Watch Us Grow - Month 3 (January 17, 2014)

Because I have a sister,

I will always have a friend.

Happy 3 month birthday Ava and Ella!!! Time is going by much too fast for daddy and me and we can't believe how much you have changed! The time we get to spend with you is so special to us and we take advantage of every minute - especially me since I had to go back to work. :(  When we are all together we love to sing, dance, hug, kiss, and snuggle! You both bring so much happiness to my life and daddy's life!

Ava Nicole

You are such a smart and happy baby! You are a very curious girl and follow any type of movement, but you especially love to "people watch" just like your daddy. Your curiosity for everything around you makes you want to sit up! You do not like to lay down because you can't see what is happening around you. You love to be in someone's arms or sitting on mommy's or daddy's lap. Your favorite things are kisses on your neck, squeaky noises, taking a bath, singing, dancing, and most of all, listening to books (especially with cousin Ryan - see below) before bedtime. You DO NOT like your swaddle, but you will still wake yourself up with your hands if we don't swaddle you. Although you are friendly, you are cautious around new friends. You like to stay in mommy's or daddy's arms until you have assessed the situation and your new visitor. You smile and coo so much and your cooing makes us all laugh! You have so much to say already! We love you so much Ava!

Ella Justine

You have changed so much this past month. You are no longer our little peanut! The most exciting change...you finally LOVE the bath!! Yay! You kick and laugh the entire time mommy washes you! You even like when we put lotion on you after your bath! You still love to stick out your tongue and you are an expert at blowing bubbles! You are cooing a lot, but your favorite thing to do is sing! When we sing to you and Ava, you love to join in - more as a harmony since you are not yet speaking with words. ;)   You love to eat, look in the mirror, sit on mommy's and daddy's lap, sit in your swing, and dance. You love to listen to stories too, but your favorite thing of all is music. Your favorite type of music tends to be the Top 40 (because mom sings it all the time) and you are so happy when we dance to the music too! You love to get your rest and you are definitely not a morning person if someone wakes you up!  If you wake up on your own though, you wake up smiling and ready to tackle the day! We love you Ella!

Our favorite part of our bedtime routine now is when cousin Ryan does Face Time with us. He reads the girls a bedtime story every night and he is such a great reader!! Ava is especially focused when Ryan reads to them. Ella seems to focus more when Ryan reads a story about food! ;)  We love Ryan so much and we love that he is taking such good care of the girls even when we are far apart!

 Getting ready for a walk around the neighborhood.

Bath time fun!

 The girls are always trying to hold each other's hand when they are next to each other. It melts our hearts! :)

Mommy having some photo-fun with Ella :-P

We see this face a lot! Ava is always checking things out!

Ella hanging out.

Love that face!

Ella all bundled up on our walk.

Ava all bundled up on our walk.

You think my hands are full,

you should see my heart!

Watch Us Grow - Month 2 (December 17, 2013)

                           

Born Together;

Friends Forever

xoxo

Happy 2 month birthday girls! Time is going by much too fast and you are both changing every day! We are having so much fun with you (especially mommy because she is still on leave from work!) You are such happy girls and you are always so alert! Mommy has been following in Aunt Nicole's footsteps and has been taking tons and tons of pictures of you - you don't seem to mind it (not yet anyway!) Daddy and I are amazed every day with how much you are growing and we are so proud of you both! You are only getting up once in the middle of the night now and you wake up smiling even at 3:00 in the morning! You are both cooing and making the cutest little noises!

                       

Ella Justine

You have grown so much this month! You weigh 9lbs 13oz and you are 20.4 inches long. You are quickly catching up to your sister and you both can wear the same size clothes again. You are beginning to smile and you are becoming so cuddly! You still love to be in mommy's arms, but you really love your swing. You stare at your reflection in the mirror above your head and the bird mobile on your swing smiling and sticking out your tongue. :)   You like to sit in the bouncer, but you no longer like it when it is on - the vibrations scare you and make you uncomfortable. You rest best when you have a blanket over your legs because you often kick your feet and it winds you up. You are still unsure about the bath. You seem to like the bath once you are in the water, but hate being naked before and after your bath. We will keep working on making bath time fun for you. We love you very much Ella!

Ella in Grandma's and Papa's sink because we didn't have a baby tub during our visit.

Ava Nicole

You are doing such a good job growing and you are so strong!  You weigh 12 lbs 6 oz and you are 22.1 inches long. You are one of the happiest babies anyone has seen! You smile all the time and love to watch anything that moves! You are tracking everything that you see. Your favorite thing to do is listen to music, but you especially love when daddy sings to you! Your favorite song is "Do-Re-Me" (Do - a deer), but daddy's version is different from Maria's (Re - a tropical sun!) Your favorite place to be is on mommy or daddy's lap or being held/hugged. You are beginning to like your swing again, but you are still not a fan of the bouncer unless you are eating. Speaking of eating, you have slowed down quite a bit with your eating. Most of the time you forget you are eating and will fall asleep in the middle of drinking your bottle! Daddy will rub your cheek to keep you awake and make sure you are drinking all of your milk. You love the bath and you love when we put lotion on you afterwards. Your a little slippery after we put lotion on you, but your hugs are still the best! We love you so much Ava!

 

2 month check-up

(First time we had to give you girls tylenol. :(  You were not happy about your vaccines!)

Back to Work :(

I had to go back to work on January 2 and I was so sad!! We had so much fun at home and it was so special that we were able to have girl time for so long! I cried the entire night before I went back and would not put you both down. I gave you tons of hugs and kisses and even let you stay up past your bedtime so I could have some more time with you! You girls are so lucky though because when mommy and daddy are at work, you get to stay at home with all of your toys and favorite things! Your nanny, Christi, takes such good care of you! She does exercises with you just like Grandma does, she sings to you, hugs you, and is already learning about what you like and what you don't like!

                    

Christi did a great job taking care of you during your first week without mommy and daddy!

 

Wish on a star,

Say a prayer.

Sometimes miracles come in pairs.