Finishing Out March.

The first weekend of the month, my cousin Molly and her son Tyler (who's almost a month older than the girls), along with my Uncle Rich, Aunt Sue and cousin Jessica came to visit. It was fun to see the girls interact with and follow Tyler around. They especially loved the LEGOS that he brought along! And they absolutely LOVED my uncle Rich and couldn't get enough one on one time with him. We also got to go swimming! The girls were a little unsure at first-the water was a little cold, but after a while they warmed up and were splashing up a storm. Here's some photos from swimming:

Tyler:


Stella:



Abby:


Here's Zoe with my Uncle Rich. I didn't get a solo shot of her modeling her suit.

And the group photo (minus Jessica and my mom):


Molly and I were born 6 weeks apart. Sometimes its hard to believe that we each have families of our own! It was lots of fun watching the kids interact.



Can you believe we got this photo of all of them together-it didn't last long!



The girls and Great Uncle Rich:




Unfortunately after the fun weekend, the girls ended up getting sick with head cold like symptoms. Stella and Zoe started first and when we took them to the doctor, it was initially thought that they had influenza. That test along with the test for RSV came back negative. They just had colds. After a couple more days of misery and things not improving, we took them back-Stella now had a double ear infection and Zoe, a right ear infection. Abby just started getting a runny nose and the other 2 were placed on antibiotics. We should have taken Abby along when we went back to the doctor, because the next day we had to take her in. She had a sore throat and a left ear infection and we were instructed to watch for croup, but they never did any tests. She, too, was put on antibiotics. The weekend was brutal and we were barely improving-Abby's breathing started becoming a concern. We took her back in (3/18) ago and she was diagnosed with RSV, a double ear infection and admitted to the hospital as she had to be placed on oxygen. Needless to say, she is back to her old self-she was able to come home monday (3/24). The girls were excited to see her, pointed and said, "Abby, Abby, Abby". I think Stella followed her around for the first 5 minutes and every time Abby stopped, Stella planted a kiss on her. And you know, within the next 10 minutes they were back to fighting over toys and hitting each other with them. Ian and I are glad to have the whole family back under one roof! And I wouldn't be a good mom if I didn't take pictures during the good times and the bad (my poor children!):

Everyone was so wiped out, they fell asleep where ever (Abby in the swing, Zoe in pink, Stella in blue):




Here we are. OBVIOUSLY, we feel better! Actually, my dad's birthday was earlier this month and I was trying to get a photo of the girls to include in his birthday card. However, when they get a chance to be on the couch, nobody sits still. So, I started making faces and singing to get them to pay attention and this is what I ended up with (smell no evil, see no evil, and blow kisses at evil).

I have taken a lot of video in the last week of the girls, just to show you how fast they are catching on to things. For some reason, I can't get any of them to load. I will try to get them posted on here sooner or later.

But, with Abby being in the hospital for almost a week, tethered to a nasal canula, she got a lot of attention from mom and dad and the grandparents. I utilized this opportunity to teach her a few more animal names and sounds. The pictures of her are when she started to feel a little better along with a video of what Cookie monster says. She held on to that ELMO the ENTIRE time.




Zoe is up and walking like a pro. Most of it involves walking back and forth between the entertainment center and the couch. If she happens to fall somewhere in between, she crawls back to where she came from and starts over. She is very much into pointing and has started singing along with her favorite cartoons. She's got several new teeth, including her molars and she really seems to be having a rough time with this.

Stella-also getting more teeth. ABSOLUTELY LOVES to be chased around the basement. Then, she will start walking to you with her arms out and as soon as she gets close to you, she turns and takes off with the expectation that you chase her. Believe it or not, this girl chews gum. I started blowing bubbles with mine and letting them pop 'em. I gave each of the girls a little bit to chew on and Stella chewed hers for like 45 minutes then gave it back to me. She's done this more than once.


Other than that, we just continue to grow like weeds. Hope we continue to stay healthy as we move into spring!

A Couple More Things

Thought I would add some video clips to Ian's photo gallery. As he has already mentioned, the girls are into everything these days. We've moved some "climbable" items out of the family room. I guess that we have been lucky that the girls are still pretty petite that we can use the swings for nap time. However, Abby figured how to get in them herself. We are now done with the swings.


She is also a pro at getting into the toy box. However, she's having a hard time here. I just think it's funny.



Stella is pretty much on pace with Abby as far as walking goes. Except I think that Abby now has a tendency to run. Zoe is still perfecting her walk and getting better everyday. She has started to get frustrated when she can't keep up with her sisters. Vocabulary continues to grow as well. Some of the new words we use a lot include, ZoZo, Bumpa (Grandpa) along with some new animal sounds-like a bunny and a shark. Our sitters, Sarah and Mallory have been teaching the girls a few new things too-like how old they are. Here's Stella filling you in:



As I stated earlier, Abby is the explorer and climber. Stella is the silly one. She's also invented a new dance move that involves mostly her arms ( I have yet to get this on video). She also enjoys walking around talking on the phone or shaking her finger at people. Zoe likes to interact with her sisters, but she is also good at keeping herself entertained.... that is, until her sisters come bother her. But, she's getting good at fighting back in order to keep the toy she wants. She's been really into playing with her hair lately-actually putting it into her eyes or shaking her head back and forth.

Here we are eating like big girls at the kitchen table. Messy, but cute. (And if you couldn't see what we were eating from the close ups, it's pizza and yogurt-which we just decided to slap with our hands).



That's about all from us. Looking forward to spring when we can take the girls outside to play. So, whomever keeps ordering snow for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Stop (please!).

How's this for menacing?

The girlies are very adept at making faces right now, and love when they can make anyone crack a smile or laugh. They are born entertainers. Go figure judging by who their Mommy and Daddy are. :)

Zoe keepin' it real...

We put the girls' chairs out to have them play with them last week. These were birthday gifts from our friends, the Broells. As you can see by the pictures, Zoe "settled in" rather quickly and enjoyed the chair. In fact, she got down-right intimidating in the last picture.

I bet you can't guess what I'm going to do!

We refer to Abby anymore as, "Danger Zabba"--as she is our resident daredevil. It's a good thing that little kids are indestructible. Abby's new phrase is, "Uh oh...", and with good reason.

Zoe being a goof...

This is Zoe being a nut.

Hey you!....Yeah, I'm talking to you. We're back!

Stella. Illustrating just a minute amount of the overall attitude that our house contains on a daily basis. Stelly is holding a little wooden Elmo toy--Elmo is a huge deal at our house right now--but then again any of the Sesame Street characters with "quirks" are. Cookie Monster. Cue the "monster voice". The Count. Laughing loudly, "Ha ha ha." Elmo. The girls will sing the theme song to "Elmo's World". I can definitely see Oscar entering the equation VERY soon. As mentioned in prior entries--we have a little stuffed "Bert" toy that the girls continue to be head over heels for.