Catching up with the Gibsons

Sisters

2011-03-21T09:39:00.002-05:00

Christmas 2010

2011-02-16T13:33:00.007-06:00

Anna opening a gift on Christmas Eve

Our tree, after Santa came

The girls waiting to see the tree on Christmas morning

Anna and her new bike

Anna opening her new Jessie doll - the only thing she truly wanted

Elsie trying on a new hat from Uncle Pat

The girls playing 'doctor' on Christmas morning - this is my favorite picture of the whole day!

Elsie opening a Christmas present with Grammy

Anna and Papa having a serious conversation

We decided to stay parked right at home over the Christmas weekend this year. It was a wonderful treat because my mom and Claudia and Mike came to visit us! Since it was a while ago (totally overdue post) I'll just gloss over some of the highlights - really because I can't remember all of the little details this far out.

My mom cam over on Christmas Eve and brought dinner fixings with her. She volunteered to stay home and prepare dinner with a still napping Elsie while Matt, Anna and I went to church in the late afternoon. We arrived at church 35 minutes early and still didn't get a seat! Yikes, but Anna did great and really enjoyed the singing and praying. Thank goodness for the family who stood next to us, they had a daughter Anna's age and the girls kept each other entertained. It was snowing when we left church and took us a little bit to get home, but it was certainly beautiful. Mom had dinner on the table when we arrived back home, sweet!

Anna was allowed to open one gift that night before going to bed (a dinosaur) and then had to leave all but one pacifier underneath the Christmas tree for Santa. You see, Santa took them and gave them to the other babies who didn't have pacifiers but really needed them. We talked with Anna about the upcoming holiday and what we would expect of her that night for many weeks beforehand, and she did beautifully! She was allowed to keep one on Christmas Eve, and I really think that helped her to transition. I slyly took that last one away from her while she was distracted opening presents on Christmas morning. She did ask for it when she went for her nap that day, but I reminded her about Santa and the babies in need and she was good to go! It was an amazingly easy 'habit' to drop and she has not looked back since. I am so thankful, because I was sure tired of seeing my 3 year old walk around with that thing in her mouth! We reduced Elsie's use of pacifiers at the same time - limiting them to her bed only - I think she is still very comforted by having one so we have not taken it away completely. Maybe next Christmas?

We opened gifts through out the morning, stopping for breakfast and a few other breaks. Claudia and Mike joined us Christmas evening and we had a lovely dinner of beef tenderloin followed up with even more presents. It was certainly a wonderful holiday and we are thankful to have spent it with the girls and our parents!

Whirly

2011-01-18T14:55:00.002-06:00

Elsie got her hands on Anna's whirly thing from the Mickey Mouse Road show. She figured out how to use it pretty quickly and loved the lights. Is there anything better than secretly using your sister's stuff?

Vote!

2011-01-05T14:16:00.002-06:00

Please vote for us here! (nevermind all the other familiar faces - vote for the girls!) We are picture # 32!

A few more steps

2010-12-27T11:05:00.002-06:00

From a few days ago, a few more steps. Crawling is still the preferred method of transport, it's much faster!

Bathtime Fun

2010-12-20T10:41:00.000-06:00

The girls share a bath almost every night. They certainly enjoy the time together, it's like they become silly monkeys when they are in there together! This was a few weeks ago - Elsie's first bubble bath!

The tickle monster!

2010-12-17T10:40:00.000-06:00

No walking yet...

2010-12-16T10:23:00.002-06:00

Elsie is sure taking her sweet old time when it comes to walking. I have been thinking that she would be eager to walk, just for the simple fun of keeping up with her big sister. I guess it isn't motivation enough for her though. She continues to zip around the house using her stroller, in fact she is getting really fast! I was beginning to think that she is using this stroller as a 'crutch' so I put in an out the way place for a few days. Low and behold - she was walking the length of the family room last night! She is still working on her balance a bit and she looks a bit like a drunken sailor, but she is making me very proud!

Bitty Ballerina

2010-12-01T15:07:00.003-06:00

Anna recently started her Bitty Ballerina class over at the park district. She is loving it and shows off her moves when asked despite only attending one class so far. (We missed a few due to Thanksgiving) The leotard and ballet gear were a gift for her birthday last September, thanks Grammy!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T10:10:00.002-06:00

We spent a fun and relaxing day in Crystal Lake with my dad yesterday. We had all of the usual trimings in addition to turkey: stuffing, mashed potatos, green bean caserole, red cabbage, and cranberries. We are also celebrating Elsie's first steps which happened yesterday! You can see a video clip of the official first steps here. And another clip here. Oh my, our lives are about to change!

