Hi Ho, Hi Ho

It's to the park we go.....

With the weather sooo fabulous (it said it was 80 when we got home)... we had to head to the park after Megan's dance class. Thankfully her class is in the building just at the top of the hill from the playground. I'm finally learning the ropes for taking a 3 year old and a baby to the park. It's a bit labor intensive and yet easy at the same time. It's all about being prepared! No matter what - it's worth seeing the excited smile on this little girls face. Thankfully we seemed to have nipped (most) of our recent temper tantrums in the bud. We had to get that behavior somewhat under control before I could risk lugging Nicole out with our ticking time bomb. All I can say - the hard work the past few weeks to deal with that behavior has been worth it now that we can go out and enjoy ourselves.

cuteness

Just a taste of cuteness!

We had a few days of cold weather so we got out the cover - but I think we get to finally put it away for good (that's a strange thought). But the girls just looked so cute together. Megan just loves her baby sister (most of the time).

Now it looks like Spring is officially here and the temps are going to be in the 70's and 80's for the remainder of the week. YIPEE! I see lots of park trips in our future - although I must say trying to work in the park with Nicole's schedule is a bit challenging.

But it is beautiful out and we are loving the opportunity to get out and play! I just wish my allergies weren't also reflective of the beautiful blooming flowers and trees.

Ears, Toes and Everything Inbetween

Nicole is in a super fun stage - she has finally developed that "love relationship" with her toes. Inevitably, you'll walk in on her after her nap and from across the room see her feet sticking straight up. It's so sweet. Unfortunately, she hasn't been quite this happy today. We were able to get in to see the Dr. to chat about her cough, reflux, obvious milk allergy (they didn't even test her - she had the "5 of the 6 big markers" of a milk allergy (vomiting, diarrhea, eczema around the mouth, horrible diaper rash, and bloating) when she has had formula. So... they gave us some samples of the expensive hypoallergenic formulas to see if she'll take them. Evidently the taste buds kick in around 4 months and some babies that age refuse to take the special formulas because they taste so bad - great. So we'll see what happens and if Nicole will take it. For the reflux, we'll keep up with the Mylanta but we are also going to try a prescription to see if that helps with her cough (it's not a sick cough, it's a reflux dry gagging cough). Thankfully her lungs sound GREAT! I'm thrilled with this after our road of asthma with Megan.

Unfortunately, it seems like both our girls have the same ear issues. Nicole has a horrible ear infection. I felt so bad when the Dr. looked in her left ear and said, "oh poor baby that is just horrible looking - you must really hurt." Now I did finally get on the ball and make the appt. because I thought she might have an ear infection. And yep - she does. So I"m glad we went - but so sad that my baby is in pain. FINALLY after some Tylenol, she's actually sleeping.

Hopefully it'll clear up soon!
Now, to give her medicine - they remeasured her...
She's 20 weeks old (a bit over 4 1/2 months) and she weighed in at 19lbs and 4 oz.
That means in 3 weeks she's gained 1 lb, 4 oz... wow!
We are a pound and a half away from hitting the max on our infant carrier car seat.

NoBunny's Cuter

The shirt says it all.... NoBunny's cuter....Well, let's just call it a tie! Today was a super fun day - beautiful, but a bit chilly with the wind. It was a great day to head to our town's big Easter Egg hunt. We'd never been before, but you can bet we'll go back again. Megan had a blast. I was worried she wouldn't go off to "hunt" on her own. In the 3 year old group, adults aren't officially allowed in the hunt area (yeah, that was a joke).

Megan had no problem running off to look for eggs and candy.

We ran into a lot of folks that we knew and met up with some friends. Megan was glad to have her friend Kenny there. They were in the same age bracket so having a friend nearby is probably what gave her the courage to hunt without mommy or daddy in hand (literally).

After the hunt, we headed over to ride the train and do a little bouncing in the inflatables.

Megan saw a face painter and asked for a dolphin....

And no "Easter Extravaganza" is complete with a little one on one with the Easter Bunny.

Megan keeps asking if Easter is here. I'm excited about some fun things we are going to do this week to help her learn about the true Easter story. It's a hard subject to cover with her because she's so sensitive. She's still talking about the "mad king" from the Christmas story. But hopefully we'll be able to bring it to her level and still keep the meaning in the story and have some fun learning about Jesus' gift to us on the cross.

Happy Palm Sunday to everyone. Hosanna!

Doughnuts with Dad

This week, Megan's class had a special time planned for the kids to hang with their Dads. Doughnuts with Dad!

For Megan is was a total win win situation - Doughnuts... Daddy time.... woohoo! Fun was had by all. According to Tom, it was absolutely precious to see all the kids with their daddies.

Thanks to Ms. Mandi and Ms. Ester for such a fun morning!

