My Lil' Picaso

Ever since Ashtyn was old enough to hold a crayon, she has LOVED art.  She is constantly asking to color, or play stickers, or paint, or use scissors, or create any craft she can convince Matt or I to do.  The girl's favorite store is Hobby Lobby, so it's only natural that I finally found an art class for her to join for a couple hours on Friday at the Erie Rec Center.  I was a little hesitant about starting the art class.  For one, it's not cheap and the thought of her not wanting to go or throwing a fit when I left was a definite concern.  But I was totally wrong!  I of course had been talking it up as much as I could, so the day of she would be prepared.  Well, Friday finally arrived, and the first thing out of her mouth that morning was, "this day I go to school?"  She thinks art class is school!  I think the morning dragged on for her until it was time to go, because she kept asking, "Time go yet.  I so bored."  When we finally got there she said, "Where's my locker?"  I just looked at her and smiled and said "Aunty Emily has a locker, because she in middle school.  They don't have lockers for art class."  Oh this child cracks me up and amazes me still what comes out of her mouth!

Well she LOVED her time at art class.  She couldn't wait to show me what she did and was jumping up and down so excited at the fact she got to use paint, glue and glitter! The teacher said she is a very good artist and follows direction very well - I will take credit for this, I think she is following in my footsteps as an exceptional student!  On this day she made a moose, a finger puppet and a birthday card.  I am so happy to have found something a bit more challenging for her to do.  I love having her at home, but I think she needs this interaction.  Preschool in the fall may be a definite possibility, but for now we will enjoy our art class.

She is growing up so fast...I will admit when I dropped her off and left, I peaked through the window and she was just fine.  Interacting with others and happy - which made me tear up and cry!  I don't know why, but seeing her old enough to enjoy something like this just made me realize how fast my baby girl is growing up and soon will be off to college not needing me anymore - a bit dramatic, I know, but still.  I am thinking her first day of kindergarten is going to kill me!

Dedicated to you...

...my friend Shannon.  Eli sporting a MOHAWK!

 The best one of all...complete with drool...

love you!

Valentines Weekend

We started celebrating Valentines on Friday night with Nana and Papa.  Nana and Papa always buy the kids a Build-A-Bear for Valentines, so we headed out to Flatirons to choose the perfect bear to love and add to the collection...

 Ashtyn's favorite part is being on the "puters", She named her bear Snowflake...

After Build-A-Bear we headed to dinner with Nana and Papa, where the kids actually behaved, so we actually enjoyed our night out.  On Saturday, we celebrated Robbie's first birthday.  Can't believe he is already One - that year seemed to just fly by, but that's what I say about everything it seems like.  Happy Birthday Robbie!

After the party, we dropped the kids off at Aunt Pammy's, she has been dying to watch the kids and offered so Matt and I could have a night out.  I took her up on it, and we headed out to Efrains - my favorite - with our best friends Shannon and Kole.  It was so nice to drink margaritas and enjoy a "hot" meal with no chaos.  Thanks to Aunt Pammy - Eli was a handful as usual, but Ashtyn very much enjoyed herself!  Sunday we laid around and did nothing - mostly because both Matt and I felt horrible due to the Walking Pneumonia we both came down with.  On Valentines Day, I was still feeling awful and finally got some medicine, but didn't feel up to a whole lot.  So we let Ashtyn and Eli open their Valentines presents to round out the celebration...

Ashtyn's presents were Little Squishes, an Etch-A-Sketch and a gum ball machine, and Eli got pajamas.  Matt and I got a couple's massage for each other, which we will definitely benefit from after the couple weeks we have had being sick.  We hope everyone enjoyed their Valentines Day - I know the Trujillo's did!

SpeechLESS

Ashtyn is clearly at that toddler stage where she observes everything around her and is constantly asking the questions Why?, What's that for?, How Come?, Because Why? and so on...Matt and I are always coming with answers to her questions, and you would be surprised how many times I am stumped and just left with making some explanation up to stop the asking of WHY?  Over the past couple weeks though, we have been left speechless...

A couple weeks ago we were at the mall shopping and I had to take Ashtyn to the bathroom.  We went into the stall and while Ashtyn was doing her business, a lady rushed through the door, went into the stall next to us and basically UNLOADED (if you know what I mean) .  As the lady is "unloading", Ashtyn says for all to hear, "WOW Mommy, did you hear that lady pooping!  How come she has to poop?"  I just looked at her (trying not to laugh) and quickly got her finished, hands washed and out the door.  I know that lady did not come out of her stall until she knew for sure we were gone out of pure embarassment...I was left Speechless, but totally chuckling inside!

Next, Matt had to get his prescription refilled and took Ashtyn with him.  Like always the Kaiser pharmacy is packed full of people so they had to sit and wait for awhile.  They happened to sit next to an older man, who looked like a retired cowboy and then on the other side was a very overweight woman.  Well, the lady sitting next to them was the first to have their named called.  The lady got up and with her walker slowly walked past Matt, Ashtyn and the Cowboy.  As she was walking by, Ashtyn says, "Daddy, that lady is HUGE!".  Matt was totally embarrassed, but what made the situation worse was the old Cowboy started laughing, out loud!  Matt again was left speechless...

