9 months

We are so close to one year. yikes!
Here is my wild haired child.

Such a funny little thing. She is our silent wild one. Lately not so silent.

She is just on the move constantly. She only wants to walk now and will get really mad if you don't walk with her. The only substitute is a cart that she will push around, but then expects you to come and turn it so she can keep walking.

She loves to get into her brothers things, he isn't very fond of that. We would love for her to be well, but alas she is currently going through her 4th ear infection and now has a cough to go with it. She did cut two more teeth this month. Thanks to her dad's gene pool, they are the ones on either side of her front teeth, which will make for some lovely pictures if the others don't come in soon!

She has begun to wave and kiss lately. The best is when she is tired and will lay her head down on us. love that! She also smiles whenever the camera comes out but will also let you know when she is all done!


This month she weighed in at 17lbs 26.5 inches and is wearing mostly 9mo clothes still. She is still wearing 0-6mo shoes!

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Patrick

Wow, my baby boy is 3!


A lot has changed in 3 years. He has grown into a strong, independent, smart boy.

He loves to run out side, almost skipping as he goes.

When he is outside, the lawn mower isn't usually out of his hands. He works so hard on the yard, it puts us all to shame. This past winter the lawn mower became his snow blower.

Inside his favorites are his tools. He'll fix anything. He also takes any cord and plugs it in all all the couches.

He loves to eat a variety of things, but loves fruit, pizza, peanut butter sanwiches, Arby's roast beef sandwiches and is very excited to eat cupcakes at his party.

He has become so verbal. He is able to express feelings now. "I'm sad, I'm scared of the Lion, Dinosaur, Easter bunny, I'm mad at you" He also comes up with the funniest things. In the car he asked me to go faster then said "Kick it!"

He loves firetrucks. They have ladders and hoses, two of his favorite things. Each day that it gets warmer he asks if it is time to get out the hose yet!

He loves his baby sister. Many times when she isn't in the room he'll say "I miss my sister" so sweet.

His laugh is infectious. He can giggle and giggle until you do as well. He is also little stinker and can also play us pretty well.

At night he loves to read stories. If it is a Curious George book or a "pig" book (Richard Scarry) he is good to go and will sit there all night and listen if you let him. He has most of them memorized and can practically read them all to us now.

Then right before bed he will sit and sing with us. Stuball, Wheels on the bus, 1,2 Firetruck, Twinkle Twinkle

He is such a joy to us each day. He makes us laugh, run and experience a world that only a 3 year old can show us!

finally an update

and some long awaited photos. Last post: march 22, probably the longest since I started this! Ok ok, so here it is.

Annika was sick. again. no ear infection this time (she has had 3 now?) but we were close and had to deal with a crazy fever lasting 3 days!
Of course she didn't mind taking a break from being sick to play a little dress up.


It's finally getting nice enough to go outside. Patrick thought he better get some gas put into his mower and get started on the outside work!

Spring also means spring cleaning. I am so tired of the stuff in our house and at least needed a new way to organize. Ryan worked on putting some shelving together with the help of two very involved assistants.

He was rewarded with kisses though!

Patrick was in heaven with a project that he could use tools on.


The kids are on complete opposite napping schedules, which on Wednesdays means lots of time at home waiting for the other kid to wake up. Here Annika and I played while Patrick slept.


Annika sported her first ponytail this week. So fun! and she doesn't mind a bit to have me fussing with her hair.


Next week we have a whole bunch of birthdays to celebrate. My little boy will be turning 3 and Annika will be 9months! I promise to share lots. Here is the little invite that we sent out:

And a collage of the fun day we had at our "photoshoot"

Patrick will be 3 soon!

A little taste of the fun to come next month!


and a short little video for you!

Happy Patrick's day!

I couldn't possibly believe he is a saint at 3! Pretty cute though!

8 months!

And she is off! 8months!

A lot has changed in 8 months!
Annika is now on the move. Not just crawling, but standing against objects, cruising, walking while holding our hands and she is getting faster by the day!

She is also a talker. She babels a lot and tries to out sound her brother which usually just ends in a big screaming match.

She smiles a lot and is into everything! She loves to play with all of us, but especially Patrick. Here they are enjoying his "tent"


She has been a sick little girl this year, so here is hoping she has had her last ear infection we are on to more health as Spring approaches.
While we were at the dr. we found out that she weighs in at:
16.4 lbs and 25in
25% for weight and 12% for height

She is a great eater. Today she enjoyed some cantelope and pancakes. She has had pears, apples, squash, spinach, peas, sweet potatoe and lots of cheerios. She is doing well drinking from a sippy cup during meals and has fun putting everything else in her mouth (including the cat's food earlier today!)

I'm putting in my prediction that she is taking steps in her 9th month!