Moving Forward

Leah is working hard! She has been perfecting her forward movement lately.





Lesley's recent milestones include using the word "I" in place of the word "me". That's big time! Proper use of nouns. And, she can now get the refrigerator open on her own and she is able to open the bathroom door. Watch out people!

For those of you wondering, I got the bubble maker from Diapers.com.

http://www.diapers.com/products/Summer-Infant-Tub-Time-Bubble-Maker-20459

Happy, Happy, Happy

Leah has been in an especially good mood lately. She wakes up smiling and is only unhappy when hungry. We love how much she plays these days and has been trying so hard to crawl.

Lesley isn't a fan of the swing these days, but Leah really enjoys it while we are outside!

She has a great view of the kids playing loves having her feet tickled while swinging.

Lesley rode her Kawasaki across the cul-de-sac, took her shoes off (you can see them in the street in the distance), and pushed the four wheeler back. Huh!? That makes no sense...and she should know by now that shoes are a requirement when outside.

Thankfully Greta from next door rescued the shoes before a car ran over them.

Bring on more nice weather! This family can't get enough of it!

The Bunny Stopped at Our House

Although not on Easter morning, since we weren't home, the Easter bunny managed to drop off a few goodies for the girls. Actually, the Easter bunny forgot to bring the gifts out of hiding, but thankfully Lesley was being a snoop and happened across her new boots Sunday night. Before we knew it, she was running around yelling "new boots Mommy!"

Leah even liked the new rain boots. And, surprisingly enough Lesley let Leah wear them.

Leah has really, really been interested in balls. I think she might be a soccer player some day. Or maybe she'll play softball or volleyball. Who knows?! Not only did the Easter bunny bring her a fun ball with farm animals on it, but Great-Grandma Holtz gave each of the girls a princess ball. Score!

Her and Daddy were rolling it back and forth and she was loving it!

Lesley also got playdough and has been a big fan of it. She likes to make balls and then asks me to make a bowl to put them in. Mommy needs to get more creative!

Mommy's favorite gift from the Easter bunny was a bubble machine especially made for the bathtub. Look at all those bubbles!

I think Lesley would have stayed in the bathtub all night except the bubble machine ran out of bubbles. Note to Mommy and Daddy, don't put as much soap into the bubble maker! The bath might be more efficient that way.

Easter on the Funny Farm

We went to Lincoln for Easter this year. My Uncle Bill and Aunt Jenny live on an acreage west of town and Lesley had so much fun. We are thankful to have been able to join the family and celebrate Jesus's life. The farm reminded me how fun life on the farm is in the springtime when there is new life all around.

This photos are in reverse order, but you will definitely see how much fun we had this weekend.

Helping Aunt Jenny wash the dishes. Lesley is a bit of a neat freak and does not like "yucky" things so she was the perfect choice for washing duty.

My girls were happy!

Leah got two Easter eggs and she was happy.

Lesley picked up a lot of eggs! They were all filled with nut-free candy. Her second cousin Elizabeth also has a nut allergy so everyone was sure to include only safe candy in the plastic eggs.

The girls all decorated their own Easter bags. It was a fun project for Lesley. Notice the big dog in the back. Aunt Jenny told the girls to pose for a photo. Sadie walked up right between Elizabeth and Audra and posed. I think she listens better than the kids.

Lesley also had to help gather the real eggs. She didn't want to put her hand under the chickens in the chicken coop, but still followed Elizabeth around to all the regular hiding spots. Elizabeth spends a lot of time on her Grandpa's farm (my Uncle Bill) so she knew about all the secret places to look for the eggs. Uncle Bill even had 4 baby chicks that exact day. I still don't know how he was able to time that so perfectly.

Andy, Aunt Karen, and Uncle Mark rescuing our dinner from the smokehouse.

Leah found Aunt Sharon after her nap and enjoyed walking around the farm too.

The big girls thought taking their martini's out to check the cows was a good idea...so did the cows! They thought there were treats involved. Cathy and Kim quickly had to abandon the plans to save the alcohol.

Aunt Denise made the baby pigs squeal really loud!

Uncle Bill took Lesley up close and personal to the cows for their dinner time.

I don't know why the girls were heading down to the shed, but it was so sweet how Elizabeth and Audra held Lesley's hands.

There were also baby ducks and chicks to inspect keeping warm in the basement

And, J.D. Also known as Jesus Donkey. J.D. tolerated Lesley but didn't like others on his back.

Clara even gave Lesley a ride on Blondie. I couldn't believe how brave Lesley was all weekend. She didn't seem afraid of any of the animals and fit right in with all the uncles, aunts, and cousins. Sometimes she can be shy, but not this weekend.

Aunt Denise, what did you do to my hair?!?!

Blockfest

Lesley and I went to a Parents as Teachers toddler event last week and had so much fun! She didn't want to go and was crabby during dinner, but when she realized it was just going to be Mommy and Lesley, no Leah and no Daddy, she had a change of heart.

We need to remember to do some of these events one on one with Lesley. She said a handful of times that "Leah at home with Daddy". She was so excited to have Mommy all to herself and be the center of attention for the night.

