This Is How We Roll

This is my beloved Mountain Buggy stroller. I started researching double strollers when I was pregnant and of course the one that had all of the features I wanted came with a hefty price tag. They are pretty hard to find used, but I was hoping to find one on ebay or craigslist for around $400. Even that price made me cringe, but I knew that I would get a lot of use out of it and decided that it was worth it. To my surprise I won this one on ebay for $22.50!!!!! We had to pick it up in Indy, but even with gas and dinner along the way it was still under $50. I started running again when Mallory was 5 weeks old and although I'd much rather run without a stroller at all, I am very pleased with this one.

Chef Elise

Elise is really into recipes and cooking lately. She puts her apron on and stands on her stool to help me cook. Here she is eating some shredded cheese- she always has to sample her work. I know that hair is out of control. I am trying to devise a plan for the first haircut. I have a feeling she will not like the idea of sitting still in a chair for a stranger...any advice??? I refuse to give her a mom cut with the straight across the forehead bangs!

Brunch

Potty baby is the hit of every party

Salvadore and Keagan

Nurse Elise and Nurse Bella

Elise got to devour a donut with chocolate icing AND sprinkles!

Dave, Patty, and the kids came home for a visit last weekend and we had everyone over for brunch. The last time we got to see them was when Mal was born and this was the first time that we have had all of the cousins together at once. Elise was so excited to see all of her cousins and she kept telling us that "Bella not a baby anymore, she walks now". Bella is a year younger than Elise, but they are about the same size!

So Stinking Cute

Bella looking serious

Salvadore with a mouthful of donut

I am so envious of the dark hair, big brown eyes, and olive skin.

Seven Months Old

Mallory is standing and cruising. She can stand for just a second without holding on to anything. She forgets that she can't walk and takes a few lunges a day. The poor girl is seriously going to need a helmet. She is still only saying DaDa, but sometimes will make a MMMM sound when she is whining for Mama. We think she is working on some teeth, but nothing is showing yet.

Bye Bye Dining Room

I swore my house would never get over run with kid stuff. I also swore my kids would not watch T.V. or eat sugar (before I had them). We decided to convert the very infrequently used dining room into a playroom for the girls. We are all very happy with the transition. Elise is so excited for everyone to come over and see it. Mallory loves the freedom to get into everything, even if her sister gets mad about it!

Happy New Year

We hope everyone is off to a great 2009!

Poor Pup

The Old Wyatt

The New Wyatt

Wyatt's "little paw infection" after 10 days of antibiotics

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes for Wyatt and sorry if this post is too graphic. We originally took him to the Beavercreek Banfield Vet- huge mistake... we paid $250 for the visit and the vet basically blew it off as "some kind of little infection" and said that there was nothing stuck in there. Well-I am no vet, but I do have some medical knowledge and this didn't sit well with me. I took him to a new vet for a second opinion and this man who has been practicing for over 30 years about died when he saw Wyatt's paw (which had slightly improved since his visit to Banfield) and said that he was one sick puppy. This new vet is wonderful- he is so thorough and compassionate. He has been taking excellent care of Wyatt and three visits with him, including labs/meds has been a fraction of the cost of the other vet. At the second visit with him he found golf-ball sized lymph node in Wyatt's neck. He has been closely monitoring him and trying everything to avoid surgery because the paw pad bleeds a lot, is very painful, and doesn't heal well. We have been soaking his paw twice daily and giving antibiotics three times a day (I am putting those nursing skills to use!). Finally, after 32 days of antibiotics he has improved!!!! The new vet has said all along that there is some sort of linear foreign object lodged in his paw. Now that the swelling is down, you can actually see and feel a 1.5 inch piece of something going through the pad. His hope is that his body will absorb it or push it out. Wyatt is getting back to his spunky self. We have Dr. orders to "stay on the couch and watch Animal Planet", but this vet obviously has never owned a weim! I have been sneaking short runs in and Wyatt loves it. I have felt so sorry for him- he is my first baby and I would do anything for him.

Bounce U

We met the Matlacks at Bounce U for a playdate last week. Elise and I jumped in the bounce houses so much that I was out of breath and sweating! She and Daddy went down the big slide over and over. I can't think of any place more perfect for a two year old. As you can see from the blurred pics, she didn't stop for a minute! We loved this place!

Christmas with the Hoyles

The kids are so funny when we get them together. Lauren is a little mommy to Matthew and Mallory. She isn't used to a mobile baby, so everytime Mallory crawled, she would put her back where she started. Elise was so done with presents- I had to make her sit and open her gifts because she wanted to play instead.

Carriage Ride at the Greene

We took the girls for a carriage ride at the Greene one weekend. We got to see live reindeer and had hot chocolate afterwards.

Entertrainment Junction

Brian was off work from Dec 18th- Jan 5th, so we had a list of things to do with the girls during his vacation. We took them to this awesome train place in West Chester. The detail in the train displays was amazing and the play area was great for little ones. Elise wore herself out running around and Mal just sucked on those fingers and fell asleep!

Christmas with Memaw

Christmas at my mom's is always kamikaze. With so many excited kids tearing into presents it is hard to get pictures. Again the girls were spoiled rotten and love all of their new toys. Let's just say that we will no longer have a dining room at our house- it is officially becoming the playroom!