Weird things my daughter does

Today, I was trying to get Stella to say she was two years old. I held up two fingers to her and she looked at me and said "peace". Um, wha? Where did she get that!?

Merry Christmas!

look alikes!

Here are a couple cute shots of Jake and I dug up similar ones of Stella. Amazing how much they look alike! Much to our chagrin they cry alike too. Jake has been putting us through the same stuff Stella did....if he is awake he is crying and it is TOUGH! But gosh, he is cute!

Gingerbread house

We are so blessed to have 2 great friends in Jon Henkel and his girlfriend Kat. Kat goes to school in NC and Jon lives in the city so we don't get to see them as often as we would like. Hell, they don't see each other as often as they would like! But today we got to see Kat for the first time in months and it was so nice. Stella and she decorated a gingerbread house. As you can see from the pics they had a blast. heh! Jon, although I have no pics is the new object of our daughters affection. I think it is safe to say he is her first crush. If he was upstairs she wanted up or down! He went out the front door at one point and she said....uh oh! So cute! They are Jacob's god parents to be...whenever we arrange that baptism thing so we feel so lucky they love our kids and are a part of our lives!

Christmas Lights at the Martel House!

We drove out to Hamilton today to check out the famous Martel's Winter Wonderland. This is just some guy's dumpy little house that is totally, insanely overdone with Christmas decorations. We actually went on Christmas Eve in 2006 just a few days before Stella was born. We figured she'd enjoy it more now so we headed over to check it out. Despite being painfully cold, we had a really nice time and Stella was not happy when it was time to go. But I could definitely see this become an annual Christmas tradition.

Forgive me for not editing this photos as I haven't had an uninterrupted night's sleep in over 6 weeks now. Most of these are way too dark, but they capture the craziness pretty well.

Picture Thursday!

Today we had the playgroup over to celebrate Stella's 2nd b'day since most of them will be out of town on her actual b'day of the 28th! Here are a couple cute pics. The WONDERFUL woman holding Jake is playgroup momma Maggie's Aunt Maryanne and we thank GAWD for her!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Stella's lame Elmo cake.

A cute shot of Patti and Stevie!

Mommy and Stella B

Angel Maryanne and Jacob!

The good the bad the ugly and the BEAUTIFUL!

The good is so easy...I have 2 healthy children and that is sooooo good!
The bad is so obvious.....lack of sleep.......it is sooo bad!
The ugly is me at Party City carrying a SCREECHING Jacob in his car seat while Stella is wandering the store sobbing as I try to order an Elmo balloon and buy some paper plates. The clerk looked at me like I was insane swinging the carseat in an effort to calm Jake and yelling for SB to stay near mommy and telling her to just blow up the damn balloon already!
The beautiful....Stella singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow with me in the car on the way home! I started bawling coz it was just so sweet!

So far behind!

I never thought it would be so hard to do the one thing I do so much I don't think much of it??? Wha? Can you tell I am tired? I am talking about taking pictures! Even harder than taking them now is looking at them editing them and sending them to anyone or putting them on the blog! I used to wonder why people didn't take as many shots of the 2nd, 3rd etc child as the first and thought it was because the novelty has worn off. Now I know it is because it is dang near impossible! Poor Jake has only had hundreds of photos of him taken as opposed to Stella who easily into the 1000's by this point in her life. TeeHee.

Anyway, we had a very busy week from seeing our good friend Jon Henkel last Saturday and putting up our tree....having the playgroup holiday party where Santa came to visit.....Uncle Jim came to visit and meet Jacob and then meeting up with Ryan to go see Santa at the mall.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it...or is it because I only got a few hours sleep last night? We tried to move Jake into his own room and crib and it didn't go very well. yikes!

Sooooo...here are some pics from the week and I will try to be better about posting!

Stella, Brian and Jon picking out the tree! Jon helps us with this task each year and we are so grateful and it is a fun time!

Stella, Mommy, Daddy and Jake in stroller!

All decorated!

Family shot!

Jake meets Jonny2H!

Playgroup Holiday Party Pics

Jake and Stella together and neither one is crying! WooHoo!

The Nifty Nine playgroup kids!

Jake and McCullough-the playgroups newest members are one month apart.

