Strike a Pose

I decided to take the girls to get some professional studio photos done since it had been a while. The last time I took the girls, Abby was two and Ella was three months old. This was the first time they posed together.

Abby was all smiles and ready to pose for the camera. Ella was not having it. At home, she is a little ham, but she made it known very quickly that she is NOT a fan of the huge flash that goes off each time. When the photographer asked Ella to sit down or go stand by her sister, she very matter of factly said, "Noooo" and walked away. It took every ounce of effort (and maybe even some bribery) to get her to sit long enough to catch the shot above. All of the other group shots showcased Ella's angry eyebrow and pursed lips face. A memory for sure!

Abby was patient and very helpful. She spent the majority of the time trying to convince Ella that taking pictures together would be just as fun as it is at home.  After a while, she looked at the photographer and said, "Can you please take a picture of just me?".  Nobody told her what to do, she just posed the way she wanted to. The beautiful picture is below.

I took side by side pictures before I replaced the pictures in the frame. Look at how my baby has grown up. I'm always amazed at the difference two years makes.

(Abby: 4) (Abby: 2)

The only time Ella wasn't running from the photographer and hiding in the corner was when she was allowed to play the baby piano. This was the only time her face softened and we saw her precious smile during the shoot...then the photographer raised the camera and Ella was all serious business. Oh, but she loved that piano and we did capture a sweet one. Look at how grown up my littlest baby is!

Ella (18 months)  Ella (3 months)

Life Lately

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE4ojK3VreI&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNca_yUmm6o&feature=youtu.be

This pic hilariously captures how heavy and lifelike the babies are that Nagymama gave the girls for Christmas. It doesn't stop them from carrying them around everywhere. Ella just huffs and grunts a lot. 

They love their daddy! 

Ella with her little buddy, Joseph

Abby was playing on the computer. Ella climbed up on the bench. Then, this spontaneously happened. I can't make it up. They seriously love each other so much. 

rockstar

Ella eats lemons like they are sweet as apples. She also loves really spicy and vinegary foods.   

We had a spring like day in NY and put Ella on her bike for the first time. She loves it. 

spending some time with Papa 

Abby went down to her playroom for some quiet playtime because she wasn't tired enough to take a nap. After a while, I noticed how quiet it was and went down to her like this. She had dumped out every toy bin, surrounded herself in a little fort and put herself to sleep. So sweet and cozy.

Abby's hair is finally getting long enough to play with.

sweet Ella getting ready for bed

making a popsicle stick road

Snapshots: catch-up

These girls miss each other so much when they are apart...already facetiming

Dr. Ella

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28vaYAeAQ5g&feature=youtu.be

Valentine's Day pancakes for my loves 

Looking forward to spring bike rides 

Happy 31st Birthday Daddy! 

"Antibiotic" Salad

Remember Abby's first cooking show a few months ago? Abby got her very first piece of fan mail last week and a lovely birthday gift filled with cooking goodies from a dear friend. The gift was amazingly thoughtful and a perfect gift for our little kitchen enthusiast.  Thanks Em!

With her new Rachael Ray (kids) cookbook in hand, Abby was eager to find a new recipe to make for her next show. She chose a salad. Rachael Ray's Bite Size Antipast-Salad. The first time Abby made a video, it was spontaneous and unrehearsed. I was planning on videotaping her while she mixed up a little salad, but Abby had other ideas for this episode. This time, Abby insisted on practicing multiple times before I was even allowed to turn the camera on and even suggested we take "commercial breaks", so we she could practice some more. Abby likes to know what is going to happen and prepare herself. She also tends to be a bit of a perfectionist. This time, as we were gathering our ingredients, Abby kept practicing the name of her recipe. She was determined to get it right, but was having a hard time remembering all the words. 

When her daddy walked into the room and asked what she was making, she confidently told him she was making "Antibiotic Salad".  I wish I had caught that on tape! Before taping, she talked to me about what she wanted to include and then tried to memorize every word. I encouraged her to just let it come out naturally, but she insisted that she memorize it because she was afraid she'd forget to thank Miss Emily. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f45SWsNGroQ

Look at how proud she is for remembering the recipe name!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-cn6EKCYEU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw1pNLxXD94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6XBtn4I1G8

Thank you Miss Emily! We love you! 

Stay tuned for Abby's next episode. She wants to use the stove next time and make ABC soup. This should be interesting! :) 

A Snow Day in the Life

Winter is starting to wear on all of us New Yorkers a bit, but we can't act like we are surprised by it. The winter slump happens every year, usually a few weeks into the new year after everyone is done enjoying the snow and sweater season (because it is fun and exciting in the beginning). It settles in sometime around mid February when we are cold and beginning to feel cooped up inside. We start running out of things to do (especially with small children) and start to long for warm spring days and fresh green grass. People start complaining on Facebook about why they would ever choose to live in New York and make empty threats to move to Florida tomorrow. It lasts for four weeks or so until that one surprise, unseasonably warm day happens (50 degrees). Then, everyone starts opening their windows and putting on shorts because it suddenly feels like we are in the tropics. And it happens. We taste spring and fall in love with all things new again.

