Standing Video

Dear Penelope,

After seeing the pictures of you standing, Daddy wanted to catch you in action.  So we had play time in the bathroom of all places.  You're so cute and we're so proud!  (Don't worry, the bathroom is clean!)

With all my love,

Mommy

Watch Penelope Standing!

Growing Up

Dear Michela,

You don't let me sing to you before bedtime or tuck you in bed for a nap.  However, you let me play with your hair now!  Woo hoo!  I guess it's all about give and take.  I miss the night time cuddles but I love playing with your hair.  I have waited over 2 years to have this opportunity and it was well worth the wait!

I put my hair in a ponytail this morning so you naturally wanted one too.  I asked if you wanted pigtails but you insisted on only one ponytail.  You then found your hair clips and wanted 5 of them in your hair.  It was messy but so much fun!

PIGTAILS!  I love the curl in front.  :)

You're talking to Yammie and Papa on the phone.

I love your pigtails!  :)

Thank you for finally letting me play with your hair.  I'm having so much fun!

With all my love,

Mommy


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Dear Penelope,

Stop it.  I'm not ready!

You started pulling up to a standing position in your crib on Saturday.  Today you used the bathtub to do it.

Michela thinks you're funny and wants to do it too!

Sigh - you're pretty cute standing there.  

With all my love,

Mommy

Better Late Than Never

Daddy put together a little video from my 30th birthday party.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpqSlvuvwoA

Happy Hollow Fun!

Hi Girls,

Today we met some friends at Happy Hollow.  It was nice visiting with friends and playing on some rides.  Believe it or not we didn't make it down to see any animals but we sure had fun!  We rode on the carousel 4 times.  Penelope, you sat on my lap and loved going in circles while your sister sat on an animal.

We played on the teeter toter with friends.

 We drank water from the fountain.

Michela took a spin on the swings!

And a few trips in a firetruck and police car!  Apparently the firetruck was the best because you could ring a bell.

Lastly, you both had a ride in the stroller.  Michela rode in the stroller on the way into the park while Penelope took it back to the car.

Thanks for a nice morning girls!

With all my love,

Mommy

Busy Girl

Dear Penelope,

You have been a busy girl!  Over the weekend you played peek-a-boo and clapped for the first time!

I started the game of peek-a-boo while you were on the changing table by pulling your dress over your face.  You pulled it down while I said "peek-a-boo!"  When I started to change your diaper you pulled your dress over your face and removed it all on your own!  You're a quick learner!  :)

You also decided to start clapping over the weekend!  I love watching and encouraging you to clap!  Michela even stops what she's doing to clap with you.  You're one adorable little girl!

I also noticed that you sprouted your 3rd tooth.  It's the front, left tooth on the top.  I'm going to give you this as an excuse for your poor sleeping habits the last few nights.  I hope this is the problem because I don't know how many more sleepless nights I have in me.  Please start sleeping better!!!

Here is where I give you a cute photo dump from the last week.  I can't pick a favorite because you're just so darn cute!

I love you Penelope!

Love,

Mommy

Huh?

Dear Michela,

When did you decide to grow up?  You completely took the joy of bedtime away from me!  Okay, not totally but you wont let me sing to you anymore.  After we read books at bedtime you turn to me and say, "no singing mama, I go to bed."  Huh?!  But that's my special Keeka cuddle time!  You took it away from me!  :-(

And today instead of having your usual quiet play time in your room you tucked yourself in bed and went to sleep.  How come I don't get to tuck you in anymore?  :-(

Okay, okay, these are actually really great things.  I'm just a little sad that you're growing up so fast.  I'm still very proud of you!

I love you Keeks!

Love,

Mommy

De Anza Park

 

Entertainment

Dear Penelope,

You provide some of the best entertainment.  At meal times you will sit in your chair and give a ridiculously huge grin and tilt your head back.  Then giggle because you know you're funny.  You have Michela, Daddy and I laughing at the end of almost every meal.  I love it!

With all my love,

Mommy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPCxqwRkF2E

San Diego Weekend Recap Video

Due to a couple of the songs you will need to go to youtube to watch the lovely video Seamus put together.  You will not be able to watch on a mobile device.

San Diego Weekend Video

9 months

Dear Penelope,

How are you 9 months old?  You should still be in the lump phase of babyhood but you're 9 months already!  You're crawling everywhere and pulling up to your knees when ever you have a chance.   You are a dancing machine!  I love watching you dance!  If music is on you will go into the crawling position and bob your head up and down while smiling or laughing.  You're so cute!

Click to watch N-O-P dancing.

These are pictures from Uncle Mike and Auntie Phea's wedding rehearsal.  I have no words.   

Happy 9 months baby girl!

 

Lastly I wanted to show of the beginning of your curls!  Who would have though that I would have two curly hair beauties?!  :-)

I love you Penelope Marie!

With all my love,

Mommy

First Haircut

Dear Michela,

Last Wednesday (Aug. 29, 2012), I gave you your first haircut.  I was nervous and really wanted to take you to a professional but we were stranded without a car and your mullet was driving me nuts.  So I gave in and trimmed the bottom layer of your hair myself.  So really you didn't get a full cut but your hair looks sooo much better.  Still wild and crazy but it's no longer a mullet.  :)  YAY!  I put a towel on the floor, plopped a chair in the middle, and turned on High School Musical 2.  You sat perfectly still and enjoyed the movie while I went to work with the scissors.  Here are some before and after pictures.  They're not the best pictures because they were taken with the ipad.

Before

After

It looks like I cut a ton of hair off but really your curls just tightened up once they were trimmed.  I cut about 1.5 inches off the bottom layer.  No more mullet!  Wahoo!

I love you Michela Grace - with mullet AND without mullet!

With all my love,

Mommy

Tired?

Dear Michela,

Today you are 27 months old.  I don't really go by months anymore but I noticed the date to I thought I should mention it.

Everyday at noon we have quiet time.  Sometimes you nap.  Other times you play in your room until I come get you 1.5 hours later.  Today I didn't think you were going to sleep because I heard you dump a toys out on the floor a few times.  After a while you were quiet but in the past you have been known to sit in your bed reading books instead of sleeping.  Well, after Penelope woke up from her nap we ventured into your room to tell you that quiet time was over.  Instead of finding you playing or reading quietly, I found you asleep in your chair... like this!!

You don't look very comfortable!  Your bed is only 5 feet away, you can always crawl in bed if you're tired!

You are one silly girl!  Thank you for the laugh today!

With all my love,

Mommy

Lets get real.

Gorgeous! Simply Gorgeous!  Penelope you were an honorary flower girl (your auntie and uncle just didn't know it).  Michela, you and Caitlin rocked as flower girls.  Caitlin dumped all of her flower petals out at the back row while you kept them safe in your basket until after the ceremony.  You both did a great job staying quiet and watched Uncle Phea and Uncle Mike smooch.

The reception was scary in the beginning because all the tall folk were crowding around the snacks and drinks.  After a brief break in our hotel room you were ready to party.  During the dinner you girls took to the dance floor and provided excellent entertainment!    

Smooch!