Santa

2010-11-22T09:29:00.003-06:00

Last weekend we took the girls to JC Penney for pictures celebrating their birthdays, Anna turned 3 at the end of September and Elsie turned 1 at the beginning of November. With some careful planning we managed to get there on time and all in one piece - why does the stress level always seem to multiply by 20 when you have to be somewhere on time? The girls did a great job and we managed to squeak in a picture with Santa before heading home. You may remember last year's picture when Anna was not entirely sure about Santa. It seems that she has moved past the fear, because she happily sat on his lap for several minutes telling him all about the Jessie doll that she is coveting for Christmas. Elsie has eagerly taken on the role of 'child in fear,' thank goodness, because really - what good is a Santa picture without a crier?

2010-11-10T13:09:00.002-06:00

We've had a whirlwind week! It all started last Wednesday morning with Anna waking up with the flu. I stayed home to take care of her, and the poor sister was so sick that she pretty much camped out on the couch all day long. Her entire day consisted of TV, sprite, and a bucket...enough said. She was much improved after 24 hours and I returned to work on Thursday, only to stay home on Friday with a case of the flu myself. So then it was Matt's turn to stay home and take care of us, thank goodness for that! Elsie woke up from her nap on Friday afternoon and Matt found that she had gotten sick as well. She did a fantastic job of spreading it over every surface in her crib before he got in there though...so thoughtful of her, right? Needless to say, all of our weekend plans were canned at that point. There was one thing I was really looking forward to though and that was the opportunity to see my Grandma Shirley who was in town for a wedding. By Sunday afternoon Anna and I were feeling well enough that we made a trip downtown Chicago to visit her where she was staying, at a friend's condo. Anna loved the train ride, the taxi ride and the time we spent visiting with Great Grandma Shirley 66 floors up! She was so well behaved despite missing her nap on top of the time change, and I was so proud of her. We are all feeling better at this point, and I am not sure how Matt was able to avoid catching the bug. I am just thankful he was there to take care of us!

Happy Birthday Elsie!

2010-11-02T11:04:00.004-05:00

A very happy first birthday to my sweet baby girl! She is such a happy baby, a great sister and the fastest crawler this side of the Mississippi! I went into her room this morning at the very moment I heard her first peep. She was so groggy but still smiling, and when I asked her 'how big is Elsie?' she threw her hands over her head with so much enthusiasm I couldn't help but laugh. She has the most wonderful disposition and I cannot wait for this next year with her, it is going to be so much fun.

PS. She did not like the Halloween makeup and costume as much as her sister did! In the end I was able to apply her nose and whiskers, but not without a few tears.

Minnie Mouse

2010-11-01T15:01:00.004-05:00

We were fortunate to be able to borrow Minnie and Mickey mouse costumes from a co-worker of mine. They were super sweet costumes and the girls were a hit around the neighborhood! Anna LOVED getting ready and wearing makeup, she spent a lot of time looking in the mirror to ensure that everything was in place before heading out. Pictures of Mickey tomorrow!

Pool Time

2010-10-29T10:09:00.003-05:00

Last summer we were so busy working on the house and in the yard that we just didn't get to the pool as often as I would have liked. It was a goal of mine to spend more time at the pool this summer, and I think we did a pretty good job of getting there at least every other week. Niki also took the girls during the week, so they were really having a ball at the pool by the end of the summer. Anna is fearless, jumps off the side, and got the hang of swimming with and without her water wings. I predict that she will be full on swimming next summer and that Elsie will be our water wing gal. Now, I just wish it was still nice outside so we could keep going!

#1 Elsie

2010-10-25T13:45:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Elsie's birthday over the weekend with a family and friends gathering at our house. It was so nice to see everyone and to wish Elsie a very happy upcoming birthday. (She's not quite 1 yet, her real birthday is next week!) The sister knew exactly what to do with her cake, and she did not hesitate from diving into it for one second.

Uncle Pat in the house!

2010-10-20T13:32:00.002-05:00

My brother was in town last week, and we had the chance to see him several times. It's so nice to have the opportunity to spend time with him, and I know he enjoys the time with the girls!

First Day of School

2010-10-18T15:31:00.003-05:00

Anna started preschool this fall! We weren't able to sign her up for the regular preschool since she did not turn 3 until after the September 1 deadline. So she is in a "wee threes" program which meets 2 mornings per week with all of the kids who missed the deadline too. I think there are about 10 or 15 kids in her class whose birthdays are in September! She is really enjoying it, and she comes home everyday proudly showing off her art work. A few pictures of her on the first day of school.

