Airborne!!

A friend of mine at work let us borrow her johnny jump up...our little man absolutely LOVES it...he really gets rocking in it and I know one of these days he's going to get it airborne!  

Please...no more peas...

The Windy City...

We took a mini vacation to Chicago to meet up with Mimi and Papa for the weekend and enjoy some time together as a family before mommy has to head to work full time...we had a wonderful (although not so relaxing time).  It was Caleb's first trip in a hotel and he did not do very well.  He and Hannah shared the front room of our suite and Craig and I had the back.  Caleb woke up around 4 am on Saturday and wouldn't go back to sleep...of course we didn't want him to wake Hannah, so we brought him in with us...that didn't solve it either.  We probably would have been better off to just leave him where he was...I am too soon to forget that Hannah could sleep through a freight train rolling through her room (she does take naps every day at daycare with 11 other one and two year olds)!  We had a great time, none the less...someday we'll catch up on our sleep.  This weekend we just got to spend way more time with Caleb than we thought we would :).

Here's Caleb's first dip in the pool...he loved it and Hannah loved being thrown up in the air and jumping off the side into Daddy's arms.  

Drying off...getting ready to go and see Mimi and Papa for the first time since Christmas...

Hannah enjoying her independence being able to play on the steps in the pool...

Saturday we had breakfast (LOTS of coffee) and headed downtown to take in the sights and do a little shopping.  Of course the first stop was to American Girl.  Hannah enjoying playing with all of their accessories and walked out with a new outfit for her bitty baby, Rose.  If you have never been to an American Girl store...that place is the empire of all empires...makes my love of Cabbage Patch Kids back in the day not seem so impressive!!  

Here's Caleb at the American Girl store thinking--you have GOT to be kidding me...I'm so glad to be a boy!

Mimi and Hannah doing what us girls do best...shopping!

At the WaterTower place, Hannah was a little scared of the glass elevator.  I told her to cover her eyes and somehow that seemed to help...she's a nut for sure!

Daddy and Hannah in the big city...it was a little chilly, but the sun was wonderful and allowed us to walk several blocks to the Disney story and further still to the Nordstrom building.

Here's Woody at LegoLand...Hannah loves the Toy Story movies and she was excited to see him in 'real' life.

Unfortunately our visit with Mimi and Papa had to come to an end...we planned to make a quick trip to Shedd Aquarium on our way home and let the kids nap in the car.  We parked in the parking garage at the football field and walked (in the cold, cold drizzle) to the entrance...upon getting closer we commented on how many people there were in line...of course we had to head to the stroller lane and upon asking the attendant how long with wait was to get in, he said an hour and a half.  Since we had already paid our money for parking, we decided to wait it out...it wouldn't really take 90 minutes would it?  No, he was wrong.  It took more like two hours and 15 minutes.  Lucky for me I got to go inside with Caleb to feed him and when I returned I was informed it was free admission day and that's why all of Chicago and the surrounding communities were there waiting in the rain to get in.  I was able to go wait inside in the cafeteria area with Hannah and Caleb until Daddy was able to get into the door...after all of that, we were on the elevator right about nap time.  Caleb slept most of the afternoon (since he hadn't slept at night) and Hannah was a real trooper watching all the fish and loving the penguins.  

Hannah was so glad to find Nemo!!

We had a picnic lunch in the basement under the dolphin show.  We were able to see them get ready to jump into the air and them swim towards the bottom.  Hannah was amazed...and so was Daddy--this was his first trip there, too.

We did pay extra to watch the dolphin show and to get into some of the special areas.  Craig and I were both very disappointed in the dolphin show, that it was more of an educational tutorial of how they train the dolphins than an actual dolphin trick show...but...when it was over and we were walking toward the stroller, Hannah said, "That was great!".  At that moment, I didn't care how long we waited or how much money we spent...it was all worth it!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

The day filled with love!!!  I was so thankful to be able to spend Valentine's day with my two special little sweeties!!  Hannah had a party at school which I was able to take her to...here she is sporting her Valentine hat she made and decorated with stickers.

And checking out her Valentine box that she took such wonderful care in painting.  She was able to pass out Valentine's to all of her little friends...all who were excited to have a new pencil, eraser and lolli!

When we got home it was time for our Valentine celebration!  Daddy bought Hannah a special flashlight (so she wouldn't break his) and she enjoyed learning how to use it.  She also got some new sneakers...her first pair of Nikes.  She likes to put them on and run circles around the house saying how fast she is :).

Mr. Man with his new swimsuit that he received for Valentine's day...it doesn't take much to make him smile!

He looks fierce like a shark, doesn't he!!

Hannah eating the chocolate off her chocolate covered strawberry :)

Caleb didn't get to enjoy a sweet treat, however, he did get to enjoy some rice cereal...yummy!!!

I could not feel more blessed to have a home filled with such tremendous love each and every day.  I love each day that I wake up knowing that I get to spend time with the most wonderful kids and husband a gal could have.  I look forward to every smile and kiss, every tear and whine, every lunch I have to pack and every book I get to read.  Sure, I get stuck in the routine and feel overwhelmed at times with too many things to do and too many places to go, but at the end of the day when I kiss my kids goodnight I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness that God chose me to be the mommy and wife that I am.  

Sibling bonding...

For the first time when I asked Hannah to play with Caleb, she actually did!!  This is the beginning of such a wonderful friendship.  She showed Caleb what each item was and how to make them  make noises.  He is an intent listener!!

Still listening...

Hey, sis, when you weren't looking I played with your My Little Pony...

 

Blizzard 2011...

Well, we got a little bit of snow over the past couple of days...not as much as my poor parents in Missouri who don't have the luxury of a snowblower...but enough to cancel schools and work and make bread and milk a hot commodity at the grocery store!  After the flakes stopped falling it really turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon with the sun shining...what a perfect opportunity to make some tracks in our snow!  

Here's Hannah on the 'dog trail' to the backyard.

 Swinging in the snow...

 Baby brother all bundled up and just hanging out...literally!

 Hannah, the human snow-pusher...

 Mmmm...nothing better than fresh snow to eat!!

 Furry brother Ike agrees.  He loves the snow and insists (by barking incessantly) for you to pack up some snow and toss him a ball.  He dives right in!

 Hannah enjoying an icicle.

 And the highlight of the afternoon...sledding down the freshly snow-blown drive way.  There was absolutely no traffic so Caleb and I were at the bottom cheering Hannah on as daddy pushed her down the hill...more more more more more!!!

 I LOVE to see my little girl with such a huge smile!

 Our snow gauge...she's about 35 inches tall...

Our biggie boy!!

Caleb  has just started really being able to sit up by himself...here he is today amidst his landing pad of pillows playing with one of his favorite penguin toys...he is just SO darn cute and SO happy!

Caleb's first taste...

After months of sleeping through the night our little Caleb started waking up...so, I called the pediatrician and got the go-ahead to start him on some rice cereal...it went something like this:

Always pray first...good boy!!

 First spoonful...

 What is this stuff??

 Uh...Dad...Me no likey!

 I don't think so, dad!

 There, these taste better!

 Well, maybe it wasn't so bad...I'll try again...

 Nope, just as bad as I remembered!

 Interestingly enough, Hannah wanted to give it a try and had to chase it down with some milk...I don't blame him for not liking it...I've started to make some baby food, so in a few weeks we'll introduce him to some yummies he is sure to like!!