The last incident of embarrassment just happened today while again at the mall running errands.  We were headed towards the car through Macy's when we walked passed a man, who clearly had several disabilities and was walking very slowly with a walker.  While passing, Ashtyn again says, "Why he walking so weird Mommy?, I just looked at the man and smiled in embarrassment and he smiled back.  Again, I was just left speechless...

How to teach a 2 year old about when it's better to keep some questions or comments to ourselves is now my new challenge. 

Eight Months

Eli is already 8 months old - now I am kind of getting SAD - this is my last baby and I can't believe it's truly almost over, no more babies...But on a happy note, this has, by far been one of the most enjoyable, fun, productive and exciting months since Eli has been born.  It feels likes he has finally advanced past that stage of "helpless infant" into "playful baby" and I think Eli is enjoying life a little bit more each and every day...

EATING/SLEEPING:  No complaints in this area!  Can you believe that, I am pretty sure in every blog since he was born this has been where I vent, but I think we have finally hit a groove that works for him.  Eli still eats Oatmeal three times a day accompanied by a fruit or vegetable.  He still does not like his bottles - which is nothing new - but the Oatmeal seems to be doing a good enough job since he's gaining weight much better then before.  He will take a bottle in the morning and in the afternoon consistently, but other than that he fights them - I say "whatever" at this point.  He is definitely more adventurous with food then Ashtyn ever was.  He likes to taste things off our plates, so far he has enjoyed: tortillas, bread, eggs, mashed potatoes, whip cream, ice cream and frosting - all of which he enjoyed and kept wanting more.  Loves to drink water - but not from a bottle or a sippy cup - from a regular cup or water bottle.  Here's how it goes...

 So excited to put his lips on that cup...

 taking a big drink...

 Ahhhh - That was GOOD! as most of it runs down his shirt...

He still snacks on Baby Mum Mums but still has no interest in the puffs yet.  Still no teeth, but tons of drooling and fussing, so I am really hoping some will be showing up soon.  His sleeping has been wonderful.  Goes to bed around 8pm and up around 7am - as long as his sleeping conditions are set up just right, he goes right to sleep.  Takes a really good morning nap and then will cat nap the rest of the day.  He does the cutest wiggle move when I get him all snuggled in for bed - one day I should record it - but it makes me laugh every time.  He really is just so precious...

PERSONALITY/SKILLS:  Still a very happy baby, but has a strong opinion of when and how he wants things done.  Loves to have all the attention on him, and will scream or fuss until that happens.  He has gotten much better at playing by himself.  I think because he sits so well now, he doesn't mind being left alone and loves being able to enjoy the world around him.  He will mimic you if you wave and always will wave to himself in the mirror after bath time.  Starting to babble more now, instead of just screaming which is a welcome.  Mostly it's a string of "ba, ba," "da,da", "ma,ma" and then some raspberries thrown in here and there.  Still gives Mommy tons of open mouth kisses and is starting to bury his head in your neck when he is getting tired - a move I love and cherish. 

He is definitely wanting to crawl, but wanting and doing are very different.  He gets up on his knees and hands, rocks a couple times, sits back down, gets up again, begins to move and then...falls on his tummy.  He will lay on his tummy and move like crazy - looks like he is doing the breaststroke, if he were in water he would be going somewhere - but after a couple minutes he gets frustrated, so we start the process all over again.  I really hope he learns to crawl soon - I think he will enjoy life that much more and plus, then, he can keep up with his sister.  Still adores Ashtyn and is always pulling at her hair trying to get her attention - which then just annoys her - but occasionally she will turn his way and he will just light up.  Overall he's happy and healthy, but still a pain in the butt sometimes!

Oh, Mr.Eli how you light up our life.  Everyday is a new adventure with you and we are so excited to see what comes next.  We love you so much Bubba!  Happy 8 months...

Made with Love

Last Friday we joined Nana to make cookies for Valentines Day!  This is becoming a new craft we do with each holiday - something I think both Ashtyn and Nana look forward too.  Once again, it amazed me how well Ashtyn does decorating the cookies.  So careful not to waste any sprinkles and so careful to place them exactly where she wants them.  She did however this time eat a LOT of frosting, cookie dough and sprinkles, but that's half the fun!

 eating cookie dough...

 eating frosting...

 and a mouthful of sprinkles - YUM...

 Here are the masterpieces...

 what do you see on this sweet baby's mouth?...

 Pink FROSTING!  Eli loved sucking our fingers to get as much frosting as he could...

We ended up giving away plates of our beautiful, handmade cookies. One plate we delivered to Matt at work, another plate for the break room at Matt's work, which I am sure was appreciated and another plate for Butch, Grandma and Emmie.  It's always such a fun activity to do to celebrate the next holiday coming up as well as keeping Ashtyn busy which is always a task at hand.  We will see if Eli shares in the same appreciation for decorating cookies - for now he just played on the table sticking anything sweet in his mouth.  Hope everyone enjoys their special LOVE day - Happy Valentines Day!