Such a big Girl!

Lexi has shifted into big girl mode in the last week...all on her own doing, I might add. She is no longer interested in anyone helping her get dressed, go to the potty or make her bed. She is excited to do all of these things by herself! Yesterday and the day before, Lexi got up before I did. When I wandered out of our room, I found her in the bathroom with her nighttime Pull Up off, jammies off, going potty all by herself! Wow! In addition, last week we switched from wearing Pull Ups during the day to wearing big girl panties! Seems like small beans? Not to us. After 2 1/2 years of changing diapers and dealing with bulky Pull Ups, we are happy to say goodbye to these items and hello to big girl panties...oh yeah, in 3 weeks we go back to diapers! Well, a short break is better than nothing.

Doesn't she look grown up?

Her first day wearing "big girl panties" all day long. We made a huge deal of it!

Baby Update...

We are quicky approaching Alyssa's due date! It is so hard to imagine that in just a few short weeks, we will meet our other precious baby girl. We can't wait (okay, maybe we can wait a little while longer!). On Monday, my doctor decided that I needed to stop working and stay at home on bed rest. Because of the complications I had at the end of my pregnancy with Lexi (high blood pressure, kidney and liver near-shut down) this pregnancy has been considered high risk. Although I have and continue to be completely healthy this pregnancy, the doctor feels that I need to be on bed rest to help assure that things will stay okay. So...I said goodbye to my students today and will return to teaching next fall. I have to admit, I was ready to be done working and am looking forward to a little quiet time at home before Alyssa arrives. Since I will probably have some time in the next few weeks, let me know if you have a good book or movie recommendation! More updates to come as we know more...

A Weekend in the Mountains

On Monday, we returned from our annual weekend in the mountains at Chris' aunt and uncle's cabin in Plain, WA near Leavenworth. We have such a wonderful time each year sledding on a luge track carefully dug out by the boys for the entire first day, eating, playing games, napping, reading and relaxing. This year, we had 4 kids all under the age of 4! It was a busy place but we all managed to have a wonderful time again. Thanks to our wonderful friends for coming with us and a HUGE thanks to Uncle Gordy and Aunt Margaret for the use of their cabin. We have such great memories from our weekends at he cabin and are glad that our girls will have the same as they grow up!

Day 1: Lexi and Avery getting ready to hit the luge track for the first time. Avery was a maniac on the sled. Lexi...not so much!

Hanging out in jammies after breakfast.

The girls placed all of the beanie babies in the nativity scene. Lexi said the rainbow one in front was baby Jesus!

Lexi, Avery and Elizabeth ready to head out.

I love the snow!

Walking around Leavenworth...brrrrrr

Watching the firework show in Leavenworth. It was really loud!

Girls and Daddies watching the fireworks

Merry Christmas!!!

Okay so we've been back from our Christmas holiday for almost two weeks and I am finally getting around to posting these pictures from Christmas. Ugh! We had a wonderful trip down to Vancouver to see the Kitchin and Roselli families for the holidays. After a 6 1/2 hour drive to Vancouver in the blizzarding snow (not such a fun drive) we finally made it. Lexi was such a trooper in the car. We were so thankful to have made it down south. The glooming weather forecast encouraged us to leave Bellingham 2 days earlier than planned to head south. We are so glad that we did. The weather worsened after we got there and we ended up being snowed in at Chris' parents house for 2 days. We had lots of good family time with both sides of the family playing games, sledding and playing with Lexi. This was the first Christmas that Lexi really understood what was going on. She was VERY into opening presents and said thank you to Santa after each present...so cute!

Lexi opening presents at our house before we left to go to Vancouver. Santa brought her a new dolly that she named "Baby Kate". Not sure where that come from?

She also got a new "um-ba-lel-uh".

The snowy drive down south. This is when we could actually see the freeway. For the last 100+ miles, it was like blizzard conditions.

Playing with Baby Kate on our drive down. The snow can be soooo bright!

Christmas Eve

Grammy, Papa and Lexi

Big sister kissing little sister.

Opening yet another dolly "Baby Ally" from Grammy and Papa.

Lexi and Cousin Layton. She loves her big cousin and had a great time playing with him!

Thank you to both families for a wonderful Christmas. We feel so blessed to be able to spend time with all of you.

This Year's First Snow!

We have four inches of snow on the ground! It was absolutely beautiful outside today, but COLD!!! The wind chill made it hard to be outside for very long. We had just enough time to play for awhile then walk to Starbucks and back before Lexi complained of being cold.

Checking out the snow!

Nothing says snowy day like a cup of hot cocoa!

Mmmmmmmmm....

This is going to be sooooo yummy!

Hi Mom!

Our (growing) family!

Check out our new snow covered car in the back ground!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

It's cold here. Currently, we have 4 inches of snow (bythe way, all of it has fallen in the last 3 hours). Stay tuned for more updates and snow pictures. Here are some others of the past week.

The sunrise from our deck a few mornings ago.
We were listening to Christmas music, Lexi came to me, held her hand out and said "Mommy, would you like to dance with me?" It was so sweet.

Helping with house cleaning. Somehow, I don't think her enthusiasm about chores will last forever!

One of my favorite times during the day is the time between when Lexi and I get home and Chris gets home. We usually snuggle and read together or watch a video. Such special bonding time. We felt silly this day.

Making cut out cookies "all by herself" with Grandma.

Thanksgiving, Chuck E. Cheese and a Dislocated Elbow

We spent a great holiday weekend in Vancouver with our families. From eating, playing Wii for hours, shopping at 4:45 am on Friday morning with my dad, watching movies and visiting with family, we had a great time. Thanks to both moms for a great feast!

Lexi eating her favorite dessert...Grammy's chocolate pie

Playing Chinese Checkers with Grandma

Lexi, Grammy and I made 4 new matching stockings to hang on our fireplace this year. Okay, reallly it was just Grammy that made them, Lexi and I were the support team. Thanks, Mom!

On our way back to Bellingham, we stopped in Olympia at the Sledge's new house to stay the night. We had a great visit and Lexi and Xander loved playing together. Here they are enjoying their dinner. The grown ups enjoyed a lovely meal after the kids were in bed!

On Monday night, we took Lexi to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. She loved it and had a blast "playing" the games. Mom and dad also got to refresh our ski ball skills!

She rode this horse game for about 3 seconds before asking to get off.

Her new friend Chuck!

The latest news at our house is that Lexi dislocated her elbow yesterday while at daycare. After 3 hours in the doctor's office followed with another visit today, we think she is finally better. Ugh. What a painful thing to watch your child go through. She was quite sore all day today, we hope tomorrow is a better day.

This is before bed tonight. She insisted on wearing her hat backward while I brushed her teeth. Whatever makes a 2 year old happy completely depends on the moment!