First Trip to the Playground

Today Anna Claire and Mallory went to the playground on Richardson for the first time. Granny took the girls in my minivan and Papa took Dylan in his truck. We weren't sure how to get a third car seat in my van, though I'm sure it can be done. Michelle, Connor, and I met them there later. The weather was perfect - warm and not a cloud in the sky.Anna Claire and Mallory loved the swings. The experience of sharing one swing was a bit different that what they're used to in their swings at home when they each have their own. Anna Claire laughed the entire time, and Mallory kept trying to turn around to see Anna Claire.

By the time they made it onto the merry-go-round, Anna Claire was getting a little sleepy - or maybe she was dizzy. Anyway, I could not get her to look at the camera. Mallory, on the other hand, couldn't get enough.

Both girls fell asleep in the car on the way home and had a great afternoon nap. Since it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow and snow Sunday, who knows when we'll get to go back!?

Move It!

This morning when I dropped the girls off at mom and dad's Mallory was sitting on the floor. She got on all fours and crawled just one little crawl to reach a toy she wanted. It may have only been one little "step," but it was the first forward movement we've seen from either Mallory or Anna Claire.

Before I left, I told her she needed to practice while I was at work and that when I got home for lunch I wanted to see her crawling all over the room.

Too much pressure??

Taking a Stand

I probably shouldn't encourage this behavior, but Anna Claire and Mallory look so cute standing up. I think it's because they're so short and it doesn't seem possible that they could stand up by themselves (and they can't without a little help). It scares me to death that one day soon, I'll go into their room in the morning and find them like this. What worries me even more is wondering what I'll do when I lay them down to sleep and they don't stay there, but instead stand up crying because they don't want to go to sleep. What then? I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Look at That Face!

I can explain why Mallory seems to look so sad - she was actually chewing (not frowning) a fruit puff - the first one she was able to get into her mouth all by herself. (Yay!) Her chubby little cheeks and those pouty lips do strange things when food is in her mouth. So darn cute!

Gettin' Their Groove On

Since the girls, especially Mallory, are starting to pull up on things, I thought I'd put all four legs on the Leap Frog Learn and Groove music table; it's one of their favorites. Too bad the table is so much taller that I thought it would be and the girls are so short. They can hardly see over the top and forget about pulling up. Mallory tries so hard, but she can't quite get a grip.

And on the crawling front...I keep thinking we're going to see some forward movement any day now, but the girls are still only moving backward. I cannot even explain how Anna Claire found herself under the music table - it was a tight squeeze.

Happy Anniversary

Six years ago today, Walter and I were married. My, how times have changed! Today has been pretty low-key, but we did go out to dinner last night to celebrate while my mom babysat Anna Claire and Mallory.

Since we honeymooned in Rome, it's our tradition that every year we dine at an Italian restaurant (because who knows when we'll ever make it back to Italy). Last night we went downtown to Garibaldi's. We hadn't eaten there since winter semi-formal our senior year - of high school!! My first glass of wine in...hmm...almost five years. Sad, I know. The food was amazing.

Happy six-year anniversary! Here's to many, many more.

How Low Can You Go?

When your baby can do this...

It's time to do this...

Mallory is now all about pulling up onto her knees while in the crib, and then once she gets there she isn't one bit happy about it!

Anna Claire is still rather stationary while sitting, and she isn't one bit happy about that as you can see in the background.

Walter lowered the mattresses on both cribs this evening which was no easy task. (Tip for those who have yet to lower their mattresses: it takes longer than you think it will, especially when you have to lower the mattresses for two cribs. I suggest doing this on a weekend day, not a week night - love you, Walter).

At first it looked like the mattresses were going to be so low, but then once we got them back in the crib, it's not really that much lower (and we lowered them all the way). I guess I was worried it would be difficult to lay the girls down to sleep at night without practically dropping them onto the mattress since I'm not exactly tall, but with the rail down, it's doable. We do dress them in their cribs since they've gotten so wiggly on the changing table, and that may be a little more difficult with the mattresses lower but not as bad as I originally thought.

All in all, I feel much safer and won't worry now that I'll wake up to find Mallory has toppled out of her crib. Yikes!

Longest Week Ever

I have left my house a total of three times since last Saturday a week ago. I went to work Thursday and Friday and went to the urgent care doctor last night to get a shot of pain killers to rid me of my four-day-long headache. We're all going a bit stir crazy around here. Not many pictures to show for all of the fun we've been having this past week.

Mallory can now pull herself up onto her knees in her crib. Time to lower the mattress. She was smiling just before I snapped this picture. The problem is that she doesn't know how to lower herself back down without toppling over, so she gets a little scared to let go, hence the look on her face...

