Bella - 8 months

Weight, Length, Head - your next well check is next month

Clothes: 9 months

Diapers: Size 3

Health:
This past month we've learned that you poor tummy does not like having pears with cinnamon for breakfast.  You've had it twice and both times you've thrown up.  I will be asking the pediatrician about this next month, but until then we will be avoiding pears with cinnamon.  You also had your first fever, poor thing.

Diet:
You're eating habits remain the same as they were last month.  On a normal day, you eat 3 meals and nurse 5 times a day.  You've done a little better with the bottle again and we have started working on a sippy cup.  I've introduced you to Puffs and you love them!  

Sleep:
In the last month I've decided there's 2 different schedules, the ideal nap schedule in which you would love to have 2 naps per day in your crib.  If you had it your way you would nap 10-12 and then probably 3-5ish.  Your sister naps from 1-3 every day.  Unfortunately, you are the 2nd child and that just doesn't work for us because we would be stuck sitting in the house all day!  Most of the time a little cat nap in the morning holds you off until we get home for your afternoon nap.  You are a child of routine and ready for bed at 7pm on the dot and still wake up most nights around 5am to eat, then go back to sleep until 7:30ish.

Look at that pretty face :)

Likes:

Some current favorites are being outside, you love going on walks and in the swing or even people watching in the baby carrier, your stacking cups and Sophie the giraffe are favorite toys, I think you would eat Puffs all day long.  I plop you on the floor in front of your sister's Leapfrog school bus alphabet magnets and you are content the entire time I make dinner - mommy win!  You are obsessed with taking baths so I can't wait to take you to the pool as soon as it warms up.  Addie is still your favorite person ever and you think she is hilarious! My favorite part of the day is watching the two of you interact, it just keeps getting better and better!

Dislikes:

Being by yourself, your a social baby just like your big sis!  Other than that you are a happy camper!

Sister picture TAKE 1...

TAKE 2 - much better!

Milestones: 
-No crawling and no teeth, stay tuned - they're coming!
-We celebrated your first Easter!  We had family in town, but you were sick the entire time poor baby.
-We took you and your sister to Myrtle Beach for the 1st time over spring break.  It was a nice family getaway, but we also learned some valuable lessons about traveling/sleeping in a hotel room with 2 little ones!
-I've introduced you to Puffs and you've been doing great practicing with your pincer grasp.
-You are constantly babbling and blowing raspberries.  You and your sister talk back and forth together all the time, usually all through dinner time.

Personality:
Life continues to get better and better and we couldn't be happier having you in it.  You are so sweet and such a happy little girl.  I am looking forward to all of the fun things we have planned this summer and I am going to soak up every little ounce of my baby Bella - because by the end of the summer you will be ONE!

Visitors:   

Pap, Grandma, and Aunt Kristen came for Easter weekend.

My Favorite Things

I used to do a post titled "My Favorite Things" every month for Addie, until she turned ONE!  Unfortunately, life is hectic these days and I have not gotten around to do one for Addie since her first birthday and I haven't done any for poor Bella (I'm lucky if I get her monthly updates done!  Sorry Bella, you're the second child and I do my best!)  The girls are at such fun ages right now and I could write a book every day about things they say or do that I want to remember, but instead here is a quick snapshot of just a few of my favorite things:

Addie - My Favorite Things at 2 years old

You are quite the talker these days.  You talk ALL DAY LONG and the things that come out of your mouth are hilarious. The other day you asked for more ketchup at lunch (you even did the sign for more which meant you were serious!) and I told you it was all gone.  You looked at me and in the most hilarious voice said "WHAT!" I couldn't help but laugh.   You make me laugh all day long and I love that about you!

You are the sweetest big sister to Bella.  I can always count on you to get her one of her toys or get her the pacifier when she needs it.  Sometimes you will get a book and read to her or make silly faces and noises to make her laugh.  My favorite part of the day is watching the two of you interact.

I love how you ask your Dad and I a million times a day if we are okay.  We respond with a "Yes, are you okay Addie?"  and you say "Yes, I'm okay" and continue doing whatever you were doing.  Thanks for looking out for us Addie :)

Dancing, jumping, and twirling are 3 of your favorite things and I love how the second you hear music you just start to move.  It's so cute!

You and Coop are best buds.  He's finally learning the benefits of having little ones in the house because he always has someone to throw his ball, chase him, and even get him a treat.  I love how you have him sit and give you his paw before rewarding him, it's pretty cute to watch.

Being outside is your favorite place in the whole world.  We spend a lot of time at the park and the second we try to come inside, you run to the door and ask to go back outside.  I love how active you are and I hope you always love being outside as much as you do now.

The older you get the more you like to cuddle.  You love to say "I hold you" and "I rock you" to Daddy and I and we love it!

Your singing skills are spot on and you definitely don't get that from us.  You can recite most of the little songs from Daniel Tiger (you love to tell me "Flush and wash and be on your way") and the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is another one of your favorites.

Bella - My Favorite Things at (almost) 8 months

I love that you really are my little mini me.  Addie is very much a Daddy's girl, but you on the other hand, you're my girl!  We are attached at the hip 24/7 and you are a pretty cute sidekick!

I'm obsessed with your little chunky thighs and I'm so excited that it's almost swimsuit and romper season.  There's seriously nothing better than baby rolls!

