March 13- We had a pretty normal night tonight. Dinner and playtime at home, then E and I went to Target to pick up some snacks for our trip to Minnesota this week. When we got home, it was tubby time. E has decided that Thursday is bath night (even though we make her take one more often), and tonight she got to have a sister tubby, which is her favorite.

We got mylar balloons for E's birthday and M is completely fascinated by them. She smiles at them all the time, and is always trying to grab them.

March 12- We got some water bottles for E's party, and M has been playing with them ever since. She prefers the empty ones, because they are more "crinkley" but this one is full, and she though it was perfect for chewing. The weather has been slightly nicer lately, so she and grandpa were able to walk to the library for story hour today, M is really enjoying getting outside more.

March 11- If there is one item that inspires competition between two sisters, it is this cup. If E has it, M wants it. If M has it, E insists she needs it right NOW. This night, I actually had to wash it to transfer it between the girls. I don't think M actually knows how to drink out if it, she just likes the straw.

March 10- This is M's new doll, just seconds before I took the picture, she was hugging and kissing it, but by the time the camera was ready, this was what was happening.

March 9- This was a bow on one of E's birthday presents. During the afternoon when M and I were home alone together, she got it out and started playing.

 March 8- Today was E's birthday party. We invited the kids from her daycare class, and we were lucky that most of E's good friends could come. We went to MadTown Twisters, and E and the kids had a great time running and doing gymnastics. M also had a good time walking around the gym. We had a Frozen themed party, with a "frozen" cake, and a pin the nose on Olaf.

After the party we had dinner with Ada, Ama, and Uncle Nate, E loved continuing the celebration.

March 7- Eating baby. I am still getting used to the fact that M likes to eat. When she is ready, she'll walk over to her high chair and try to climb in. Here she was having some yougert and decided to get her hair.

March 6- Sad baby. I ready something that said to be sure to take pictures of your baby crying, so I did. She wasn't sad about anything serious (to me) I had taken away something the wanted.

March 5- Sweet girl.

March 4- M has entered the stage where she loves to put things into other things. We got her this singing shopping bag for Christmas, and she is just getting in to it. The bag combines two of M's big loves, things that play music and bags. M loves turning the music on in things and dancing. As soon as the music starts, she just starts dancing.

In the background, E is serving "wine."

March 3- M's other big loves are phones/remote controls. She got a toy remote for Christmas which she likes, but she is happiest when she gets her hands on the real thing. She holds them next to her head like a phone, and looks at you until you pretend to talk to her on the phone. She expects you to use a high pitch sing-song voice.

I got the double stroller out to try and sell, and it became immediately irresistible!

March 2- I have a picture of E eating a banana that I just love, so I tried to capture the moment with M, not exactly what I was looking for!

The big birthday girl!

March 1- We celebrated E's birthday today, we started out the day with a breakfast donut. Then she opened her presents (a playmobile pyramid) and we played most of the afternoon. We ended the celebration with dinner at the Nitty Gritty.

I can't believe our little E is a four year old! She is getting more mature each day, her imagination is flourishing, she has started drawing pictures rather then scribbles. She drew her first picture of her and her sister the other day. E is getting silly learning to tell jokes and ask funny questions. E is getting more sensitive to social situations, unfortunatly, not a day passes were we don't get a story about some social aspect of daycare (usually someone calling someone else a name, etc.). I can' wait to see what this year brings.

February 28- The strange thing about M's birthday being on the 31st, is that it is hard to know exactly when to take these pictures, and February was challenging. So, we took the 11th month on on the 28th, figuring it was as close as we could get. Today E and dada went to see Beauty and the Beast, the play that dada's high school is presenting. They took a picnic to eat in dada's classroom, and had quite an evening. Unfortunately, they both got food poisoning, which cut the evening short. The food poisoning made for a long night, E ended up sleeping in my spot, while M and I camped out on M"s floor.

M and I spent the evening together, we did a little grocery shopping, and some playing. M has discovered (or learned) where her nose is. So she spends lots of time putting her finger on the side of her nose, and then smiling at you, until you compliment her on finding her nose!

February 27- M loves these Sesame Street books, we have several, and she loves reading them. What is noticeable to me about this picture is the fact that she is squatting. When we had questions about her leg development, I remember worrying because she never squatted, only sat when she wanted to look at something. E squatted all the time, and started at a very young age. I asked my mom about M's sitting vs. squatting, and she pointed out that E started walking so early, which is why she seemed to squat so long, whereas M started walking "late" for our family.

February 26- E has been really into feeding her dolly lately, of course, this puts it right at M's eye (and hand) level.

M, and E before her, love playing with the pieces of my breast pump. I have no idea why, they both loved unpacking all the pieces and carrying around the little bottles. M  knows how the unscrew the lids (as long as they aren't on too tight).

