January 2011 in Southbury, CT

This is how I will forever remember January 2011. Every three to five days brought a "plowable amount" of snow (yes this is an official meterologist term). Our kids would line up at the window to watch Ryan plow the driveway, again and again and again. James in nothing but his diaper (he really won't wear clothes in the house) and Elsa wanting to follow in the footsteps of her big brother, lighting up everytime Daddy waves to her.

Months 10 & 11

Yep, you guessed it, months 10 & 11 have been a little hectic in the life of Elsa Weiland. Month 10 brought snow, snow and more snow for Elsa's first winter. Of course little Elsa didn't mind and she even had her first snowshoe in the CT countryside. Month 10 was the official transition from crawling to walking. It also marked a higher level of dedication to solid foods, a nice way to say Elsa is our little food monger, mac-n-cheese being the absolute favorite. Elsa showed us a bit more personality this month as well, learning to communicate what she wants and doesn't with whining, smiling and finger pointing.

Month 11 has felt like a developmental growth spurt. If month 10 was the transition to walking, month 11 has been that to running. Elsa's added in some dance moves as well, bringing us even more smiles. And she is now into everything! drawers, bottles, baskets, things & places we don't ever really think about until she finds them. Of course James has nothing to do with these exploratory adventures:) Silence when the two of them are together is a sure sign of trouble.
Elsa continues to be our fearless little girl. She usually has a bruise (or two) on her forehead and easily warms up to strangers.
There are two things about month 11 that I wish would never change (but that I know will): one, when you are on the floor she will turn around and back up to sit on your lap, usually dragging a book with her. She'll snuggle herself right in to your lap and open her book with a happy babble. Two, if you hold your hand out and say come with me she wraps her little hand around yours and is a willing partner on your journey.
P.S. Some months are easier to capture photos than others.

9 Months, Big Firsts

The ninth month has been a big one for Elsa and she still has a week to go. Elsa took her first steps early this month and hasn't stopped trying since. She prefers the efficiency of her crawl but shows no fear in constantly attempting to walk while steadily improving her balance and ability each day. Her 9 month appointment was full of big smiles for the doctor, weighing in at almost 18 lbs and 28.5 inches long (still charting the skinny, tall thing). With her first Christmas now behind her, solid foods in full swing and the occasional sharp grab of James's hair, she is quickly (too quickly) developing into her own little person. Elsa is an active and happy girl, easily pleased and full of toothy (8 and counting) grins for us at almost every given moment.

8 Months...Really

After three hearty but futile attempts to get a picture of our smiley girl and her cheesehead, I am admitting defeat and posting these two "best shots". Elsa continues to be a happy little girl, beginning to stand with "no hands" and cruising around furniture with ease. She is an eating machine and loves anything she can put in her mouth. She shows a tough side, handling big brother James's shenigans with little fuss. She is truly a content, wonderful baby.

Trick Or Treat

Our monkey (aka James) happily traded in his bashful chips for candy this Halloween. After he saw how trick or treating worked with his experience at the first house, he was on a mission. Marching up to each house peeking in the window until the magic candy bowl arrived. Usually a "thank you" was offered before turning to Mom & Dad, announcing "more" and pointing to the next house down the street. He was very nice to take candy for Elsa when it was offered and hand it over to Mommy (instead of pilfering it for his own bag). I'm sure that will change next year:) It was a blast to watch him march the through the leaves in his monkey suit to our neighbors homes.

New England Fall

7 Months

Please stop growing up so fast!

The 6 Month Marker

Yes our little Elsa turned six months old! She has really grown out of the "newborn state" in the past four weeks. She ditched the bouncy seat and loves the freedom of playing on the floor. She adeptly maneuvers from her stomach and back into a sitting position and is constanty rocking herself on all fours. She has figured out how to scoot backwards and appears to be very close to crawling (help us!). And we are seeing a little more personality these days as she lets us know what she likes and doesn't like. With her two new front teeth she enjoys munching on Mum Mums and her teething biscuits. And what I suppose is true of most 2nd children, she continues to adore her big brother. Six month check-up is later this week, we'll post the stats then!

End of Summer

August Birthday Month

Our little James turned TWO this month, followed quickly by Elsa's 5 month birthday. James celebrated with an ice cream cake that he still talks about by pointing to the picture you see above and then pointing to his belly and smiling. He uses new words daily but his articulation is a bit lacking. Mom & Dad easily realize when he repeats a word he shouldn't (that he heard us say) but thankfully no one else understands him. He continues to be every bit of two, leaving us in stiches one minute, amazement another and frustrated yet again. His #1 love is still Daddy's tractor but tools, all 4 wheeled cars and bubbles play a close second. He is just shy of 3 feet(85/90 percentile) and weighs around 27lbs (20 percentile) although he wouldn't let go of Mom to sit on the scale. He can be coerced into doing just about anything for sweets (Daddy's sweet tooth for sure!) and thinks that juice boxes hung the moon. If only we could get him to sleep in past 6 in the morning!

Elsa had a big month as well, beginning solids and sitting by herself. She doesn't appear to love cereal as much as her big brother but she is already showing us she is tough little girl, surviving the constant tugging, pulling and bouncing inflicted on her with a gracious smile. As I write every month she continues to be our sweet mellow girl!

4 Months

Our happy little Elsa just keeps on smiling. Weighing in at nearly 14 lbs and 25 1/4inches long she is longer and leaner than her big brother at the same age. She's graduated to rolling over both ways, pulling her velcro toys off their support and watching James where ever he goes. She continues to show us a relaxed and easy going personality!

3 Months

Elsa was 3 months old this past Saturday. She is turning into our little chatterbox, finding her little voice and loving the sound of it.

Queen of the Bumbo, King of the Sandbox

This picture doesn't do our Sandbox King justice. James's sandbox is 7ft x 7ft and holds 56 (1 pallet), 50 lb bags of the finest, chemical free play sand. He loves his new adult sized sandbox. Thanks Daddy!

Hugs & Kisses

Great pics of the kids that Grandma Joan took this past weekend.

When is this big brother stuff gonna get fun?

2 Months

Elsa turned 2 months old on Wednesday. Today she had her big day of shots and a weigh-in. She is now 11'9 and 22 1/4. We are enjoying her big smiles more and more!

Growing...growing...growing

One Month Birthday for Elsa

Elsa turned 1 month on Monday. She celebrated with a day full of milk and a quick, uneventful trip to the Doctor's. Elsa weighs 10 lbs 3 ounces and now measures 22 1/4 inches (adding to our gut feeling that she was longer than 19.5 at birth). She has been a good baby (knocking on wood right now), great eater and is providing us some rewarding smiles in the past few days. James continues to be a great big brother. His own strength tends to get the better of him, as he constantly wants to hug and kiss his little sister. I am sure he is quite tired of the word "gentle" by now. Mom is recovering thanks to help from Grandma Joan & Opa, Grandma Nana and Grandpa...looking forward to the 6 weeks check-up and hopefully full permission to carry James around.

Guess Who?

We think that Elsa definitely resembles her big brother James. One of these pictures is Elsa and one is of James.....