Eating at snack at Dad's desk at work

This week..

-- was uncomfortably scheduled. T or I had something every evening (CPR recertification, staff meeting, youth group, dinner with friends, etc). It left little time to hang as a family. We spent the weekend with little plans which was such a refreshment! We started a little project turning an un-optimally used closet into a simple desk/office space. We found a home for all the misc linens that were stacked on the floor, painted an accent wall, and have stained some wood that will be the desk. Should be an attractive and functional space!
-- Elle rediscovered her love of pretzel sticks and can eat her weight in them if you allow. She also loves to "play" a Sesame Street game on the computer where she points and giggles at all the images and you have to play the game for her. She has a new puzzle board covered in hooks and latches that she mastered in one evening. It probably holds her attention longer than any other toy has before. She is on a highchair strike and is very particular which chair we each sit in at dinner. She desperately wants to help with every step when we are cooking and stole the cut carrots off the cutting board to put in "her mixing bowl" then covered them with a random spice from the drawer! She is a ball of energy who keeps us smiling!

xo,

Krista

This week...

-- sort of all blends together with the New Year in the middle of the week and a few overnights at the hospital in the ER and for OB. We didn't have any festive plans on NYE but we caught a few count-down shows and fell asleep before midnight. New Years Day we started a project - laying carpet in the basement to make a play area.  Instead of a narrow, few-feet wide step down we made a platform of sorts that doubles as a place to sit. The carpet roll has been Elle's favorite new toy as she sends golf and ping pong balls flying down the tube. 

-- Elle's language continues to explode ("stop that!" "chocolate" "cookies" "bed"). She has waged a war against sitting in her high chair getting so upset she even vomited (first time ever!). She is obsessed with her Baby Einstein "radio" and carries it most of the day. Her Baby Shark book is another favorite ("where is mama?" leads to a point or direct touch with every play). She must have learned how to give "knuckles" at daycare and has the cutest little punch to do it. She continues to have a cold that has seemed to be back-to-back since this fall. She is sleeping well and eats a good variety of food (though chocolate and ice cream are probably her favorites!).

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- we are finally almost organized for Christmas! The beginning of December was pretty booked for our family so we've been behind the ball. Packages are arriving about as quick as we can get the cardboard to the recycling. Last year I was on-call over Christmas so we are looking forward to a more traditional holiday this year! I am on-call before and after Christmas and have quite a few babies due so it's still going to be a little crazy. Elle is enjoying all of the festive activities so far - felt Christmas Tree from Gigi, Christmas books, an advent calendar with toys, playing with the Christmas tree, a toy nativity, and lots of Christmas music! She is great at pointing out every Santa and snowman we come across and she especially enjoyed the inflatable snowman she spotted at the store! This afternoon, she said the cutest little "jeeeess-sus" when picking up the piece from the nativity. So far, we've had only one present end up prematurely unwrapped thanks to a curious toddler.. we'll see how many repeat-wraps we have between now and our celebrations!

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- Elle had her first haircut at a salon (instead of by a wiling friend at daycare!). She hated every second of the cape around her neck. Thankfully, the gal had her ends trimmed in just a minute or two. As soon as the cape was off she was thrilled to eat her sucker and no longer upset. Because of the tears, this was the only picture I snagged.

-- Elle has mastered turning the Christmas Tree on and off. It takes both hands for her to squeeze the floor button but she beams with joy when it works. So far, she has left the ornaments alone so we've had zero casualties. Our toddler-friendly decorations for other areas of the house are growing too. We spent an hour at the playground this afternoon and Elle sang and stomped over every inch. She cracks us up at mealtime when she asks for "more!" when she has half her serving left because she likes the item so much.  She is a professional at swaddling her baby dolls and walking around patting their back while saying "night night!" repeatedly. We made a "sensory box" with dried beans for her to scoop/shovel/pour/etc and she only follows the rules about half the time. It usually ends abruptly when she starts throwing or splashing beans. We're trying to get ready for a high-energy winter indoors!

