Crafts, Birthday, Easter

I need to get better about doing this every night again. Lately I have been so tired I just crawl into bed. I still have not figured out why I can not upload videos here which is a shame because I have several I would like to upload.

These past 4 days have been very busy!! Friday I made an art project with Eli. He loved doing it and I had fun. We did an Easter theme. Eli loved doing it and was so proud to show Anthony when he got home.



Yes there is paint on his face!

Lilliana fell asleep in her bumbo watching us. I felt so bad that she just fell asleep. She was not happy when I woke her up either.



Saturday was my birthday. It being Easter weekend I knew our plans would end up being all moved around which was fine. Anthony's brother's wife so our Sister In Law was in town with her daughter September. We had not gotten to meet September yet so we planned to see them on Saturday. We also had to get Easter basket stuff. We did that in the morning and then in the afternoon Amanda came over with September. It was great seeing them. September is adorable and Eli loved her. He still talks about Baby September. Before they came we got out the nerf guns because Anthony bought me mine own since Eli and he have one and I don't. It was part of my birthday present. So I got them out while we were waiting and we had a war. Here is one of my favorite pictures of Eli

The littlest person has the biggest gun!!

Anthony took me to Olive Garden for dinner that night. It was nice to get out especially since we did not take either of the kids. It was the first time Lilliana had been left. Anthony's sister graciously watched her. Thank goodness she was good for her!!!

Easter Sunday we went to church, then had an egg hunt, and then ate dinner. By the afternoon I was exhausted. Here are some pictures from the day.

Eli getting into his Easter Basket...eating the chocolate of course.

Family Picture

Trying to get a picture together but Lilliana was cranky!!



More interested in the BUGs!!!


 

Hunting for eggs

All tired after a long weekend.

Its been a busy week!! A Day in the Life of Eli.....Lillina is 2 Months

This was actually meant for yesterday's blog but I could not get the videos to upload that I talk about and still could not today so I will try again on another day. It keeps saying there is an error so who knows.

I have wanted to sit down and update this all week especially for those people that do not have Facebook and use this to keep up like my Grandma Gloria (sorry Grandma!!) All that to say Anthony was out of town all last week so I was solo again and it was tiring, crazy, and just overwhelming. I did survive though:) We had lots of fun most days too. I did get a lot accompolished in the way of some hobbies that I have wanted to do and that are important to me. The biggest thing I wanted to get done was at least one scrapbook for Lilliana. I do not want to get behind in that. Here is a link to her first book. I did do some editing before it was finally complete but here is a good rough draft. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150168984062545&id=502597544&aid=284593&l=25f955ed95
I also got some more bows made for Lilliana's summer wardrobe. I still need to do her Easter bow. Eli and I had a lot of fun this week too.

 Anthony came home late Friday night. At this point Eli was getting sick again although I am almost positive it is allergies. Lilliana had somewhat of a cold too. So at night I was not sleeping the best because I was worried about her breathing. Saturday I went to Kohl's to get an Easter dress. I had a bunch of Kohl's cash to spend. I also picked up some non maternity pants and shirts!! Finally I am done with maternity clothes. It was also so nice to be able to get out and have some mommy time. I did not take either kids. We relaxed the rest of the weekend. We really wanted to go to church Sunday but the kids both had nasty green stuff coming out of their nose so we decided not a good idea. Thankfully it seems to be going away. I am all stuffy now though and my ears are plugged which never happens to me but oh well.

I have learned to love homemade yogurt. I have been eating it for breakfast and dessert at night. It is all about eating French now for me. Since doing this I have lost 7 pounds in about 3 weeks. It feels so good!! I am very happy with my results and am hoping to continue them. Its all about the little choices.

Here are some pictures of Miss Lilliana and then Video of Eli. I have resorted to videoing him because he is so hard to take pictures of. He does not necessarily like the video either but it works. So you can see a typical day of Eli in video:) Or some things he typically does. He has such a personality.



Eli came in to tell me he had woken up from his nap. While he was cuddling with me he and I fell back  asleep. I woke up to this about 20 minutes later. It is one of my favorite pictures



My smiley girl smiling in her sleep

So happy and telling me all about it.





Im two months old today!

What are you looking at?!

Such an Angel

Hobby Day and Finally Smiles on Camera

Well I woke up this morning and the first thing out of Eli's mouth was, "Walk and Park! Walk and Park!" So we ate, got dressed, and went for a walk to the park again. It was about 9 when we left. I wore him out though. Aunt Toni took him which was a nice break!! I was so glad it let me get caught up on a bow order I needed to get done and I was able to just relax. Lilliana of course was great so we had no problems.