Matching Quilts

2010-10-13T13:17:00.001-05:00

I have been thinking a lot recently about the girls sharing a room. I think it's important. In all honesty I am a little bit jealous of them. This is a childhood rite of passage that I never was able to experience myself. Sharing a room, sharing secrets, sharing an intimate space with a sibling. So I have been thinking about which bedroom in our house it better suited for them, one has more square footage but the other has a better closet - these are girls we are talking about here, this is important stuff to consider! I've also been thinking about how I might decorate the room. Anna currently has a very cute quilt that I picked up at Homegoods on the very cheap. Of course I can't find another one to match it now. I started browsing websites and catalogues, nothing caught my eye until I saw the one above. I love it. Of course it is from the most expensive store, of course. But, my luck turned when this particular pattern went on clearance! I wasn't able to purchase online because they were already out by the time I discovered the sale. So I made a little recon trip to the store at Oakbrook mall over the weekend. Ching Ching Ching, I hit the jackpot and found them on sale for over 50% off the original price! I am beyond excited. Now, I just have to wait until Elsie is ready for a big girl bed in a little over a year! Hopefully I didn't jump the gun on this one, but I have a feeling we will be enjoying these matching quilts for years to come.

Leaf Pile

2010-10-12T14:11:00.002-05:00

I figured that I would keep you up to date on our current activities as well as catching you up on the entire summer, see I told you - posting extravaganza! This past weekend was very low key. We hung out at home for the most part and I tackled my goal of organizing closets. It is such a liberating feeling to have that done. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and hard to pass up spending some time outside. Anna had a blast playing in the leaves last year, which she remembers, and she requested a leaf pile on Saturday. Matt was happy to provide!

Dune Ride

2010-10-11T14:52:00.001-05:00

Uncle Pat, Anna and Matt went for a dune ride at Mac Woods one afternoon when we were in Michigan. We were surprised to hear that Anna was eligible for the ride, I guess we are just so used to strapping her into a car seat all of the time. Anna really enjoyed the wind in her and the open air ride!

Yes! Michigan

2010-10-08T11:34:00.004-05:00

I'll start off the posting extravaganza (oh yes, it will be an extravaganza) with an update on our summer vacation to Michigan. We were able to spend an entire week in June up there which was completely awesome since we were not able to go up during the summer of 2009 at all. There is something about that place that is completely relaxing for me. It begins as soon as we hit the Michigan border while driving up, every single time we go. I just feel a big sense of relief at the thought of leaving everything behind, it's awesome. So this year, my dad and brother joined us for the week, Grandma Shirley arrived mid week, and it all ended with Uncle Dennis and Aunt Mary joining us on our last night. We did a lot of beach time, a lot of hanging out time, and sprinkled in the rest of the activities (ice cream, dune rides, crolf, playground time, naps) as we pleased! We'll start off with the park, which kept us pretty busy most mornings.

Long Time No Talk

2010-09-27T11:46:00.003-05:00

Well, once again it has been awhile. August and September have been pretty busy months in our household, and we are welcoming fall with open arms because it means some cozy weekends spent at home watching football, getting our house back in order, and lots of quality time with the family! We have lots to update you on including a few vacations and birthday celebrations, please look for posts on all things summer coming up soon! In the meantime, I found these pictures that my dad took and sent to me of our house. A lot has changed in just one year. It has been super fun to watch our plants grow and our flower beds take shape. I have definite ideas for next spring already; color schemes plus what flowers I want to plant and where they will go. We will also rearrange some of the existing plants before winter and I have about 50 hyacinth and tulip bulbs to plant before the first frost.

Garage Cleanout

2010-07-21T18:41:00.009-05:00

Matt hit the links last weekend and my Dad and I decided it might be a good time to start the garage cleanout project that we have been wanting to do. It's not terribly dirty or disorganized, but we would like like to have a proper place for everything. Our work bench is the great dumping ground! We started by distracting the girls with water (always works like a charm) and then moved onto installing new boards to hang all of our yard tools. Think rakes, shovels, clippers, etc. It's amazing how much *crap* you need when you have a house! We finished the first project - organization - now we will be ready to paint this fall. Note: it's Matt's desire to paint the inside of the garage. I am not knocking him, but I just don't know if it would be a project on the top of my list. PS. Anna was riding her bike, I didn't make her wear the helmet just to climb the ladder!

Elsie in the City

2010-07-12T11:57:00.009-05:00

On Saturday, Elsie and I joined my dad for a day of fun in the city. Our main objective was to check out the art fair on Michigan Avenue, but you will see we did a lot more that just that. She was a sweet little companion, smiling and hardly a fuss from her all day long.

Uncle Pat

2010-07-07T11:32:00.002-05:00

My brother Patrick was able to join us for our trip to Michigan this year. It's such a treat to be able to spend a week with him because he lives in Colorado and we live in Chicago - and well, it's just not that easy to get together for extended time like that very often! Pat was a great help and buddy all week long for Matt and I, plus he took his uncle duties very seriously. It was like having a third parent around, sweet!

