Earthquake

Did you all feel it? It's funny how you think a tornado in Indiana is no big deal but an earthquake??? Very unexpected...
I was just about to fall back asleep after getting up with Josie a little after 5 am when the whole house started shaking. It was the weirdest thing! My first thought was some sort of explosion (probably because of this mysterious event that happened not too far from here on Wednesday night). I looked all around the house and outside and then it finally came on the news as a 5.2 earthquake. Reports said it was felt as far as 900 miles away! Ellie and Josie somehow slept right through it. :)

7 Months

Happy 7 months Josie! You just keep growing and growing! A mere short three weeks ago, I lugged five totes of Ellie's old 6-9 month clothes up two flights of stairs, spent hours unpacking, reminiscing, and then organizing them oh so carefully in your closet. And then today, I tried on three different outfits before I realized that there was just no way you were going to fit in them anymore. Three weeks! And now I have to re-pack those five totes, carry them back down two flights of stairs and bring up three more of 12 months clothes (which are mostly spring/summer so come on warm weather). It is absolutely amazing how fast you are growing! Maybe you could slow down just a teeny, tiny bit? Soon you will be crawling and then, next thing I know, I'll be watching you chasse and pirouette across the dance floor like your big sis... Stay my baby just a little longer, okay?

(By the way, as cute as your hair is pulled up like that, don't worry- you only wear it that way at home...) :)

I Am Safe

Ever since that first night of Ellie's high fevers, we have been co-sleeping again so I could take care of her. Or, I should really say, "couch sleeping". We moved ourselves to the loft where Ellie has been sleeping on the little couch and I on the big one. It worked better this way while she was sick since neither one of us could sleep very well and the loft has a TV with 24 hours a day of Noggin available! Now that she's better, I will have to convince her to start sleeping back in her big girl bed...but, again, it's been fun telling stories and playing games as we fall asleep each night. And it's neat to hear glimpses of her inner mind when she talks in her sleep or when she tells me about her dreams when she first wakes up.
Last night, for instance, she was having what I imagine was some sort of scary dream and she woke up saying these words with complete confidence and assurance.

"I am safe. I am safe. Mommy and Daddy are always with me. Nothing is ever scary. I am safe."

And then she rolled over and went right back into a sound sleep.

It made my heart swell. We tell her anytime something scares her (usually the dark or something silly on Noggin) "You are safe." and that "Mommy and Daddy and your Angel are always with you. Even if we are not in the same room, we are still with you." I was proud of her for remembering our words and using them to not feel scared when waking from a bad dream. She didn't call out for me or get in bed with me...she felt protected enough with just her words. And that makes me feel like, that as a parent, I actually did something right. :)

Outside

Finally! A day warm enough to play outside and a healthy child to enjoy it! Even though it still only reached a high of 57 degrees yesterday, it was so nice to be out enjoying spring. We started out at my friend's house (who has the BEST backyard play area)...




and came home to play some more in our own backyard...




It was so nice to see Ellie have her energy back and Josie really loved the change of scenery too. Hurray for spring!

Easter (in pictures)

Ellie's Easter basket


Princess Ellie (eating candy for breakfast)



Found an egg!


Surprise kite


Little Bunny Josie


Hope everyone had a great Easter!

Happy Spring!

I almost forgot...
Happy Spring everyone!

If Ellie were feeling up to it, we'd be at the park on the swings right now (even though it is just in the 40's)! I was looking through past year's pictures of the beginning of spring and found these...

Spring 2007


Spring 2006




And just for fun...more past spring pics...



Spring 2005


Spring 2004




And even though they're not taken outside...some sunny and happy pics from today!

















I hope everyone is having a sunny and happy first day of spring too!

Burst of Energy

Out of nowhere, Ellie got a burst of energy yesterday evening and tore through the halls with her Big Wheel for the first time in over a week! The (sometimes annoying) rumbling was music to my ears! Of course it wore her out and she went to sleep right after...and has been resting on the couch since this morning. But, it was good sign right? This latest bug has really been a tough one and we are all ready for it to be gone for good. (I have taken her to the doctor twice, now, and it really is "just a virus"...) So Ellie, if you get your energy back enough to go and destroy the ENTIRE playroom today, it's okay with me... I want my messes back if it means having YOU back...