Ellery is 10 Months Old Today!

What a busy girl we have! She is on the go all of the time. Her favorite thing right now is to walk everywhere with us holding her hands! Ellery also loves to pull up to anything she can reach! Every time I turn around right now, Ellery is standing beside something. She is beginning to walk along furniture, and yesterday, she stood for a few minutes and even kept her balance for a couple of seconds (hands free)! With every new accomplishment, you can really tell that Ellery is proud of herself - she will sort of cackle with a little laugh that seems to say, "Look what I just did!" She loves being outside and will sit and then crawl around in the grass like a champ. She is eating all kinds of big girl foods. Ellery still has just the 2 bottom front teeth, but she seems to be working on getting some more through soon. At her last doctor appointment several weeks ago, she weighed 17 lbs, 4 oz. She is doing much better with sleeping lately which means Kiran is sleeping much better lately which means Mom and Dad are finally getting more much needed rest! Thanks for that, sweet girl! Here are a few moments from the past 2 months.

Digging in Kiran's imagination box


Hanging out with Daddy!
My Little Helper!



Excited pose!




Sleepy girl!

This was at the end of March at a coffee house at church. The band played bluegrass music. Ellery had just started wanting to walk with us holding her hands, and she walked all the way through the tables to get a front row seat! She loved the music!

Uh-oh!

Our Little Excavator!

Busted!

Kiran is 3 Years Old! Happy Birthday!

Kiran turned 3 on Sunday! He is such a blessing to us, and we are so thankful for him every day! Kiran is growing and learning and exploring, and he is busy, busy, busy - just right for a Preschooler!

What Kiran has been up to lately:
- more pretend play
-much more intentional play with friends
-adventurous play
-muddy play
-helping Mommy and Daddy
-still loves reading
-loves, loves, loves MUSIC!
-of course, he could be outside 24/7 and not get tired of it! (unless it's too cold out, that is)
-loves any riding toy that exists and goes super fast!
-likes helping Ellery learn new things
-asks to watch BOZ and Bob the Builder just about every day
-does not like Ellery to cry "because it makes me sad that she's sad"
-likes trying most new foods now without prompting from Mom and Dad!
-enjoys school a lot!
-he can eat and eat and eat!
-he asks lots and lots of questions
-he likes to run with us, and he asks to exercise (When we walk, he has to be in the stroller so Mommy can get some exercise, but as soon as we let him, he jumps out and practically runs all the way home!)
-he's doing great with counting

We have had lots of fun celebrating Kiran's special day! We had a party on Saturday which was a blast! All of Kiran's friends from playgroup came as well as some of our family's close friends. We had lots of people here, but thankfully the weather cooperated and we were able to have the party in the backyard as planned! Our house is small, but the backyard is perfect for large gatherings! Kiran had so much fun with all of the activities and with everyone!

As you can see, Kiran got a bike for his big day!






Always picking flowers for Mommy or Ellery (who was asleep for the bike surprise)! Ellery and Mommy both LOVE this!



Our smiley girl on Kir-Kir's birthday.
Opening presents from Granna and Grandad and other TX family
Having a birthday on Easter is a little confusing, but here our cuties in their Easter outfits.
Daddy and Ellery at the big birthday bash.


The theme for Kiran's party was "My (Kiran's) Favorite Things," so we incorporated a little of all his favorites into the day. Here is the Favorite's List (not in any particular order except #1):
1. Dan Zanes Music (the kids danced and sang to 2 songs and played instruments)
2. Remi "Little Chef" from Ratatouille (the kids made ice cream sundaes using big kitchen utensils as though they were little chefs)
3. Simon Says
4. Soccer (We played a game of "Simon Says Soccer")
5. Gardening (We let the kids play in one of our squares for our square foot garden)
6. Tools (We put out a big box and Kiran's tools and let the kids work on a project)
7. Strawberries (They were one of our ice cream toppings.)
8. Ice Cream
9. Cookie Monster and the color Cookie Monster blue (We had some Cookie Monster napkins)
10. Singing, playing guitar/drums, and dancing!!!

An unforgettable party - so much fun to watch Kiran and everyone else having a great time! My friend, Laura, offered to bring their "Bounce Around" blowup bouncy thing. So, we ended the party trying to work out some of the sugar by kids bouncing all over the place.
Kiran dancing to "Malti!"








Singing "Happy Birthday to You"
Little Chef and Family
Birthday Breakfast

Thanks for coming to visit, Cookie!

We had a wonderful time with Cookie! We enjoyed taking our LONG walk, our time outside, our time at Sprout Studio, bath time, reading books, playing inside on our rainy day, and all of the other fun things we got to do together!


Celebrating Kiran's birthday with chocolate-covered strawberries!
Cookie and Ellery had some good time getting to know each other this week - and lots of time "talking."

Kiran playing in the backyard

Kiran just before he gobbled up his yummy strawberries!
The Fam

Ellery is pulling up now - and as usual - one sock on, one sock off! Kiran is working on a big project!
Fun time after work with Daddy
Playing soccer with Daddy after work.
One of Kiran's birthday gifts from Cookie and Papa was a basketball goal - what fun! We all tried a few shots!

Ma and Pa sent Kiran a cowboy outfit - vest and chaps for his imagination box! Yippie ki-yay!


Kiran loves playing his recorder from Cousins Addie and Doak!
Bath time with Cookie!

Listening to birds just before Cookie got back on the plane.



Cookie, we miss you and can't wait to see you in June!