Trouble

Mikayla: Now that I'm a big girl I'm finding there are a lot of things that seem like good ideas but actually get you into trouble. Like climbing up onto my dresser during nap time, taking the clock off the wall and then the nail out of the wall. Also setting the alarm clock in my room to go off at midnight. (Daddy was not happy to see me.) Hitting my brother in the head with well anything... even if it makes him laugh the first time. Taking away Elijah's toys. (Guess that doesn't count as sharing) Locking mommy out of the house (I only did it once on my birthday.) Not holding onto mom or dad's hand in a parking lot. Trying to unlock the van with Dad's keys. I'm sure I will discover some more ways soon. I'm also learning about things that make mommy and daddy proud of me.

Rac-tunes

Mikayla: For a short time I had 5 pets. A momma raccoon and her 4 babies were in our attic. Daddy called a guy to get them out. We had to wait a few days for the mommy to come out. The babies were so small and cute. Now I don't have any pets, but I still have my little brother Elijah.

Chapstick

Mommy was explaining to me the other day that there are things that girls like that boys don't and vice versa. Mommy and me have our nails painted, but she said Elijah couldn't cause he might suck on them and she didn't think he'd like it. I think another thing girls like is chapstick and lip gloss. I am already addicted. Although it was Opa who got me hooked.

Exercise

I saw mommy exercise on this ball and decided to try it out. Maye it wold get rid of some of my milk gut! It was a lot of fun. I squealed with delight.

Big Bed

Today for nap time mommy asked if I want to sleep in the big bed, so I did. Tonight is my first night in the big bed. Mommy says if I start sleeping here she will get rid of the crib and I can put more toys in my room. I wanna be a big girl! Well I slept through the night in my big bed, except for falling out at 3 in the morning. Mommy had a guard on it but I found a spot to get through.

2nd tooth

Elijah: Tonight we had dinner with friends and as Daddy was checking in my mouth to show off my new tooth he found a surprise: A second tooth on the bottom. I dedicate this 2nd tooth to my Grampa. Someday we will eat venison sausage together, watch the Red Wings and toot. (How's next week for you?)

1st tooth

Elijah: I was being uncharacteristically grumpy the other day and mommy wondered what was wrong. She discovered the answer as I nibbled on her finger. I have my first tooth coming through. It's on the bottom. I might have another one coming on top, but I was not being cooperative. I keep watching all the fun stuff Mikayla gets to eat and wonder when it will be my turn. Maybe it will be soon now that I have a tooth! No photos yet, it's still to hard to see.

New Chair

Now that Elijah is eating real food he sits at the table with us for meals (unless he is taking a nap). Mommy gave him my old chair and got me a new one. But I really missed my old chair! It has traveled all over the country with me. So Mommy helped me decorate my new chair. Now I am excited to use it!

Wagon ride

Now that I can sit up by myself, mommy and daddy can take both of us for wagon rides. Pretty cool being pulled around the neighborhood. We even saw a few doggies out for walks with their owners yesterday.

Packing

Before coming home mommy packed a bunch of boxes and suitcases. I was hoping I could maybe sneak a few cousins home with me. This is me, Eliot and Ava playing in the box from Elijah's new car seat.

Helping Oma

I like to help. Here I am with Oma making sure we left the house clean!

1st bike ride and swing ride

It was nice and sunny outside on Friday so Mikayla went with Daddy out in the garage and pumped up the bike tires. Then they loaded me and Mikayla into the bike chariot and we were off. We were whisked off to the park where they put me in a swing. I really liked it and laughed a lot. Mikayla had fun climbing and sliding. I fell asleep on the way home.

Movie Night

Friday night I got a special treat. We drove to Daddy’s work where they had a big screen set up on the grass and we had our camping chairs and blankets and we watched a movie outside. I also got to say hello to some friends here, but I mostly wanted to eat popcorn and watch the movie. It was about cars. I got to stay up way past my bedtime that night.

Peach pucker

Elijah: I got to try peaches for the first time this week. Wow, they pack a pucker! Every bite would just hit me and I would squeeze my eyes closed and mess up my face, but I still toughed it out and kept eating. By the third day my taste buds had adapted and I didn’t make the faces anymore. I still wonder when they will give me something fun like mac & cheese or ice cream!

Road trip memories

We had to take a very, very, very long van ride to get back home. We saw some friends on the way and I got to try out many different pottys in different states. I also said and did some things that I know my parents laughed at. We were at a rest area and all I had been doing is resting in the car so I told mommy; “I want to run” and I did- up and down the sidewalk in front of the van until Elijah was fed and we were ready to go. Later Elijah was getting fussy and crying and so I told him to “stop crying now, I want to cry, and I did. Of course whenever I could sense a bit of anger or flustration in my mom’s voice I would tell her “it’s ok mommy, it’s ok. I pretended to talk on Mommy’s phone and give updates to my favorite cousin Eliot. Daddy told me at one point not to put my feet in Elijah’s mouth (they had just been on a bathroom floor since I didn’t make it to the potty in time.)

After three long days I was really happy to be home and out of that van. I couldn’t believe how many toys I had forgotten about. I was so excited playing with them all that I forget to use the potty. I like being in Orlando but I wanted to go play in the basement and we don’t have one. We also don’t have a Tops grocery with play area, and no big snowman to visit.

Skylon Tower

Mikayla: My Opa and Oma live 10 minutes away from Canada and a natural wonder-- Niagara Falls. Mommy and Daddy took me to Canada to go up in a big tower (even bigger than the big snowman) to see the falls. There was lots of ice and snow and it looked very pretty.