Dranpa Paul

Last week Kimmy was in Jackson Hole doing a wedding, and at the last minute my mom decided she wanted to drive up and visit her for the weekend. I was working, and my mom had planned on having the girls that day. Never fear, Grandpa Paul saves the day! He took off work and watched both girls. They played and played and played. They even went shopping and bought matching "golf" outfits. Both girls had a great time. Thanks Dad!

Anna

Anna is 18 months! And documenting her development has been seriously neglected on this blog. Not because we don't love her :) Some things I want to remember--

• She is a fun loving little girl. She loves to laugh and smile and play and play. 
• She loves a thrill, and has no fear.  She loves to slide, climb, jump and splash. This picture is after being squirted in the face with a water bottle--over and over again

• She is a talker. She will repeat almost anything, and is putting two to three words together. "Anna. Sit. Down." Her favorite word is still "Ella." She loves to call for her sister. Her language skills are about 6 months ahead. When she was a baby I worried that she was "slow"--she is proving me wrong. 
• She responds to every question. Most often with a drawn out "yah"said sweet and soft
• Favorite thing to do: "bu-uhl" (buckle). She loves trying to buckle anything and everything. Carseats, strollers, backpacks. Over and over and over.
• She loves her Grandmas and Grandpas. "Papa" was her go to word for both, but over the past few days she has started to say "Drama." 

• She is a busy busy body. Into everything. She is so noisy and busy at church--I've been counting down the days until she was old enough for nursery.
• She has decided she wants to start potty training. She will go on the toilet when asked and once or twice a day she will tell me she needs to go (usually right when she wakes up or is getting in the bath). The problem is that now she does not want to wear a diaper, but if she doesn't accidents are guaranteed. I predict one of two things will happen: she will figure it out and be potty trained by 20 months, or she will get over it and wear a diaper until she's almost 4. 
• She sleeps well. All night long and 1-2 naps a day. Dreamy.

Love this little bug!

July 4th

Things I will likely forget if I don't write them down somewhere

We enjoy "Ella: The Musical!" 24/7.  I wish I had a recording of it, but I never know when she's going to break out in song. "Can I get some milk...please??!!??" "I don't want to go to bed....now." I think it's thanks to the Wonder Pets who are good little singers.

Ella is the squirmiest little sleeper/ cuddler. She can't hold still to save her life. (In med school my friends diagnosed me with restless leg syndrome...can't imagine where she gets it.)

Anna is a busy thing. So different from Ella. With Ella there wasn't really a need to keep things out of reach. With Anna every drawer in the house would be emptied given the chance.

Anna is trying to learn to whistle. She purses her lips and makes a noise.

Anna gives Ella hugs and kisses. It melts my heart.

Ella's imagination continues to expand. Her "kids" to date: Ah, Dah, Saw, Vah, Nah, Eda-pho-Eda, Grassie, Hensie and now Ella. She told me this morning that "Ella does not listen to me! She will not do what I tell her to! She is just too busy."

Ells will carry on with her kids as well as the Wonder Pets, Dora and Blue. I'll often reply to something she says only to be told, "I'm talking to Linny." Sorry. My mistake.

Ella's memory astounds me. She honestly remembers more than I do.

I stopped nursing Anna when she was 9 months old. I was slowing down, and then when I got the stomach flu over Thanksgiving I was done for. I couldn't eat or drink and lost my milk. Still, I'm happy to have made it that long.

Ella was getting out of bed a few times a night for various things. A cup of water, going to the bathroom, finding her teddy bear. Combined with Anna's midnight prowl it was getting to be too much. So I did a sleep training refresher course with Anna (I was surprised at how easy it was) and made a sticker chart with Ella. (This worked great!) It was magic. Ella has not gotten out of bed once since we started. Today she earned her first prize, a harmonica. Anna follows her around trying to imitate the noise.

Happy New Year!

Love,

Ella & Anna

On the move

Today Anna started crawling. Grandpa Paul noticed it. We gathered around, oohed and awed for a bit, then moved on. Grandpa didn't think Anna was getting her fair due. "When Ella started crawling it got more attention than a Constitutional amendment." 

The second child. 

Loved. 

Without the accolades. 

genetics

Everyone has something they like about their body. For me: my eyelashes. If Anna had to get my nose (of which I am not a fan) at least she also got my lashes.

I'm sorry and you're welcome.

sitting pretty

Anna decided she was tired of this view

Thought she'd try this

Ended up like this

Sunday night swinging

Cousins

Anna and Ava are 4 days apart. Looks like they're well on their way to becoming best buds.

27 days