EVB: 4 Years + 2 Months Old!

Ellen looks like a giant lately. OK, maybe not an actual giant, but giant compared to the little person I think of her as in my mind's eye. She looks like a school-aged kid ... so tall and grown-up looking. You almost have to strain to see any remnants of the squishy little baby/toddler that once inhabited our house. I feel simultaneously sad and proud to see her growing before our eyes. At times I wish I could keep her little forever, while at other times I all I want to do is encourage her to learn and grow more because she'd turning into a pretty great big kid (of course, she still has her moments ...).  Here are a few highlights of the past month with EVB:

• Ellen is developing into the best big sister. She is (for the most part) so kind to and patient with June.
• EVB is showing more responsibility in terms of listening, helping around the house, etc. Heck, she even attempted to clean up her own barf (or "bark" as she calls it) in the middle of the night during a recent bout with a stomach bug. (We advised her that, in the future, it's best to let Mom or Dad manage the cleanup!)
• Ellen has shown a lot of maturity lately in terms of maintaining an even temperament in spite of odd/new schedules. We were blown away by how well Ellen handled all of our social engagements during the holidays ... She was always in a good mood and did a great job cooperating with all the coming and going, socializing with new/different people, being in unfamiliar places, etc.

Hooray for another great month with our Elle-Belle!

Heading out to play in the snow on what of the few warmer days

Ellen & Dad's snowman

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 is going to be a tough one to beat. We had a great time gearing up for the holidays in recent weeks (with the exception of a little stomach bug for Ellen) and the big day itself was so much fun. Ellen & June are at awesome ages for holiday fun. Everything is magical to them and we couldn't help but feed off of their excitement. Here's a review of our Christmas festivities, in pictures:

Ellen's preschool Christmas program

She didn't sing a single word of any of the songs, but she did a great job standing there!

Benscoter/Johnson Christmas party

Scarlett & Ellen at our Christmas celebration with Grandpa Bob/Gpa

Christmas Eve day celebration with Omma & Boppa and the Laughlins

Christmas Eve

June & Omma reading Christmas books

Sisters in their Christmas dresses

Sisters in their matching Christmas jammies

Coming down the stairs on Christmas morning

The loot from Santa

Sheer joy

New toys!

June investigating her stocking stash

Ellen LOVED opening presents

June working the new grill

Cinnamon rolls for breakfast

Yum!

Adam enjoying his Christmas morning breakfast & coffee

Christmas Day afternoon with Grammy & Grandpa and the Lukes

Madelyn & Ellen

June unwrapping a new toy (with a little help from Daddy)

June & Grammy

Scarlett & June

What's Christmas without a little dress-up fun at Grammy & Grandpa's?!

JEB: 21 Months Old!

Life with June Bug just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. She has a ginormous heart and is turning into quite the little comedienne. Junie brings us so much joy everyday ... We love this little girl to pieces! Here's what Sweet June has been up to as of late:

• Talking more & more (e.g., "reading" books and, my favorite, imitating Santa by saying, "Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!")
• Requesting to "snuggle Mommy"
• Promptly informing us when she's pooped and then requesting a change. (June sometimes will go as far as to bring us a clean diaper and wipes.)
• Trying out the potty chair. She's had a few successful visits to the bathroom, but she's still a ways away from any serious toilet learning.
• Playing (and wrestling) with Ellen. These two have become great buddies in recent weeks and, for the most part, play very nicely together. (I often feel like a third wheel.)
• Working on her incisors. This poor girl has had a heck of a time with teething, basically since birth. We're hoping her four canines finally pop through so we can have some reprieve until her 2-year-old molars come in.
• Enjoying naps/bedtime. June loves her crib and getting "cozy, cozy" with her buddies: a stuffed mouse named Squeakers, a stuffed monkey named Bananas, a stuffed rabbit named Hops and a little stuffed doll named Teeny, Tiny Baby. June also must sleep with two small "owl blankies," a stripped blanket and a polk-a-dot blanket. And, of course, her paci, which we're hoping to get rid of in the next month or two.
• Eating well. June still loves eating anything with red sauce and waffles.

Size-wise, June is still wearing size 3 diapers, size 5 shoes (though she's probably ready to start wearing some size 6 shoes) and size 18-24 months clothes (though a few size 12-18 months items still fit her).