Flower Power

2010-07-01T14:22:00.003-05:00

We are freshly back from a great week in Michigan. We did a little bit of flower shopping at the MOST amazing nursery that we found in the town of Hart. I was just totally overwhelmed with the selection, and the prices were terrific on top of that! We got two flats of petunias to plant at the cottage. We thought we would surprise my grandma with those since she will be staying at the cottage for 6 weeks this summer. (I am so jealous of her!) We ended up taking grandma back to the nursery after her arrival, and I ended up buying some things for myself to take back home. I made out with a yellow rose bush (Julia Child variety) and a wall hanging filled with pinkish/purpleish petunias. I'll try to post a picture of those two things soon!

self dressed

2010-06-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

The other morning Anna disappeared in her room for a few minutes. She went in with her pj's on and came out wearing this. It was very appropriate since it was within a day or two of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup.

Arboretum

2010-06-26T21:39:00.000-05:00

Sunny side up

2010-06-24T21:38:00.000-05:00

Bathing Beauties

2010-06-22T21:34:00.001-05:00

Now that Elsie is sitting on her own, we are able to bath the girls together. As in, at the same time. It's great and a huge time saver for Matt and I. Plus they really like being in there together. It's very sweet.

so many choices

2010-06-20T21:32:00.000-05:00

hhmm, what color to pick?

Fake 30th

2010-06-18T21:20:00.000-05:00

Since I was super pregnant when I turned 30 last year, we decided to pass on a party at that time. I mean, I wanted to look good and have a good time too, since turning 30 is a little depressing in itself. We finally got together with friends and family a few weekends ago to celebrate. We went downtown Chicago to a great Italian place called Enoteca Roma where we passed and shared many dishes . It was fabulous. A special thanks to Matt for throwing the party for me!

Roses

2010-06-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

We planted one rose bush last year, and another one this year. They are doing wonderfully, and we have had many blooms already this spring and summer. I just love having them as part of the landscaping.

Everyone's Favorite Friend

2010-06-15T21:56:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it is about the Old Navy dog that is so great, but I know a few kiddos who just love this silly dog. All was going well on this particular visit until she knocked the darn thing over. Tears were shed.

Wakey wakey sleepy baby!

2010-06-12T21:59:00.000-05:00

Sitting

2010-06-09T21:43:00.000-05:00

Elsie is sitting on her own now. It is super fun for her (and me, I'll be honest) because she can sit and play for much longer periods of time. Oh, and everything is going straight into the mouth too.

The belle

2010-06-06T21:39:00.000-05:00

I look at these pictures, which were taken about a month ago and I think that she has changed so much since then. How is this already happening? She's enjoying her first swing and her first broccoli here.

Laid out

2010-06-06T20:04:00.003-05:00

Anna and I went to the pool at my mom's house today. She is doing so well in the water, totally getting the hang of her swimmies! She had a blast!

Dentist

2010-06-03T22:01:00.003-05:00

I took Anna in for her first dental cleaning a few weeks ago. She did great! I think that it really helped that the hygienist is Sarah, also known as DD's mom. DD aka David is Anna's BFF and also happens to be Niki's nephew. Anna spends a good amount of time with DD, Evelyn, and Sarah. I would say that they get together at least once a week for a play date. So, back to the dentist...she was a little unsure at first, but Sarah showed her the water gun, the air gun, and the polisher. She even let Anna press the buttons and try it out for herself, which was super cool. Anna was insistent on wearing her vest and her sunglasses for the cleaning, which the dentist found to be very funny. I guess she didn't want to get to comfortable in the office - had to be ready for her quick break out of there! And all is well that ends well, we have no cavities. (can't say the same for mom though, who has to go back for a filling - ouch!)

My new babies

2010-06-03T21:46:00.000-05:00

We treated ourselves to a new washer and dryer during Illinois' green campaign this spring. (Think 'cash for clunkers' for appliances) We traded in our apx. 30 year old models that came with the house - for these sparkly HE models. I am totally happy...about laundry! The reason that I have two separate pictures is because we still don't have a side by side configuration in the basement. One day all of my laundry dreams will come true, but until then - I am still thrilled.

Guess what time it is!

2010-06-03T21:34:00.003-05:00

Catch up time! I realized that I have about a month's worth of pictures that are needing to be shared. Oh My. Without further ado - lunch al fresco, on our new patio after swimming lessons a few Sundays ago.

Friday Fun

2010-05-14T13:01:00.001-05:00

Fort

2010-05-06T21:08:00.000-05:00

Anna and Matt built this fort the other night. The first of many in our future.

For Mimi

2010-05-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

This post is for Mimi - who had a bad dream which consisted of Matt and I taking Anna to get her ears pierced. Something that she thinks we should wait on...AND SO DO WE! But nobody said anything about Elsie!