We built train tracks....

...practiced our colors....

...and acted silly!

She also built mountains like what we see in Colorado. It's amazing the connections she is starting to make and the things she remembers.

I think her favorite were the cardboard bricks. We made a bridge to crawl under and then a bigger one to walk under.

And, maybe her favorite part of the night was stopping at Sonic to get ice cream on the way home. She didn't really get to enjoy it the night before after her trip to the ER, so Mommy felt sorry for her and bought more. Of course, she had to try both of them. Yummy!

A Sleepover

Jason and I joined several of the Hoffmann's for the 6th annual Cousin's weekend. It was a lot of fun and we were thankful that my parents offered to babysit both girls AND Lilly so we could stay the night and experience life as we used to know it before kids - drinking adult beverages, bar hopping (does going to one bar count?), ordering pizza at 1:30am to absorb the alcohol, and staying up much to late. Trust me, being up at 2:30am is something we only do now a days when we have a hungry baby to feed. It was so much fun to be with my cousin's!

This photo arrived on our phones bright and early Saturday morning. They survived the first night without any issues!

Since Lesley has been a huge Mommy's girl lately, I was really concerned it wouldn't go well. We had been talking about going to Grandma's house and staying overnight, but I think she was under the impression that Mommy and Daddy were staying too. I shouldn't have been worried! When she was strapped in to Grandma's truck on Friday night before we parted ways, she just waved, smiled and yelled "Luv you Mommy!" Sunday morning we found her and Lilly "helping" Grandma fold laundry while jumping on the bed and yelling "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." I got a hug and then she quickly joined in on the jumping again. Not sure what I was expecting for a reunion but probably a little more than that.

Grandma Nancy said they were good girls and her and Lilly only had to sit in time out once. They even behaved in church with Aunt Denise's help. Grandma and Papa were concerned with the 2 on 3 combination they were going to have so Aunt Denise joined since she was in Iowa visiting Uncle Nick and Aunt Barb.

The girls went through a lot of clothes over the course of two days. That's what happens when Papa takes them outside to help with the horse chores and there are mud puddles.

Last night when I was rocking Lesley and talking about the weekend, I asked if she had fun at Grandma's. "Yes, do it again Mommy." She already wants to go back. And, this morning she threw a fit when we told her she couldn't have breakfast at Grandma's house. Such a tough thing to understand when you are two. She also told Chris at daycare that she wanted to go back to Grandma's and see Hank and Susie (G&G's dogs).

Leah had fun too, although I think she was missing Mommy a little more than Lesley. Sounds like she was a little fussy and wanted held lots. G&G survived and I even think if asked, they would be willing to babysit all the girls again. :)

Thanks Grandma Nancy and Papa!

Changes

April 15, 2011

Dear Leah,

This past month (actually closer to 6 weeks since I find that I am late with my letter) has been so much fun for you! You are changing so much each day and we love every new and exciting thing you have been doing. Not new, but still one of my favorite things you do is smile. It is so sweet to see you grin. Grandma Nancy says you smile with your eyes and she is so right. Your eyes just shine when you are happy and excited about something. Makes my heart melt a little! A trick you have learned is to stick out your tongue. It's pretty darn cute, although we hope it's not your way of "talking back to us". You also seem to recognize your name, most days. Perhaps that's the toddler/teenager selective hearing already showing.

Playing has become a big thing for you. You see toys and you really want to investigate and check them out. You are a pro at sitting up on your own and can easily entertain yourself on the ground with a handful of toys in your lap. Reaching and rolling around to get toys is also fun to see. Lesley is often on guard to make sure you don't get her things. Not sure what's going to happen when you really are mobile and crawling around. She's going to have to adjust to that just as much as we will. On that note, you have started to get up on your knees and reach forward. We don't think it will be long before you figure the crawling business out. Right now, you typically end up reaching until you get off balance and roll over. But, in the end, you still manage to get that one thing you were reaching for. You still like your exersaucer and walker, but you lose interest in that much faster these days. It seems like you prefer just sitting on the floor and having your freedom to move around a bit. Fun, fun, fun!

We took you on your first wagon ride this month and you really enjoyed it. Lesley would not ride with you, but that's okay. Callie the Caterpillar kept you entertained as did the holes in the bottom of the wagon. You kept reaching or them and playing with them. We assured you that they were meant to be there, but you didn't give up and still tried to figure out what the heck they were. Perhaps this summer Lesley will be more willing to join you on wagon rides so we can continue to enjoy the outdoors. Our whole family loves going on walks and it makes for the perfect evening activity this Spring.

Lately you have been sleeping in your own room and Mommy loves that! She was so hesitant to move you, but thankfully you seem to have adjusted quite well. The crib is bigger than the pack n play and you make use of the entire thing most nights. Rolling around, spinning and even sticking your legs and arms between the crib slats. You still wake up anywhere between 2-4am for some milk, and then again between 5:30-6:30am but overall I think you are sleeping more soundly and we usually have to wake you up around 7:15am to get ready for the day. Lesley likes to come into your room and say "Wake up Leah, good morning". This ALWAYS makes you smile.

