Blankie Time

It seems like each night there is a picture opportunity similar to these two pictures: Nick, Genevieve and Eleanor laying on a blanket or two on the floor.  Super cute!

Newborn Pics: Mommy and Daddy

We didn't forget to get a couple of just Mommy and Genevieve, as well as Daddy and Genevieve.  I also though it would be fun to have a picture of her little feet with the symbols of marriage and love that started it all.

Playground Time

With the beautiful weather, we have made a few trips to the park.   Genevieve tends to sleep, while Daddy or Mommy and Eleanor play.   Our house is right behind Nick's head... very close to the playground!

Bowling

Ellie was invited to her friend Sophia's birthday party a few weeks ago. It was a bowling party. Ellie had never been bowling before... she loved it!

Complete with bumper guards and a little stand that the kids put the ball on to roll it down!

Check out those shoes!

Time to Go Home

All ready to head home from the hospital!

Saturday Update: 5 hour stretch and more

Since I didn't get around to a 5 on Friday post, here is a Saturday Update:

Genevieve decided that she would go 5+ hours between feedings last night, from 10PM to 3:20AM. I went to bed shortly after she was done feeding at 10PM, so I was able to enjoy almost all of the long stretch. Of course when she got up at 3:20AM she was up for two hours straight (I am usually back in bed in 40-60 minutes). Between eating, dirty diapers and being fussy there was no break. 5 minutes after I got back to bed, Ellie woke up crying (which is not normal for her). Since I wasn't fully asleep yet, I went into take care of her. 30 minutes after that I got to enjoy my warm bed again. I think in total I actually LOST sleep on the whole deal with Genevieve since she woke up again at 7:20AM (excluding the time spent getting up with Ellie). Not sure which I prefer, the consecutive sleep or the longer amount... a combo of both would be perfect. Thanks to Nick who let me go back to sleep after Neve's 7:20AM feeding. He tended to Ellie and her early 6:30AM wake-up (she has been getting up between 7:15-7:30AM lately). She only came in to see me 5 or so times... at least I felt loved.

Ellie is really into helping with Neve. She really enjoys helping change the diapers. She brings her step stool and puts it right in the middle of Neve's changing table so she can get in on the action. While I love that Ellie wants to help, it is a little difficult trying to change a dirty diaper with a 2 year old in the way. I guess I will learn to change a diaper in a different fashion so Ellie can be in on the action.

Ellie started visiting the next room up at day-care. She officially starts in the new room on Monday. We are excited that she is moving up to the next level, but we will really miss her teachers in the current room. At night one of us lay in bed with her and sing songs. Last week she wanted to sing a song that neither of us knew... she told us to "Ask Alyssa tomorrow." Alyssa is one of her teachers and I guess Ellie thought Alyssa should teach us the song. Alyssa thought that was pretty funny. When Alyssa goes home early (before Ellie) Ellie says, "Alyssa go home. I sad." It is cute. The teachers have done a wonderful job teaching Ellie her numbers, colors and shapes. It is amazing how much she knows!

Nick goes back to work full time on Monday. He used the time off to get things done around the house (and bike) so that he was able to help out the entire night once Ellie was home. It will be different without that extra time, but we will get used to it. Genevieve and I are going to start his first day back on a positive note and visit him at work. We will also stop and see my department while we are in the building.

We had a great Easter at my Aunt Janet and Uncle Steve's! Genevieve ate every hour, but we still had a great time and people got to see the newest addition to the family.

Genevieve's Hospital Visitors

In yesterday's post I noted that Ellie was not all that interested in Genevieve... she was really excited when Cousin Liam arrived at the hospital!

It was great not having Genevieve be in the Special Care Nursery like Eleanor was. We got to spend lots of time with her AND she was able to have visitors at the hospital! Here are a few pictures of her first visitors:

Grandma and Grandpa Greving with Genevieve, Liam and Eleanor

Cousin Liam (8 months older than Genevieve), Uncle Mike, Aunt Megan, Genevieve, Eleanor and Daddy

One set of Genevieve's Godparents, Brad and LuCinda, and Genevieve

Grandpa Thorson and Genevieve

Grandma Thorson and Genevieve

Sue and Genevieve

First Few Minutes

A couple pictures from the early morning hours of March 25th, 2012:

Genevieve Marie's Birth Day!

Daddy and Genevieve making sad faces.
Genevieve's lower lip cry looks exactly like Ellie's!

Mommy and Genevieve meeting for the first time.

