what's up

we have a sick baby. just the sniffles, but it makes sleeping difficult. last night we added a fever, too. today i have to hold him 100% of the time.

benjamin rolled over from tummy to back on saturday, then he did it 2 more times on sunday.

other than that, we're good and life is "normal" and there is little time for blogging.

The Leaves are Falling All Around

This year we've had a BEAUTIFUL autumn. Hopefully I'll get a few more pics of the kids in leaves, but here are the few I got one gorgeous evening.

Kayli's Birthday

Amanda was out of town on Kayli's birthday this year, so we had her over. (Well, Ella, Benjamin and I had her over). We had a fun time decorating her cake, eating pizza and cake, being silly with Joel, opening presents and just generally hanging out. Happy 12th Birthday, Kayli!

Hiccups

We posted a video of Eleanor with the hiccups when she was tiny... so I thought we needed one of Benjamin, too. Here he is, 1 month old, not quite as calm about having the hiccups as his sister.

From Iowa...

on an Airplane.

Meeting Benjamin Michael

Eleanor is obsessed with the idea of traveling on airplanes - especially to Iowa. I assume this is because we last traveled there via plane. She understands people can go all kinds of places on airplanes, but she definitely knows that Grandma and Grandpa (Tippin) come from Iowa.

When they arrived at our house, it was squeals, shouts and hugs all around!

G&G came to hang out with our little family October 12th through the 18th. We enjoyed our visit thoroughly. The first day was all birthday goodness (for me). After that we celebrated Benjamin, watched Ella open lots of presents, went shopping (for shoes, of course), enjoyed our 4 meals out per year (thanks, Jon and Ruthie!) and talked ourselves out. Eleanor enjoyed trips to the park, swimming, trips to G&G's hotel, riding her bicycle, playing with new toys and getting to eat out at restaurants. Benjamin enjoyed getting snuggled.

Reading with Grandpa

Look, Benjamin's Smiling!

P.S. The horse was found! Apparently, Ella had placed it on the floor, pulled out some shoes to try on and then shoved the box back in, shoving the horse back behind the shoe boxes and shelving. They found it while rearranging stock. She has slept with Horse ever since.

"I Can't Even See Him!"

Many, many of the gifts we received for Bejamin ended up in camo print. Acutally, super cute... but they tend to bring out the corny jokes in everyone.

This particular day, Eleanor, Benjamin and I headed out to get dog food. One friendly clerk at the feed store asked Ella, "Is that your brother?" She said, "No, dat's BENJAMIN!" which made me laugh and the clerk said, "Oh, I could hardly even see him there." This, of course, got quite the blank stare from Ella and I just smiled politely - because I've heard it so many times lately! Ridiculous.

Sayings from our Big Girl

We're having fun with our constantly growing girl. Lately she's said a ton of funny, big girl things, and here are a few we remembered to write down. She's also working on doing tons of big girl things. This comes in handy when I'm nursing Benjamin, but has also gotten her in a bit of trouble. We're working on finding a good balance of activities she may do on her own and things with which we must assist her.

"I'm a good jobber!"

Where did the baby come from? "Our tummy!"

Is that your baby brother? "No. Dat's Benjamin!"

While holding Benjamin: "Mommy, look at him toesies! Look at him eyes! Him slippery, wiggly!"

Daddy: "You may not demand things of me like that." Eleanor, crying: "I'm not a man!"

"Mommy, I look like a walrus!" holding 2 almonds on either side of her mouth.

Mommy: "I love you, Eleanor."

Ella: (nodding)"I know. Daddy loves me, too, together... together love me. And I love Bengerman...all us love...and the puppy, too! I love our puppy."

Meeting New Friends

Eleanor and Avery have been missing each other. These girls usually get to spend so much time together, but with summer, me being preganant and tired, a new baby brother... it's been a while. Luckily, though, Benjamin recently got to meet Avery - and Ella got in a much needed playdate.

I just love the look of delight on her face as she first held our precious little boy.

Pink Bicycle

This is just one of the many "big girl" things Ella has learned over the past week. We got her this bicycle for her 2nd birthday and she was excited, but not quite coordinated enough to ride it. Last week she decided she wanted to try again and after just a couple days of "practice" she's a pro. (Although, as you can see, we still need to remind her often to look up and out to where she's steering).

Busy

I suppose you all understand we've been busy, and thus, no recent posts. The thing is, we've not just been busy with an infant and a toddler - we've been doing fun things. So, keep watching and I'll get you up to speed on our last week in the next few days.

The first thing was the Maiden Voyage of the BOB Duallie! (Now, actually, the "Double BOB" as Ella calls it has been out many times with Ella and her friends, but this was the first time with Benjamin). We've been walking as much as we can. The weather is still beautiful, so whenever it works so that both children have eaten, we don't have anything else pressing to do, and I'm feeling up to it - we walk.

Another sort of routine thing was Benjamin's second doctor's appointment. He'd had one when 3 days old and had lost quite a bit of weight, so they had us come back for a weight check. At 3 days he weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces. At one week he weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces! Thus, no worries, Mommy's milk is treating him well. He looks chubbier and more filled out each day.

Benjamin Michael - 2 weeks

The more exciting events (and sister/brother pictures for the grandparents) will be their own separate posts here in the next few days.

P.S. If you think of it, pray for us tomorrow (Monday) - it's Seth's first day back to work after these last 2 weeks off, and Ella, Benjamin and my first day home alone! I think we're all a little nervous. :)

The Pumpkin Patch

Taking advantage of the amazing weather, and knowing it usually snows/freezes by the 1st or 2nd weekend in October, we headed as a family out to the pumpkin patch. This is one of my favorite activities, so although Benjamin was just a few weeks old, we all went together. We had a really good time riding the tractor, picking our pumpkins, snacking on juice and cookies, and checking out the farm animals. Eleanor was especially excited about the goat who had gotten out of his pen and was running amok.

I love some of the pictures we have of Ella when she was just 5 months old and we headed out to the same spot... unfortunately we had sun in our eyes the whole time and she wasn't quite in the mood for pictures. Oh well!