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- Elle turned 18 months. She had a good check-up with her doctor and is meeting all her milestones. Her weight is starting to fall into a more normal range but her head is still top of the chart. She went to the nursery at church during Sunday School for the first time. Travis was also asked to start leading our local church congregation which is a huge responsibility but he's always willing to serve where he's needed. Elle let a friend at daycare take a couple snips of her hair so we may be due for a real haircut soon. We're getting a taste of what this winter may look like with a wild toddler stuck indoors in the evening. We've found a few new activities like sliding down the stairs on mats which has given us giggles and an outlet for energy. This week (and weekend!) was filled with evening activities and work commitments so we're looking forward to this coming week.

xo,

Krista

This week...

-- bedtime involved the book "duck duck!" (Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin) on repeat. Elle chimes in to answer all the "no's" in the book and can't get enough of it. She has a few more words like "night-night" and she enthusiastically points up & down on command. She was adorable when she insisted on sharing her dinner with our robo-vacuum. She just couldn't understand why he didn't need any pasta. She views it more as a pet than an inanimate object as she follows it around the house and stresses anytime it is under furniture. Other favorite toys of the moment include her pack of 10 bouncy balls she loves to dump on the floor and anything she can use to climb on to reach tall things.

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- Elle dressed as a unicorn for her daycare Halloween party. She made her first craft which lasted at home about 5 minutes before she pulled the face apart. We got our family pictures back this week and Elle looks adorable. This one made us both smile because she is mid-shiver and it was such a cool, fall evening. Elle is working on more teeth so she is back to gnawing on her hands and drooling like crazy. She is also eating non-stop so we're probably due for a growth spurt. This week, she asked for chocolate pumpkin muffins non-stop. Puzzles are her favorite activity but she walks around patting her baby's on their back multiple times an evening. We've started talking about swim lessons because she no longer simply sits in the bathtub - she spends half the time swimming around on her stomach. We had a couple wipe-outs this week including falling up the stairs with a pretty good bite to her tongue. Thankfully, a popsicle or two healed it completely. She hardly sits still anymore unless it's to get a pony in her hair. She is so fun!

xo,

Krista

This week..
-- we took family pictures! It was 55 degrees right before sunset so poor Elle was shivering with rosy cheeks by the end. She was such a good sport! We only had to bribe her with fruit snacks once to get her to stand in a specific spot. We have thousands of pictures of Elle but it will be great to have some formal photos of the three of us!
-- our contractor poured footings for our covered deck and fireplace! We wanted to maximize our outdoor space but the west sun is pretty intense on our deck in the evenings (basically the only time we're out there!). We've talked about a roof for a while, but of course, if we're going to do a project I'll find a way to make it even better. Furniture is going to be the slowest part so we may be enjoying it in bag-chairs - but it will be such a nice space when it's finished!
-- Elle had a cough this week and we successfully bribed her to take a cough syrup with dark chocolate. She's a fan like her mama. She can now pull the freezer drawer open (using all of her body weight - but effective!) and pulls ice cream out multiple times a day. She is loving all the pumpkins around town and can point them all out in her books too. Before bed, we still read books but she also stretches and grunts pretending to reach the top shelf in her room where her stuffed lion sits (a gift from Uncle Evan from his trip to Mexico!). She insists on growling and playing with it before she'll willingly go to bed. 

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- we spent most of it in Omaha as T had a conference for work. He is always excited and energized coming off that conference and Elle and I had a great time with family. We took Elle to Vala's Pumpkin Patch (on a weekday! so nice!). She loved being with her Grandparents and Grandma was great about going outside to visit the lawn decorations whenever Elle gestured to outside (the pig is her favorite but the neighbor's deer is a runner-up).

-- she is learning to communicate better each and every day. She can consistently shake her head, points accurately, and is super excited about her new words open and up. Her face lights up when you respond to open and up. She thinks she is Miss Independent and her biggest tantrums are when you tried to feed her or open something or pour the gallon of milk without her. She loves wrapping her baby dolls in blankets and walks around the house patting their backs. Now that the weather is cool, she is starting to wear her fall clothes which are unbelievably adorable. We sure love her!