Genevieve decided to arrive so quickly that Aunt Megan was a few minutes late to the actual birth. We did not want to make Aunt Megan hang around the hospital all night and the next morning, so we waited to call until we were further than 5cm dilated--- the next check was when we were ready to push! Less than 20 minutes from when we called Megan, Genevieve was born. Megan still got to enjoy the first few minutes of Genevieve's life... at 2AM! That is one dedicated aunt!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Ellie and Daddy on his birthday. I promise that next year Daddy's "Happy Birthday" post will be far more exciting. I hope we made up for it in love and a new bike work stand.

Cutie Pies!

How cute are these three little girls! From going out to the bar to Barbies: who would have thought that Brad, Brock and Nick would end up with these little ones.

60's in January

Someone up above must know that this pregnant lady is not willing to buy a new winter coat. And that there is a 2-year old that loves to play on the playground across the street, but didn't move in until November. Both have been win-wins for us this winter with amazingly warm weather (warm for Iowa anyway). On Monday night we ventured over to the playground after work, how could we not when it was 60 degrees in Janaury! Ellie was very excited, both to play on the playground and because the little boy from down the street was there as well. Side note: we love that our new neighborhood has kids Ellie's age to play with! And lots of them at that.

Here are a few pictures:

While the neighbor boy was using the swing, Ellie would go down the slide.

Then they would take turns so Ellie could swing.
Ellie thought it was great that Daddy could swing next to her.

Can you tell she loves the swing?
You can even see our house in the right corner of this picture!
That is how close the park is to us.

Ellie also loves to look through the plastic dome at Mommy and Daddy.

No complaints about the weather around here. And even when it does get cold and snowy--- we will have November, December and January to look back on.

Daddy's In Charge

The other week I went over to the Beltman house for a 'Girls Night In', while Brad, Sophia and Collin came over to hang out with Nick and Ellie. (This totally made Ellie's day/weekend since she had been asking for Sophia all week!) Below is a picture of how the toy area looks cleaned up.


This is how it looked when I got home...


When I left that night Ellie was already acting tired and it was only 6:30PM. I was sure she would be in bed by 8:00PM, 8:30PM at the latest. Nope, she got her second wind and was up until 10:00PM! I think the girls had a lot of fun together.

P.S.--- I just love having a designated toy area for the kids to play in! Makes all the toys out so much easier to handle. And with all the bins, it only took about 10 minutes to clean it up.

2-Year Photos Continued...

Ellie and the Slinky

I am not posting this video for the picture quality or video direction for that matter--- but instead for the audio. Grandma and Grandpa Thorson gave the grandkids each a slinky for Christmas. When we got home Christmas night, Nick and Ellie were playing with the slinky on the stairs. Ellie had A LOT OF FUN!

Mommy's New Toy... or is it Ellie's?

Nick completely surprised me with a Kindle Fire for Christmas. His reasoning was that I could use it while I was nursing/pumping after the new baby was born. Less than a week earlier I had mentioned to him that I was going to start saving up my money and get an iPad next fall/winter. This was a few weeks after he had ordered the Kindle. He told me if I wanted the iPad instead, I could get it now. So... after a little research and testing I ended up with the iPad. I love the larger size and the faster processing compared to the Kindle. And in the long run, I think the iPad will suit my needs a little better. Although, the Kindle Fire is an awesome tablet and it was a touch decision.

Since I got the iPad I have read 4 books, checked out from the library, and am absolutely in love. I am not the only one:



Someone else in the household calls it "her's" and get upset when we have to take a break from it. My co-worker suggested downloading an Elmo & Grover book and Ellie loves it! Of course she also loves to watch "ABC's" and "Baa Baa" on YouTube as well. What expensive taste our little girl has.

Waukee WinterFest

The other week we went to Waukee's Winterfest with our friends, the Beltman Family. It was a little cold outside waiting in line for Santa- but was still really fun. Ellie was only a little afraid of this Santa. I think it helped that her friend, Sophia, talked to Santa first. It was neat going to our first town gathering now that we officially live in Waukee.

Ellie and Daddy hanging out waiting for Santa.
The line is slowly moving... lots of people to visit Santa.

Ellie did not want to sit on Santa's lap, but was OK sitting on Mommy's.

Ellie's Message

So 'tomorrow' means three days from now in a "moving in a week, totally overwhelmed pregnant ladies" mind.

Baby Liam!

Pictures of my sister and brother-in-law's little bundle of joy:

The only downfall--- there is a good chance he will be an ISU fan. To each their own.
Ellie meeting Liam for the first time. Yes Ellie, Liam does have a 'nose' and 'eyes' and 'mouth'. We had to hold her back from pointing out those features on him.
And a few days later when I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with him.
Such a sweet little guy!

Fort

Daddy made Ellie a fort.

She thought it was awesome!

Just like Daddy

Someone likes to dress up in Daddy's clothes.