Chicken nuggets

  I got the Bumbo chair out for Carly to sit in last week and guess who had to try it out first...yes, Addy still fits in the bumbo. 

 Then Carly got to try it out! 

 Here are a couple of pics of Carly learning to suck her thumb.  She has only done it this one time, but she always has her hands in her mouth at this point. 

Addyson has discovered piggy back rides and as you can see in this video, she enjoys them.

Here is a video of us at dinner time.  Addyson has only recently started eating chicken nuggets, but they've become one of her favorites.  I'm just happy she's found something else she likes besides hot dogs! 

The above is another video of Carly on her activity mat and Addy just having fun. 

Carly is 3 months old

Carly turned 3 months old on Tuesday.  It's just so hard to believe.  She's getting so big, so fast.  I am happy to say that she giggled for the first time tonight.  The girls and I were eating dinner...well Addy and I were eating dinner and Carly was swinging next to us.  After I was finished, I picked Carly up so she could sit with us, while Addyson finished her dinner.  Within a few moments, Addy said something, and Carly just started giggling...it was fantastic.  At first, I looked to make sure she wasn't starting to cry, but nope...definitely giggling!!!  Awesome. 
These next couple of pictures are of Carly at 12 weeks...

And trying not to be too technical...these next photos are of Carly at 11 weeks...doesn't she look so much younger than in the previous pics...=)

 This is one of my favorites - many of you know how difficult it is to get one child to look at the camera, let alone both of them!

This is video of Carly on her activity mat for the first time.

So much!

About a month ago, Addyson started hugging her stuffed animals with great affection and saying "so much", which sounds a bit more like "sooooo much".  I guess she has heard us say "we love you so much" and that's how it translated to her.  Over the course of this month, she has hugged just about everything she can in our house and lovingly said "so much", including her sippy cups, picture albums, plates, bowls, shoes, books, etc.  Jeff and I were a little jealous at first, because we were not receiving any of the love.  However, as time has gone on, we have been included in this wonderful gesture.  She has also added the words "love you" to the sentence recently. Needless to say, it just melts our hearts! 

On another note, Addyson has learned another coin phrase that she just LOVES to say.  I've heard stories about toddlers who repeatedly ask 'why' over and over again, but for Addy, she has chosen "this mom?".  In other words - What's this mom?  She repeats it over and over again and I try to happily oblige!  Jeff and I were sitting earlier today playing with Addy and I looked over and he was just grinning...  I asked what he was grinning about and he said "how many times a day does she ask you that (the 'this mom?' thing)?"  The answer - you have no idea!!!  I wouldn't have it any other way =)

Here are a few pics of our first born...

Carly at 8 weeks with Addy too

Here is a cute pic of Carly at 8 weeks old (a little late).  She is really growing up fast...so fast that the blog cannot keep up with her =) 

 And of course, you cannot take pictures of Carly without snapping a few of Addyson. 

 Here's Carly enjoying a little tummy time!

 Addyson really enjoyed eating at this tray.  Our table was turned upside down (literally) as my dad was doing some work on it.  It's an antique and is having trouble keeping up with the roughness of a two year old.  I think Addy would be just as happy to use this tray at every meal...she thought she was something else!

 Addy and I were doing a little reading...

 Another picture of Carly sleeping.  It's just too cute not to share!

Ok...so for those of you who know me, know that crafts are NOT my thing.  But, I have vowed to do crafts with my children, so when I see something cool in a magazine (no, I cannot come up with these things on my own =), I tear them out so we can try them.  This one, I thought, turned out pretty well and it was a big hit!  Addy has enjoyed her crown although, I believe my daughter might be just as literal as I am.

There were star stickers on the crown pictured in the magazine, but since we didn't have any star stickers, but have many, many stickers of other things, I thought we'd just use what we had.  Addy picked out the stickers she wanted and we put them on the crown...then she realized we had NO STARS on her crown (like the picture)...so mommy had to draw and cut out some stars to glue on the crown.  I guess I should also mention (if I haven't already) that if you're wondering what Addy is doing with her mouth, she says cheese for almost every picture and this is how they turn out!

Here a couple of cute shots of me and the girls...

 Once again, Addy in her Dora costume with her magic wand...

Visit from Donna, Joe and the boys

We were delighted that Donna, Joe, and the boys decided to stop in for a visit late Christmas day and again the day after. Here is a cute picture of Aunt Donna with Carly

 ...and Ian with Carly.

Here is a nice little family photo that was taken that day also.  I thought it turned out well!

Addy enjoying some of her gifts

Here are a few shots of Addy in her awesome Tutu that Uncle Tim got for her.  Much like her Dora outfit, she LOVES this Tutu!  She would wear it all the time if we would let her.  In the second photo, she has her magic wand that she felt was a perfect match to the tutu.  She loves to go around tapping people (and things) with her wand. 

 Here is Addy in the Jeep that Gi and Papa got for her. 

 After driving for a few moments (she has to really stretch to reach the petals), she scooted over to the passenger seat and said 'daddy drive', so here Jeff is trying to drive the Jeep!

 After a stroll in the Jeep, we put Addy straight to work with her new snow shovel she got from Em...

 Meanwhile, back inside, Carly was enjoying just another ordinary day, taking a snooze in her pack 'n play. 

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!!!  We spent time with family, and Addyson is at a very fun age for Christmas...she is just learning about Santa and presents and gets very excited at the mention of either one... She also loves to sing Christmas carols, with Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer being her favorites.  We also have another addition to be thankful for as Carly celebrated her first Christmas this year.
Addyson helped us decorate the tree this year, which was just awesome.  (This is a big change from last year, when we put the tree in the corner and blocked it off with furniture so she couldn't tear it down).   Here are some pics leading up to Christmas...

 Yes, Addyson has on her halloween shirt...

 This unicorn pillow was a gift from Aunt Diann and Uncle Dwight.  We (mistakenly) opened the box before Christmas and when Addy got one glimpse of this pillow, there was no hiding it until Christmas!  She drug it from the living room to the bedroom and back each day!  We even tried hiding it once she went to bed one night and the first thing she said when we got to her room was "unicorn" and so we had to go and get it. 

 She even lets Carly lay on it, which is a big deal for Addyson!!!

 This pic was taken on Christmas eve, while we were awaiting all of our guests.  The head band didn't make it until they got here...

 This was a birthday gift from Uncle Tim (and a splendid one at that).  It's a Dora the Explorer princess outfit and it has gotten plenty of wear over the last month...she absolutely LOVES it!!!