Birthday milestones and statistics

Concurrent with their birthdays Anna and Abigail both seemed to start doing a few new things. Almost exactly on her birthday Anna learned to pump a swing. She doesn't do it all the time, but she's really starting to get the hang of it. Another new development in Anna's life is a new interest in playing with other kids. On Monday night we went to a girl's soccer game at the high school near our house. Two older girls (maybe age 5 and 7) were playing soccer on the sidelines. Anna was watching them and they asked her to join. At first she turned toward me and giggled in shyness. However, the next thing we knew she was running around with them, shouting "goal", and throwing her hands up in the air. She ended up playing with them for quite a bit until we had to take her home for bed. For a while now Anna has liked to make friends with other kids at a playground by asking their names and/or how old they are. On Tuesday Anna started a game of "house" with another child by preparing some food and asking them to eat with her.

Abby is talking up a storm. For the most part we're not sure what she is saying, but she does have 3 new words in addition to "Mama" and "Dada." Over this past weekend she clearly said, "Nana" when looking at Nana. While blowing bubbles in the front yard she clearly said, "bubble." Then she said it over and over and over again. Her other favorite word is, "Abba." I think this is her word for herself. She seems to say it when she wants to be included :) Abby is also busy trying to learn how to walk. She cruises everywhere and loves to walk around holding someone's hands. Her new favorite hobby is standing next to her red car and practicing getting in and out herself. Abby is always smiling and laughing. She still loves playing peek-a-boo, taking a tub, hearing songs, and hearing stories. Her favorite new book is The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss.

Today we went to the doctor for Anna's 3 yr. old and Abigail's 1 yr. old appointments. Anna is now 37.5 inches and 29.5 pounds, which are both the 50th percentile. Abigail is 28.75 inches (45th percentile) and 19.5 pounds (25th percentile). We're weren't surprised that Abby was on the smaller side, but we were surprised that Anna is not longer "tall."

Birthday Celebrations!

On Wednesday, April 27th Anna turned 3! On Wednesday Grandma arrived. On Thursday her birthday celebrations began with a special treat at school. We brought in rice krispie treats to share with her class. Also at school she got to wear a special crown, which she loved. She came home from school on Thursday and said, "It was a great party!" Later that day Nana arrived! On Friday we had a party at a park with a bunch of Anna's friends. Great Grandma Jane and Grandpa arrived just in time to join us at the park. Anna was thrilled to have so many people wish her "Happy Birthday" and join her to celebrate her special day.

"Happy Birthday to you..."

It turns out Saturday was also Mini's birthday!

On Saturday we celebrated Anna's birthday at our house with Mom, Dad, Abby, Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Great Grandma Jane, and Corinne.

Opening her presents with help from Abby

A special chocolate cupcake with Curious George on top!

On Sunday it was Abigail's turn! After attending two birthday parties in the two days leading up to her own party, Abby was the smartest recipient of a first birthday party ever:

she knew what to do with the presents!

she wasn't surprised by the cake!

and she knew what to do with that too!

Happy Birthday Anna & Abigail! We love you both so much and are so thankful for all the joy you have brought us this past year.

Happy Birthday Anna & Abby!

Last Wednesday Anna turned 3 and this past Monday Abby turned 1! More pictures and stories from our celebrations are coming. For now, here are the beautiful birthday girls:

We're so big!

Spring break in North Carolina

Last week we visited Grandma and Grandpa in North Carolina. Great Grandma Jane, Uncle Dan, and Aunt Bridget also visited. Anna & Abby had a great time playing around the house with everyone, going to the beach, swimming at the indoor pool, going to the playground, and going out to eat.

Anna & Abby had a great time playing on the mickey mouse train and mini roller coaster on the porch:

Look who else loves the mini roller coaster:

Let's go golfing!

