'Side

The weather today was perfect. Not too hot. Not too cool. Perfect weather for playing outside with sidewalk chalk and bubbles...

while wearing our new sunglasses from Mommy and new hats from Nana.

Ellie was a little concerned while watching Noah {attempt to} blow bubbles. Perhaps she thought she could do it better.

Good thing the bubbles were non-toxic.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In Noah's Easter basket, Nana and Papa gave him some toy dinosaurs {due to his recent obsession: Dinosaur Train}. He didn't ever want to put them down.

This isn't to say that the dinosaurs have taken over King's place of prominence, but one of the dinosaurs did get to eat some of his breakfast.

Ben was only off work on Monday and Mom and Bridget had to leave this afternoon, so we took lunch up to Ben's office so that we could spend a little bit more time with him.

Ellie decided that sitting at the big meeting table in Daddy's office meant that she was now in charge. Watch out for this one!

Noah, on the other hand, simply wanted to answer all of Daddy's emails for him.

We had a ton of fun with Nana and Aunt BB and can't wait for them to come back already.

Thanks for spending part of your Spring Break with us! We love you bunches and can't wait to see you again soon!!

A Wagon Walk and Cookies

Yesterday the weather was pretty crummy. And really, most of today was the same. But tonight was nice enough to warrant a walk in the wagon for Noah when we got home from dinner. Ben stayed at the house with Ellie and Nana, Aunt BB, Noah, and I all went for a short little walk around the neighborhood.

We were trying our hardest to get Noah to smile... and he was trying his hardest not to.

When we got back to the house, it was time to decorate a few of our St. Patrick's Day cookies.

Ellie didn't want to eat any cookies.... just Aunt BB.

Noah was extremely excited to get to decorate his cookies with icing... the last couple of times we made cut-out cookies, he only got to put on the sprinkles.

Nana was extremely patient... probably comes from doing this for many years with me and my sisters... and all my little cousins too.

And when we tried to get him to give Aunt BB a bite of his cookies, all she got was several "no way!"s.

Oh, and the resulting cookie-icing overload right before bed? PRICELESS. Wish I would have had the video camera out!

Keeping 'Em Busy

Noah and Ellie {and their Mommy and Daddy} have been keeping Aunt BB and Nana busy all day. Busy watching them while Mommy went to the eye doctor and Daddy and Aunt BB went running, helping with bath time,

and giving kisses and blowing sherbets.

Keeping them busy in the best way.

Spring Break Begins!

Look who made it into town just in time to help with bath time:

Yay for Spring Break!

Six Years

Six years ago today, we were doing this:

Six years later and we're doing this:

I love you, more than words can ever explain and love the way our life together is progressing. You are an amazing Husband and an awesome Daddy.

Here's to many, many more years, laughs, and tears together, Dear One.

{Ellie @} Six Months

Happy 1/2 Birthday Ellie!

Seriously, where did the time go? I remember thinking when Noah turned six months old that the previous months had flown by. This time around, they have just been a complete blur. I wish I could freeze time - especially when both kids are in good moods. I don't want these normal days to pass by so quickly.

{I take every chance I get to nibble and kiss on those toes.}

Things Ellie loves at six months old:

• Rolling from tummy to back.
• Attempting to sit up without any assistance {she's just almost there}
• Playing hide-and-seek with Big Brother
• Bath time with Noah
• Trying new foods {so far: sweet potatoes and applesauce}
• Laughing and giggling with Daddy
• Reading stories with Mommy and Noah
• Playing with her toys: especially the ones on her exersaucer and her Glo-worm

Littlest Dear One, you are amazing. We are constantly amazed by and proud of the things you can do. You are beautiful and strong and we just love every little part of you. We'll eat you up, we love you so.

Dinner Time

Just wish we could get Little Miss to stop watching Big Brother and eat!

{Mostly} Wordless Wednesday

{I love my afternoon snack Buddy.}

Family Time

I just love a little family walk after baths and before bed.


And I just love the warmer weather that allows it!

Bring on Summer

We're officially ready for warmer weather.
{Noah wouldn't pose for us in his new swim trunks.}

He's Home!

I suppose it goes without saying that we are happy to have him home?

Giggles and Smiles

We are SO excited for Daddy-Ben to get home tonight:

Can't you tell?

My Friday Night Dates

Noah and Ellie had their Two-Year and Four-Month Well Baby Check-Ups {respectively} yesterday. A little late, I know. But between traveling, matching up schedules, and appointments being cancelled thanks to snow, it couldn't be helped.

Noah is still just our skinny little dude weighing in at 24.8lbs {8%}, measuring 35.8in long {65%}, with a head circumference of 20.5in {98%}. He's doing great, according to Dr. Naidoo {who was totally impressed when Noah showed him that he knew not only the letters, but the sounds of the letters, in his book!}.

Ellie is growing like a little weed too, weighing in at 16lbs 4oz {63%}, measuring 26.5in long {85%}, with a head circumference of 17.3in {90%}. It's kinda hard to compare her size to Noah's at this point though, because she's really only about a week away from six months! She's doing great too and even tolerated her shots pretty well...

Big Brother seemed a little more upset for her than she was for herself.

***

We're way excited for Daddy-Ben to get home tomorrow night. And, since my usual Friday Night Date wasn't here, I had two, equally cute and charming dates:

One who kept eyeballing my homemade pizza {Angie, seriously, LOVE the dough/sauce recipe!}....

and one who kept taunting my other date with his.

An {Office} Baby Shower

I love baby showers. I also love The Office. {I also love our Small Group who indulges my crazy love for both!} So, it was fitting that we since we attended their wedding, that we held a baby shower in their honor.

We guessed the gender:

{Congrats Erin!}

We ate cupcakes {and many other tasty snacks}:

We watched the big event {and laughed SO hard}:

And we went from these:

To these:

We played a corny {a slightly more intensive than I had expected} baby shower game! Since we weren't really holding the shower for real people {though we did gather some gifts to give to Pregnancy Resources of Abilene}, the "Decorate the Onesie/Diapers" game, became the "Decorate the T-shirts" game.

And, we need your help! In order to win the prize for this game, we need you to vote for your favorite shirt! Since it wouldn't be fair for the hostess to win her own prize,

{yummm.... Starbucks and a coffee cozy}

here's the ones I did:

"A Little Birdie Told Me" for Jadyn

"{Noah} + cars = Happiness" for Noah Steele

Here's how to vote: Leave a comment saying which of the four below you want to vote for. I won't tell who did which one until after the winner is announced. You can vote until Saturday at midnight!

1. "I'm Tweet!" for Ellie

2. "The Tooth Fairy" for Chloe

3. "This is how I roll" for Noah Smith

4. "Learn your rules" for Zoe

And, aren't these two little ones just beyond cute?

Congrats on Baby Ceceila, Jim and Pam!!