Why siblings are cool

This must be one reason why people decide to have more kids. Hearing and watching the girls play together today was probably one of the sweetest things I've ever witnessed. I think this is what Ella has been waiting for all along. I remember her telling me back when Lindsay was just a baby that she didn't think having a baby around was as fun as she expected because Lindsay didn't know how to play.




Well, today was the first day in which I actually witnessed them playing together in a way that they both got and they both were participating in. Ella would hand Lindsay a block and Lindsay would build the tower taller. And then they relaxed to a bit of Elmo's World. So cool....

Is this what pre-teen looks like?

What a chuckle I got when I couldn't find Ella and stumbled upon this. She was sitting up on the table in the playroom so that Lindsay couldn't get to her game. Ella has settled into a nice balance between her enjoyment of time alone--like this--and enjoyment of her time as a big sister (see photos in next entry that were taken only minutes before and after this "game time" alone).

Growin' Up

My first post here as the proud Dad of these two girls and the proud husband of the lady who started this blog (and the lady making local news for her Attracting Love sessions!).

I thought I'd share an older picture of Lindsay and Ella as we embark on a big weekend for both of them: 1) Lindsay is staying home with her grandparents as Mom & Dad get away for two nights; and 2) Ella is having her first sleepover at a friend's house!

As a parent, it becomes hard to really remember your children as they used to be...they always are just themselves as they are now, and the "now" moves but everything else about them stays the same...even though photographic and other evidence proves that much more has changed.

More photos

No, this is not child torture. Rather, it's the end of a really long day in which the child has refused a second nap, demands wearing a much-too-small fleece hat in the 70+ degree weather, and, as you can see, has a mouthful of teeth coming in. It doesn't happen often, but you are witnessing a Lindsay Melt-down.

Lindsay and her buddy Brycen getting dirty. It's amazing that we even managed to capture this picture--I think they both sat down in the same place for an entire 5 minutes.

We are thrilled that Brycen will be the big brother to a new baby girl in September.

Magical Mother's Day

A few fun photos from Mother's Day 2006. The only thing that was missing from the perfect day was Miss Ella. (We've had some requests for more photos that include Bill and me. Ask and you shall receive.)

I was surprised last weekend with this joint Mother's Day and birthday gift from Bill and the girls. Lindsay and I are having fun riding to the park, day care and local shops. I feel like a kid again; all I can do is think about the next time I get to ride my bike.

Being The Mommy and all, I think this is my new favorite picture.

Lindsay doesn't wear dresses very often, but when she does...boy is she sure cute!

And what's Mother's Day without a self-captured family photo?

Barenaked Buddies

Okay, so they aren't necessarily barenaked, but they still are oh-so-cute!


Lindsay and her buddy, Sammy (who lives down the street and is only a few days older) playing after a dip in the kiddy pool to cool down from the 79 degree temperature.

Who knew?

Lindsay doing her Sling Blade impression.

Ella and Lindsay picking flowers in the front yard yesterday.

Say It Ain't So

I swear, Lindsay inserted this into her own mouth. It was not our attempt to keep her quiet.

In fact, because of Lindsay's "little ear" and limited hearing in that ear, it's easy for Bill and I to worry about her language development. Fortunately, our daughter has decided to bless us with her voice and ever-growing vocabulary in order to remind us everyday that her ear is not a limitation and, "I can hear just fine--thank you very much." I am documenting these today really for my own benefit since I am learning that the mother's memory of what happened when shrinks the more the children grow.

Current words:
dada or da-dee
kikee (spoken in a very whisper) = kitty cat
aye-ya = ella
eye
uu-pa (imagine strong emphasis on the "pa") = up
pa-pee = poppi (her name for grandpa tom)
bye bye
hi
raaaa = in response to the question, "What does a dinosaur say?"
wof wof = in response to the question, "What does a dog say?"
ka-ka-do (and then sound of tongue flapping inside mouth = in response to question, "What does a rooster say?")
loo-la = lula (her day care provider)
moo
mee-ow
mama (finally!!)

Peek-A-Boo

While I was away playing in LA with my brother and father for my first baby-less weekend since having The Bean, Lindsay and Daddy had some fun of their own.

Granted, I would never have dressed my kid in denim overalls AND a denim jacket, but at least she was still in one piece when I returned.

Bill will probably curse my name for including this photo. But, I couldn't resist; it's documented proof of their run of the house.

Introducing Ms. Rochester's Class Student of the Week

Ella Rose (as she is known in kindergarten), is the Student of the Week in her class this week. This means that she gets to have a board up with pictures from her life, share some of her favorite things with the class each day and, basically, be the focus of attention for five days.

We learned a few things about her while she was completing her Student of the Week questionnaire this weekend.

Favorite color: purple
What makes her special: she takes ballet (see photo of Ella prior to her ballet class)

Spring has sprung!

You are witnessing....

Lindsay walking!

Ok. So she's still pretty wobbly on her feet, but she is officially walking on her own, never-the-less.