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 :)

Boo!

Happy Halloween 2012!

We had a great time gearing up for Halloween this year!!  It started with picking our pumpkins at a pumpkin patch, (then getting some more pumpkins from the grocery store because a squirrel chewed holes through the ones we picked) and ended with Boo-Palooza where Charlie and Luella celebrated Halloween with all their friends.  Charlie was Bam-Bam this year (very fitting considering all he does is walk around and bang things as loud as he can) and Luella was our 'little pumpkin' 

Charlie in the pumpkin patch

Charlie and I on a camel named Nacho
(who knew they would have camels at the pumpkin patch!)

Our Little Pumpkin
(inside her pumpkin) 

Bam-Bam

Charlie and his buddies at Boo-Palooza

Mr. Crabby Pants and Luella at Boo-Palooza

There is that smile!  

Baby Luella

1 Day New

Luella Marie Hamilton 

Arrived August 20, 2012 at 9:19am ~ 8 lbs 3 oz ~ 20 1/4 in

Welcome Baby Luella!  Obviously I am a little late in updating our blog considering Luella is already 8 weeks old - where does the time go?  The last few weeks have been filled with a lot of new adventures and special moments as we have welcomed our precious baby girl into our family.  She is loved in so many ways by her big brother and mommy and daddy.  

Luella has been a wonderful baby so far, despite a "witching period" where she would cry for almost 3 hours straight in the early evening.  That is over now and was short-lived and we consider ourselves lucky!  She has been sleeping through the night for over a week (we are talking from about 9:30pm - 6:30am) and that has been amazing for all of us ;)  Luella has such a sweet disposition and we are enjoying watching her grow and change each day.   

She loves to hanging out with her family, especially Charlie. Watching him run around is great entertainment for her.  He makes her smile and do her "baby giggle" as I call it.  And now that Luella is making noises, Charlie pays more attention to her.  Sometimes I catch him giving her little tickles on her toes and tummy, which is adorable.  And sometimes I catch him slapping her head or trying to roll her over, which is not adorable. For the most part, he is very good with her and loves to help with Luella in anyway that he can - putting the pacifier in her mouth (and then yanking it out) throwing her dirty diapers away, sharing all his toys with her, and always saying 'ewww' when it is time to change her diaper.  The best is when Charlie wakes up and he wants to see Luella first thing.   He points towards our room until we bring him to her and then he says 'baby' when he sees her (he can't say her name yet, but we are trying)  This morning she gave him a big smile to help start his day!  

We can't believe it has been 8 weeks since Luella has been with us - we have adjusted to 2 kids pretty quickly and we are loving every moment.  Yes, it is super busy and chaotic but we would not have it any other way!  

12 days ( 0 sticker means less than 1 month old?? I think that is how it works :) )

Where's Luella?  Charlie shared a lot of toys with her!

Going to the park with Mommy & Charlie

Leaving the hospital

Big kiss! (not sure what to think?!)