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- Elle ate multiple frozen yogurt popsicles (when our GoGurts are near expiration I freeze them in popsicle molds!) out on the front porch. She's graduated to a cup with a straw from a traditional sippy cup. We played multiple games of "soccer" with her toddler-size ball out on the back deck. She had her first wipe-out with blood when she bumped her face on her fancy kitchen stool and her top lip was pulled too far. Her vocabulary continues to expand (right there! done!). She trots around the house in Mom's shoes at least a few times daily. T and I are dreaming of adding a roof and a fireplace to our back deck and have a few contractors lined up for quotes. This week has beautiful fall weather predicted so I see a lot of park and neighborhood walks in our future!

xo,

Krista 

This week...
-- was a typical work week. I think I've already mentioned that Elle's bedtime routine is much smoother so that has made our evenings much more enjoyable. She is hilarious between her giggles/shrieks/infectious joy and her many expressions (see the above photo!). She is especially enthusiastic with her "ut ohs!" This weekend we celebrated T's Grandma's birthday and it was fun to spend the day with family. It's interesting to see Elle interact with other kids - she spends her day playing with other kids but it's not something we get to see! A friend mentioned how difficult this stage is because "they're basically a walking baby!" but despite her attraction to dangerous play and emotional lability we are totally enjoying this stage!

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- Elle has mastered the word "duck" and "snacks" for fruit snacks! She is currently rocking bright pink toenails. Her favorite book is the Little Blue Truck followed by I See You - those are always the first two books she picks when we sit down to read. She now insists on being put in her crib at the end of her bedtime routine (instead of needing rocked or fed!). She cracks herself up as she tries to learn new words/sounds. She points out every bird and bunny in her sight. She is offended if you cut up her strawberries or try to feed her bites from her yogurt or apple sauce. The wagon is her favorite place to ride. Pulling weeds vs vegetables/flowers has been a difficult lesson. She loved playing with water balloons with the older kids (she kept Mom stocked from the main pile!) and learned how to squirt them and pop them at her feet. She outgrew her infant carseat due to length (we were all betting it would be from weight!) and Mom already misses the infant seat when we run errands.

xo,

Krista

This week..
-- started in Omaha for a long weekend with Grandparents. We tried to make a social stop in Grand Island as well (to see her other grandparents!) but Elle fell asleep literally as we took the off ramp. This week has otherwise been a typical week! Elle is workin on her top two molars so she is back to putting random objects in her mouth (fridge magnets, pebbles, etc). She is using more and more sounds that may be intentional words (cup, milk, yes, this, that, dada, snacks). It has been super fun that she intentionally points and makes decisions on the books and food she wants. Mealtime is even messier now as she is royally offended if you try to feed her or give her a piece of something no longer in the wrapper. We had friends over last night and she had to have dropped 30 pieces of her peanut butter cookie on the carpet. It's a work in progress! She is especially entertained by every bird or bunny out in the yard. She is so joyful!

xo,

Krista

This week..
-- Elle has mastered climbing on nearly every piece of furniture in this house. Instead of simply climbing on the seat of the armchair, she will now use the arms to sit on the top of the back support. She is fearless! She has also started jumping off higher platforms (like the photo above). She still loves being outdoors (even if it's nearly 100% humidity!). We were able to make a little more progress on our flower bed including laying mulch! The only downside to being outdoors is she sprints into the garage to explore Dad's tools any chance she gets. In fact, she speeds up as you say her name with her little legs pumping as fast as they go and her little chest puffed out. She's the cutest!

xo,

Krista

This week..
-- Elle was spoiled with extra Dad and Grandma/Grandpa/Uncle time this holiday as I was the on-call doctor. They made the most of it spending most of the time outdoors playing pickleball, grilling, and watching fireworks. Thankfully, my shifts in the ER were without any serious firework/boating/BBQing injuries and I ended the weekend with a new baby! We love when family come spend the weekend with us!
-- Elle is more and more inquisitive to the point she almost doesn't have interest in her toys anymore. She holds a pen/marker like she knows how to use it and is not at all afraid of the mud. As we continue to remove sod and work to make a large flower bed in our backyard, she is right in the mix! She carries small pieces of sod to new sites, digs for rocks, holds her hands in the sprinklers, and sometimes still tastes whatever soil is in her hands. She is difficult to corral at church but she is starting to understand simple commands such as "go get your shoes" or "pick that up". Its fun to have another level of communication with her!

xo,

Krista

This week...

