birthday girls!

Happy 1st birthday to Ella and Kate! You have grown soooo much in the past 12 months and we are very proud of you. (And proud of us for surviving the blur of sleepless nights, endless feedings, and life with three children in this household.) We wouldn't have it any other way!

Examining the birthday present box - decorated with love by big sis!

Playing with birthday gift!

Of course, the box it came in is much more fun! (sigh)

Milestones 
Ella: 23 lbs (88th %ile) and 31 inches long (96th %ile).
Loves reading books and clapping to music!!!  Excellent at shaking her head back and forth in disapproval - usually to something you are trying to feed her. Expert at hauling things around, using each hand and mouth at the same time to move toys and other prized possessions.Will cleverly find a way to squeeze onto your lap even if someone else was there first.

Ok Elmo, I know you are in there. Now where's Ernie?

Kate: 21lbs, 5 oz (73rd %ile), 31.1 inches (97th %ile).
Likes to stand and let go of what she's holding onto. Bets are she will walk before Ella, even though Ella crawled first. Will play various instruments and electronic toys and "sing" as she plays. Likes to dance up and down too, especially while grabbing the bars on the safety gate. Still the resident comedian and jokester. Has a gift for magically making the food on her tray disappear, and show up on the floor - to her right only. Will say "mamamamama" and "dadadadada" and "elllllaaaaaa". Not necessarily to anyone in particular however.

 

Weekend was filled with birthday celebrations - and a fun trip to a farm for pumpkin picking and hay rides (the first of many to come)!

 

Julia in training to drive tractor hay ride

Hay ride and mini-donuts! Yum.