Spring Day at Arboretum

We love going to the Arboretum. We go once in the Spring and once for the Pumpkins. We had a picnic, took some pics, and looked at the princess castles on display. Last year they had storybook houses. We went with our friends, Erin and Aubrey and baby Owen was there too! I am not sure Owen will have a chance with all of these bossy girls!




Beauty and Beast castle





Mufaro's Beautfiul Daughters







My monkey (she climbs on everything right now)



Cute one of Brooklyn but Stella is done

Cousins and Wedding Getaway

These are some pics of our March. The last weekend the Fanning boys came up to hang out and that was the weekend they needed to come and we had a wedding in Austin. The cousins had so much fun hanging out. It is getting to be really fun to hang out. It was really hard when they were little because we had a bunch of babies that wanted Mama. Miller and Brooklyn play so well together and the little ones still are not there but at least they are not babies so they are interacting.

So Saturday night we left the girls with Katie and Trevor and we headed to Austin for a wedding for the night. It was really fun to get to hang out with our old Houston crew. We were at the wedding and reception for 6 hours. We had some fun!



Brooklyn and "Batman" aka Miller



Proud of her doodlebug (we have come a long way)



Finn



All the cousins but there is always one who is moving



Girls at the Perez wedding



Some of the boys (Laird not in this one I took)





Girls being silly before school one day

Super Stella

We celebrated Stella's 2nd birthday at Little Gym on Saturday , March 5th. I decided on a theme back in October when I found this super girl outfit at Crazy 8. I thought I could do a Super Stella theme. We had everyone wear a superhero capes.

Well all was good for the birthday party until Friday morning Stella had a fever so I thought I better get her to doctor to see if ear infection or something since she had a cold for about a week. They prescribed some antibiotics for the beginning of ear infection or sinus. She had a little diarrhea before party but thought oh it is just the medicine but the poor birthday girl got sick after eating her cupcake. It continued throughout the night. On Sunday she kept things down but Monday morning she got sick again. Monday she layed on me all day, did not smile, did not play at all. Finally Monday afternoon she got new antibiotic and gave her some probiotic yogurt and she was a different kid.

She did have a good time at the party but Brooklyn really loved it. Stella is not sure about the people yet. She did like the cake this year as opposed to last year.



Pic from last year



Pic courtesy of Ashlee (such a better camera than mine, my camera is so blurry)

My Baby, Stella is 2!

Stella was 2 year old on Sunday, February 27th. I feel like Brooklyn just turned two and I can't believe I already have another turning 2.

Stella is a happy, reserved girl with a fiery temper. It is not really that bad but she gets more mad than Brooklyn.

She still loves her mommy alot but it is more of a problem with stranger danger. This has been going on a long time. Once she gets used to something she is fine. She really does not like other kids or any strangers coming up to her.

She is talking good and you can understand her pretty well. She know most of her colors and is learning her shapes.

She loves school and she had started swimming lessons without mommy in the pool. It took her five weeks of swim lessons to stop crying. She is not so scared of the water just new people.

She is not a great eater but some of her favorite things are chicken nuggets of any kind, she loves hummus and a new one is any kind of nut. Still won't drink milk so we are back to trying other types of milk for calcium. She does not like just plain cheese either. She and Brooklyn like totally different things usually.

Her smile is so sweet and she is a lover. She loves hugging and she will just go up to Brooklyn and hug her. She always ask about "sister" when she wakes up. She can say Brooklyn but prefers sister.

She is really good with her "Please" and "Thank You". I have noticed but also Nonna noticed how polite she is.

Her nicknames are Stella Bean, Stella Bella, Beanie, and Bean.

She loves to dance.

When I come to pick her up at school she says "Mommy here" in the sweetest, most excited voice. I love it!

We are so lucky to have such good girls although I will not say this is an easy job. I definitely lose my patience sometimes!

I know we will have so many more fun times and can't wait to see Stella's personality come out even more.

Her well check stats are:

23 lbs - 10%, 32 in - 10% Brooklyn was 2 lbs more and 2 inches taller.

Look for pics from her birthday party this weekend!

Cancun trip

This may be my only post that does not have some pics of the kids. My dad took all 3 of us girls and spouses and his sister to Cancun Feburary 17-21. We stayed at the Secrets Capri which was a great resort but it was more about the company and that everyone needed a break from life. It was probably the best vacation I have been on just because I savored every moment of relaxation. We all decided it was better to go in a big group because you don't think about your kids as much. I am glad I was able to relax and not think about missing my kids so much. Of course I missed them but they had lots of of fun with Nonna and Poppy.

These are some professional pics we had taken (they were for my dad so we did not know we would be in them, so therefore swimsuit attire)











These are just the fun pics!

Happy Belated Valentine's Day

Daddy Daughter Dance

Laird and Brooklyn went to a Daddy Daughter Dance on the Saturday after the snow days at Lifetime Fitness. It was great for them to get out of the house. Stella will go next year too but she was just too young this year. What a great night off that will be next year. Stella and I had a date night all to ourselves this year. One kid is so much easier than 2 kids. You don't realize how easy one kid is until you have 2 kids. One kid was pretty hard at the time.