The highlight of my day though was getting Lilliana's Smiles on Camera. I woke up to her cooing and giggling. It just melted my heart. I forgot how much I missed that. Eli never woke up like that he always woke up screaming so it was so nice. So here is her wonderful little smile.

Miss Giggle Butt

She is so happy

I am also working on Scrapbooking finally. I have not been so much in the mood lately but as I was going through my Creative Memories stuff I remembered why I do it and decided it was time to start again. So Lilliana's book was worked on. Here are the bows I made today and some I made a while back for a bow order.

Piggy Tail Bows

Over the top bow

side view of over the top bow

Feeling Sooo Behind, First Smiles, and Homemade Yogurt.

I feel like I can not keep up with anything these days. I knew having two would be hard but I never invisioned I would be doing the majority of everything by myself so soon. I say that because Anthony has been working sooo much since Lilliana was born. I can not complain becuase it is work but I AM EXHAUSTED!! I feel like I have so much to do and am not keeping my head above water. I feel like I am constantly getting interupted so I never get anything complete. Oh well, I think its time some of my expectations are lowered! As we speak this is the first 10 minutes I have not had a screaming child in my hands, or a child that is into something. It is rather nice. Anthony is working as we speak.

The past couple of days have been so busy. Lilliana is sitting up so well and using her bumbo chair. She has not really smiled yet when we talk to her. She is very serious but today I got her to giggle and smile so big when talking to her probably 5 times. I of course did not get a picture but oh well. We also have found she has gained weight so well so much so that she now weighs 13 pounds 2 ounces!!! I had my last appointment with my midwives and they weighed her on Thurs. She has gained 5 pounds 2 ounces since birth and that weight was taken when she was 6 weeks 5 days old!! She is my little chunk but I love it!

Yesterday was the first day Anthony had had off in about 2 weeks. We had a blast and it was nice having some help as most the time he gets home after the kids are in bed. I got up really early and went grocery shopping. I was leaving the store at 7:15 in the morning. It was so nice to go with just me. It is the first time I had been away from Lilliana since she was born. Then we relaxed the rest of the day. Anthony took us out to dinner last nigh to our favorite pizza resturant....Delucas. It was great as usual and Eli was so good. Then we went to Meijer and got a few things. As we were coming home there were geese and some sandhill cranes in the fields. So we decided we would drive out to the state park before we got home so Eli could see the birds better. The sandhill cranes are really cool. Here is what they look like.

They can be 4 or 5 fee tall and are really impressive. This is one time I wish I had my camera with me. Eli loved going to the park. The name of the park is called Sleepy Hollow State Park. It has a lake and campgrounds and everything. (Anthony and I had our first date there looking at the stars so it holds a special meaning to us.) We decided not to go and get the camera because was late and we did not want to run home for that. I really wish I would have had it though. Eli was honking like the geese and it was hilarious. I tried to get him to do it today on camera but that did not happen. It was such a fun day. It was so nice to be out as a family and enjoy the weather. I am sure we will spend many more days there.

Today was busy as Anthony worked. It was soo warm too! I think our high was 83 degrees. I took the kids to the park to play. I was sweating so much. They enjoyed it. Lilliana is like her brother and really enjoys being outside. It was warm enough all she had to be in was a onesie.

I have been reading a book called, French Woman Don't Get Fat. My friend Meghan recommended it to me and it has been great. I have already lost 5 pounds from doing it after having a standstill of no weight loss. It has been so practical and is really helping me. Its not a diet its really a life change. I can pretty much eat anything just in moderation. One of the things in the book that helps your body is homemade yogurt. I made my first batch this week and  it was sooo good. It is so much healthier too. I have also been walking a lot too. I am loving it and can already see the difference. I have cut out a lot of my snacking habits and am learning its all about quality not quantity. I am reaching some of my goals for weight loss and I am so happy!! It is rewarding!

Here is to hoping this week is great!! I am determined to enjoy it no matter how hard it may be without Anthony's help or how many messes Eli makes. I need to be grateful for it no matter what because he is healthy and active. I love my kids and could not imagine life without them. Here are some pictures from the past week.

Eli trying to hug Lilliana and she is thinking save me mom!!!

My little girl is getting so big! Not even two months and able to sit in the bumbo



At the Park. I love those Eyes!

All tired out from our walk to the park.



Look at those rolls! All 13 pounds of rolls. I love it!