February 25- Me and my girls! If one is on a lap, the other won't be far behind! We had something of a milestone today, when I picked E up for daycare, one of her teachers (her favorite Miss Trisha) came up to me and said "you are never going to believe what happened." Apparently, during nap, E put a bead up her nose and couldn't get it out. Fortunately, Miss Trisha fixed it, and we didn't have to go the doctor. E was pretty embarrassed about it and promises not to do it again.

February 24- This is M, refusing to go to bed, she's got her sleep sack on and everything, and prefers to just wander around. M is not a particularly good sleeper, and is very hard to put down. We have been struggling with her bed time for a while now. One of the biggest issues is the fact that we can't let her cry without E freaking out. Once M starts crying, E starts calling for us, and if we won't go get her, E offers to.

February 23- Looks like we missed another day :(

February 22- We have a song we sing all the time, "Sisters love each other, yes they do its true" we use it in situations like this where M is on E, no matter what E is doing. Here, E wanted to have quiet time downstairs, but M had other ideas. Today we had lots of girls and mommy time. Daddy and a friend went out for most of the afternoon. We even got to play with our friends A and A. M refused to take naps today (sleeping about 40 minutes total) she she went to bed early, which let dada and E have a Star Wars movie party. Complete with dancing to the Ewok music.

February 21- This was one of E's favorite toys, and I'm so glad that M loves it too. M got to spend the day with Ama and Ada, and even go out for breakfast. After work and daycare, the girls went to the library to play, M loved having lots of books to choose from, E likes the puzzles and the computer. E even got a Happy Meal treat for her good behavior.

February 20- E rediscovered this Dora dress, and is in love. She's been sleeping in it, and wore it to Ama and Ada's house. We had a little conflict today, E has been wanting to eat at McDonald's and for some reason, thought we would today, but it was a Mickie's day. E and Ama went to story hour today, and we snuck out for another walk when we got home.

February 19- We finally got a break from the crazy cold weather we've been having this winter and got a chance to go outside. M watched E go out and cried until she got to go out too. Once she was there, she wasn't too impressed with the snow. But at least she tried it. After M went in, E and I took a nice long walk, it was a welcome change after a winter spent mostly inside.

Also, M finally began to love Captain America, just like Dada hoped she would.

February 18- E got this balloon at her friend A's valentine's day party, and M has been playing with it ever since. She loves to carry it, wave it, and bounce it.She also loves to try and chew it, which we always stop, but to her dismay.

February 17- I always love this view of my girls.

February 16- M has never really liked being "worn" she's always wanted to see where she is going and what is happening. We had a little luck with her last summer in the Bjorn, but never the Ergo, until today. She managed to only take a 30 minute morning nap today, so by the time the afternoon came along, she was ready to sleep anywhere.

E had a sleepover movie party with Ama and Ada today, and according to them, really enjoyed having time to be by herself. I can understand that, M is at an age where it is hard to leave anything set up, since she will immediately be in it. I also think M liked her time as an "only." Dada and I were talking when we were home alone with only M, how much harder two kids is then one, and how you'd never believe it until you try to do it. Someone told me this before we had M, and I didn't believe her, but turns out she was right!

February 15- We had quite a day today, E and dada went to the circus, due to some mis-management, the circus lasted 4 hours! M and I stayed home. We went for a walk at Westgate with Ama and Ada, and then played around the house. Miss M loves her sister lots, which is great, but when E was gone so long, it was clear M was lonely. We had fun, but I'm a pale comparison to E.

February 14- Dada got each girl a rose for Valentine's Day. M carried hers around and played with it until it broke, E kept hers nicely on her bookshelf (you can see it in the background). E spent the holiday at A's house for the 3rd annual Valentine's party. M stayed with Ada and Ama a little longer so dada and I could have dinner together.

February 13- M is heading in to her favorite room, the bathroom. She LOVES carrying things in there and putting them into the empty tub. It doesn't matter what it is, it goes in the tub! When its just M and I, we spent our time going up and down the stairs. In the half hour between when we get home and E comes up, on average we go upstairs 7 times.

February 12- Despite M's face, this was a great day. M is sad here because E and I are upstairs, and she is down. She's been a bit of a momma's girl lately, and it was hard for her to be away from the other girls.

Today was the day we'd been waiting for, since M was born, her trip to the orthopedist.  She has always moved her left side differently, and we've been worried about it and wanted to make sure it wasn't a sign of a problem. We were thrilled to learn that they believe she'll grow out of it by the time she is two. We went out for dinner to celebrate, which made us remember why we don't go out!

February 11- On the stairs again.

February 10- E tried to include M in our dance party today, it worked pretty well. M was happy to participate, although she doesn't like to dance holding hands. M is a great dancer, if she is sitting when the dancing starts, she bounces her top half up and down. If she is standing, she plants one leg and walks in circles around and around.