Sweet Luella is 1!

Ok, so I am slightly delayed in getting this post up in honor of Luella's 1st Birthday!!  But my little girl has been keeping me very busy along with her 'I don't believe in naps and just want to get naked during nap time' brother... (that is a post I will write about another day!)

2 Weeks 

                                                                    
To my sweet little Lu,

Happy 1st Birthday to you!  I know I say this to you everyday, but I can't believe how fast this year went!  It feels like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms for the first time and you were staring up at me with your big brown eyes - a moment that is so vivid to me and I will carry with me always.  Your eyes tell such a special story, a story that I am reminded of everyday when I look at you, a story that gets better and better as the days go on.

You are one amazing little girl - your strength, determination, smiles and yes, even your sassiness, make you so special.  I look at you with such wonder watching to see what you will accomplish next.  Everyday it is something new with you and I love seeing how proud you are of yourself - it makes me happier than you will ever know.

Your little hugs, your sweet kisses, the way you wrap your arms around my neck to look out at the world and the way you bury yourself in me when you are being shy- these are moments I never will forget.  I will be telling you about these moments forever and how much they mean to me.   I know as you get older and I talk about them, I will see your eyes roll and hear you say "god, Mom you are so embarrassing" but then I hope as you become a young woman, you will remember me telling you these things and I hope they make you smile and give you comfort.  The world is a big place and simple words and memories that we keep in our hearts and minds are sometimes all we need to carry with us through life.

I want to thank you for all the memories and special moments you have already given me and I know we have so much more to look forward to as mother and daughter.

I love you so much Luella Marie ~ Happy 1st Birthday

Love,
Your Mommy
August 20, 2013

Luella's 1st Birthday Bash Highlights:

(Thank you to my amazing friend Kristin Mann for capturing Luella's special day!!)

Best Day Ever!

This morning my beautiful little girl said 'Mama' for the first time and my heart melted.  It really doesn't get any better than hearing that word for the first time from your baby.

Then a couple of hours later, my sweet little boy randomly ran up to me, wrapped his arms around my legs, looked up at me with his big eyes and said 'I Love You Mommy' (then he ran away giggling) - my heart melted again!

These two little people are my everything - Love you always and forever C & L!!

A Girl After My Own Heart

There has not been much time for blogging these days with 2 kiddos on the loose and constantly chasing them around.  But Luella and I are hanging out right now and I had to seize the moment!  The afternoons are some of favorite moments with Luella because it is just her and I (if she wakes up before Charlie).  Being the 2nd child we do not get much one on one time the way I did with Charlie.   But when her big brother is resting his little head during nap time, Luella and I spend some quality girl time together.  Today she got into one of my drawers of jewelry and started to "accessorize" herself - like mother, like daughter.  LOVE IT!  I think it is time to start filling her jewelry box :)

Happy 2nd Birthday Charlie!

Today is Charlie's 2nd Birthday and we have been celebrating his birthday over the course of 10 days with 2 parties, a dinner out, and 4 different birthday deserts - he is one lucky little boy!  During Charlie's epic long birthday celebration, we learned he loves anything sweet and balloons are by far, the best gift.

Cheers to being 2 buddy!  We love you lots-
m & d
3.26.13

Family Birthday Party for Maelin & Charlie

Who needs a fork or spoon?  I will just stick my face in my cupcake (desert #1)

Cakeballs (desert # 2) served at Charlie's birthday party with his friends

Birthday Party with Charlie's friends
(poor Luella just got kicked by the birthday boy - you can see her crying on the floor)

Balloons = best gift ever!

Birthday dinner with Mom, Dad & Luella (Ice Cream - desert #3)

2 Years Old!  (Confetti Cake - desert #4)

Winter 2013

I can't believe it is the first day of spring (of course it still feels like winter!) Although we had a great winter, we are super excited for the warm weather to arrive.   I am done pushing a double stroller through snow, slush, wind, etc.  And I am so over putting on jackets, hats and boots.  It takes us 20 minutes to get out the door by the time we are all bundled up! Here are some pictures of our winter fun;  Charlie was a wild man in the snow and could not get enough of it.  He loved sledding and trying out his skis.  Luella enjoyed being along for the ride and liked to watch Charlie play in the snow :)

Happy Spring!

Sledding through the park (Luella is in the stroller way back there!)

Heading downhill

Playing in the park

Walking back from some outside fun and grocery shopping

Matching coats ;)

Walking to try out the skis

Snowplow!

Hello from Luella (finally)

Hey!  It's me, Luella.  I am already 6 1/2 months old and I have only had one and half blog entries so I have decided to give myself a little shout out.  I know my Mommy thinks about her lack of blogging about me; at least once a day I hear her say, "holy crap! I need to do the blog, poor Luella is going to think I forgot about her" So, I thought I would be nice and help her out.

Let's see,  I noticed the last entry was in October and I have changed a lot since then: I can sit up by myself, I am starting to eat solids, the bath is my happy place, I am a super-loud talker, and I love to jump (just to name a few) For the most part, I am very relaxed and I love to hang out and watch everything/everyone around me.  Recently, I have developed a little attitude with people I do not know or do not see on an a daily basis.  I get super annoyed when these people try to get in my face or hold me.  Ever hear of 'stranger-danger'?  Well, I have it in a major way - just let me be by my Mommy and Daddy and I will judge you from their arms.  Other than my recent stranger-danger attitude, I am a very easy going baby.  I love to give hugs and cuddles to my Mommy and Daddy and sometimes my brother.

Speaking of Charlie, he is my favorite person.  I can be in the worst mood and if Charlie comes along, I am all smiles.  All he has to do is look at me or try to make me laugh by making ridiculous sounds.  He likes yelling my name at the top of his lungs - "WA-WA"  (I know one day he will say my name correctly)  But I am not always a fan of Charlie for 2 reasons: 1) He is obsessed with my head and loves to hit it - not cool.   2) He thinks I am a bowling pin; when I am sitting up minding my own business, he will come along and push me over and yell "Mommy-Mama, Wa-Wa down"  Translation:  "Mommy, I knocked Luella down"  Mommy saves me every time by picking me up and making sure I am OK.  Then Charlie has to give me a hug and kiss and we are all good.  But he better stop these shenanigans soon - rumor has it 'time outs' are about to begin for Charlie.

I must get going now.  I am glad I was able to squeeze a blog entry in on behalf of my Mommy, she is going to be so excited :)

xo.
Luella

My Baptism

Stocking Stuffer

Love my feet!

Bath time = Happy time

Funny face!  (Obsessed with looking at myself in the mirror)

Yummy!

Snow Day!

Love to jump :)