— we started making some progress beautifying our backyard. We planted window boxes off the garage earlier this season but now we have a rain gutter on that side, a sidewalk back to the alley (no more walking through the snow or mud to take out the trash!), and we’ve started making a flower bed between the trees in the back corner! I cannot wait for the flower bed to be complete - it’s going to be gorgeous frame of that corner of our lot. Of course, this weekend was > 100F heat index so we weren't able to get all the sod removed without getting heat stroke. So, it will be a slow process with planting this fall - but it’s going to be fabulous! We also ordered some new shelving for our living room that I think will be both very appealing but also functional. We're having fun continuing to settle into this place!

— I had the privilege of delivering one of our best friend’s babies! There is nothing better than a a brand new baby - but even better when it’s a close friend. There’s also a big sigh of relief when it’s over and everyone is safe and healthy. 

— Elle is incredibly fun right now. She is no longer simply walking but is now running and enjoys making laps around our house. She is more and more creative - especially with her playmats and dolls. She jabbers non-stop and seems so intentional. I can't wait to hear what is on her mind!

xo,

Krista

This week..
-- ended with T's family reunion! We spent the weekend in Grand Island with about 50 of T's Grandma's relatives. Our time was spent mostly outdoors sharing delicious food, playing lawn games, and a healthy mixture of catching-up and reminiscing. Elle was a trooper and was pretty flexible as far as meal and nap times. She was the youngest there and a fan-favorite. It was different this year - especially because I headed back to the hotel with Elle long before the evenings ended - but she's worth it! We also had a much cooler weekend than typical. It was so nice to not roast in the heat! T and I also hired a photographer to take some candids and group shots which allowed everyone to put down their phones/cameras and just enjoy each other. It was a great weekend!

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- was back to reality after our vacation! It was an especially hard transition for me as work was even busier than normal. About half of my coworkers were away at a conference which left the rest of us with long days. I have paperwork to catch up on still this afternoon and then I should be ready to take on another week. Elle enjoyed time outside playing with her water table while Dad pulled weeds and planted a patch of wildflowers behind our garage in the alley. Our town is gorgeous right now as all the peonies bloom and we're lucky to have both a line along the back of our property and just across the alley. Elliotte is so precious around flowers (she loves them!) and typically is very gentle just barely touching each petal. This weekend we were back in Omaha for 24 hours while E & T hung with my parents and I attended a leadership training meeting for church. We are happily staying put this weekend and letting my parents come to us to celebrate Father's Day. But this is summer, right? A little bit chaotic because there are so many fun opportunities to be out and about!

xo,

Krista

This week..
-- we took some PTO and had a long weekend in Omaha! We were able to see some friends, celebrate Grandma's birthday, and have Elle's final first birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Elle had fevers all weekend so her birthday wasn't all unicorns and rainbows. I thought for sure she would dig right into this cake but she just daintily licked frosting off her fingers and left the cake intact. Even on the rainy day (when we were also without power for 5 hours!) Elle had fun as she used her new wagon out for a ride to the park. She is so loved! We are so grateful to have a village who adores Elle as we do!

xo,

Krista

This week..

-- Elle officially turned ONE! (Yes, we had her first party a few days early) What a fun year it's been! We kept her actual birthday pretty simple with a crib full of balloons and a trip to Target where Mom bought each of the books she had an interest in (Mama Love You So, Big Fish, My Magical Unicorn, This Little Piggy) She hardly crawls anymore and her walk is less crab-like and more adult-like every day. She points her little pointer finger at what she wants and lights up whenever she spots a book or hears the bathtub starting to fill. She is not shy to climb the stairs (inside or out!) and sleeps most of the night in her own room. She loves to eat any/all foods and has mastered a pre-loaded fork or spoon. She still tests our patience by picking up the floor vents, grinding her teeth, trying to climb on the dishwasher door, siting in the drawer under the oven, playing with the blinds, pulling on any/all cords, and rummaging through dad's bathroom cabinet. She gives the best cuddles and we love when she naps in our arms. We are so lucky to be her parents!

xo,

Krista