Synopsis

We've been busy!

We had a wonderful weekend with Grandpa, Grandma, Margie, and John -- pictures to follow shortly!

Last week I told Rand that he was the sweetest boy in the world.  He said, "Thank you!"

Yesterday Rand, Ella, and I went to IHOP for dinner.  Rand called it "the hopping place" and jumped all the way inside.  We sat next to a family whose children were 13 and 15, and they were very nice to my kids.  When we left, the dad told me that I did a great job with Rand and Ella at dinner.  

Rand officially cannot say his "r's"...he pronounces his name Wand Awthuw Giwawd.  Too cute.

We went to Barnes & Nobles to play with trains, and, for the first time, Rand did not cry when we left.  Awesome.

Rand likes to survey the refrigerator at mealtimes and ask us what we'd like.  "Would you like pasta, mom?  Or we have milk.  Or broccoli.  Do you want some broccoli, mom?"  

Ella got her first fever on Sunday, poor baby.  It made for a very long night, but she is doing much better now.  She never stopped smiling and cooing when she was sick -- she really has the sweetest personality.

Rand is really into imaginative play right now!  It's very fun to listen in on.  Last night when he was in the bathtub, the shampoo bottle and a toy fish were reinacting scenes from "Go, Dog, Go."  "Do you like my hat?"  "No, I do not like your hat," the shampoo bottle replied.  He also loves it when I talk to his trains as if they were real people.  Rand also likes using silly voices to talk, and he thinks it's hilarious when I talk back to him in the same silly way.

Ella is 3 months and one day....

...the same age that Rand was when I had to go back to work full-time. So nice that I don't have to do that this time!

Ella Update

She is sosososo close to actually laughing out loud.
Ella likes to face outward when we carry her in her sling. She wants to watch everybody and everything that's going on.
Ella is a total social butterfly and will stay awake as long as she can if there are people around, even if she is very, very sleepy.
She sleeps very well at night -- she usually wakes up once to eat but goes right back to sleep.
She still hates the car.
Ella loves sitting in her bouncy seat. She is not a big fan of baths, but she tolerates them.
She likes listening to stories.
She adores her big brother.

Ice Cream

Rand, Ella, and I had a lovely morning at the Art Museum, complete with Rand's 3rd music class. It's so fun to see him participating all by himself.

After leaving the museum, we walked around the corner to a cute little restaurant called Grandma's Kitchen and got ice cream cones. We sat on a bench outside (yay for cooler weather!) and enjoyed our ice cream. Rand ate most of his ice cream, but he started to get full. You could see the frustration on his face. He looked at me, handed me a dripping, squished, melted ice cream cone and asked, "Mommy, can you put this in the diaper bag for me to eat later?

Rand's other new phrases:
"Hey, I have an idea!"

"I have a question for you."

"That's probably mine." (usually said when 'that' is most definitely his)

Zoo party!

We celebrated Rand's birthday with his friends at the Phoenix Zoo last Saturday. It was a lot of fun and

Our first stop was the Safari Train Ride. The conductor had everybody sing "Happy Birthday" to Rand. As you can see from his face, he wasn't quite sure what to think about that.....

Then we were off to his party....

First all of the kids made a craft.

Rand the Elephant!

Ella got lots of attention, too!

This is Bella and Rand looking for 'gators. Bella's daddy is from New Orleans, so she knows all about 'gators. Too bad there were only turtles in the water.

Rand's friend Natan had an AWESOME time with the water fountain.

Bella makes an excellent shark. All the kids had different animal noses in their goodie bags.

Cake time!

Ella was just exhausted from all the fun.

This is how you know the party's over....the birthday boy heads off exploring!

More bathtime pictures....

....because look at those cheeks! those eyes! that little tongue! Baths are growing on her, but she had no smiles for the camera this morning.

Werner's Hair Saga, Part 642

Introducing....the cornrow! And isn't the picture of Ella and Daddy frowning at each other cute?

Little sisters make good train stations.

Rand is 3!!!

Rand turned 3 years old on Wednesday -- we are so blessed to have this wonderful little guy as our son. We decorated his door with pennies, fruit snacks, and suckers, and he thought that was pretty cool. He even got to eat one of the suckers before breakfast.


That morning we went to the Arizona Museum for Youth and met up some friends for a playdate and our first of six music classes. Then off to McDonalds for lunch, home to take a nap (boo!), and wait impatiently for daddy to get home.

We had Rand's favorite foods for dinner -- fried chicken, corn on the cob, macaroni, and grapes.

Then it was time to open presents!

We bought the Thomas movies at Costco the day before, and there was no way to hide them from Rand. I hid them when we got home and wrapped it. When he opened them, he exclaimed, "Hey! These are like the movies I have!" Ummm....yep! What a coincidence!

Rand's new Bible from Grandpa and Grandma

Blowing out the candles -- he did it so fast Daddy couldn't get a picture!

We finished off the day playing at Westgate in the water and getting Coldstone. What a fabulous birthday!

Bonnet Baby

Ella has eyelashes and eyebrows now, and real tears when she cries. She has little fat rolls EVERYWHERE and is delightfully squishy.