Tattoo Pooh and Me

Well been one crazy few weeks with very little sleep. Poor Chad I think he might start finding ways to hook up coffee in IV form. I am just really ditzy, or at least more so than usual. Feel like I am operatating on auto pilot. We have included picture of our little girl and the infamous Tattoo Pooh. She has taken a shine to him. Also one of Cole playing peek a boo in our bed beneath the covers. Hope you all are having a great holiday season. Sorry so short but the princess is wailing for me so I better jet.

Here's looking at you!

Present for the Baby

outfit from nana Joyce. Ella did not really enjoy wearing it. She is anti hat but the idea behind the outfit is cute. She is one of our best presents ever. Thanks you Nana and Pop Pop.

Where's Cole?

Ella singing with Mommy and Daddy

Double click on picture to play video.

SNOW!

Snow! We have snow and all I hear is Cole looking out the window shouting Snoooow Snoooow!!! He is super Excited and could not wait to go outside. When we did all bundle up to head out to pick up a prescription for Ella, baby Zantac, Cole marched over to our friendly neighbors pointed at the snow they where shoveling/blowing and said �look Snow� mumbled in his quick toddlerese then to continue to say �snow cold� Alice and Rich were quite amused . Cole was rather pleased with himself and climbed a snow bank. When were done chatting I told Cole �time to go. lets get in the van� and lo and behold he actually listened. He turned to Alice and Rich and said ByeBye and marched to the van.
Ella still prefers to scream at us from 9 pm to 3 am. Daddy usually gets this shift. He has so much more patience than me and handles her quite well. She does enjoy being laid down to explore her surroundings but still not for all that long. I think the Zantac is helping.
Cole and Daddy went out in the snow today and had fun! Cole refused to wear his mittens so they made short 15 minute trips as Cole hands got cold and he would stand and shake them trying to warm them up. What really warmed up Cole was a nice cup of hot chocolate in his Santa mug. Yummy!

Nice place to sit

Sven!!!

Hello to you all

Lying in my crib, baby!

Shag Rugs and Sleepy Kids

We had a really great Thanksgiving. We were able to go to Nana and Pop-Pop Leonard for the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. We spent the day with Arlene and Lela who both brought yummy dishes and the best darn Orange Rolls this here side of the state. Cole was excited to see Pop-Pop (as he calls Dan Leonard now) and his Nana. He was even more excited to play with Nana's collection of toys. He played himself into a nice long sleep on the car ride home and carried up the stairs to his room where he continued to sleep. Ella was a very good baby and when her witching hour came, 6 P.M. , we were out the door headed for home. Ella has not calmed down yet and loves to scream at us for hours on end. Usually starting at 6 P.M. till about 1 A.M. Chad and I are so sleep deprived we just are running on fumes. I hear this usually ends around the third month. Well three more weeks to go. (sigh) Ella had her 2 month check up and we discussed her Colic. We are trying gas drops, not really working still screaming. We are supossed to give the gas drops a week then try acid reflux medicine. We are just trying Camomille tea from the advice of all the "old wives" from where I work. (I work at the Mecca for "Old Wives") I drink the tea and she gets it in her milk through me. So far this evening she is calm. We are able to soothe her. It is 9 P.M. and she is not screaming. Ella now weighs 13 pounds and 13 ounces, and is 23.5 inches long. She is 94 % for weight and 85% for length. Well I am going to take this quite moment to sit and enjoy a cup of tea and hope this tea thing is working on our dear sweet little screamer.

Take a picture of my Yum Yum!

Little Chad

Sleepy

All Panchoed Out

AMEN!