Although you still drink lots of milk, you are really getting the hang of eating cereal and vegetables. So far you have tried green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and squash. At first, the sweet potatoes were your favorite, but now that we are circling back through those options, you don't really seem to have a strong preference for one over the other. You do get confused if we try to feed you two of the options at one sitting which results in a messy face and vegetables up your nose. I also gave you some peaches last weekend and you ate almost an entire container. Yummo!

We are still forging forward with nursing although it's been a bit of a (mental) struggle for Mommy. Mommy has found a better routine and now only pumps while you are at Chris's during the day. My body has adjusted and each day I am able to pump almost exactly what you will drink the following day at Chris's. I'm not sure how much longer we'll hold on, but for now we have a good system. Honestly, I like holding on that last bit of baby you have in you…you re becoming just a big girl so fast. You do tend to get distracted more easily while nursing, but who wouldn't with a crazy, silly big sister running around while you are trying to eat. As an FYI though, the nursing will come to end before Mommy and Daddy go on their anniversary trip in June…so enjoy it for now. There is no way Mommy is dragging that darn pump to California with her! Sorry baby!

You've certainly had your share of ear infections. Another one this month! Perhaps tubes are in your future…or not. Who knows, Dr. Winburn is not yet concerned so we will be patient and hope the changing seasons help.

A few differences we have noted between you and your big sister when she was this age are your hair and your feet. Lesley hardly had any hair when she was 6 months old but you have a enough to mention and it even gets a little crazy like after a bath and sleeping on it. Sort of like a Mohawk. Now for your feet..they are quite big! You outgrew shoes before you even wore them. Mommy was not prepared for that!

As always, we are excited to see what the next month has in store for you. Your smiles certainly make my days happier and make me so thankful to be your mother.

Love,

Mommy

A New View

We pulled out the fabulous travel highchair that we loved using with Lesley. It worked perfectly for Leah while we enjoyed some Mexican food the other night. She liked it so much better than sitting in her car seat, and we liked it so much better than trying to hold her while we eat.

We also introduced her to a sippy cup. She didn't manage to drink much, but it sure kept her occupied during dinner.

Peanut Butter

Lesley has visited the doctor more the last 3 weeks than her whole life - a handful of ear infections and then pink eye. Tonight was a trip to the ER. It was confirmed she has an allergy to peanuts, and she is now the owner of an Epi pen.

We were trying to have a quick dinner so we could run some errands and go get ice cream tonight. I offered her a peanut butter and jelly bagel with some fruit and vegetables on the side as dinner. She seemed to love the bagel! Apparently, this was her first direct contact with peanut butter. And, it did not go well. We have always been careful with peanuts because her eczema is an indicator or allergies, but after her 2 year well child visit, we were given the all clear.

Her face first started getting red so we stopped her from eating the sandwich. Then, she started scratching her hands and saying "itchy". By that point, we had gotten a wash cloth out and started washing her face and hands. Soon, a ton of little bumps (imagine chicken pox) started forming on her hands, arms, and face. Scary! Jason grabbed her, strapped her in the car, and drove straight to the ER. Thankfully, by the time he arrived, the spots were disappearing and redness was going away. They gave her some steroids and Benedryl and monitored her for 45 minutes before sending her home with a prescription for steroids, an Epi pen, and strict orders to call the pediatrician to line up allergy tests.

It all happened so fast, I ended up staying home with Leah while Jason rushed Lesley to the ER in my car. My phone and purse were still in my car since we were planning to head out shortly after dinner. I had to borrow one of the neighbor's cell phones to let Jason know how to reach me. Soon, the whole street knew what had happened and was checking in on Lesley while we waited for them to return. Daddy said she was a trooper and didn't even cry while the nurses and doctors were checking her out. Perhaps the orange Popsicle had something to do with that. And, since we had been talking about getting ice cream tonight, he treated her to some McDonald's ice cream on their way home. Unfortunately by the time they got home, the meds started kicking in and we had an unhappy, exhausted toddler on our hands.

Tonight didn't exactly go as planned, but we are thankful her reaction wasn't as bad as it could have been, and we now know PEANUTS are off limits!

R-E-A-C-H

Leah has changed so much in the last couple weeks. She is no longer content to lay on her back or belly and play with what we hand her.

She is much more interested in sitting up and reaching for new things.

She is also really starting to interact with Big Sister, whether Big Sister likes it or not. We hear a lot of "Leah is touching my {fill in the blank}" these days.

And, she is trying so hard to crawl!

I can almost reach Lesley's baby doll. Just a little farther...

Lesley had to sneak into the corner of the picture. She was probably trying to save her dollie.

We don't think it will be long before she is really mobile and we'll have to baby proof again.

Did you notice her cute shoes? I went to pull out some size 1's that Lesley wore for her 6 month photos and I was shocked to find that Leah's feet are already too big for them. What?! How did that happen? So, I had to pack away several size 1's that Leah never even wore. We don't have any size 2 shoes but these size 3's can fasten pretty tight. They are still quite big, but Lesley insisted Leah wear shoes the other day so we made them work. And, if she walks as early as Lesley was walking (at 9 months), Leah might actually get some use out of them later this summer.