Ella's 2013 Milestones & Memories

Ella's fun things in 2013

• Ella: "Mommy do you know what my favorite dessert is? Me: What? Ella: A roll up Me: You mean a fruit roll up?? Ella: Yes Me: Oh really, when did you have that? Ella: I've never even had it before! - Nov. 2013
• Started gymnastics at Flip City - November 2013
• Obsessed with math addition problems - November 2013
• Ella: "mommy do you know what i might be when I grow up and I don't think I even have a choice...an artist! - Oct 2013
• Me: "Ella did you play with Saylor today?" Ella: "Yes, it's because we have the same shoes." - Sept 2013
• Me: "Ella do you want to do your ballet makeup class today? Ella: What's that? Me: You missed Monday for the holiday so you get to go on another day. Ella: Oh, I thought they took you to a room and put makeup on you. - Sept 2013
• "Daddy, let's hold hands and skip to my room!" - Sept. 2013
• Ella: "Oh my gosh, it's going to be so hard when Asher gets older. Me: Why?? Ella: Because there is only 1 mommy and 1 daddy and THREE kids! - Sept. 2013
• Started Kindergarten. Enrolled in a Dual Language spanish program in public schools. Her classroom is taught 90% in Spanish and 10% in English. - August 2013
• Learned how to tie shoes - August 2013
• At age 5 can shower and wash her own hair completely independently
• Counted from 1 to 100 all by herself - March 2013
• "I'll see you at Facebook, I'll see you online!" - Feb 2013
• Said to Mimi, "Tomorrow I'm going to have a little of a bad day because you won't be here. I'm going to miss you!"

Easton's 2013 Milestones and Memories

Easton's fun things in 2013

• After getting a haircut he had spiky hair and he looked in the mirror and said "I look like a horn dog!" Mommy asks "what's that?" Easton replies "I don't know like a deer horn or some fin. Like a dog that hit somefin or somefin. A horn dog."
• Walks in the house after playing outside "I'm a dirty man!"
• Mommy: Easton, I'm so happy that you were a good boy at school today. Easton: Okay Mommy, if that makes you happy I'll do it everyday."
• "I'm really happy that you brought my bear but I'm happy that you brought Asher better" - Oct 2013
• "Axtident" for accident 
• "I kind of saw it raining while I was sleeping" - Sept 2013
• Started swimming by himself - August 2013
• "Thank you my lovely Ella" - April 2013
• Signed up for his first soccer team! - March 2013 (has been playing soccer shots at his school for the past year)
• Easton: "Mommy I want you to come outside with me". Me: But it's cold outside. Easton: But you can get dressed and put a sweater on. Because I'm just little still and I heard a sound and it's a little scary." - March 2013
• Last night to sleep in your crib - March 1, 2013
• "Mommy, I think we need to cut my fingers off." (referring to his long fingernails) - Feb 2013
• Started swim lessons - Feb 2013
• While watching a cheerleading competition on TV you said, "Mommy when I was bigger I used to do that." - Jan 2013
• Started gymnastics in afterschool - Jan 2013
• Started going #2 in the potty regularly, no more accidents! Wears diapers/pull up at night - 33 months
• Started marble jar reward system, just like Ella - Jan 2013

Asher's 2013 Milestones & Memories (birth - 8 months)

Asher's fun things in 2013

• Pulling up to a standing position and cruising a little bit - 8 months (12/29/13)
• top left tooth broke skin - 8 months (12/29/13)
• Top right tooth broke skin - 7.5 months (12/14/13)
• First double ear infection - Dec 2013
• Waving - 12/6/13
• Sat from a crawling position - (12/5/13)
• Eating solids twice a day - 6 months 3 weeks
• Bottom left tooth broke skin - 6.5 months (11/13/13)
• Bottom right tooth broke skin - 6.5 months (11/11/13)
• First flight (North Carolina for family vacation) - 5 months 3 weeks 
• Getting his belly off the floor and getting up on hands and knees - 5.5 months
• Sitting by himself for short periods of time - 5.5 months
• Eye infection most likely from congestion - almost 5 months (9/19/13)
• Rolling from tummy to back at night only not during the day - 4 months
• using his hands much more and playing with toys - 4 months
• moved to size 3 diapers - 4 months
• rolled from back to tummy - 16.5 weeks
• started sleeping unswaddled - around 16 weeks
• Went 10 hours and 2 min between nursing, eating 6 times a day - 10 weeks
• Slept an 8 hour and 45 minute stretch - 2 months
• moved to size 2 diapers - 6 weeks
• Had his first bottle (of breast milk) and sucked it down without hesitation - 5.5 weeks
• Slept a 7 hour stretch - 5.5 weeks
• Smiling at his toys - 5 weeks
• Quit waking you up at night to eat - 3 weeks
• moved to size 1 diapers - 2 weeks

Just Dance on NYE

December 31, 2013

Just Dance 2014 to ring in the New Year!  

I've never had a desire for video games, but this was a fun one and Ella was SO into it!!

End of the Season

December 30, 2013

Supporting our horns for the last game of the season and the last game for Coach Mack Brown!

Cooking class

December 28, 2013

We were fortunate to meet up with this crew over the break for another cooking class.  Such a fun activity for these kids and a great opportunity to get them all together as well as a full hour for us moms to catch up!

Ice Skating

December 28, 2013

Over the holiday break Ella and I met up with one of her friends from school for ice skating.  It was Ella's first time so I didn't know what to expect but we had a blast!  She fell a lot but we just laughed and had a great time!!  I loved her fearless personality and willingness to try something new. She really tested herself too, letting go of my hand or railing when she felt ready.  I hope to take her back soon.  We warmed up afterwards with hot chocolate from Starbucks!

Around the house with Asher in December

Christmas Morning

December 25, 2013

Ella came in our room around 7:30am and I think Asher was already awake at that point too.  By 8:00am we told Ella she could go wake up Easton.  I have fun memories of my sister and I waking each other up on Christmas morning so I was happy for Ella to get to do that with Easton.  I snuck behind her to listen to their sweet Christmas morning conversation about Santa coming and the presents under the tree. 

Leading up to Christmas this year we tried really hard to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and keep the focus of the season around Jesus' birth.  One of the things we did that we loved was an advent devotional during the month of December called "A Meaningful Christmas".  This was perfect for Ella's age especially and I felt like we all go so much out of it.  We will continue it each year for sure.  

Ella's big gifts this year were her very first American Girl doll and the rainbow loom that she had been wanting for a long time.  They were both a huge hit and have gotten lots of use!  Easton got a pirate ship that he loves and also a $2 "claw" toy in his stocking that was his favorite.  And the spiderman pajamas got a pretty big reaction as well.  Asher got a hand-me-down toy from the kids and a music table from Santa.  He has loved the table and plays with it all the time, but on Christmas morning he mostly just wanted to eat the wrapping paper!

Christmas morning always seems to come and go so quickly but we did pretty good dragging it out and enjoying the morning.  It was fun and simple with just the five of us this year at home.  After breakfast we worked on our puzzle from Santa and then headed to Michael's grandparents' house.