House guests, Hurricanes and Honey!!!

Here we are!!! I have gotten some emails, comments and even 2 phone calls making sure everything is ok here since I haven't posted anything in over a week......I never realized we are so popular!!! We (me and E squared) spent a few nights in Palo Alto with Edie's godmother who we will call Honey and her son Alex. They were here to see her nephew who was severely wounded in Iraq and is now at the VA in Palo Alto.......they have an exceptional blind rehab. Yeah BLIND at 20.......so sad. Of course they wanted to see us as well so we stayed down there with them...sort of a mini vacay for us. We had a nice time even though E Squared took turns getting over their virus and then getting it back ALL WEEKEND. They definately deserve the gold medal in the olympic diarrhea - ing event. We have been upgraded to "gold" customers at Pampers. Honey and Alex were supposed to head home on Tuesday but since Gustav decided to make a nice appearance......they were stranded. We had a great time though -- they came back up to our house and left this morning.
We are coming up on 6 months here next week....hard to believe!!! So much has changed in this past half year. Jon and I will have our 5 year anniversary on the same day as their half birthday. We will do something special ......we haven't quite decided yet.
We have put an offer in on a house!!! It is a short sale which can be a little tricky -- but we are waiting patiently for the bank to accept our offer....so keep your fingers crossed. We have to move regardless by November 1st so it's a bit stressful. So just FYI a short sale, if you don't already know, is sort of a preforclosure... the bank has to approve the offer because they are basically taking the loss.
Things are going well here....it seems we have gotten past the evil virus that was swirling amongst the 4 of us. Edie and Ella are amazing!!! Funny little girls with great personalities. Laughing, rolling, amazed at their hands, discovering their toes/feet, scooting along the floor, sleeping MUCH better. They are both just lovely and we are having a great time watching them grow and explore......it's amazing. I will leave you with enough pictures to make up for the lapse in posting........enjoy our sweet funny angels!!!
Ella Grace.....I guess she was thirsty.
E squared with Honey and Alex. Funny story about Alex......well actually about Edie. She had a crush or something on Alex. She would stare at him and when he would look over at her she would smile her huge toothless grin. If he wasn't paying attention to her she would sort of fake moan/cry and when he would look at her she would flash the gums...it was quite funny and kept us all very entertained.
Edie Claire.........no words needed!!!

How sweet...........
Ella....big blue eyes!!!
Edie.....they are both very fond of their tongues these days.
This is Edie with hair......and an extra arm hooked to the back of her head I guess.
This is my great friend Lauren ------she watched them today for 2 hours for me. Ella was wore out from all the fun!!!

Here is Ella holding her own spoon.......very neatly as you can see.
And Edie determined not to me left out.
Now these last 2 are plain pitiful. These are the cribs the hotel had in our room....they slept in them the first night and I couldn't bear to see them looking so neglected so they slept with me the rest of the time.......the first one is of Edie with post crying eyes.....she was sick. But she looks like a little abused baby in a cage. right?
And Ella....

Summer 2012

I know....I know we are a little behind with the Olympic post - what with the big hoopla wrapping up nearly a week ago already -- but we have had some olympic like activity happening around here. Olympic diarrhea - ing!!! Yep... E squared have gotten their little hands around their very first virus. Ella seems to be pretty much better...she is still milking the whiny love but oh well. Edie made a trip to super cool Dr. B this morning.....he confirmed "it's just a virus". I decided to bring her because it was her 2nd day with a fever and diarrhea with no end in sight. I try not to panic like a "rooky mom" but......well it's better to be safe than sorry.
I don't know if anyone happened to notice some of the completely absurd olympic sports......namely Olympic men's trampolining. Seriously!?! What ... you don't believe me? Check it out.......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPa668EFDB0&NR=1
Well, we were thinking people would much rather see things like.......Say

Olympic cuteness..........

How about olympic baby "crawl" racing.....yes this was staged

How about a little olympic synchronized bottle holding??????

Recent studies have shown..........

