Baby Beluga

She is beginning to sing like her mommy! We'll be in the car and she'll hear a song and say "good song" or "it's my song mommy"! She's got about 3 songs she'll sing at the moment!

Housing Update

Unfortunately nothing new! The good news, for us, is that we have a given ourselves a timeline. Within the next 3 weeks, if we have still heard nothing, we are not renewing our contract and we will no longer be in the running for the house. At that point it will have been 60 days and that's long enough for us. At that time we'll begin looking for rental homes here in the area we are and enjoy! I think we've come to terms and are at peace with whatever happens. We just are to the point where we are ready to get on with our lives! Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers :)

1 year check up!

Everything went smoothly today as I always hope it will! Layla is very long - 31 inches (95%) and she is 22lbs 11oz (80%). My pediatrician thought she looked great and who can argue with that, really?? I'm hoping that when we go back in 3 months she'll be pulling up on her own - we're still working on that, but getting better everyday! She had 2 shots today and was pretty worn out afterwards :(


(these pics were scanned so sorry they are a little crooked)

Just to pass on a few pacific northwest remedies . . Layla has developed excema over the last month and I've done everything from swithing to all dye free cleaners, soaps, good lotions, etc. . but nothing has helped! My pediatrician let me know that if you put some hydrocortozone cream on the infected areas (2-3 times daily) and then lather your baby up with WHITE Crisco two times a day this will take it away :) I know it sounds a but odd, but supposedly it is mom and dr. recommended and I'll do anything at this point so I'll let you know if I see any improvement.

Zoo Day

We took the girls to see the zoo & aquarium down in Tacoma today - we've been told it'd better than our local zoo and it was pretty nice! Ella just kept saying "we see animals, we see animals"!


Watching the sun bather!



Ella was loving the monkeys until this little guy came and jumped on the window and has now scarred her for life :)



Watching the penguins! Layla liked them a lot!




Taking a rest! She walked for almost 2 hours!


By far the highlight of our day - Ella got to see Baby Beluga :) This was a very big deal and it was hard to get her to leave that exhibit! She was singing the song and all!


They have a very large play area and Ella liked the giant slide!

Party Time!

We helped celebrate Grayson's 1st birthday yesterday and what a day! It hit upper the upper 80's which led us to let the kids play outside all day! The birthday boy got an inflatible pool as one of his presents and that was a hit :) As always I was shocked that Ella got it - she's not our water baby - but she is always up for making a liar out of me :)

In the car on our way - she's always so in style! notice the candy bracelet :)


Layla just stayed on the blanket all day and enjoyed the warmth! This was a dress that her aunt Elisabeth sent her for her b-day!


Layla and the birthday boy!


Ella surveyed the pool with Danny before she decided to jump in!


It was freezing cold and she loved it!!


She was the last one left standing - she did not want to get out!


Layla screamed when we tried to put her in!


Happy girl again sitting with me in the shade!

The perfect day!

It seems like for the time being Seattle is joining the rest of the country and we are having a "heat-wave"! It got into the 70's today so of course the girls and I headed to the park!

I love the shirt she is wearing!


Layla was trying so hard to keep up with the other kids and was doing her best to climb over everything . . she just can't get it quite yet but I know it's coming soon :)



Up until now Ella has hated the swings! Now, not only is she swinging but she's climbing on things I didn't think she ever would and is going down the big slides all on her own! It's these little milestones in life that I love watching her take!


We tried flying the kite. I think that's a daddy job!!

Happy Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day was a relaxing day in the Brindisi house! Danny set me free :) A friend and I got massages and saw a movie for the morning and early afternoon! Afterwards Danny and I spent the afternoon just playing with and enjoying our girls! Danny had some pics of the girls from the tulip festival blown up in black and white and had them framed for me .. he knows what I like :) I can never have too many pics of my girls all around me!!

Celeste and I waiting to be pampered :) I was so thankful to have some mommy relaxing time!


My reasons for celebration :)

A ham afterall?

All day yesterday Ella was asking us to take her picture and then she would strike a pose :) Maybe she is starting to come out of her shell afterall!

Let them eat cake!

I thought this was such a classic moment caught on tape :) You never know what's going to happen with 1 year olds in the room and you would think I would know better!

1st Birthday!

Layla will be 1 on monday and we had a little party for her today!

The birthday girl and her balloon!


Her birthday crown says "It's fun to be 1"


Me and my baby!


Ella was getting a bit jealous :) She kept saying "take my picture daddy" and giving me kisses! She did so well though even though Layla was getting a lot of the attention!


We got her an activity table in hopes of motivating her to stand a bit!


Layla's friend Grayson came over to help celebrate! He is only 2 days younger than Layla and she will be helping to celebrate his first birthday next weekend!


Since Layla wasn't too interested in unwrapping, Ella took over!


The cake!


She really wanted to touch the flame!


She's 1 !!!!!!


Layla is our messy child and the one time I wanted her to go nuts with some food, she ate like such the little lady - hardly any mess!!



As always, I desperatly wanted to get one family photo :)


Layla is doing very well, we go for her year check-up in a week and I am always anxious to get her "stats" :) She's still got those 4 top teeth cutting through and she crawls at a speed I didn't know was possible for such a little person! She can say "mama" and "dada" but I still can't tell if she is saying it directed to us or not!?!? She has become her big sister's shadow which I absolutely adore!! I hope it stays like this for a long time :)

I must admit I was missing all of you today! It's hard enough admitting your baby is no longer a baby but celebrating such big milestones in the lives of our family is hard without all of you to share it with us!

Sassy!

Busy busy day . .

We went to the library this morning and then went to the park for some playing and a picnic lunch. By the time we got home all their energy was gone which was nice for me because they both napped :)

What a character she is :)

"Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons"

A friend and I have joined a book club and this was our first selection. I'd say if you have the time, pick it up and take a look. It dealt with some pretty serious topics (reminiscent of Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood) but I felt like it was a true testiment to the staying power of womens' friendships.

It's been very nice to have some extra grown-up conversations that have nothing to do with husbands, kids, or cleaning . . Although suprisingly enough, the book did lead us back to all those topics :)

Ella & Grayson

They both love their sunglasses!