It makes me laugh when I think about it, but like all the normal rhythms of life, this is one I take comfort in. I love New York and I love all of the seasons. This is my normal and I love it. I'm not complaining. That being said....two snowed in days in two weeks...we ARE feeling cooped up and ready for spring, but choosing to be thankful and enjoy it. 

Here are some highlights from our snow days. 

18 inches in 24 hours

all bundled up 

Everyone seems to be concerned about how hungry these hippos are. Ella seems to think they are thirsty too! 

Ella's dinner party

helping Mommy with coupons

trying new hairstyles and loving that she has enough hair to braid

two little horses...

and their rider. 

yummy soup 

singing her songs 

Abby loves to sit and learn. She did this for over an hour while Ella played with her Little People.  

board games. playing in the snow. learning. staying in jammies all day. crafts. warm soup for lunch. movies under a cozy blanket with popcorn. hours of playtime with little people and the dollhouse. morning bath time that feels like "pool" time. sing-a-longs. hair salon. coupon cutting. chores. hot chocolate. cupcake baking.

Winter slump, we are choosing to make the most of you. Spring, we can't wait to see you again!

Ella: 19 months

19 months old 

What's new? 

• Your new favorite words (in addition to all variations of "my", "me" and "mine") are "no" and "more". Just in case anyone had any question, you are a full blown toddler! You are also forming two to three word sentences. Your words have become much more pronounced and we are really enjoying hearing you express yourself so clearly. 
• I have to make sure all sweet things are out of view if I don't intend on giving them to you at that moment. If you even spot a box that resembles a dessert of any kind, you go bananas, shouting, "eat...my...mine...ahhh....peeese...eat...keeekeeeee...dandy....MAMAMAMAMA....MINE!!"In other words, we spell the words "cookie", "chocolate" and "candy" in our house the same way you spell "P-A-R-K" and "go O-U-T" around a dog. You would think I bribe you with chocolate or something...that only happened once...maybe twice if you include last week when I needed you to sit still at the photo studio (#dontjudgeimhuman). Who could forget the time I introduced you to your first taste of chocolate and your first cupcake in the same day? Total delight. 
• You love playing dollhouse, mommies, kitchen, little people and doctor. You love watching Doc McStuffins, Sesame Street and Barney. 
• You love going "bye" and beg us to take you "bye". If you've been cooped up in the house all day,  you start yelling "bye" and banging on the coat closet door. 
• Winter has set in and so has getting sick about once a month. Boo. 
• You make it clear that there are just sometimes when you NEED your Daddy. 
• You love helping me take care of Baby Joseph. 
• You love to pray at the dinner table and always initiate "Cheers" multiple times throughout the meal. 
• You love all things citrus and vinegar. You also don't seem to mind spicy. You can eat lemons wedges like they are apples. You love oranges, pickles and olives, which is funny because I craved all of those things when I was pregnant with you. 

You are friendly, snuggly, opinionated, hilarious and sweet as ever! We adore you, little one! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxIYzylOyaE&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qov94mExQx4&feature=youtu.be

Seussical

One day as I was driving home, I noticed a sign for a local middle school's musical production of Seussical Jr.. Joe and I agreed that Abby would love seeing the show and would most likely be inspired by the acting of the young actors and actresses. On top of that, the musical mostly focuses on one of Abby's favorite Dr. Seuss characters, Horton the Elephant. So, the following weekend we decided on a Saturday afternoon Mommy & Abby date.

Abby was so excited. She wouldn't nap for fear I would leave without her and insisted on wearing her sparkly, fancy silver shoes for the special occasion.  We even brought Horton along with us thinking he would really appreciate seeing his people! 

To top it all off, we even got to meet up with some of our friends last minute, which made intermission extra fun for the girls.

Jayden, Peyton and Abby

silly faces

Abby paid attention the entire show. She honestly loved every minute of it. It didn't matter to her (or Horton) that the boy who played Horton did not resemble an elephant at all. She was so captivated by the story line and of course the singing and dancing. She laughed when they made jokes and kept asking me if all of the people knew each other in real life!

During the show's finale, Abby looked up at me and said, "Thank you so much for bringing me, Mommy. This was the best!"

After the show, we went into the gym for the obligatory bake sale cupcake. I was proud to introduce Abby to that special school tradition. She was already excited to get in there for her sweet treat, but she had no idea ALL of the actors and actresses would be in there greeting people. It was like taking her to Hollywood. She was starstruck by 12-year-old Horton and the little girl who played the Cat in the Hat!

What a great afternoon with my girl!