Worn out after a day of fun with Granny...

Sippy cup practice...

Hugs and Kisses

Happy first Valentine's Day, baby girls!

Anna Claire and Mallory had a such a good day (which included a two hour morning nap). They got lots of Valentines and books and "play" candy. Visits from Grandmom and Granny (Papa is still under the weather) made the day extra special!

Cousin Connor handmade their cards, and they even had a secret admirer leave something special on our doorstep. Okay, we knew it was from Cousin Owen who was probably smart not to come inside since we all still aren't feeling 100%, but it was fun peeking out the door to find the surprise (thanks!).

Anna Claire and Mallory, we love you so much!!!

Epidemic

Now, my dad's sick. :-(

First Tooth

In the midst of all the sickness, sneaky little Anna Claire went and cut her first tooth. We found it Monday morning. She is so proud of herself. YAY, baby girl!!

Pictures soon...

Sick, Sick, and...Sick

Yep, all three of us. Mallory, Anna Claire, and I all caught Walter's illness, and it was evil. I am so thankful that the girls didn't seem to get the worst of it; although, the poor things still puked and pooped all weekend and it doesn't seem to be completely over yet. All I can say is that I have never, in all my life, been so ill. I'm sure I can say the same not just for my husband and daughters, but also for my mom, brother-in-law, and nephew, all of whom succumbed to this vicious, vile virus over the past few days! Who will be next??? I hope no one else in my family has to go through what we've been through.

Today was my first day back to work since Friday. I am exhausted, so I will spare you anymore of the hideous details, but I cannot close without saying thank you, thank you, thank you to my dad and Walter's mom who both came to our rescue more than once over the past seven days. We love you (and hope you don't get sick, too, since you were the only ones brave enough to enter our house during the "invasion").

A Hairy Situation

Mallory has a head-full of hair, which tends to have a mind of its own. She can wake up from sleeping with some pretty scary hair...
This picture doesn't even do this hair-do justice. I betting on pigtails by her first birthday! Anna Claire, on the other hand, has a long way to go still.

Sick Day

Walter is really sick and has spent most of the day in the bed, so my daddy came over tonight to help me feed the girls and put them to bed.

Walter really needed some medication, but I couldn't leave the girls here with him, and I couldn't take the girls out in the freezing cold. So, I called my dad in case he was on his way home from work to see if he could run through the drugstore and get a few things Walter needed. He didn't asnwer his cell, so I called home and my mom answered -Daddy was already home. He was immediately dispatched to CVS for emetrol, saltines, and ginger ale, and he stayed to help out. Thanks, Daddy!!!

Here's to hoping the girls and I don't catch whatever Walter has.

Eight Months Old

It is so hard to believe that Anna Claire and Mallory are eight months old today. That's as long as they were inside me. Wow, can sixteen months pass by in a hurry!Both girls are getting really close to crawling now since Mallory has suddenly taken to enjoying tummy time which, in the past, hasn't been her favorite. Still no teeth for Anna Claire, but I just know the first one is coming any day. Both girls are very verbal. Mallory can make the b, d, and m sounds, and Anna Claire has just started saying mmmm.... She still screams and shrieks loudly FOR FUN! They are both such sweet girls who laugh all the time and fuss very little.

They love their solids and are doing great on level two, which besides some new and exciting varieties don't seem all that different from level one; although, they do gag on the thicker mixed-fruit yogurt. Also, I think I've decided that they will not eat jarred meat; I just can't make them do it. Yuck!

Both girls have become a little leery of strangers, especially Anna Claire (she gets very upset in the presence of unfamiliar people), but we are working on that by getting out and about a bit more. Hmmm...what shall we plan for this weekend?

New Shoes

The girls got their first pair of "real" shoes this weekend - prewalkers, they're called. Not that we are anywhere near walking, and I'm not sure I would even classify Anna Claire and Mallory prewalkers, but it was time for them to have some really nice shoes that they'll be able to wear for a while as opposed to the sweet little "baby" shoes that are typically satin or some similar fabric and tie with a bow like they've been wearing. The new shoes are white leather with a Velcro strap and a cute little white leather flower on the top of each.

We went to Stride Rite where they were fitted for a size 2. They were actually each a size 1 1/2, so we went up a size to leave room for growth. They even had their picture taken by the nice sales lady. Okay, so it isn't the greatest picture - you can't even see the shoes (I've taken a picture of the picture below - sorry about the flash), but she did take two, so I'll have one for each of the girls' baby books.
And, how cute do they look in their new overalls?