You have the prettiest blue eyes and I could stare into them all day long!

I love going in your room when you first wake up.  You kick your legs like crazy and squeal in excitement!  It's one of my favorite parts of our day!

I love the way that you look at your big sister.  Your eyes light up the second she enters the room and I swear you could sit and watch her all day long.

I can always tell when you are tired because the second I lay you in your crib you lift your legs and roll to the side.  The pacifier quickly falls out of your mouth and you are out.

You tell the best stories at dinner time and they are very dramatic.  You start talking and your sister quickly starts talking over top of you, needless to say between the two of you - your dad and I can't even get a word in.  Now if we only knew what the two of you were saying...

The sound of your laugh is my favorite.  You laugh all day long, usually at your sister.  You think she is absolutely hilarious!

Spring Break - Myrtle Beach Days

I was dreaming last night,

when I got the notion,

to pack my bags

and head out for the ocean.

And I was thinking to-day,

of good times last year,

of lookin' at the ladies,

and drinking cold draft beers...

Myrtle Beach Days!

We'll have some fun

in the waves,

I don't care what the

West Coast says,

But I love those

Myrtle Beach,

love those

Myrtle Beach Days!

These songs lyrics couldn't be more perfect to describe our spring break this year.  We ended up taking an impromptu trip to Myrtle Beach (by impromptu I mean we decided the day before that we were going to go - which is a little crazy when you have a 2 year old and a 7 month old!)  When Eric and I lived in Raleigh, we used to spend a lot of time there.  Eric grew up vacationing there, so he has a lot of great memories with his mom and dad.  We spent many birthdays and other special occasions there when we were dating and even got engaged there!  Unfortunately we haven't been back since we moved to Virginia, until now :)

It was so much fun to bring the girls to Myrtle Beach to experience some of our favorite places and things to do.  They may be little, but you're never to young to appreciate searching for seashells or a night at Broadway at the Beach.  I liked watching Eric light up as he showed the girls the ways and pointed out different places.  This was our first trip to Myrtle Beach with the girls, but I know that it won't be the last!

Easter Weekend

Easter Weekend has easily became one of my favorite holidays because for the past couple of years we have hosted and my family has made the trip to visit us.  Any holiday we bypass a long car ride with our 2 little angels, but still get to spend time with family is my kinda holiday!

This year, we had a very nice weekend with my parents and Kristen.  Addie was SO excited to see everyone!  The first thing she would say in the morning was "Where's Pap and Dada (Grandma)?  Where's T (Aunt Kristen)?"  She gets to talk and FaceTime with them all on a regular basis, but being able to see them in person and play with them was the HIGHLIGHT of her weekend!  My parents got into town Thursday evening and Kristen's flight got in Friday morning.  We started out the weekend with a trip to see the Easter bunny - who was not a hit with Addie or Bella.  I think Bella was more afraid of Addie's screaming than the bunny himself, but this is the best photo we got.  It reminds you kind of our Santa pictures from this year right?!?

After we equally terrified each girl, we rewarded them with some play time in the mall play place, which was a hit!  Addie ran around while Grandma and Pap took turns chasing her while Bella and Daddy went for a walk around the mall.  Then, it was home for lunch and nap time.

The weather was calling for rain, so after naps we took Addie bowling for the first time.  She had an absolute blast chanting "Ready, Set, Go!" and "Go Daddy Go" or "Go Pap Go".  Poor Bella had a fever and wasn't her normal, smiley self, but she still held her own cheering everyone on!  Then, it was home for a yummy homemade dinner made by Grandma, an Easter egg hunt, and an early birthday celebration for Pap.  After the littles all went to bed, it was time to relax with a glass of wine and good old Notre Dame basketball.

Saturday morning we started out the day going to Addie's buddy, whose name is also Addy, 2nd birthday party.  It was a Darling Donut Party complete with every kind of donut you could imagine.  I think I ate more than I would like to admit!  Let's be honest though, donuts are equally yummy for kids and adults :)  It ended up being beautiful outside so we had fun doing the Easter egg hunt and playing outside.  Then, just as Addie was going through a sugar crash we scooped her up and headed home for nap time.  After naps we went to Waterman's for dinner, which was far from relaxing with a long wait and an energized toddler plus a sick baby.  The food and company was worth it though, I think :)

On Easter morning we were up bright and early, got all dressed up, and were off to church in the pouring down rain!  Then, it was home to find the Easter baskets.  Addie got a new pink and purple train set, bubbles, new bath drops (since we ran out of the very popular blue bath color weeks ago!), chalk, and some other little goodies.  Bella got new stacking cups, a book, Puffs, an O-Ball, and a new personalized outfit complete with the most adorable gold glitter and baby bloomers!  We did some more Easter things - another Easter egg hunt and dyed eggs - followed by another yummy dinner.

Monday morning my parents left after breakfast and then the sun finally came out again!  I really think the bad weather follows my Dad.  It was beautiful right before he got here and beautiful the second he left!  Kristen, Eric, the girls, and I spent the day at the zoo.  We got to see Addie's favorites, the giraffes and the elephants!  It was so nice outside that we even got in a quick park trip after naps before we had to take Kristen to the airport.  Little Miss Addie was not happy when she left and cried the whole way home.  It broke my heart.

I hope your Easter was as amazing as ours was this year!  Until next year...