October 2012/Stewart Family Visit

 Starting to get things set up for Baby. Poor Baby doesn't get a nice, new nursery like Eliana, but we are at least trying to get prepared! Got the pack and play set up in our room since that is where Baby will be for a while...

 This was down in the Quay on a nice day in October. We actually had some sunshine!

 We fed the ducks. Eliana had fun throwing the bread:)

 Then she decided to have a bite for herself:)

 Check out my cool, new desk. Our friends let us borrow it for a while. Mom got me some playdoh.

 Here I am playing the drums to the music on my computer that Grandma got me. Fun!

 Driving the car at playgroup. This is one of my favorite things to do here.

 Driving the car...Eliana went through a period where she wanted to get in the car all the time. We couldn't go outside without sitting in the car for a while:)

 Back at our park! Mom's bad cramping finally went away, so we could take our long walk to the park again! I think it helped that she wasn't pushing a double stroller with a flat tire anymore:)

 On my bridge...Hi mommy!

 Motorcycle...

 We found this fun little seat under the stairs of my bridge.

 Back at Rhyme Time at the library. We have been coming here again every Thursday after dance class. Love this bench!

 Headed to church, thanks for my coat and hat, Lexi.

 Hanging out after swimming class. This is our new swim place. It is called Water Babies at Elmer's Court, so we have been staying for hot chocolate after class, and I get to run around this big room with my friends. I'm sure the staff love it. There really aren't many other people there though because it is still pretty early.

 Reading with my friend, Francesca, at the library.

 Happy meal. My first happy meal. Can you believe I got to eat this? Well, mom, dad, and I went shopping in Southampton to look at stuff for Baby, and also to get some ideas for toys for me. We got hungry, so had to stop and eat. There aren't many options. I liked my french fries. I have still been on an eating strike, but I did eat my oat bar and blueberries mom packed for me. Mom and Dad sure thought I looked like a big girl sitting here with them eating.

 Pee pee on the potty. Check out my cool new potty! We got this while we were shopping. I just love it! I can go pee pee like mommy, and then I can stand on my stool to wash my hands. I love to wash my hands lately.

 Trying to pull down my pants like Mom.

 Snoopy had to go pee pee.

 Happy Halloween. Although, I had a fever, and didn't feel so great. Mom and I just hung out inside for the day.

 Feeling better! Daddy is making Paddington do some funny things:)

 This is the beginning of Octcober. My Aunt Cristin, Uncle Rich, Lily, and Lexi came to visit me! They were buying a car in Sweden, so decided to make a trip out of it, and come visit us. Here we are in Exbury Gardens.

 Walking a little trail in Exbury Gardens. Not too much Fall foliage out  yet, but it was still fun.

 Raccoon. This is before my eating strike. I found my snacks mom packed, so am rummaging through them:)

 Checking out the flowers.

This is in Beaulieu. We stopped here after the Gardens for some hot chocolate, but they were out! Dad and Uncle Rich got some ice cream. I tried dad's ice cream. It was good. I called it sauce for some reason...

September, Grandma's Visit

 Feeding myself with my spoon! Eliana has been doing a much better job feeding herself lately. She finally seems to want to do it, and is improving daily. We still have to practice to keep our spoon upright, instead of flipping it over.

 Using the other hand. We are trying to figure out which is Ellie's predominant hand. She is using both for cereal, and seems to be just as good with either hand.

 Taking a boat ride. Back at Junkanoo (our music class) and the theme had to do with the sea. Ellie had fun riding in the boat.

 Dress up time at music class. Ellie still loves digging through all the clothes, but still has no interest in dressing up, and usually rips off whatever I try to get her to wear:)

 The rest of the class is on the other side of the room dancing or something. Ellie likes to do her own thing at music class, and found playing with paper (pae pu) as she calls it much more interesting...

 This is a different music group called Jo Jingles. We decided to try it since we wouldn't be going to swimming later. We are in the process of changing places of where we take our swim lessons. Ellie has been hugging bears and dolls a lot more lately.

 Watching the balls bounce! Ellie did get a little upset since she didn't understand why she couldn't jump on the blanket to fetch the balls.

 All dressed up, waiting for Daddy and Grandma to get back from the airport. I'm excited to see Grandma!

 Eliana has also been loving on her Paddington Bear that grandma got her for her birthday last year.

 Pigtails!

 Cruising around our driveway. Ellie loves running around out here

 In the little fort at one of our parks with Grandma.

 This is my friend, Ella.

 Hanging out on the steps. Eliana loves to climb her steps:)

 Back at Jo Jingles, and got to bring Grandma this time.

 Caught a fish!

 It was really fun to have Grandma with me at my class

 Love you, Grandma

 Hugging the Lamb.

 Pi up. This is one of Ellie's favorite things to say lately, and she wants to be picked up a whole lot lately!

 Playing with Baby doll at play group. Ellie has taken a strong interest in babies, and pushing baby in the stroller lately. Hopefully this fondness for babies continues once her sibling is here:)

 Driving the car, fun!

 Playing with some chalk. Mom and Grandma tried to get me to color, but I would rather take the chalk in and out of the box.

 Grandma got to come to my play group too!

 Hi Mom.

 My friend Maria came with us to play group today

 Running around outside with Grandma. I sure kept her busy chasing me:)

 This is my new friend, Francesca. She is really close to me in age too, about only 3 weeks older!

 We had fun running around outside together

 Grandma worked on her strength training while she was here since I am getting pretty heavy, and I liked to be picked up a lot:)

 At our park across the street from our house. Grandma took me here almost every afternoon, lucky!

 She taught me to walk the balance beam.

 This is my new dance class. Yes, sounds funny, but they have started a dance class here that is for girls my age! I even have to wear a leotard and tights!

 Bubbles!

 I liked shaking the pom poms.

 Grandma got to come to my class too, and she and mom took part in the dancing.

 Scarves...

 Pretend to sleep part of the song. So fun!

 Taking a walk in my big girl shoes with Grandma along the High Street. We just got Ellie some new shoes before walking down to the toy store, and she moved up a level in shoes. She sure loved playing in the shoe store!

 Stopped to look at some cards

 It sure is fun to walk instead of ride in my stroller. I have been giving mom and dad a hard time lately about getting in my stroller.

 Lunching with Mom and Grandma. We took Grandma to Saturday Market, and sat down for a latte and a Cornish pasty.

 Cruising around the Quay. We fed some ducks too. I sure did have mom and grandma running after me since I didn't seem to be afraid of the water at all!!

 We took a boat ride around the Solent. It was a really nice day, so it was pretty fun.

Play sleep time during a song. Eliana loves to pretend to sleep now, and likes for mom and dad to do it too. "Mama sleep, Dad sleep."