It turns out, they left another important tidbit out of the instruction manual that came with these babies. You should never turn your back because you never know where you will learn valuable information. It just so happened that today I got some shocking information and I just might have to write an angry letter to the baby owners manual author and/or publisher for leaving this information out. I should preface this information that I am about to share with this.......I always say they make 'em cute for a reason (meaning the babies) well the same holds true for little old ladies!!!
So, Ella and I went out to Costco and the supermarket this afternoon and left Edie home with daddy. As she and I were standing in the check out line -- well she was lying in line......in her carseat. Anyhoo.....we were minding our very own business when this adorable little busy body elderly lady decided she should come around and check out the blue eyed beauty I had in my cart. Harmless enough. Right? Wellllllllllllllllllll.
busy body blue haired cute lady: oh how cute.
me: thank you very much.
ella: nothing -- she doesn't talk yet.
busy body blue haired cute lady: my he sure is handsome.
me: sh
busy body blue haired cute lady: what a handsome little boy. (to Ella) you sure are a handsome little boy.
me: nothing.....i mean what's the point?
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE... SAME OUTFIT ONLY IN A CARSEAT. WHICH IS PINK!!!
Now refocus and look again.......one more time. All girl right??????????

But wait there is more. This cute little lady shared with me what could be some life saving advice. I guess I shouldn't make too much fun of her.

Did you know that they are finding the cause for the recent rash of cataracts that babies are getting? It's because we have no ozone layer......so you should NEVER and she repeats NEVER take a baby out without shielding their eyes. Yeah seriously......infant cataracts. Who knew? Also, all those shots they give to babies.....well, well, well. Did you know that"it used to be 1 in 2000 and now it's 1 in every 300 babies CATCH autism from all the shots. It's the murr curry (aka mercury) so make sure to ask for the ones that don't have murr curry"!!

Now don't you agree.....I mean shouldn't they have included that in that book?

She was a sweet little lady......who meant well......but that does not make her immune from my teasing!!! Now here are some cute pictures of my little handsome son Ella......

And to keep all feelings unhurt........Edie too

A little after dinner relaxation...I mean does it get any cuter than this???

Milk beards and afros........

Ella Grace wearing her big haired afro wig (it's a straight hair afro).....(click on the picture to enlarge and it looks more like it's hair on her head)(check out those awesome baby blues while you're at it) Here is Rubi (aka straight hair afro wig) babysitting.......she's the only one we have used to watch the girls so far....she is very trustworthy!!!

And so she doesn't feel left out.........Edie Claire!!!

It's raining...It's pouring.......la la la de dah!!!

Here is Ella Grace giving a fabulous demonstration of how are lives are these days........ we are being flipped upside down. So we've been casually going about this house buying thing......you know with the market what it is and all. It's a good time for us to buy.......basically to take advantage of other peoples misfortune.........as sad as that is. If you are reading this and are one of the unfortunate ones.......we are sorry. So we got pre approved for our loan in a mere TWELVE WEEKS -- slow poke Mr. we won't mention any names.....but it starts with a W.ells and ends with a F.argo! So anyhoo -- that's all done. We have a realtor that we both like very much.......me especially because he is nice enough to let me talk his head off.....I mean when you engage in goo goo gaa gaa all day long......you become desperate for adult convo and the first person that will listen........well, feel sorry for them. So we have looked at a few houses and plan to see a few more.......la de dah......T.H.E.N. we get a call today saying we have 60 days....to move.......that's right SIXTY DAYS.........so we must find a house, make and offer on a house, have offer accepted, hopefully get a nice short close, pack this house, clean this house, unpack new house (well that part doesn't have to be rushed)(but for dramas sake) UNPACK NEW HOUSE,.........well you get it. And have I mentioned that I have not 1 but 2 babies......both of whom require alot of upkeep. So here we are........counting down........do they allow you to set up cribs under the bridge????????? How about pets.......do they take pets?

Hey......where did you come from???????

fingers are oh so yummy yummy yummy........for my tummy tummy tummy.........

Rubi -- guarding her herd.........actually she is babysitting while I search the WWW for a new home.........she's requesting a large yard........and all the frisbees she can catch!!!

E squared is doing great. Edie is still sleeping in her crib.......phew!!! She wakes up 2-3 times each night still to eat but falls right back to sleep. When you lay her down she kicks up her right leg and flips over onto her belly and sighs.....almost every time. Too damn cute!!! Ella still sleeps with me.......I like it!!! I am nervous about putting her into her own bed because she wakes up so much until I go to bed.......it's like she doesn't like to be alone in the bed but once I am in bed she sleeps longer..............excuses, excuses I know........