Picture Perfect

2010-05-03T21:24:00.002-05:00

Carley from Carley Kay Photography came to our house on Saturday morning for a little session with the girls. My main objective was to capture images of Elsie, since she is now 6 months old. It's one of my favorite ages and I just want to preserve her forever. Carley was so patient with our family, especially Anna - who woke at 530am that day. Anna was a handful and needed a lot of convincing and a few quite moments to regroup herself. Please check out the results of our little photo shot here (password is gibson0501) and please leave a comment here for Carley to let her know how awesome she did...if we get 25 comments we get a little prize!

Gibson girls

2010-05-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

Just a few pics of us from over last weekend.

Anna and David

2010-04-30T20:48:00.000-05:00

Best of buds have the best time - pudding painting!

Easter Wrap up

2010-04-28T20:43:00.000-05:00

This was our attempt to get a family picture on Easter Sunday. And some pics of the kids on the way home. Mimi and Papa did a great job tiring them out! Thanks for a fun and great Easter!

Elsie and Bobbob

2010-04-27T20:38:00.000-05:00

Claudia captured these amazing images of Elsie with her Great Grandpa Bobbob over Easter weekend.

Jumping with Andrew

2010-04-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

Mimi and Papa have a 'sunk in' family room, and Anna and Andrew had a blast jumping down (over?) the steps. Anna was a little unsure at first but I think Andrew helped her get over that quickly!

Patio

2010-04-25T20:51:00.004-05:00

We decided to put in a small patio out front so that we could enjoy the front of the house a little bit more. Matt and my dad have slaved away for several weekends getting the area ready, then leveling the ground, and placing the pavers. The job required one rented tool (wet saw) from Home Depot and several more trips for supplies. We found the small set of table and chairs at Costco for a very modest price, and I couldn't help but to place a few flowers around to make it "homey." I know that Anna and Niki have already used the patio for lunch al fresco, and Matt and I are so excited to use it all summer long. Thanks to my men (MRG and dad) for tackling this project and making it happen!

Catchup

2010-04-25T20:29:00.003-05:00

I am going to attempt a few catchup posts, since I am a little behind. These first shots are from Easter weekend in Peoria. Anna had a blast playing with cousins, helping Mimi and Papa in the kitchen and also around the yard. PS the boots that Anna are wearing are Matt's from childhood!

outgrown

2010-04-22T21:12:00.000-05:00

I guess this means that she is too big for the bouncy seat now. Everytime I turn around after putting her into it recently - this is what she looks like. Hello? adult supervision? Are you there? I assure you, we are here.

Feeding time

2010-04-20T21:20:00.002-05:00

Anna decided that she was going to feed Elsie tonight. A little messy for mom's taste, but overall - a job well done!

little sis

2010-04-20T21:07:00.001-05:00

and another post about little sister too - she's alive as well.

seriously slacking

2010-04-20T21:04:00.002-05:00

But here are some piggies to prove that we are still alive!

Dresses

2010-04-07T21:38:00.001-05:00

I just got these adorable dresses in the mail today! I ordered them on Etsy, and I think that I am going to have the girls wear them for their photo shoot in May. As Anna would say: Aw, cute!

Long time, no blog

2010-04-07T21:26:00.002-05:00

Here's some funnies to keep you happy! I was going to save these and post them in a few days, but I couldn't keep them from you all any longer. They make me smile and laugh! Elsie is just getting over a case of Roseola, and she is finally feeling and acting like herself today after a week of being sick. She is such a happy baby, I am so glad to have her back. Goodbye sicky baby!

My dog Lilly

2010-03-19T21:52:00.000-05:00

Getting to know Lilly, they were so cute together.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T08:50:00.000-05:00

When we picked this up at the drive through, she said "YO YO BABY" as it was passed into the car.

Big girl undies

2010-03-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

We recently started the big task of potty training Anna. She is doing really good so far. We have been taking it slow and even though we've had our fair share of accidents - she is starting to understand the whole concept. Here she is modeling her big girl undies. (Minnie Mouse, in case you are wondering)

Buds

2010-03-13T21:42:00.000-06:00

Just hanging together...and sharing pacifiers.

Carrots!

2010-03-10T21:36:00.000-06:00

Elsie recently started solids and today we added carrots to the mix. Yum! She did pretty well but I could tell that she may need a few mores tries to truly love them.

Happy Birthday Mimi!

2010-03-07T21:30:00.002-06:00

Today is MiMi's birthday, and Mike and Claudia made a day trip up so we could all celebrate together. It was a great day! The best part is that Anna went home with Mimi and Papa (yes, to Peoria!) and will stay with them for a few fun-filled days. We are certainly missing her around the house, but we know that they are enjoying her company.

