Merry "Chris-ah-mas"!

Bianca pronounces Christmas, "Chris-ah-mas". So Merry Chris-ah-mas to everyone! This year we were very blessed to have not one but, two healthy daughters with us. Although there are adjustments being made all around with Mommy and Daddy not sleeping and Bianca throwing two-year-old tantrums, life is good. Enjoy some of our pictures from this special holiday!

Who knew an activity gym could provide so much amusement for a two-year-old?

Modeling her new hat and her dolphin watch!

Fun with Auntie P!

The whole family in our Christmas PJs!

Ellia's One Month Update

Hi! I'm one month old now! When Mommy and Daddy took me to the doctor last Friday I weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz and was 21 inches long. Mommy included some of my big sister's pictures of when she was about 1 month old as well for your comparison. I sure do hope I am as pretty as Bianca when I get older!

Ellia

Bianca

Ellia

Bianca

Santa-Babies

We attended Dawn Marnell's annual X-mas party again this year. There was a lot of delicious food (including Cookies Lamoure), Christmas carolling, and of course, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Mark and I thought there was no way Bianca would sit on Santa's lap without crying but, as usual, our little girl surprised us. Not only did she sit on Santa's lap, she wouldn't leave Mrs. Claus alone after her turn was over. What did she keep talking to Mrs. Claus about you might ask? What else? "Elephants" and "riding on the carousel". Fortunately Mrs. Claus was a good sport about it until I could lure Bianca away.

Talking Mrs. Claus' ear off...

Happy 2nd B-day to Our Big Princess!

We had a very mellow celebration for Bianca's 2nd birthday. Fortunately, two sets of her grandparents were able to make it out here for the celebration along with her best friend, Francesca, and her baby brother, Dante. Bianca requested a dolphin cake and we threw in some dolphin balloons and we had ourselves a party!

I can't believe how quickly time has flown over the past two years and it makes me look at Ellia and think how quickly time is going to fly with her too. It reminds me how much I need to enjoy this time with the both of them no matter how sleep-deprived I may be. We are so fortunate to have these sweet, beautiful little girls in our lives and we wouldn't trade it for the world.

*Side note* - Ellia was 7 lbs. 6 oz and 20.5 inches long at her two week check-up.

Francesca is such a good sister and just LOVES babies!

Bianca and Francesca breaking in her new table and chair set.

Whenever I asked Bianca what she wished for she said "fish"!

More interested in playing with the dolphins than eating cake...

Bianca and Dante...he is only 6 weeks older...what a difference that makes!

Bianca's New Room

Bianca has been in her new room now since probably September or so. There were a few weeks where she had to learn that we stay IN bed for nap time but, other than that she loves her "big girl" room. In addition, Bianca has recently decided that she no longer wants to sit in her high chair so we are currently working on getting her to STAY in a booster seat and eat food at the table with us. So far, not that great but, we will keep trying!

Note the 10 million animals that she sleeps with one her bed every day!

Whee!!!

Eating a chocolate chip bagel...one of the only things she will eat lately!

Some things haven't changed...she still loves snuggling with Carrera on her dog bed (sorry, Daddy!)

Ellia's First Bath at Home and One Week Stats

At one week old (6 says actually) Ellia weighed 6 lbs and 12 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She is up over her birth weight (a big relief for Mommy!) and was supposedly an inch and a half longer than she was in the hospital. I don't think this is possible but, is seems like there are always discrepancies between the hospital lengths and the length at the doctor's office. I think she is probably closer to the 19.5 inches just like Bianca was...

Big Sister helping with the bath!