Climbing that hill.........almost to the top!!!

So the hill I am referring to is the one that you fall "over" ..... as in "over the hill"!!! I know, I know start playing your tiny violins for me....I turned 35 today. THIRTY! FIVE! I remember the time when I thought the thirties were so ollldddddddddd. Well, I have lived to tell you that they are NOT!!! Being in your 30's is NOT old!!! My day started off dreary outside with the inside holding two grumpy babies, one grumpy husband and one unexpected, self invited, extended stay guest..........but it did turn around. The babies snapped out of their funk with a little sun, some milk and a nap and the husband did the same minus the nap and milk.....the guest........well we are just dealing with that one. He did buy steaks for dinner though and is sweeping my kitchen floor as we speak here.......or should I say as I speak.......or type. But, I digress!!!
We had some fun, ate some yummy food and cheesecake.......had a glass or two and a half of awesome wine.........and I have the pictures to prove it!!!
Here is the cake....awesome fresh fruit topped cheesecake......can I just say ....as Ella would........YUMMY!!!

Now this picture will again put me as a front runner for the mommy of the year award....Yes, my child is dipping her toothbrush into her cheesecake and yes she brushed her teeth with it and yes I laughed as she did this!!! But never fear....we did a good old fashioned "real" tooth brushing sans cheesecake later. But looking over and seeing her do this .........well, that's funny stuff!!!

Here is Edie very impatiently waiting for her slice of heaven.........

We played with play doh and coloring books for the first time today...and it was sooooooooooo fun people!!! Here is Ella Grace's first creation....I did the hair!!!

Edie preferred the play doh...once she figured out it wasn't something to eat...here is her first creation!!!!

Ella gets serious about her coloring ... she is wondering what is going on between Edie and Daddy that is causing such a commotion interrupting her coloring....

Not sure what is happening here.........

Edie wondering what daddy is making with his play doh........

Edie is quite proud of her play doh figure......

Ella liked the play doh......

Ella watching Edie color.........stealing her ideas!!!

Ella and then Edie coloring.......


Edie eats colors.........that's how she rolls!!!

My friend Letha and her awesome boyfriend Chad were here this weekend from Louisiana......we had some fun!!! I managed to get NOT ONE single picture of either one of them.......NICE!!! I did get a couple of the sweeties though.....of course!!
Here is Edie wondering what Auntie Letha brought her.......

We headed to a couple of our favorite wineries.........both girls were on a mission as you can see.........


Ella decided to take a load off.......

Our designated driver.........I kid, I kid......I was the designated driver....they did the wine tasting and I did the baby chasing.......

Bloody noses in 3D

Your Honor ... please enter photo #1 into evidence.

Yes my friends. That is a bloody wad of toilet paper that you are seeing. It is the result of one tiny little girl with one gigantic temper ... or something. I would like to think it's only because she doesn't have the words yet ...... not that she is a sassy little fire ball. ALREADY!!! Her daddy calls her bossy and she is living up to that little pet name! Unfortunately. So here is what went down.
Edie was sitting on the floor playing with the cordless phone. Ella sashays by, reaches out and grabs the phone. And keeps on walking...until Edie throws herself backwards, stiffens and starts wailing. Now this is not an uncommon occurrence here at Casa Marbut. One would believe that Edie should be the bully because she is so much larger ... but don't let size fool you people. What happened next has us all in shock ... Ella stops in her tracks, turns around and THROWS the phone at Edie hitting her square in the nose. Then, THEN she turns around and sashays off .. as if to say ..."there you big baby"!!! Heaven help us!!!
Now while Ella Grace is a little spitfire ... Edie Claire is a little daredevil. I left them for less than a minute this morning. They were standing at the counter (the only place I can get them to eat now) and I ran upstairs ....very very briefly. I came back to this.........

I bought the sweeties some sidewalk chalk ... it's supposedly 3D so it came with some glasses.......that they LOVE to wear. I think because it distorts things a bit making it look all rainbowy ....here is Edie all hyped up with her glasses on.....



We will have some fun pics later in the week ... my friend Letha is coming to visit us tomorrow and it's her first time meeting E Squared!!! Fun times!!!

Family Portraits ......

We had a family portrait taken and I was going to save it as a suprise for our family but I need help deciding ....... So family. I am sorry to blow it for you!! Which should we order?????????












All together............

Just me and Ella.........

or Jon and Edie with their tongues stuck out.......

Seriously ... I love the potato head family and so do Edie and Ella ......
Looks like Ella Grace is conducting some serious business on the cell phone...

Edie has been more and more steady while climbing up and down steps .... but she sometimes loses her balance which is especially bad when it happens out our back door, because she flops face down on the pebbled concrete patio.......
the bruises don't bother her as much as they do me ...... I feel terrible and I wasn't even there when she fell. I had left them alone while I went to the grocery store........I kid. I kid. I was at work though .......


