The Valentine's Fairy was very generous. To Ellie. Poor AM only got a couple of things. She will be so tired of hand-me-downs when she gets older.

Valentines Sisters after our trip to Smoochies for Ice Cream.

And Ann Marie had her 4 month appt this week. She weighs 12lb 11oz and is 25 in long. Her height is in the 75% for her age, her weight is on the 35% and her giant noggin is on the 90%. Big brain!! Here she is modeling her band-aids from her shots. Ellie went with us for moral support/ to get a lollipop from the immunization nurse.

My Funny Valentine

I felt like I hadn't posted as much about Ellie lately so I want to make this one mostly about her. 95% of the time she is such a great big sister. The other 5% she just wants things back to the way they were B.A.M. (before Ann Marie). She loves the baby so much, but not so much the attention she requires from me. I know it's normal and I have to remind myself that she's only 3. Here's some samples of her cuteness from this week.



Wednesday it was really rainy and she wanted to play outside. She had a great time filling her watering can from the drips off the roof and then watering the already soaked grass.



She even wore her rain boots to ballet. Posing at ballet.

Arabesque

Silly grin

Playing the game at her Valentine Party at school

Pretty Valentine

Apple face

Yay Balloon!




And here is just one of AM. 4 Months Old!!!!

Milestones

Ann Marie is reaching them one by one! This week she has really started babbling a lot and also blowing raspberries which is the funniest thing. She started rolling over from back to front as well. That is supposed to be the harder of the two ways, but she has not been on her belly enough to learn the other way. I know, it's my fault, but she hates being on her belly. So that also make the back to front rolling funny, because as soon as you put her down, she rolls over and then as soon as she's over, she gets mad because she's on her stomach. It's hilarious and annoying. Here are videos of all three new tricks!







So exciting!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It's been just us gals and here's what we've been up to lately....





Ellie has been quite busy. She always enjoys a tea party with all her dolls. This one was a picnic tea.
And she even let AM get in on the action.




Dress up is very popular too. In Mommy's stuff,
and her own.

And here she is rockin' her new Snoopy shirt. Thanks Shapiros!!

Cute shot of both girls in ladybug dresses that Gran Jan made. The blue one Ellie has on was mine (so it's vintage) and the green one AM has on was Ellie's.

Hanging out after bathtime

Ann Marie is SO over being a lump. She is ready to be right in the middle of the action. Her favorite place to be in is someone's arms.

But she also loves to sit up (propped on something of course) Thanks for the BUMBO Auntie Ashby and Uncle Forrest!and she is ok with laying down as long as someone is near her or she can at least hear you (or the TV). She loves to watch the colors move on the magic box. Thanks again for letting us borrow this giant pillow Barbara! But her favorite thing to watch is her crazy sister. Ellie can make her giggle out loud like no one else can.

She can hold her head and shoulders up when being held and on the floor. Today she even rolled (almost) all the way over from back to front. She didn't make it all the way to her belly because she couldn't figure out what to do with that bottom arm, but for a first try it was a 10!

Everybody Dance Now

So on the way out of dance class today, we heard that song. You will hear and see out interpretation of it in this video.....I apologize ahead of time.







I also got some footage of Ellie making Ann Marie crack up. Watch closely to see that she is alternately terrified and enchanted in both of these.

If this is 3, I really dread 13.

A weekend in Review

We had a lovely weekend here at the HofP. (It's like IHOP with out the I or the pancakes)

Anyway, Friday we had a great time at playgroup at a new friend's house and were all worn out from all the playing. Once Brandon got home, the girls were pretty cranky. We went to bed early after telling Ellie to get back in her bed a hundred and forty seven times.


Saturday I made bacon, eggs and biscuits, we hung around here all day playing princesses....


Thankfully Brandon was here to be the Prince. Usually I have to be the Prince. Occasionally I get to be the stepmother.

And as you can see, even AM gets in on the action. (Whether she wants to, or not.)

The original Princess Bride.

... ....and then I went out for Ladies Night. WooHoo!!! It was really nice. I met my friends at LaBamba, my favorite Mexican place in town and we monopolized the big table for 3 hours. No one even had anything to drink. We were just glad to talk to ONLY grown-ups. Of course we mostly talked about pregnancy, child-birth and children. (delightful dinner conversation for those around us- especially the teenagers in the booth closest to us that were on a double date-heeheehee) The best part was that when I got home, both girls were in bed.

Sunday I made a big breakfast again- AM helped, as usual.

and then we went to the park in the afternoon. I got some great shots of E and AM. I am still so in HEART with my camera. See below.

This one is my favorite pic of the week.