Shades

2010-03-04T20:56:00.001-06:00

Gotta wear shades when the sun is shining!

Old Bed

2010-02-28T21:13:00.000-06:00

Anna seems to have forgotten that this is now Elsie's bed. The scariest part of it (for me) is that she knows how to climb in there on her own. Thankfully, she has waiting for my ok - so far.

Rollin'

2010-02-24T21:09:00.001-06:00

Anna took these (abstract) pictures, and just happened to do a great job of capturing a roll!

The hand washer

2010-02-22T15:54:00.000-06:00

Anna is totally in to washing her hands right now. I think it has a lot more to do with the fact that she gets to play with water than the germ killing aspect of it. She's also into brushing her teeth, another water activity. But, I don't mind, neither one is a bad habit to have!

Play date

2010-02-20T15:41:00.000-06:00

Anna and Elsie are so lucky to have such great buds in David "D.D." and Evelyn "Evys." They are Niki's nephew and niece and they are just about the cutest ever. We are so glad that the kids are able to get together and play on a regular basis. Anna and DD became fast friends this past summer, and they even talk on the phone with one another every once in a while.

She-Ra

2010-02-18T15:39:00.000-06:00

Anna was able to have a cookie after dinner one night last week, and I love how she immediately went running to our room, hopped on the bed and held that cookie as high as she possibly could. Her main goal: keeping it away from Lilly.

Bathing Beauty

2010-02-16T15:36:00.000-06:00

Elsie is loving her baths!

Sisters

2010-02-15T15:47:00.004-06:00

This is the best doll EVER.
Photo Shoot. Smile Anna!
No Really, Anna, a nice smile please.
How about you give her a kiss?
Okay - one more kiss.
Sweet girl.
End of the photo shoot.

Tears

2010-02-12T13:23:00.003-06:00

Elsie has been having a little bit of what I like to call "stranger danger" recently. She quickly gets over it, but she is very sad during it! Poor, sweet baby.

Color Quiz

2010-02-12T10:25:00.002-06:00

I saw this fun color quiz this morning. I took it. I am RED: You boast incredible willpower and are capable of overcoming obstacles that would normally leave others shaking in their boots. You have a penchant for colorful environments and often impress others with your energetic bursts of energy. Your interests in many areas of life often leave you scattered, but when you focus you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. I am not sure if it's accurate, but its certainly fun and interesting! Happy Friday!

Carded

2010-02-11T13:51:00.001-06:00

I've had two recent carding experiences - on totally different ends of the spectrum. The first is what you might expect, I got carded at a restaurant bar - and I was thrilled. Matt and I had been out shopping while my mom was at home with the girls, and we stopped to pick up dinner on the way home. While we were waiting for our take-out we had a glass of wine at the bar (hello - it was a mini date!) and the server asked for my ID. I happily handed it over! The second experience is a little more perplexing. I stopped at the Metra station ticket window yesterday to pick up a few 10-ride tickets. When you write a check to purchase tickets, as I do, you have to provide an ID. So I slide my check and ID underneath the divider and the gal takes one look at me and says "Is this even you? It certainly doesn't look like you." And I am thinking to myself....seriously? You have nothing better to do than question the validity of my ID? You are a Metra ticket - passer- outer, and you are accusing me of having a fake ID that I am currently using to buy Metra tickets? If I had a fake ID - I would be using it for much better purposes...like to say that I am 22 again. So I tell her that I was pregnant when the picture was taken, and that seems to satisfy her. As if the picture of my head might be different because I was preggo. Right.

Cutie Pie

2010-02-08T11:11:00.000-06:00

My dad captured these snapshots the other night. She was lounging on Matt's lap and happy as a clam to be there!

Bowling

2010-02-05T17:43:00.000-06:00

Every year we head to Bloomington, IL to have lunch and go bowling in celebration of Mike's birthday. This was the first year Anna was old enough to bowl, and she LOVED it!

The sleeper

2010-02-03T17:38:00.000-06:00

I have this running joke with my mom about Elsie's sleeping habits, because she just loves to sleep. And every time my mom calls to check in with us, she asks what the girls are doing and my answer is Anna is doing...xyz...and Elsie is sleeping. She stopped short of accusing me of not entertaining Elsie enough. Well, to prove my point, I took this shot of the sister underneath her Imaginarium...where she fell asleep while it was on.

Nap skipper

2010-02-01T17:34:00.000-06:00

Has this ever happened to you? You walk away for a second to make a sandwich for lunch, and your toddler falls asleep.... needless to say, she skipped her nap this day. NO fun for mom.

Potty time

2010-01-30T17:32:00.001-06:00

Just practicing, cause nothing is happening yet!