Here they are trying to decide what to wear ...... they find that sitting naked on the laundry is way more fun than actually folding it and putting it where it belongs.

So lately both girls, but especially Ella kick and scream when they are bathed. Put them in a nice warm bath with toys and soap and mommy to scrub them off .....nope!!! Not having it!!! Yet, give them an ice cold bucket or sprinkler and they are there......


Sweet little Ella loves sitting at the table like a big girl.....

Ella and daddy snuggling up ... he had just gotten home from work and she was having some breakfast.......

Who needs a vacuum when you have a gigantic furry puppy dog......

Now here is the bucket picture I promised in the last post ..... the girl loves playing in water.......as long as it's not the bath ....

18 month appointment ... a week late !!!

Last Monday we took E Squared for their 18 month doctor appointment!!! I am sure that I don't have to say what I ALWAYS say ..... but it's just baffling to me that my babies are so big. And smart!!! Man are they smart ... and I am not at all biased because Jon thinks the same thing.
It is so cool how we went through 5 embryo during our IVF cycles and each failed cycle was devastating. However, now that we have Edie and Ella we could not even imagine having different babies. It's really hard to describe but trust me .... it's amazing!!! It is also cool to be able to watch a tiny human learn EVERYTHING that they do ......from lifting their heads and rolling over to submerging their bodies into ice cold buckets of water (more on this later)!!!
So for a little flashback to their 6 month appointment when Edie weighed nearly 17 pounds and Ella nearly 15.....


Dr. B was pleased with their growth and development ... they are right on track with everything. We are fortunate to not have any concerns or health issues!!! Now stats:
Edie Claire: 33 inches
24 pounds 7 ounces
Ella Grace: 30.25 inches
22.5 pounds
Ella may be small but she is fiesty. She is quite the bully ... pushing and pulling Edie ... I saw her pull her hair yesterday. Before we even brought her home from the hospital, Jon gave her a little pet name .."bossy"! Call it daddy intuition but he hit that nail right on the head. She is sassy!!! I often speak sternly to Rubi, who is a big furry pain in the you know what. Usually I say NO RUBI, DON'T DO THAT! Well Ella has picked that little line up and has added a little finger shaking. It's hard not to laugh ...
Now on to the cuteness.......
Ella was playing in a bucket of water this afternoon and nothing could get her out ... except for when she needed to pick her nose!! (I'll post the bucket picture in another post...I thought I had it uploaded here)

Edie watching her sister in the bucket ... preferring to stay dry and warm.

We recently had Applebee's takeout ... Ella got into the ketchup!!

Here they are in their new booster seats........


Edie loved dipping fries in ketchup but not as much as she loved trying to get ketchup out of the packets......

Ella drinking from a sippy cup with a straw........

Edie .... going for the fries and ketchup!!!

We had a little piece of cake to share for their half birthday ..... and just like their 1st birthday cake ......Edie was more cautious about it than Ella ...

Too soon for chores ???

I don't know about you guys but we go through some laundry around here. It seems like we are constantly doing a load or 4 of laundry. Well just yesterday Ella and Edie thought it would be nice to help us a little and toss a load of laundry in to wash........

so sweet huh!!!

These girls love to go outside...especially now that they are more independant. They pick flowers and put gravel in their pants. Good times! Good times!!



We have found a new favorite spot to hang out for E Squared ... they LOVE LOVE LOVE to stand on chairs at the counter. They will eat there....


They scribble there ....


So proud of her new tile art!!! Lesson learned ... pencil wipes right off of tile. Sharpie...not so much!!!

Edie looking unhappy but just like her daddy ...

Edie digging for gold or pointing to her nose one...

Ella loves to cozy up with a good book ....


I love this picture of Ella ...so sweet

Both girls in their chairs ... looks like Edie had a call to make!!!

Edie loves to drink from straws ... NO she is not drinking soda ... it's iced water. I swear!!

Ella throwing her classic fit ...she is R!O!T!T!E!N!!!!!!!!!!!! to the core!!!

Here is Ella Grace making her very first mud pie .... she did NOT eat it.



My friend Dani came over with her sweet little potato Elle Marie and Edie and Ella LOVED her. As soon as they got here Edie ran to her toy box and found an old paci for baby Elle Marie .... she ran back and threw it at her. So nurturing!!! They fought over the baby seat too...both loved it. It seems like they were JUST in the teeny seat themselves.

We had some friends over for the first Alabama game last weekend. Here are Ella and Edie helping me make the Mexi Dip ... good stuff!!!




Sweet Ella....

I had some adorable dresses made for the girls by my blogging buddy Missy but they were sadly too big for this season .... but Edie was determined to show her spirit...


Rubi waiting for Edie to apply some lip gloss on her snout...

Ella checking her date book........they turn 18 months old tomorrow Sunday .... crazy!!! It's also crazy that my sweet husband and I have been married 6 years tomorrow!!! I deserve a big gigantic present..........teehee!!! At least a cupcake. No?