Elsa's birthday - an update

Elsa with dad on the morning of her birthday.


Birthday pancake in the shape of - what else - a 2.


Sunday we had a party for Elsa. Since she likes to draw bees so much, it was bee themed. Here's the cake I made her.

Killer bee, if I do say so myself!


Gift opening, the aftermath.


Lila was so good all day. She seems to be especially content during parties.


Next post: the similarities/differences between the sisters so far. It might take awhile to compile stats and pics. Stay tuned.

TWO!

Happy birthday to Elsa!



I'll add more later...

What a girl wants

This is video of Elsa telling me what she wants for her birthday. (She's destroying ant hills in the driveway and is too busy to look up.)


Easy to please, don't you think? Wishes granted.

The routine

Lila is 7 weeks old today. Can you believe it? Here she is, happy with her momma.


She's a smiler lately. This photo showcases her "auntie Emma" dimple! It was the first thing Tim noticed about her when she was born.


Last weekend we took Lila to the chiropractor again and it worked wonders! After, we had a picnic at the new Big Marine Park in Scandia. It's really nice and has a beautiful beach and huge playground.

Elsa enjoys some Jimmy John's on our picnic. Playground way in the background.


We've fallen somewhat into a routine. A typical day in the life of us girls:
Kids wake up and both demand food. After Lila is fed first, she's usually happy to play or just chill out while I make breakfast and eat. Then we sit around and watch TV for awhile which is new around here. Before Lila was born we'd watch a total of 20 mins of TV during day, just so I could get my news and weather. Now Elsa knows all the names of the morning cartoons, not to mention Dr. Phil and Oprah.

Here Elsa waits for me to feed the baby. She finds comfort from her blankie and Mr. Hippo, also known as Mr. Poop, depending on when you ask.


After I feed baby, we head outside. I push Lila around in the stroller and it keeps her entertained and/or passed out. Elsa talks my ear off and plays nearby. If you don't acknowledge what she says, she'll keep repeating. A snippet of conversation you might hear:

E: Dirty garage. Dirty and icky. Messy, too.

J: Yes, it's messy.

E: Elsa clean it up! (Runs to get broom.)
E: Elsa clean it up!
E: Elsa clean it up!

J: Yes, please clean it up!

She loves to clean and watch the mailman come. We have this dude with a wild beard who looks like an old hippie. He wears AC/DC t-shirts, keeps a smoke burning in the mail truck, and sometimes does "drive bys". He'll pass our mailbox, drive super slow, and wave the mail at me. I have to run and grab it from his outstretched arm! He's quite the character.

Elsa plays outside.


The family is reunited when Tim comes home for lunch at 11:30. After, Elsa naps. She jumps down from her chair, says,"Elsa nap in crib. With blankie!" and runs to her room. I hope Lila is as easy.
The rest of the afternoon is a blur of activity - with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, going outside, and maybe Dr. Phil and Oprah.

All is well, and I finally feel somewhat adjusted. Somebody turns 2 in two days! Plenty more to come on that.

All about Lila

I realized while uploading all my recent photos that I haven't taken any of Elsa lately! That's a first. So, this post will be all about Lila. Elsa, your 15 minutes of fame are over! Ha ha.

Lila in her new bouncy chair at Grandma and Grandma E's house. Grandma got it at a garage sale and we realized later the design is by John Lennon. Score.


Here she is passed out in the arms of Grandpa...


and with Daddy.


We went to the chiropractor and it helped a lot the first couple days. She slept for a 6 hour stretch the first night! But now we seem to be back to the same old, same old. We're going back two more times and i'm feeling optimistic.

I don't think amateur photography does an infant justice - they look better in action. Drum roll please... Lila's video debut!
Playing on her play mat.

Update

Time for a quick update. Today Lila is 5 weeks old. Some people say at 6 weeks it starts to get easier, others 3 months. Well, I don't feel like waiting. Tomorrow we're bringing Lila to the chiropractor to see if she can fix some of her reflux problems. Her food comes right back up, sometimes an hour later. Poor baby, and poor me. Together we don't get much sleep around here.

Lila, with a bit of a SMILE on her face already! Very nice to see. She's filling out and getting cuter by the day.


Elsa and Lila share a hug on the couch. Elsa likes to rub her head and say,"Hi, sisto Yi-ya!"


Elsa assumes her new position in the shopping cart: low man on the totem pole. Just kidding, of course. She actually thought it was kinda fun, but it sure doesn't look comfortable.


Elsa's new favorite treat - popsicles.