We finally figured out why our little girl has been screaming non stop for hours this past week and why she has been refusing to sleep. She is teething! She is barely 2 months old. We tried teething tabs and AMEN! She smacked her lips and fell asleep the first time we tried the tabs. It was amazing.
I returned back to work and so far things have been going smooth. Cole told me he would be sad that I had to go to work but when I say bye bye to him he just brushes me off and runs to do what ever he is into at the moment. Ella adjusted well. We introduced bottles early so the feeding part has not been a problem just the lack of sleep and the crying.
Cole's vocabulary is still growing. He is quite the parrot mimicking words and you have to be super careful what you say around him. This is the fun time. Ella is Cooing and at long last smiling. Cole and Ella are almost the complete opposite as Babies. Cole was as independent as he is today. We had to buy a front Carrier because she refuses to be set down and left for more than 15 mins.

Returns

Well we are awaiting the return of Dan and Joyce Leonard from a wonderful trip to China. Cole looks forward to seeing his Nana.
He has had so much fun with me being on maternity leave these past seven weeks I know he will be angry when I go back to work. Or will he? Will I be hurt that he isn't devastated by my absence? Well Thursday is my first shift back. 1230 pm till 1000 pm . Shoplifters beware! I most likely will be cranky!!

Balloons and Grumpy Faces

Balloons are good when they have air and float. Cole gets extemely upset when his Balloons lose their air. Well we had a melt down today when he couldn't make his balloons fly. We brought home two from his friend's, Lizzie, 3rd birthday party. When the Balloons started deflating Cole tried to give them strength by feeding them some of his dinner, Mac n Cheese and carrots. Unfortunately they did not make it. We were lucky that our family out night the restaurant had Balloons. It made him oh so happy!
I have included pictures of our little girl who seems oh so serious. Most babies have learned how to smile and love to show off this new feat. But Little Ella seems so serious and pensive, almost judgmental. She seems to look at you as if saying "why you? Why did I get you people?" I hope it is a phase that she grows out off because come her teen years she will be thinking the same thoughts all over again. Dios Mios!

Seriously!

Seriously. Seriously!

Hurray! This is My Smile!

Hurray!!! Ella slept in her crib last night for 7 hours!!!! This is monumental for us because we have to hold this little one pretty much 24 hours a day. Does not like to be set down or left out of her eye site which right now is only a few inches. Been a little trying holding her and chasing young master Cole. Cole is now getting into imagination play with out the aid of a mommy or daddy. This morning I heard him talking to his toys and playing in his room before waking us for at least 20 mins. That is a Cole record. Part of me thinks "oh no what is he into" All I have to do is remember the Magic Marker incident where he created the first and world renowned Tattoo Pooh. We are all off to a Movie, a fabulous birthday gift to my mother from her daughter Angie. We plan on seeing Chicken Little. Hopefully it shall enlighten and entertain Cole and the rest.

Who me?

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! As you can see Cole was a Pirate and our little Ella Bug was a Bee. Cole had a blast Trick or Treating and by the end of tonight was able to say "or Treat" and Thank you as he grabbed two handfuls of candy. We were able to go trick or treating with Miranda and her Grandpa John. Cole turns in to a perfect little boy around Grandpa John too bad he lives in Canada. Well it is time to "sort"threw Captain Cole's Booty. Yum Yum!

Captain Cole

Ella Bug

Kissy Face Ella Bug

Arrg! Give me some candy Matey!

Here's Me Booty!

Loving the leaves

Happy Fall

Oooh Leaves

5 weeks old 11 pounds 6 oz 22.5 inches long oh my!

Ella is now 5 weeks old. Time is going by so fast. We can hardly believe that it has been this long. When she has quality tummy time she likes to hold her head up and has done a few mini - Push ups. Go Go little She Ra. She has learned how to latch on properly and we are like old pros at nursing. She does insist on sleeping with us and loves the skin to skin contact. Big brother Cole loves to spend quite time with Ella and Mommywhile Ella nurses. Cole will sit on the bed resting his head on mommy's shoulder or lap while watching a train video or something to do with trucks. We are over the Robots addiction (thank goodness) and it is hard to say no when he wants to watch "train" again. He is by no means a couch potato, while the video is playing he is playing or "exploring" the space he is in. We hope to have more pictures soon of our little man. He is in dire need of a hair cut.