The Box Man, "MINE!," And One Month Pictures

I have been so busy these past few days but it is good! I am feeling almost 100% after having Lilliana and feel like I have a lot of my strength and energy back. Today I knew the UPS man was coming. He was bringing me some Creative Memories supplies, some books from Amazon, and after talking to my friend Meghan I figured a package from her. I LOVE getting packages in the mail or from the UPS guy. I always have and Anthony always teases me that our kids will never be able to get the mail because I love doing it and never miss a day. Although I did pregnant both times if it was snowy and slick out. Anyways, All that to say Eli has picked up no my enthusiasm of getting packages. He also really likes the UPS man because the regular guy waves at him and always talks to him if he stops. He is usually pretty regular and comes through town about 10:30 and we live on the main road so Eli sees the UPS truck and yells, "THE BOX MAN!!" He now knows the box man brings good things!! So today I told him he was coming well. Eli waited and waited all morning. The UPS guy drove by our house and he was puzzled!! He never just drives by if he has a package for us. So he got upset. Well about 30 minutes later he pulled up and dropped our package off. It was a different guy. Either way Eli was so excited. He got into one of the boxes before I did. I was making lunch. The entire time all I hear is, "MINE, MINE, MINE!!!" Granted the one box was for him and Lilliana. It was just so funny to see him get so excited.

I love that Eli is talking a lot now but he seems to have a favorite word I do not like. The word is MINE! Everything to him now is mine and its frustrating at times. It is great because he is starting to express how he feels. He is saying pretty much anything we ask him to say and repeats whatever. He is so funny. He has hated getting his picture taken these past few months but yesterday I was taking Lilliana's picture and he came up and decided he wanted his taken too so I did. It was being able to do that again. I plan to take him and do a mini photo shoot tomorrow because I did Lilliana's 1 month photos today. A little late but I got them done before she was 2 months so I am happy!! Here are a bunch of photos..................

Look at those rolls! She is such a chub but I love it!

Chubby Cheeks!

Eli finally let me take his picture! I LOVE THOSE EYES!

Eli wanted to read Lilliana Good Night Moon.  She was not thrilled but it made for a cute picture.

Happy Friday

Today was a great day! I love my kids. We had a wonderful day playing and learning. I am proud to say Eli knows almost all of his letters by name. He gets some mixed up but knows the majority of them. He got a blue truck for his birthday that is a hotwheels one. It is maganetic and winds up. He LOVEs it and walks around asking about his "blue truck" all day if he can't find it. Since Chloe has been here he has begun to talk even more. There is no more guessing what he wants because he just tells me its wonderful!!

Lilliana is growing leaps and bounds. She is always so serious! We finally got the fussy thing figured out thanks to Tawna!! So big thanks Tawna!! It makse perfect sense becuase the days I was not napping she was her worst and I never had problems with Eli. We have had two successful nights of no fussiness. I hope the trend continues. She is holding her head up all on her own now and is very strong. She loves to just watch things and tells us about a lot. She is starting to coo and just make lots of fun noises. If nothing will calm her I send Eli to talk to her and she is quiet immediately!!! She just stares at him with the biggest eyes.

Anthony is working a lot in the next couple of weeks which is good and hard on us. We are happy there is work but with the kids and him working sometimes its hard for us to have any time just he and I. We always manage so that is good but I do miss him. I am glad I am not pregnant though and am a lot more mobile.

I also resigned under a different person as a Creative Memories Consultant. I love scrapbooking and getting my discount. I love that my kids and grand kids can look back and know about their childhood because I know I love looking at old pictures and remembering mine. Here is my website if you want to buy anything or have questions! I would love to help you organize or display any of your pictures! www.mycmsite.com/alexisreuther1

Today I took the kids grocery shopping by myself again. It was a quick shop but we had fun. I wore Lilliana in my Ergo and Eli rode in the cart like normal. He was so fun and wanted to know about everything. We always have fun together. He kept talking and telling me about everything. We then came home and went for a walk and to the park since I had to cut my zumba work out short this morning since Lilliana woke up sooner than I planned. It was a great walk. It was cool but not too cold. I took them to the park so Eli could play. Eli loved it as usual and I was able to let him burn off some energy. When we got home he wanted to shoot his basketball and kept telling me to shoot it and catch it. He is such a boy but I LOVE it. I was blessed with some amazing kids and am loving every minute of being their mom. I am so grateful we are done being sick and I am getting into a routine with them! I can not wait to enjoy this summer. I am losing weight and excersicing so I have more energy and I am just loving teaching them new things.



Lilliana's Bow Holder I made. I saw these when pregnant and decided if I had a girl I had to make one!! The tule is sparkly and you clip the bows to the ribbons. The top ribbons on the bodice are for small clips. Her room will be green with purple accents

At the park getting ready to go down the slide









Mommy with Lilliana riding in the Ergo

Eli LOVEs his sister. He is always wanting to lay with her and kiss her.