New duds

2010-01-28T17:20:00.000-06:00

We have been feeling like it's time to start 'finishing' the rooms throughout the house. We have yet to hang a single picture, set out accessories, and all of those other things that make a house feel like a home. We purchased these new chairs and a side table for the living room right after the new year. You can see the fabric we picked out for the upholstery draped over the top of the chair, the dark color is navy blue. My personal decorator, Matt, found the swatch among the other choices and I love it. Everything should be delivered soon, and I am ready to get them in the house and see how everything looks together. I am also so excited to continue working on and personalizing our house. It's really feels good to be here, at home.

Monkey Buds

2010-01-26T17:13:00.000-06:00

In early January we were able to catch up with our old friends the Forebaughs. They lived right above us in the condo building in Chicago, and they moved to the suburbs about the same time that we did. Lucky for us they are only 10 minutes away, but it's just not the same as just upstairs! They brought Lindsay's PJ's over to get her ready for bed before heading home that night, and Anna happens to own a matching pair! We couldn't resist a few pictures of these goofy girls.

We've got a roller!

2010-01-24T17:31:00.002-06:00

Elsie rolled over for the first time from her tummy to her back last week!

Catch Up

2010-01-24T17:02:00.002-06:00

We have lots to catch up on, it's been a while since I posted! First things first though...dun dun dun. I have to back to work tomorrow. TOMORROW people, tomorrow. I have been busy this weekend getting myself and the house ready. Just doing a good cleaning, finishing up laundry, organizing myself, and those sorts of things. I know that life is going to be pretty busy in the coming weeks as we all adjust to the new schedule. I just want to be as 'ready' as I possibly can be...which is a joke in itself, who's ever ready with two kids? I will say that I am much more calm this time around than I was when I went back to work after Anna was born. I've already done it before, and I already know Niki so well. Plus, I feel like I know what to expect. Don't get me wrong, it's still a huge bummer. I have a feeling the folks on the morning train might see a few tears from me!

Big Girl Bed!

2010-01-08T15:02:00.005-06:00

I've been stressing about how and when I should transition Anna to a big girl bed. I mean, is there ever a good time for this sort of thing? She clearly loves sleeping in her crib, but Elsie is super ready for a bed of her own. The last few weeks of December I started talking to Anna about how we would be taking her crib down. I wanted to explain it, and give her the opportunity to process in that little brain of hers what was about to happen. As luck would have it, she transitioned beautifully. PHEW. I spent NYE day with my mom shopping the outlets, and when we returned back to her house it was time for Anna's nap. I purposely did not bring the pack n play with me that day with the thought that she could try to take a nap in a bed. I figured if her crib wasn't right there...she wouldn't have a choice. So we waiting until she was good and tired and put her down in the late afternoon. The first few pictures above are from that day. She fiddled for a little while, but fell asleep quickly and I eventually had to wake her up around 530pm that evening to take her home. I guess that bed was comfortable! When we woke up on New Year's Day I decided it was THE day. Matt and I spent the morning disassembling the crib and then reassembling it in another room for Elsie. I made a big deal of making Anna's bed and setting it up for her. She had all morning and early afternoon to see it and prepare for her nap in her new big girl bed. Once again, she did great. So now, she has been sleeping in her big girl bed for a week and she continues to do so well. We've had a couple of little things come up, like emptying bookshelves when she's supposed to be napping, but nothing major. She did ask to sleep in her crib one night, but thankfully Elsie was already asleep. I was able to take her in and show her how Elsie needs the crib now, and explain to her (again) what a big girl she is and that's why she gets to sleep in the big girl bed. Worked like a charm!

Christmas at home

2010-01-06T16:25:00.003-06:00

We arrived back home from Denver on Christmas day in the early afternoon. My mom came over and brought a super yummy casserole that we used to eat all of the time growing up. We dubbed it 'chicken surprise' as kids, and I promise you the name makes it sounds so horrible when it is actually so delicious. Matt's parents arrived later that evening, and we treated that night as our Christmas Eve. Following a tradition from Matt's childhood, Anna was allowed to open one gift that night. Well she actually opened one from us and one from Matt's parents and one from my mom. We got her put down for the night and awaited Santa's arrival. The next morning, she woke up and we had to divert her from the living room while Mike ran out for milk. She was super excited when she finally saw the tree with everything underneath it. We had a wonderful and lazy day opening presents, watching the snow fall ALL DAY LONG, and enjoying the fireplace. We prepared a wonderful meal that evening of beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, green beans with shallots, bread and salad. I am so glad that we were able to celebrate at home this year too. I'll remember Christmas in Denver and in Chicago for a long time!