Tummy Time

4 weeks old

Ella is now 4 weeks old. She has more alert time but still all she does is eat, sleep and poop. Cole has been a little more clingy and at time shows that he wants to be treated like a baby too. We tell him all the cool things he can do that Ella can not because she is a baby. He can eat cookies, jump, run, play with his cars and trains and listen to stories that he himself picks out. It has gone surprisingly smooth balancing both kids. Cole's vocabulary has grown. I am amazed at which words he knows and how well I can translate toddlerese. There are still times when I just look at him with utter confusion at what he is telling me. He does not seem to mind though which for now is a blessing.

1-2-3 -- the Video

Cole showing off his favorite past time. Jumping and Counting.

Putting on Socks -- the Video

Ella and Cole

I was able to get some pictures taken of the two little ones today. In the second picture Cole exclaims how Funny Ella looks. He calls her Baby YaYa. He looks out for her and is always willing to help. Brings dirty diapers to the trash. We are having a quite day at home today. We did plan on going to the pumpkin patch but Daddy has to work and I don;t think I am up to chasing Cole while holding a newborn. I am a big baby. Postpartum has not left yet so I am trying to take the stress out of my day.

Funny Baby

Circus

Last night we went to the circus. Cole had a blast. We only had to use the tranquilizer gun twice. LOL. Actually he did rather well. He enjoyed the doggie and clown tricks and the Motorbike tricks. I also think he enjoyed the cute elephants. I did not take any pictures of the actual circus because I was respecting the commands of the ring master. That and balancing Ella, taking pictures while corralling Cole well that is quite a feat.

Balancing a Feather

Cheesy Grin

Take a Picture of my Shoe

Two weeks and One Day

Ella is now Two weeks and one day old. She had gained her birth weight plus now tallying in at 8 pounds and 12 ounces. She has also grown 3/4 of an inch. She is now 21 1/4 inches long. She has been a joy. Cole has been rather good. He is a great helper he loves to take Ella's dirty diapers to the trash and help push her stroller when we are on an outing. I have fast learned that in order to make the day go by fast and rather tantrum free we have to "do" stuff.. In Spokane it is fun to attend the new kids science center Mobius. Cole enjoys this place and always hates to leave. Here he can explore sounds, shapes, and different spaces while learning. His favorite part of Mobius is the Construction Exhibit. They have a mini back hoe he can operated and dress up clothes he can wear in order to play the part. He also enjoys building with blocks. We also hang out with friends. Here is a picture of Cole at a play group surrounded by all the ladies. He knows how to work his Mojo.

First Bath

Ladies Man

Stackin'

Mobius Fun

Alone

I had My first morning alone with the two kids. All I have to say is thank goodness Cole is currently additcted to Robots the movie. He has enjoyed sitting in the rocking chair and watching the movie. The longest time he has sit for us is 30 minutes and this movie has broken the record to 45 mins. Ella is on her way to gaining her weight back to her birth weight and now spends more time with her eyes open. This Monday will be my first complete day alone with both Cole and Ella. We shall see how that goes.

Eyes Open

Who Me?

Testing Limits

Well we are super glad to be home and so is Cole. I think. He loves to pay attention to his baby sister and checks up on her while she is in her bassinet. He has been testing us to the limit these past days but does understand that mom has to feed the baby and that she love him very much. He even pointed out his family structure in a book pointing to the larger Dr suess character saying Daddy, then the tiny one saying Baby, and the middle size exclaiming Big Brother. He is super proud of his baby sister. I am doing pretty well. I sorta cleaned the kitchen today while Ella and Cole where both down. Only took us an hour,15 books and several stern words to get an overly tired Cole down. Here are pictures of Cole wearing the baby sling because he saw Daddy do it. My boys checking out the newest girl in our family and Ella in her take home outfit.