The Obligatory Christmas Post :)

We had a wonderful Christmas! We spent lots of time eating and hanging out with family.
Ellie loved meeting Santa at Brooke and Sophie's house
The cousin's nativity was entertaining as ever and both Ellie and Piper seemed to really enjoy the gifts they received. 

Twins

Piper had her first run-in with a couple of baby dolls the other day at my Mom's house. I wasn't sure how she would react because when Ellie was Piper's age, her first reaction to the doll on the right was to scream at her and then cry a whole lot. I'd be lying if I didn't say it was so cute and so funny and so sad all at the same time. So I was a little worried how Piper would react to them.
As you can see, first she gave Ellie's least favorite doll the ol' up and down.

I will let the following pictures tell the rest of the story.

I seriously love this last picture.
Their profiles are almost identical. I think she loves chubby babies almost as much as I do.

Infectious Giggle

I double dog dare you not to smile at this video. I seriously cannot get enough of my Piper! :)

The Move

Tonight we moved Piper into Ellie's room. You can call me a pansy or a softie or a weirdo or whatever you want to but I'm so sad about it. I'm not quite sure why. The first few weeks after she was born she and I slept on a mattress in the living room so she wouldn't wake Rob up every hour on the hour during the night. After that she has been sleeping in a Pack and Play in our room. There is something comforting to me about having her just right there. I can jump out of bed and check on her or hold her or kiss her fat little cheeks whenever I want. I loved having her close by. I know we should have made the big move a long time ago but honestly I don't see what the rush is all about. I figure she's only a baby such a short time and I'm going to enjoy her while it lasts. So now she is snoozing soundly in her crib and our room feels so empty. I really miss her.

Do You Need Another Time Waster?

I don't. But I found one anyway and I wanted to share it with those of you who (like me) have housework to avoid or Christmas shopping to put off or if you just can't sleep at night and need something creative to do. Ever heard of Polyvore? You can create all kinds of sets from fashion to art to whatever floats your boat at the moment. It is so addictive. This is my first set.

And I desperately need that chair.

Fireworks and Sugar Cookies

Boy have we had fun this week! I love the entire week of Thanksgiving and also the entire month leading up to Christmas. Our days are filled with baking and family. Two of my favorite things.

One of Ellie's favorite things to do is help Grandma Marti make sugar cookies. She gets so excited about each and every step from rolling out the dough all the way to putting on the sprinkles. My Mom is so patient with Ellie even when she gets
carried away with the sprinkles.

I was working on a project on the computer downstairs while the two of them were decorating cookies and every two minutes I would hear my Mom say (in a happy grandma voice, not an exasperated mommy voice), "Whoa Ellie! That's enough! That's enough!" And Ellie would say, "But Grandma, there's one more spot!" So I came up to see how is was going and there was Ellie covering every inch of the cookies with colored sugar sprinkles. She was so proud of herself.

Rolling out the dough

Frosting (with my Mom's delicious homemade cream cheese frosting - yum!)


Learning to take it easy on the sprinkles

I love our family tradition on the day after Thanksgiving. And no, it's not braving the crowds and throwing punches at all the Black Friday sales. It's not our thing. But after a yummy dinner at my Mom and Dad's house with my Dad's side of the family, we brave the crowds and the cold on the town square where we wait to see Santa arrive on his fire truck to flip the switch for all the Christmas lights followed by a great fireworks show. Ellie was so excited to see Santa and she had a blast watching the 'big boomers' with her cousins this year. I was a little worried that the fireworks might scare Piper but I was wrong. She was absolutely mesmerized. It was so cute. In fact, this year I think it was more fun for Rob and I to watch the girls' reactions to the fireworks than to watch the actual fireworks.

Ellie with her favorite Uncle RyRy

Piper and Rob enjoying Piper's first fireworks show

Snuggling Daddy to get warm

All bundled up

Can't Help Dancing to This Song