Denver

2009-12-30T16:35:00.003-06:00

We headed out to Denver on Tuesday of last week for Christmas. It was a quick trip but a really nice trip. I am happy to report that Anna did very well on the plane, both ways. Phew, as that was definitely a concern of mine after our last trip! We were able to stay at the Kubik's house, which is always a treat. Anna and cousin Lauren had a blast playing together, and we only had a few minor squabbles about toy sharing. (they are both 2, so we were all thrilled with how good they were) The highlight of our stay was the extended family get together on Christmas Eve. We were able to share (read: show off) the girls to aunts, uncles, cousins, and most importantly Grandma Shirley. As you may or may not know, Elsie is named after Shirley's mother, Elsie Spitzer. It was a thrill to see Shirley and Elsie together again, this time as great grandmother and great granddaughter. PS. An interesting factoid: Elsie Spitzer had a sister named Anna. We learned of this after Anna was born, but before Elsie was born.

Go Bears!

2009-12-28T10:26:00.002-06:00

Christmas Cookies

2009-12-23T20:44:00.000-06:00

I took on the big project of making Christmas cutout cookies last week. I had to do it in steps because it takes so long. So I made the dough one day, spent two days baking them in batches when I had a few minutes here and there, and then recruited Matt to help me frost and sprinkle one night after the kids were asleep. Anna had fun licking the beaters and Matt really likes the decorating with sprinkles. A good team effort by all...the making and the eating!

Christmas PJ's

2009-12-22T20:41:00.000-06:00

The girls received these super cute *matching* pj's from Claudia for Christmas. We tried to get a few pictures of them the other night. Anna needed some convincing, but eventually came around.

Elsie

2009-12-22T20:38:00.000-06:00

New Carpet

2009-12-21T20:33:00.000-06:00

We just got carpet put down in our family room. It is so nice and makes the room a bit warmer/cozier. Even Elsie enjoys it!

Craziest Post-Nap Hair Ever

2009-12-20T20:39:00.001-06:00

Too bad the outfit didn't help the team today.

Santa Visit

2009-12-20T20:26:00.003-06:00

We woke up bright and early yesterday and headed to the mall in hopes of beating the majority of the crowd to see Santa. Anna was super excited while we were standing in line. She waved to Santa and was all geared up to see him. Of course, when she finally got her turn she chickened out. Sorry this is such poor quality, it's a picture of a picture...but I am sure you get the gist! Anna is hysterical, Elsie is sleeping, and Santa has the goofiest grin I have ever seen.

New tricks

2009-12-13T18:04:00.004-06:00

We've got a few new tricks up our sleeves! Elsie has been bobbling along for lots of recent tummy time. She really likes it and does very well. Yesterday her head got bobbing so much and she ended flipping herself over. I don't think that I will count that as an official first rollover. What is official is this smile though! She has been slow to smile, so this was really fun for Matt and I to see today.

The Naked Napper

2009-12-10T16:55:00.002-06:00

Jorie and Sarah stopped by to visit this afternoon. They brought me lunch from Panera and some adult conversation. Thank you for both! We put Anna down for her nap this afternoon around 130pm, which is her normal time. Usually I don't hear a peep from her until she wakes up, but today she was very chatty for about an hour or so. Well, she just woke up and I realized why she was so chatty. She took a naked nap! Seeing as it is about 10 degrees outside today, I bet it was a chilly nap too.

Elsie Belle

2009-12-09T15:56:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted a lot about Elsie so I thought that I would let you know that she exists and is doing well! (second baby, sorry Elsie!) She is just the sweetest thing, and good eater and a great sleeper too. She spends a lot of the day napping in the pack n play in the living room while Anna and I go about our business, waking for a diaper change and to eat every few hours. She is happy in the car and running errands, willing to be out and about with us which is so great. She rarely cries and has a wonderful temperment. She is starting to fill out a bit, getting rounder by the day...oh, I could just eat her up!

Snow Snow Snow

2009-12-09T15:51:00.002-06:00

It's been snowing for about 36 hours now... I sent Matt and Anna out last night for a little fresh air and to tackle the driveway.

The Pristine

2009-12-09T15:38:00.004-06:00

My dad gifted us with our Christmas gift a little early this year. He decided that we desperately needed a new vacuum cleaner, and I completely agree. We had a pretty fancy vacuum before, but it wasn't doing a very good job. It had gotten to the point where I dreaded bringing it out because it was a worthless non sucking pile of plastic. So I decided to open our new Riccar Pristine vacuum today. ITS AWESOME. And let me tell you why... It sucks, just like it is supposed to do. I sucked up so much lint, dust, crumbs, you name it today and now our house is super shiny. I vacuumed everything I could, twice. No, just kidding only once! Another reason it is so awesome is because I was completely alone while working. Just turn a vacuum on in my house and watch everyone scatter. You are practically guaranteed solitude, maybe I should bring it to the bathroom with me!