Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Ella's First Easter 2016

This Easter weekend was amazing. I was so excited that this was going to be Harper's first Easter finding eggs hidden around the house. Last year I hid a few eggs in her playroom, but she was still too young to grasp the concept of actually looking for them.
We started off the festivities Saturday night by getting the girls dressed into these adorable BabyGap bunny jammies after their baths. I had to snap a few pictures and the results were amazing. It is so apparent how much these two love each other.
After we got the girls to bed, Fraser and I got the girls Easter gifts ready. Fraser built their new little tent while I rearranged their gifts and hid all of the eggs around the house. I could not wait until they woke up the next morning and of course everyone slept in!
Harper immediately saw the Easter basket sitting outside of her room with a trail of eggs going down the hallway. The second I put the first egg in her basket, she started running around collecting them all. It took her a while to find them all since I hid about 80 eggs around the house, no exaggeration.
The last few eggs were hidden in their new tent, both girls were excited to crawl in and find them.
After the egg hunt was done and the girls started playing with their new toys, I started getting everything set up for our Easter brunch. I didn't want to do a big dinner since we entertained for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I figured a brunch would be easier and something different. I baked homemade banana bread the day before. We got bought some freshly baked croissants and fruit to put out. I also prepared a french toast bake the night before (it has to sit in the fridge overnight) which I popped in the oven about an hour before family arrived.
I took some pictures of my littlest bunny and I since it was her first Easter. Gosh I love this little girl so much,
After family came over for brunch and the girls had a nap, I couldn't help but get the girls dolled up to take more pictures. They turned out so good! Probably my favourite pictures of them together. Shortly after my little photo shoot was done we brought the girls for a cruise in their new wagon from Grandma and Grandpa. The weather was beautiful and the girls loved it.
After our walk, everyone was pooped, hence Ella's not so thrilled expression above, and we were eager to hit the hay. We are so thankful to have such an amazing little family and to get to celebrate the true meaning of Easter with those who we love. Hope everyone had an amazing weekend.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Ella's 9 Month Update

 Our sweet Ella turned 9 months a few days ago. I just want time to slow down. I want to keep her a baby a little while longer. The idea of both my girls being "big girls" is enough to make me sob.
Ella had her doctors appointment last week, she weighs exactly 19 lbs and is 27" long. She is still our tiny toad. Like I've said since she was born, she makes up for size with her personality. I have however, noticed she has mellowed out a bit lately. I'm thinking that's because she has a tooth up and another that's poked through the gums. She is a lot happier and a lot less sassy!
Ella is a complete ham. She makes Fraser and I laugh daily with her funny little quirks. For instance she is obsessed with Fraser's facial hair, constantly pulling at his beard the second he picks her up. She is also fascinated with ears - especially if I'm wearing earrings. She dances already, which is completely hilarious. The second music comes on, even if its in another room, she starts to bob up and down. Even if music isn't on, and you start to sing, she will start dancing. Melts my heart, having two tiny little dancers.
Ella is also on the move. She has been crawling for the past month (although she doesn't do it entirely correctly, it's more of a scoot). She is also pulling herself up using anything that can hold her weight, which terrifies me because it seems so wrong since she's so tiny! I think she just wants to keep up with her big sister.
Napping still isn't the greatest. She was an AMAZING napper up until 4 months old. Then the 4 month sleep regression and teething hit and it's been a yo-yo since. I see a slight improvement the past two weeks but still not great. Her sleeping at night has gotten a lot better though (thank goodness). She goes to bed at around 6:30/7pm and wakes 1-2 times to nurse and sleeps until 6:30/7am. I can't complain and it's only getting better so I anticipate more improvements in the next few months.

Ella still breastfeeds in between having solids three times a day. Her favourite foods are yogurt, applesauce, rice and potato.

Her first word was ma-ma which she usually says when she's tired and cranky. It is still the sweetest thing to hear!
Harper and Ella have a total blast together. They love to play in the patio curtains, staring outside giggling while playing peek-a-boo with one another. They also love having baths together before bed. These moments are what make me so fortunate to have two little girls so close in age, they are going to be the best of friends when their older. 

Friday, March 11, 2016

Growing up too fast

I say this almost daily, my babies are growing up too fast. Harper seems to have gone from a baby to a little lady overnight. I feel like shes grown up so fast in the last 6 months because she's a big sister and no longer the little baby anymore. She's also incredibly smart for her age which also makes her seem older than she is. We've discovered over the past few months that she is very emotional and very sensitive. Her feelings get hurt very easily and she wants constant hugs and reassurance throughout the day - which we are okay with since it's the sweetest thing ever. Harper is very passive like her daddy and is the most considerate little girl ever.
 Harper also likes to play favorites everyday. She will either wake up in the morning a daddies girl or a mommies girl - never both. Once she has picked who she wants, she is attached to that person all day not wanting much to do with the other. It can be frustrating at times, but we like for her to make her own choices as much as possible. Obviously I get more mommy day's being that I'm home on maternity leave - woo hoo!!
Now our sweet Ella. Oh boy, where do I start?!? She is a mini me, which is both awesome and terrifying. She is a very serious baby who always has a scowl on her face - but when she smiles, holy moly it's pretty amazing. She is very independent, trying to always keep up with her sister. Currently she's a little slap happy, from having to learn from a very young age to swat her big sister out of her face (Harper's bad for hovering an inch away from Ella's face which would probably drive me crazy too). Now whenever Fraser or I go in for a kiss it's up in the air whether we will get a sweet kiss or a smack in the face - we're currently working on her being "gentle".
 The past few weeks, Ella has been pulling herself up on things. I have a feeling she is going to walk earlier than her big sister did.
 Ella has been doing the army crawl for over a month now. But recently has been motoring. I feel like I put her down in one spot, I turn around and she's already on the other side of the room into something. Little monkey.
Ella is also the absolute worst when it comes to picking things off of the floor and eating it. The picture above is exactly what she does constantly, while she's playing on the floor. I will sweep the floor and she will still manage to find something to put in her mouth. I've also noticed that she likes to empty bins, blocks or other small toys, and will put them all back. She will do this over and over and seems to have a blast.

 Harper has been right into accessories lately. She is all about her "hair cripps" and "gwasses" or even my scarves. She will wrap a scarf around her neck while also rocking her sunglasses and about five different hair clips. Cutest thing ever.
Meal times with these two is pretty hilarious. Harper thankfully has been less picky and trying new foods again. With Ella it just depends on her mood. If she's tired or cranky, she will swat everything that comes within in an arms reach, usually resulting in her being covered head to toe in food - along with the floor, table, me, the dog..Ella never wants to drink her sippy cup but would rather have Harpers. Harper will scream her head off if she isn't the one to put Ella's food try on, yelling "I help!". Also a new favourite is "I say please". Harper thinks if she says please, that automatically means she's going to get what she wants. So if she's already said please, and I tell her no, she will say "I say please" as if that will make me change my mind. Makes me laugh almost every time. 

These two are the cutest little ladies ever! And as sad as it is to see them growing up so quickly, it is also a total blast. Love them both to pieces. 

The next thing on the agenda is planning Ella's 1st birthday party - waaaaaaahhhh. I'm thinking a woodland creatures theme: baby deer, owls, wood, gold (my favourite). Something cute and girly but not pink overload. 

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!