We decided to take Anna out in the golf cart to see us tee off on the first hole. She had so much fun watching the first hole that she ended up staying for a full nine holes of golf. Anna had a great time whipping around in the cart, passing out tees, and drinking gatorade:

We bought Anna a set of plastic golf clubs, which she got pretty good at hitting around the back yard. In fact, everyone enjoyed the plastic golf clubs as we all tried to hit a ball around a backyard course in the least number of hits. Even with his sprained wrist, Dad currently holds the backyard record with 5 hits. (Although no one witnessed this.) Great-Grandma Jane holds the 80+ record with 8 hits!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Only a few days were warm enough to swim at the beach. One day we went to the beach in clothes thinking it wasn't warm enough to swim and ended up swimming in our clothes :) Abby is already a big fan of the water:

Mom forgot my post - swimming clothes! Who cares, I love my snuggly towel wrap :)

Lunch in downtown Southport:

ice cream too!

Happy Easter!

Anna, aka "Sister Bear," aka "Mini Mouse"

Anna is a big fan of the Berenstain Bears. She loves to hear the books, retell the stories herself, and watch Berestain Bears shows on a few DVDs we have. A few months ago she decided that she was the character, "Sister Bear," Matt was "Papa Bear," Abby was "Baby Honey," and I was...get this, "Brother Bear." You may be wondering who plays the part of "Mama Bear."? That would be Grandpa. So for a while whenever we played the part of our bear characters Anna would ask where Mama Bear was and we were supposed to say, "North Carolina." In the past few months we have spent a number of Saturdays exclusively going by these names, which is pretty funny.

Then today Anna took on a new persona: Mini Mouse! You may remember that Anna was Mini Mouse for Halloween. Well, today she asked me if I could get her Mini Mouse costume out from the attic. (It was actually just in a closet upstairs, but she has learned that most things holiday related go to the attic.) I brought it down and she put the dress AND ears on. (You may also remember from Halloween that Anna was not a big fan of the ears at that time.) Well, today she spent the entire day in the dress and the ears. I didn't let her wear the ears in the tub (they fall off a lot) so she wanted them to sit on the bathroom floor right next to her so she could look at them. She put them back on for story time before bed. Then when I sang her good-night song (which has her name in it) she wanted me to replace her name with "Mini Mouse." I wouldn't let her sleep with the ears, but she wanted them in eye sight of her bed so she could go to bed looking at them.

We have yet to see whether Sister Bear has permanently changed into Mini Mouse or if Sister Bear will return. I'm just wondering if Mini Mouse is hear to stay, what character will I get to be? I'm really hoping for a girl this time. Daisy Duck would be nice. I would even take Clarabelle Cow. I just don't want to be Goofy or Pluto.

No, you didn't do it right!

This past week Nana came to visit us! We had a great time spending time with Nana including lunch at Five Guys and "The Noodley Place," a concert at Jammin' Java, a haircut at the mall (for Anna), and lots of fun just playing around the house. Nana & Anna had a great time reading stories, playing doctor, playing Curious George card games, and bouncing on couch cushions:

about 10 tries later Nana was still having trouble:

Poor Nana. I guess she's just not that good at following directions. ha!

Abby & Nana had a great time too:

The morning after Nana left I asked Abby if she had any dreams and she said, "na na." I said, "oh, you dreamed about Nana." And she said, "ya ya!"

Thanks for the great visit, Nana!

Fun with family!

This past weekend Dad had an out of town conference so Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and help out. While here, Grandpa went to Binghamton to get Great Grandma Jane too! Anna and Abby have had a great time playing with their grandparents.

Yah! Grandma & Grandpa are here!

riding the train at our local mall - Anna has been a fan for a long time now, but look who else is a big fan now!

No, really, Grandpa, it's true! I know, I can't believe it either.

Abby testing out a "woobie." (She's been carrying around a number of different blankets with her this week. I wonder where she got that from?)

snuggling with Grandma before bed :)

Grandma got a bunch of great pictures of Anna on her tricycle:

and one on a motorcycle!

and yes, we're still super into Curious George card games!! (Anna forgot that she was playing this game last time Grandma & Grandpa were here. Before they got here she said, "This is going to be a great game to teach Grandma & Grandpa")

Look who else is here - Great Grandma Jane!