Puppy see, Puppy do

Miles continues to be such a gentle and good natured guy with our kiddos, but we get such a kick out of how he lays on his back with his feet up in the air, almost like he's imitating Olivia.  Oh well...puppy see, puppy do! :)

Nursery Re-do

At the beginning of February, Rhinelander got a Hobby Lobby.  This might not seem like a big deal to most, but for a crafter like me to finally have a craft store that's not an hour away is amazing!  When I went there the first time, there were so many adorable things and great fabrics, that I just couldn't resist doing a little nursery decor update for Livi.  

It was really fun to start sewing again - I haven't done much in the past year, but I could tell how much I've improved since I first started around when Nolan was born.  The things that felt so clumsy early on, like pinning, keeping the tension right, threading the machine, etc. felt like second nature and I was really proud with how the curtains turned out.  I finished them in two afternoons and did the pennant banner out of coordinating fabrics as well.

I still want to make a crib skirt and do a few more updates with the stuff on the walls, but it's getting there...and it was fun!

Fifty Nifty United States (an update)

A while back I had posted that I was starting to teach Nolan about the US map and wondered if he could learn the states.  Well, it didn't take him long...  I taught him this song in an evening, and by the next day he had most of it memorized.  We practiced locating all the states on the map, and this is the result....Such a smart, smart boy!

Planting seeds

Every year around this time I start to get spring fever and so I thought Nolan and I could start some seeds for our garden.  Last year I had great expectations that he and I were going to plant these seeds together and it would be a wonderful Hallmark moment...and instead I ended up with dirt everywhere, except in the planters...  It's amazing how different it was this year.  He carefully spooned the soil in, and planted some of his favorites: peas (his all time favorite!), watermelon, pumpkins, a few pepper plants for daddy, some herbs for mommy, and some marigolds.  

We already had sprouts peek through by Day 3!  It will be fun to watch with him and later plant these in our garden!  Spring is on its way!

T-ball and Twirling

Saturday was Nolan's first day of T-ball.  To say it was hilarious was an understatement.  Our son definitely takes after his parents.  At first he was scared and needed us close-by.  He didn't want to run the bases like the other kids and wanted Mommy or Daddy to do it with him.  However, that was preferable to the rest of the practice.  Once he gained a little bit of confidence, he took it upon himself to reinvent the game of T-ball.  While the coach gave directions, he spun in circles.  While the kids were practicing throwing, Nolan collected as many balls as he could and hid them under the orange cones.  While he was supposed to be catching balls, he ran around the gym.

And as the final disagreeable act, our son sat defiantly with his back to his teammates while they all put their hands in for the team cheer.  His marches to the beat of his own drum, that's for sure....

Little Movers!

This week Nolan began his first class at the YMCA called Little Movers.  He calls it an obstacle course and he was SO EXCITED.  

He really enjoyed running like a maniac, jumping on the trampoline, and being rolled around in the barrel.  It was really fun to see him have such a great time!

Look at that tongue stick out as he concentrates! ;)

Olivia's 6 months old!

Olivia turned 6 months old on February 7, so we headed over to Katie's house for her to work her photography magic.  Livi was just in her glory - smiling and giggling and flirting with the camera and Katie got some gorgeous shots.  I love how the pictures show her beautiful blue eyes and her adorable personality.  We even got one with her sucking her thumb - which is so HER.  She is sitting on her own now and has two adorable bottom teeth that show whenever she smiles.  Nolan even joined her for some really precious sibling shots.  They just melt my heart.


Look at the beautiful blue eyes on my babies!  I never imagined with how widespread brown eyes are in my family, that I would ever have two blue eyed children!

 Nolan is such a loving and proud big brother.  Every morning, as soon as he hears her wake up, he races in her room to snuggle with her and wish her good morning. He gives her kisses constantly and loves to make her laugh - particularly by making silly noises with his mouth.

I scoured Pinterest a bit to look for some pose ideas and thought we could recreate this teddy bear pose.  Some of these bears were made by Eric's Aunt Jackie for him when he was a little boy.  And the beads Livi is wearing belong to her Grandma Marcia.

This shot took about 5 seconds.  She posed like a model.  I love her cute little dimpled butt! :)

She is a girl of many expressions and I can't get over all her little rolls and the tuft of hair on the top of her head.

And here she is sucking her thumb...

And her toes...

And reading her "Olivia" book...

I mean, I know I biased, but I don't think they come any cuter! :)

I'm so lucky to have such beautiful, happy, and healthy kids!  And I love all these gorgeous pictures of them to remember each of their stages and watch their personalities grow in the coming years.  But with all these amazing photos, I may have to start wallpapering my house with them - I don't know where I'm going to put them all!