Put the Top Down

I think Megan thinks she was made for a convertible....Oh those sassy convertible girls!Now Natalie, when she starts asking for one... I may have to come after you. :^)

And while those girls were letting the wind blow through thier hair (as they drove up and down the driveway), Nicole and I checked out our latest mode of transportation. For some reason Nicole doesn't like riding forward facing in the Moby Wrap. I'm not sure why and we have to practice some more to work out all the kinks. Because although she loves riding in the Baby Bjorn... I must say my back is killing me.

Getting Ready for Easter

Time is sneaking by.... Easter is less than 2 weeks away. Megan and broke out some of our Easter decorations (from my teaching days). She loves the Egg tree and had a blast decorating it.

We had so much fun doing it together and Megan is eagerly awaiting her first egg hunt this weekend. Hide and Seek is her current favorite game and this just falls in line with that.

This weekend we'll break out the "resurrection eggs" for some teaching time about Easter. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about teaching Megan about Christ's death and resurrection... she's so sensitive. Any tips from moms out there about what's worked well with your kids?

If we could be outside from the time Megan wakes up till bedtime - I think our life might be tantrum free. It's amazing how being outside just brings out the absolute best in Megan. And I love it.... so I'm sooo ready for spring weather to be here for good! After a winter of begging... I got out Megan's roller skates for her to try out. Ummmm... we have a ways to go before these are mastered. But, she sure is cute trying to skate.

For Christmas Megan got her first T-ball set.... She wants to be a sportsinista like the boys next door. Um... we have a ways to go on that one too. But she sure does love it - and she thinks chasing the ball is as much fun as hitting it (or trying to hit it).

No matter what we are doing outside, eventually it ends with Megan on her new bike (which is why she just keeps her helmet on). Each day she gets better and better and better. Its amazing to watch her grown and develop so quickly.

Surprise

It's true that all a kid really needs to occupy themselves is a box!
Don't get me wrong Uncle Tony and Auntie Dawn - Megan loved her birthday presents - but she is also very much in love with her box!

First Day of Spring

What better way is there to usher in the start of spring - than to head back to the park, again! Little Nicole is as much an outdoor girl as her big sister.

And both my girls love the swings! We literally could swing for hours.

Nicole was just happy being out on such a gorgeous day - she was so content to kick back and just watch the clouds float by.

Oh my goodness - what a beauty!

And oh my goodness, what a cutie! It's a good thing my girls love each other so much. I look forward to a lifetime of their smiles and giggles together. Megan loves to try to make Nicole laugh, and Nicole just can't get enough of her big sister. It's so heartwarming.

And what tops off a great day at the park?

The first grilling of spring!

Winter?

Hard to believe it was actually still Winter on Friday... so wonderful that we headed to the park, of course!!!!!
Nicole finally got her first ride on the swings.

Megan was super happy to show her the ropes.
And no trip to the park is complete without a romp in the sandbox.

Nicole had so much fun on the swings that she decided to take a little breather and let Megan have some fun.

And fun was had by all!

Bows

I love bows!
Never thought I'd say that!
I just never thought I'd be a girly mom.... until I had 2 girls.
Now I've jumped to the pink side of life and without regret I say, I LOVE BOWS! I keep hearing about these great bows that don't come out.... they are better than the "no slip hair clips" and such.... I'm a skeptic... .anyone who's tried to keep bows in a girls head knows that they don't stay in.

BUT... I have to say, I love these new bows I've found. They actually do stay in.
This cute one stayed in all day on Sunday (this is Nicole in the nursery at church... I was working in there and happened to have my camera and she was so cute I had to snap a shot).

It's a little snap - a teeny tiny little snap clip and it is supposed to be able to stay in the hair of a baby with NO hair.... But when you have lots of floppy hair, that's a whole different story. But it did stay in Nicole's hair almost all day.

I'm glad I got a picture of it because now it's MIA... Somehow in the vomiting episode we had last week it got misplaced. It was in the carseat and now we can't find it. Oh well, glad it wasn't expensive. I'm about to make some myself - you know, in all my spare time...

Fun around the house

We've been hanging out at home a lot - just chillin and having some good ole "sister time". Practicing our neck lifts....

More tummy time and stopping to smell the flowers....

Megan siezes every opportunity to be on the floor with her baby sister - you know, showing her the ropes...

And in Nicole's down time - she can be found, just kicking back and hanging out (she's learned this from her Daddy - you know it is B-ball playoff time).

Rain

Rain, Rain Go away...

No, it's ok actually.... as long as you got a cool new raincoat, unbrella and rain boots for your birthday. After all, a girl has to try out the new ensemble!

And when it's not raining... that's ok too - Megan just calls it "time to practice".