Santa made an appearance at the playgroup party! So fun!

Stella was not too sure what she thought of that!

That night sleeping on Daddy!

FINALLY Our Trip to the Mall!

Jake looking like an angel in his stroller at the mall!

Handsome Ryan!

Stella trying to decide which direction to run in!

Pretty Stella! Almost 2!

Jake one month Stella 23 months!

Ryan and Stella with Santa in 2007!

They are growing up too fast!

Picture Thursday!

Today's picture is of the Nifty Nine........Stella's playgroup! We had a holdiay party today and it was so cute and fun. These great kids and their amazing mamma's have made my life soooo much easier and more fun for the past year. We get together each Thursday and often other days as well. We have also signed up for music and swimming classes and that sort of thing just to fill the long days with toddler friendly activities. Having a group of moms to connect with has been such a help and after having Jacob they really touched me with all the meals, gifts, offers of help and listening ears. Patti even took both kids for a few hours on Monday and I restored some level of sanity to the chaos in our house and on Tuesday Maggie took Stella to play and I grocery shopped in under an hour! Anyway, there were 6 when we started getting together and now there are 9 with 2 more due in February. It wasn't easy wrangling them together but this is pretty cute!

On Sofa: McCullough, Jake, Stella, Pearce, Rebecca Stevie, Nathan

In front: Taylor and Jack.

Not exaclty the sibling bond but still cute!

Picture Thursday!

Ok, so I used my new cell phone to take a few pics for picture thursday! Jake is 4 weeks old today and has filled out quite a bit. He is stinking CUTE! The other night I had just finished giving him a bottle at like 3am and he was totally asleep and I gave him a little smooch and he totally smiled so big! I swooned and can't wait till he gives us big smiles for real! He is just adorable and even big sister Stella has warmed up to him quite a bit and calls him 'baby jake'. She is doing great and was such a total joy this week. We really are feeling like we got out little girl back and hope she is here to stay. I know it was a big transition for her to have a little brother-hell it has been for all of us, but she seems to be doing well and we have had some great sweet moments this week. YAY! Ok, here are the cell phone pics that I took today. This weekend we plan to get our tree so there should be plenty more pics on the way! I will use my real camera for them but at least we got something!

Stella and Daddy playing after dinner.

Stella hanging with Stanley Snail

Jacob Cole 4 weeks old!

This bonus shot is of a guy in a cow costume near Chick Fil-A. Stella was losing her mind with excitement! Very funny!

Ry Ry

On Sunday Lauren and Pat and Ryan came over to play for a little while. Ry Ry is Stella's very first friend and they played together really well for the most part. Stella is not sure she likes this sharing concept and finds it more fun to throw herself on the floor in protest! It was so nice to hang out and relax for a bit with Lauren while our husbands watched the Giants game and talked about Mob Wars or whatever they talk about. TeeHee. Here are a few pics. Thanks for coming to play and come again soon!!! OH and thanks for the cookies!

Love this shot of them sizing up the situation!

Ryan gives GREAT hugs!

I just loved this shot of Stella! TeeHee!

So Thankful, 3 weeks old and Picture Thursday!

Lots going on with it being Thanksgiving AND Picture Thursday AND Jake's 3 week b'day. We had a wonderful day at home just the four of us. It seemed a little odd not to be spending the day with family but then realised.....we are a family! WOW! We are all here now and that feels wonderful and we are so thankful for our beautiful healthy kids even if one is not letting us sleep at night and the other says 'No' way more than we would like. TeeHee!

Here are a few pics from the day. As you can see Stella is making great Jake progress and is such a great helper to me when I need binky's and diapers and all sorts of things like that. She has actually started getting much closer to him physically and we were thrilled when she let me put her on Daddy's lap for a picture! YAY!!!! Jake wouldn't show off his little Baby's 1st Thanksgiving onesie but he looks cute trying!

I love how tiny he looks in Brian's arms!

He makes the best faces when you burp him!

Sweet boy! Three weeks old!

Stella giving Jake a binky!

Stella and Daddy giving Jake kisses!

3 reasons to be Thankful today and everyday!

My beautiful Stella B!

A sleepy looking Mommy and Jake!