Deep Thoughts by Ella

I was in Las Vegas for a weeklong conference, so Ella, Moses and Kelly were holding down the fort. They definitely made it just fine (and ate out a lot…). Below is the transcript of a note that Kelly sent me mid-week.

Overheard at Ella’s bedtime last night:
E: I miss Daddy.
K: Me too. Let’s think about the things we love about Daddy!
E: I love Daddy because he makes silly faces.
K: I love Daddy because he gives really good hugs.
E: I love Daddy because he plays football with me.
K: I love Daddy because he works hard every day to help lots of children have good teachers and good schools.
E: I love Daddy as much as I love the world.
(long, thoughtful pause)
E: And because he has a hairy tummy.

While we have your attention, check out the really great picture of Ella and Caleb on their blog.

Our Happy Boy

*ignore the finger. he doesn't know any better yet...he doesn't mean anything by it. He loves ALL of you!

Beauty Shop

Ella took Zaida and I to her "Beauty Shop" this morning. She's clearly proud of her work.

While Rome Burned

We had a wonderful trip to the North Carolina Zoo on Friday. We had a long morning with lots and lots of walking. Ella was great and Moses did really well on his first pretty long outing. We timed our return with both of their nap times hoping that we'd have a sleepy, quiet ride home. Ella fell asleep as soon as the key turned in the car. Moses, dealing with the return trip of his longest car trip yet, put on a show. No children were injured in the making of this video. In fact, he fell asleep just a few minutes after this video was taken. Ella just slept through the whole thing. Classic! Her eyelids report that having a little brother isn't that annoying after all.

Huddled Up

I just really love this picture!

Confusion

Remember--we live in North Carolina and it is April.
Ella is a pretty smart little 3-year-old. Unfortunately she's lived in the south, New England, and in between in her short lifetime and it seems to be taking a toll on her wardrobe choices. This week she showed up to play outside in this outfit. That flower on the left side of the frame gives it away. The winter hat is out of place. Cute. But out of season.

The good news is that it is totally spring here and it is beautiful. Midwesterners, northerners...come visit!

Dressed for Work

Moses recently tried on some work clothes. He's ready with his his knee-high argyle socks. It stopped there. Good look, huh?

Overheard

Tonight at bedtime, Ella was bragging about how she never gets in trouble at school: "I never hit anyone, I never throw my snack, and I never kill animals with shovels." Apparently there was some ant smashing going on out there today.
She didn't take part. Whew!

3 Months

Moses turned 3 months old last week. The 4th trimester is over and according to Dr. Harvey Karp, Moses is "readier" for the big bad world...and he is defintiely the "happiest baby on the block." This little guy is just about the best. He wakes with smiles and has developed a solid giggle. He's easy to be around 98% of the time and is full of love. He still responds best to big sister Ella entering a room. And she enters with hugs and kisses and snuggles just for her little brother. Sibling love is in full effect!

This week Moses found his feet but we're not yet sure that he understands that they're connected to his legs, which are connected to his body. And he hasn't gotten them into his mouth yet. That's coming. He's full of drool as if he's getting teeth but we're pretty sure he's not. It's just the big adorable bottom lip. He wakes up once over night and once early in the morning and that seems to be it for now. And he goes right back to sleep!
It feels like he's been around forever and like he's going to be a baby for less time than Ella ever was. Thinking back to when Ella was a baby we kind of wish it was the other way around. We love this growing personality.

And don't forget...just 9 months to do your Christmas shopping.

Morning Snuggles

Don't Worry

There is an awake adult in the house...taking the picture.

skid-a-ma-rink-ee-dink-ee-dink

Ella's First Photograph

She pointed and she pressed the button. She captured a CLOSE-UP of her very best friend, Dewey.

Smile Festival

Cousins

Moses is exactly one week older than his cousin Judah. It appears for a while that older will be the most accurate adjective to use when comparing the two. Judah is clearly bigger. A lot bigger given the 7 day difference.
Size differences aside, these guys are already good buddies and will surely grow up happily together. Here they are enjoying a snuggle.
Here their competitive dads work quickly on trying to become the favorite Uncle.

Moses at 8 Weeks

Believe that! 8 weeks. The little guy has been around for 8 weeks and we are all basically totally used to him being around--as if we started as a family of 4. He just does his thing and we do our thing and everyone seems to get along fine. I realize that may sound boring but our world is far from boring these days.

Moses is a happy, happy boy and in the last few weeks he's become full of smiles and "agoos." He even continues to work on his "Ella" sounding noise. When he says it, she doesn't seem to miss a beat as she responds, "Yes Moses." That's cute! He can really carry on a conversation with his smiles and verbiage.

The sleeping is going really well and we continue to pinch ourselves each morning just wondering if we're really that different as parents or if he's just that different a baby from his big sister. He naps when he needs to without much of a fuss and he sleeps for long stretches of the night and after each one goes right back to sleep. He's been practicing putting himself back to sleep after an early nap wake up with a decent amount of success. If he doesn't fall back asleep he seems perfectly happy to just sit and talk by himself for a while anyway. These are the behaviors that baby sleep books are made of. Let's hope he keeps this up.

He's super-strong with his neck and his legs and can roll half way over. When he figures out what to do with his bottom arm he'll be all over the place. He likes to socialize a lot but he also really likes his time on his own just looking around and taking in the world.

Today is the end of a 4-day weekend for me and he hasn't cried a single tear in the days I've been home.

All that and Moses is about the cutest thing you ever did see.

We love you like you've been around forever, little guy. We all do...Mom, Dad, Big Sister, and hairy older dog brother. And we love you more each day you change and grow and become more and more wonderful to be around.

A Visit From Grammie and Poppi

We just had a wonderful visit from Grammie and Poppi. We celebrated Poppi's birthday, they got to know little Mo a little better, and we just had a whole lot of fun. Some of our fun was very active. See exercises with Grammie above. Some of our fun was just Sunday style chillin. See Poppi and Ella reading below.
Thanks for a great visit! Come again soon, please.

Our Official Endorsement

Here's hoping that the cutest Barak Obama supporter in all the land helps carry momentum for our guy and we wrap this thing up soon.

After all, "We are what we've been waiting for!"

My Turn

Big sister, you talk and talk and talk all day long. Boy can a 3-year-old talk.
I don't say much but when it is my turn I want to be heard! My turn! Shhhh...Agooooooooh!

Moses at 6 weeks

Full of smiles and absolutely adorable. Check out this little guy!!!