This past week

I've been crocheting. I was trying out new patterns for hats and headbands. My friend is having a baby in a couple of months so I want to send her some things. My girls get all of my first attempts. I also made a hat with a giant 6 layer flower, but I haven't assembled it.

I made Alexa a hat like this too, but pink with a white bow.

I tried out a few different flower patterns. Not sure how I like the crochet band; I might switch to elastic.

We went to the park. Saturday we went to two parks. Alexa slept through all of it.

Alexa decided maybe she does like nuks again. This little girl is so different than her sister. She never wanted a pacifer until she was 5 months old. Then she liked them for about a week. A few days ago she found some and has been occasionally liking them, so we'll see. Maybe it is only because she is teething. Her top two teeth are coming in. She is walking around everywhere and babbling. Natalia didn't say no until she was about two and a half, and Lexa says it all the time along with uh oh, whoa whoa whoa, mama, and dada.

We baked. Talia and I made cookies. I used the recipe that came with the cookie cutters, but it wasn't very good. 

Family Vacation

We went on our first vacation as a family of four. We spent a week in Key West with Jon's family. The girls absolutely loved it. They got to go to the pool every day. Even when they were cold with wrinkled fingers and toes they did not want to get out.

Jon wanted to go parasailing two years ago when we were in Key West. This trip we actually got around to doing it. We went first thing in the morning. They use about 600 feet of rope and you go up to about 300 feet. It was a lot of fun to see Key West from the air.

Natalia loved the sand as much as the pool. She really like walking along the beach and playing in the volleyball court sand at the Hyatt. Alexa didn't like the sand as much, but she finally reached the point where she could sit in it and not look like she was about to cry.

We've been back for a week it is hard adjusting to the coldest temperatures of the season. It has taken a few days to get the girls back into their regular routine, but they seem happy to be home.

Key West Videos

Alexa splashing from Leslie Wood on Vimeo.

Go home dinosaur from Leslie Wood on Vimeo.

Alexa dancing/walking from Leslie Wood on Vimeo.

2012 Thus Far

It's 2012! It is already three days into the new year and we have been very busy. I started the new year off by breaking one of my fillings. I was very happy my parents were in town so that they could watch the girls while I went to the dentist. Jon's grandma passed away last week, so his family is in Illinois for her memorial. 

Natalia has spent most of the year playing with her "eggos". She can say Lexa, but for some reason the "L" in Legos is too hard.

Lexa has been taking steps for over a week. It is much different than when Natalia started walking. Talia started taking steps in the afternoon and was toddling around by dinner. Alexa is very sporadic in her steps. She started off by taking about six steps, but most of the time will only take about three before she scoots around since it is faster. Last night when Talia and I were in the bathroom, Lexa came walking in carrying a hairbrush.

Today we went to get another stroller for our trip. The last time Talia was at Toys R Us was before Christmas in 2010. For that reason I don't think she remembers it. We went there today, and I didn't tell her the name of the store. We got out of the car and she said, "Toys R Us!". It must be the commercials.

I decided to do two umbrella strollers and the attachment to hook them together instead of getting a double stroller. I'm hoping it will work out. I'm a little nervous about traveling with two kids. Talia is very excited about the airplane, the beach, and the pool though.

Christmas #2

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Stephen, so we spent Christmas with Jon's Family. My parents came down this past weekend to celebrate Christmas. Natalia loves to unwrap gifts. She tears of the paper and then moves on to the next present before even really looking at what she unwrapped. Alexa is not as good at unwrapping. Talia thinks that she is taking too long and then proceeds to do it for her. We had a great couple of days with my parents, and will hopefully see them again in a couple of weeks.

Christmas

Where did this year go? I feel like I was just pregnant, and now Alexa is ten months old and taking steps. I feel like I have been so busy up to Christmas, and now it is over and I am busy getting ready to go on vacation. I have been without a fully working keyboard for almost two weeks. One morning Alexa grabbed my mug and I spilt coffee on our old one. Jon went and got me one after work today, so finally I can type.

Jon's grandparents came up for Christmas. It was really nice getting to spend the holiday with them. Talia gets really excited about seeing great grandparents, but when she actually sees them she gets very shy.

My favorite part about Christmas was that after the presents were all unwrapped Natalia spent most of the time playing with Alexa's toys, and Alexa was most interested in the clothes and packaging.

Natalia likes to be a part of what goes on in the kitchen. When she saw Great Grandma and Grandma in the kitchen she ran and got the stool so that she could see what was going on. When I cook at home she always stands on a chair at the end of the counter.

Even though this winter has been pretty nice, I'm excited for our trip. My parents are coming down this weekend to celebrate Christmas with us, and then the following weekend we are flying to Key West. Every day for the past month Talia has been asking about the beach and the pool.

When did it become December?

Yay! It is December 4th which means it means there is only a month and 3 days until we leave for Key West. I know Christmas is coming, but I am more excited for warm weather.

The other night I was exercising and I put Alexa in her exersaucer so that she wouldn't get kicked or her fingers squished under a weight. The next time I looked over she was asleep. It looks like a super uncomfortable position, so I took a picture and then put her in her crib.

Natalia has really been into her Barbies. I'm not sure why she sat them backwards, but I thought it was cute.

Sometimes she decides to share them with her sister.

Other times she tries to take them away. This time she only got Barbie's head.

I made some photo canvases the other day. I liked the way they turned out, so I think I'll do some more. It is one of about 10 projects I'm currently working on. Hopefully soon I can finish my scarf. It's getting cold out.

Thanksgiving

We drove to my parents house on Wednesday and got there around 10:30. My mom had made Talia ice cream, so we let her have some even though it was late. Natalia has only had a few bites of ice cream and that was over a year ago so I don't think she really remembers. I have read lots of allergy websites and most of them say that any store bought ice cream runs the risk of being contaminated by nuts.

We spent Thanksgiving Day at the nursing home visiting my grandma and Carol. It was really nice getting to spend some time with her. The rest of the visiting company was flying in that day, so it was nice having her all to ourselves.

My mom made her Thanksgiving meal on Friday. I was busy helping so these are the only two pictures I have from that day. The above one is Talia mopping the floor in a pair of my old heels, and the one below is Alexa taking a nap.

Snow

I'm a little late on the snow pictures. I forgot they were on my camera. Talia loved playing in it for the three days it stuck.

Natalia is into nursing her babies. She tells them to "eat the boobies".

She also likes to make herself pretty every time she gets her hands on makeup. Because of the flash you can't tell how much eyeshadow she has all over her cheeks, but if you look at her shirt you can get a good idea.