Where do we live?

It amazes me how much Ellie knows.   She knows that Mommy's name is Kara and Daddy's name is Nick.   She knows her numbers (up to 20 when she wants to), ABC's, and will regularly point out the letter "E" on various signs around town.  "E" for Ellie, and Elizabeth (a girl in her day-care class) and Elmo.  

She also knows that she lives in Waukee (sort of).   She has been asking where everyone lives... Grandma and Grandpa with the marbles live in Ames, Grandma and Grandpa with the pool table/kitchen set also live in Ames, Aunt Megan, Mike and Liam live in Ankeny, Sophia and family live in Waukee (this one she didn't have to ask, she knew and informed us about) and Henry and his family live in Des Moines.   We tried to explain to Ellie that her house is in Waukee, but the condo she is living in right now is in West Des Moines.  I am not sure if she understood how that all works.   But it got me thinking... over the past year we have lived in:

Norwalk
Johnston
Waukee
Ankeny
West Des Moines

... and hopefully soon back in Waukee.   That is a lot of different places to live in over the course of a year, and even more crazy is that we had a baby during that period of time as well.   I am ready to live in Waukee and not move for a long time.

The point of the post: I think my daughter is pretty smart.  And I am tired of moving around. 

Special Person's/Grandparent's Day

A few pictures my mom took at Day-care's Grandparent's Day celebration the other week:

The event was the day before the ISU/Iowa game.

Ellie and Neve wore Iowa attire.

Grandma and Grandpa wore ISU.

Working on the Bike

Ellie is following in Daddy's footsteps and has started working on bikes.  She even looks like she knows what she is doing!

IA State Fair

We took a family trip to the Iowa State Fair for Farm Bureau's annual "Day at the Fair."   We did not get off of work until noon, so our trip hit right at nap-time.    I tried to get Ellie to take a nap in the car... she was too excited for the fair.   Needless to say, we lasted a couple hours and were headed home for some sleep.   Here are our adventures of the day:

Genevieve and I on the bus ride to the fairgrounds

Daddy and Ellie on the bus

Daddy and Ellie on the Giant Slide (they are the two in the yellow area on the top of the slide.

Ellie is not sure sure about the horse.

Ellie's 1st tattoo... a Hawkeye one, of course!

Neve taking a nap, while I am getting a yard stick.  We lost a couple in the fire, so we needed a replacement.  At the time I had not seen them for sale in the store, but I did see one at Jo Ann's the other day--- for $7!

Ellie and her cookie face after enjoying a few oven fresh cookies.

On our way home.  Ellie's favorite part of the fair", "Riding the bus!"

A 5 second video of Ellie and Nick on the slide.

A Little Attitude

This little girl may have more than just a "little" attitude.

Prayer Time

We have had a couple sets of friends over during dinner time over the past few months and one of the things we did was say our prayers before eating.   It is really neat to hear what other people do for their meal-time prayer, as well as share what we do.   Ellie enjoys it so much that she has adopted a few of the things she heard/saw.  Now after we do our sign of the cross she wants us to hold hands for the rest of the prayer (thanks Beltman Family).  I know it isn't the normal way to do our meal time prayer, but I love the added unity that it provides and the fact that it means something to Ellie.   They do a little 'prayer' at day-care before meal-time as well (the Open Shut Them song/chant).  We have now started adding that into our meal-time routine along with our normal prayer.  It is a 'prayer' that Ellie leads us in saying and she is really proud of it.   One of the sets of friends that were over for dinner actually sings their meal-time prayer.   We are not that musically talented, so we passed on the singing thing (sorry Trettin Family, we will reserve the singing for when you visit). 

I had to cheat and grab a picture of Ellie and Daddy holding hands during our prayer.  I want to remember it in a photo as well as through stories.  It makes me feel like we are doing something right in raising our daughter.

Just like little sister

 Someone likes to play with Baby Sister's toys.  Including being a baby and laying in the Boppy.

Naked Ellie

For some reason Ellie has a thing about running around naked before bedtime.   Usually we give her a choice, watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or be "Naked Ellie".   Oddly enough, she picked "Naked Ellie" about 50% of the time.  She loves to run laps around our island and instruct us to "chase" her.   It is super cute and even though she is 2 1/2 years old we still let her do it.  I am sure we will have to stop that habit soon enough.

Growing Up

I cannot believe how grown-up Ellie has become, she is a little person and a great helper with Baby Sister.

 Daddy thought she needed a basketball and hoop.  She loves it!

She is also a fan of blowing bubbles.  Sometimes the wind helps her make it work.

 She sleeps in some crazy positions--- this one is pretty mild.

 Still loves bath-time.

And fits into the dress that my sister and I both wore when we were little.  My mom made it for us.

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!

The Girls- Newborn Photos

What is a newborn photo shoot without pictures of Big Sister and Little Sister--- this was a must when we were picking a photographer.  Needless to say, the pictures we got were exactly what I dreamed of and more.   Our friend, Emily, made the girls matching tutus and they were perfect for the pictures. The pictures do not do the tutus justice, as they are super cute with lots of detail in the ribbons.  Genevieve was not very fond of hers and proceeded to have her first blow-out in it.   Good thing I could wash it out so it is as good as new.

Bubbles and Baskets

Nick thought Ellie needed a basketball and basketball hoop.   Originally I was going to search for one when I went to garage sales in a couple of weeks, but then we found a really good deal on the at Toys
R Us, so we picked one up.   Ellie loves it.   

She also loves blowing bubbles, although she doesn't have enough force to blow the bubbles (good thing for a house windy location to help her out). 

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!

Someone loves to hold her little sister

That someone would be Ellie.

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

Ellie Meet Neve

The girls first meeting at the hospital the day Genevieve was born.

About 5 minutes into the visit, Ellie was asking Grandma and Grandpa to go to their house. Although she likes her baby sister, she wasn't all the interested at their first meeting. I think she was too excited from her sleepover at her friend, Sophia's, the night before and her next trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house that would happen once they left the hospital.