Crash Cage

I referred to this set up of pillows as Eleanor's crash cage. Someone else thought they really needed a crash cage too. I still use the rear portion of her crash cage as falling over backwards is somewhat of a regular occurance (sometimes by Ella's doing, sometimes by Adde's).

Well this is embarrassing...

pictures of months 4 - 7 all in one post. I have kept up with the pictures, just not putting them online. While I don't notice too much difference in her size over 4 months, she is doing so much more now and is so much more expressive. We used to only get somber, somber faces, but now there are smiles, smirks, inquisitive looks, fear (mainly of what big sister is going to do next), and just plain cute. A few more hallmarks of 7 months:

• blows bubbles and buzzes lips
• sits independently for a long time
• eats solids twice a day
• grabs everything and places it in her mouth
• smiles so much at Adde
• normally has two fabulous naps and sleeps about 12 hours at night
• is starting to wake up when Titus barks - problem for me
• really enjoys attending our Early Childhood class and watching the other kids
• LOVES to be carried around

We are so thankful that God has entrusted us with another precious girl to raise and teach about the Lord.   Sidenote - we started reading "Visionary Parenting" with our small groups.  So far a great, challenging book about the big picture of parenting and why God gives children.  Perhaps more in another post, but no promises.  Not doing so well blogging as you know.

Sunday at the Movies

Feeling a little lazy today to make comments about the videos, so enjoy.  I know there's a lot to watch...this is for you family:)

Adde, what makes me laugh?

1. Seeing 10+ kleenexes by her bed in the morning. We are now cutting off access to her supply.

2. The way she entertains Eleanor and us. Like the hat?

3. Her comments. Today at lunch she asks, "Is mommy old?"

"Yes, I'm old honey."

"Do we need to buy a new mommy?"

Big Mommy

No wonder she calls herself big mommy...there are real and pretend babies everywhere!

In the carrier

In the bumbo and stroller

Cousin Evie

Adde with Levi, Ella, Paxton, and Deagan (Did I get the twins right??)

Teddy counts as a baby too

Scary

Potty Training

She asked to wear underwear she found in the clean laundry. Thought it might help with potty training. Didn't work, although she practiced on the potty quite a bit that day. And now I have another picture for embarrassment sake later on in her life.

A common event

We love books at our house. Not only are they for reading, they also function as seats in Adde's car, pictures for her Bible stories, and snacks for snack time.

Conversation

Well, since our recent pictures are still not loaded on the computer, writing will have to do to update the blog.  It's been a while, but life returning to Minnesota has been a whirlwind...still is.  Something had to go and the computer won the "to go" title.  However today both girls are still sleeping almost two hours later and I have a free moment in which I can choose the computer.  Funny things and conversations have been happening.  Here are a few:

Adde:  Mommy, Eleanor is my husband.
Me:  Why do you think that?
Adde:  Because she's my friend too. (Hmmm...has she picked up on the fact that daddy is mommy's husband and friend or does she have NO CLUE what she is saying?)


We're at the doctor's office for Eleanor's 4 month appointment this week.  Adde is along.  She sings the ABCs, but at the end says "next time won't you sing with Dr. Olson" while Dr. Olson is in the room.  Dr. Olson converses with her a little more.
Dr. Olson:  What is your sister's name Adde?
Adde:  Eleanor Jane.
Dr. Olson:  Is that what you call her, or do you call her something else?
Adde:  I call her Jelly.  (First time I've heard this.)
Dr. Olson also proceeded to tell me that Eleanor's main safety concerns were rolling over and Adde:)


Eleanor went from 10:30 in the morning until 7:00 pm without eating last week as I attempted bottle boot camp again.
Me: (Trying to put the bottle in her mouth)  Eleanor, you just need to take this one ounce from the bottle and then you can eat from mommy again.
Eleanor:  WWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Me:  Ok, ok.  You don't have to take it.  We'll just wait until you're really hungry.
Eleanor:  (as the bottle is being put away...)  Coo, coo, coo.  (All smiles too).

Repeat this scene multiple times during the day until I cave at 7 pm and just nurse the stubborn baby.  Mark says the score is Eleanor 5, Mommy 0.  Eleanor has won the war.


We've also had several conversations about work...
As daddy is leaving for work one morning:
Adde:  Daddy is going to Boston Scientific to make money.

And while reading about Adam and Eve in the garden:
Me:  God had jobs for Adam to do in the garden.  What kind of jobs do you think Adam did?
Adde:  Work at Boston Scientific.


And lastly to wrap up this random blog, we finally were able to return to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) after a month off.  Adde was really excited to go.  Eleanor was really grouchy from her shots yesterday and her teachers came to get me after having her for 30 minutes.  I was bummed as things weren't going "my way".  But when I tucked Adde in for nap time today, I was in my room with the monitor on, and I just stopped what I was doing and laid down on the bed to listen to her.  She was repeatedly singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" to put herself to sleep.  I cried in thankfulness for a great morning.

Her "Biolin"

She gets guitars and violin/"biolins" mixed up. She found this under the couch for our Wii and insisted on playing the "biolin". Actually quite entertaining. And yes, we are "those parents" who let their two year old play video games!

She also thought it was fabulous when Mark's friend Timmy played the guitar and sang to her.  Too bad I can't play.