So things are good here.......getting a little stressed but nothing a little baby love can't fix. They are darling ------aren't they!!! Wish us luck and send cash (just kidding about that)(the cash part that is)(we need the luck)

This. That. The other.........

It's hard to believe we are pushing the 5 month mark with these blue eyed beauties. The time. It is a flyin. Sleep was H.E.L.L. last week with little miss...well we won't mention any names but it starts with an E and her middle name is Claire...anyhoo. Little miss decides she must wake up every 1/2 to 2 hours.....A.L.L. W.E.E.K. L.O.N.G!!! So I got the bright idea of trying to put her in her crib to sleep. You see they have been co-sleeping with me this whole time (i know what you're thinking and frankly i don't care)(with all due respect)(when you take care of 2 babies by yourself. on no sleep. did i mention there are 2 of them)(mr. american academy of pediatrics) now...... what on earth was i saying? So we go about our normal bedtime routine - which is worth it's weight in Starbucks (coffee is way more important than gold these days) -- I give them their bottles then I pick little Edie up and put her in her crib and she just rolled her cute little self right on over and started sawing logs. Then the next night..... oh boy! It worked again. And again........here we are on night 3 and she is in there sawing. GENIUS. I will work on Ella next week -- don't want to push my luck. Now don't get me wrong -- they both still wake up to eat 2 times/night but we all go right back to sleep. And since I have a huge chunk of the bed back I can actually sleep------- it's been a nice change!!! Who knew? The things they don't put in the "how to care for baby" manual. Now on to the good stuff...........
Just for old times sake......aaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Look at this......... the top outfit (our absolute favorite that we can never part with)(came from Jons sisters)(we have 2) was what they could fit into merely 5 months ago.....and the bottom they can wear now........unbelievable. Right? I mean it's only been 5 months.

Here is the log sawer..........

Oh mommy!!! Come on. I'm naked here..........

The new oilcloth bibs --- we were ruining all our cute cloth bibs with this organic baby food. I don't know maybe regular baby food stains just as bad. Maybe worse. What with all the pesticides....geez!!! We are soooooooooo Northern California. It's organic or nothing for these hotties. Just kidding....well sort of. Our pediatrician, as I have mentioned before, is super laid back. Doesn't get caught up in all the bull floating around out there made up just to scare us new mommies.....BUT when he gave the ok to start solids he recommended feeding them organic baby food and if I make it to use organic veggies. Since he is NEVER quick to recommend these types of things -- I figured it would be good to listen. I planned to make their food but it hasn't quite worked out yet. I needed a good reason to buy that beautiful. new. shiny. cuisineart food processor. right? (have I mentioned how I love the informality of the internet)(can my punctuation get any crazier?)(I LOVE IT)(just FYI..... I do know correct grammar. it's just more fun this way) ..........so to make a short story long. Here are the cute bibs! Notice Rubi in the background patiently waiting for some chin licking the second I turn my back..........

Peek a Boo........ I see you...............Edie Claire!!!

Hey you.....over here. Snap a picture will ya!!!!!!!

We should have named her Johnnie...........spittin image!!!

Poor Rubi........nobody wants to play with her.

blue jeaned baby butts...........not a whole lot that's cuter than this!!!

First beach party !!!

OK -- so we are a little bundled up. It's a Northern California beach party.......foggy!!! I took E squared to the 3rd annual "CTU summer party" on Saturday..... CTU is the unit I work on at the hospital. Cardiac Telemetry just FYI. Good times were had by all. My blue eyed beauties were a big hit of the party...... along with the yummy food and wine.
Here is Ella Grace -- not shy on the lap of a complete stranger. Edie seems to be a bit more apprehensive with people she is not used to. Ella just goes with it........
Edie napping...... "this beach party is boring"...........

Ella -- bottle propping while mommy takes her picture. We must keep the pictures even so noone feels left out. Right?

Edie with a coworker of mine -- another RN. Barbara. Her sweet dog Ed was behind them.

Ella with one of the party hosts -- Frank.

Now onto a completely different day. Here are some cute dresses that they have. We have LOTS of clothes....... first Ella

then Edie Claire