15 Years of Photos

So, as I mentioned in my last post, Brandon and I have been taking pictures together for 15 years now.  And, since neither of us is yet 30, that's...pretty impressive, right?  And since today marks 9 years since we up and decided to just head to the courthouse without telling anyone, I'm going to celebrate by sharing a bunch of those photos.  

8th Grade Valentine's Dance, February 1998

Senior Prom, Spring 2002

Old-Time Portrait, July 2003

Our Wedding Day, July 16, 2005

Maternity Photos, January 2009

Family Portrait, October 2012

Old-Time Family Portrait, July 2013

And finally, the photo that sparked this post:

Khaki Ball, September 2013

We're a little ridiculous, aren't we?  ;)

The Girls' First Visit to the Dentist

I was a bit worried about taking the girls to the dentist for the first time.  Especially Kaylie.  Elora and I had talked about it before hand, and while she admitted to being a bit nervous, she was also excited.  I couldn't really talk it over with Kaylie, she's only two.  I didn't really expect her to let them do much, but I'd forgotten that Kaylie loves to do whatever her sister does and they both blew my expectations out of the water.

When we got to the office, they checked out the aquarium (they have an eel!) and sat down to wait.  I can't say that they waited patiently, And I did have to move Elora over so that I could sit between, them, but over all they were good.  When the hygienist came to call us back, I pleased to note that it was Tara, the same one who had cleaned my teeth the week before.

When we got into the exam room, Kaylie saw Elora up in the chair and climbed right up after her.  At first, I didn't think there would be room for them both, but she wedged her bottom in next to her sister', and looked  perfectly happy to be there.  Even better, Tara was totally cool with them sitting together.

They were so cute sitting in the chair together that people kept coming over to look at them and exclaim over how sweet they were.  By the time we left, I bet that every doctor and hygienist on the place had come to take a peek.  And of course, I was about to burst with motherly pride.  :)

Tara was great with the girls.  She started out by showing everything to them, and explaining what she would be doing before she did it. She continued to do that along each step of the way, and I know they liked it.  She was so thorough that Elora later complained that she didn't get to ask any questions, which I thought was adorable.

 Elora let Tara count her teeth, do a thorough cleaning and flossing, apply a fluoride varnish, and let the doctor do a complete exam.  HOLY COW.  Did I mention that I nearly exploded, I was so proud?

Kaylie did just as well.  When it was Elora's turn, she kept leaning over to see what they were doing, and then laying back to point into her own mouth.  She was clearly impatient for her turn!  And when it was her turn, she hardly paid any attention to Tara as she showed things to her.  She would just glace at whatever Tara was holding, and then open her mouth so Tara could get started.  She made it all the way though the counting and cleaning and flossing, and halfway through the exam, before the missed nap caught up to her and she lost patience.  I was so impressed!  YAY!

They'd both liked brushing their teeth before, but now they're almost obsessive about it.  And honestly, I couldn't be happier!  I don't have great teeth, and neither does Brandon.  Probably because we're both horrible about flossing.  I know, I know.  I need to do it.  And I do.  Sometimes.  But I have a mouth full of fillings (an an appointment for a crown) to prove that I don't do it often enough.  I want better for my girls.  Not that I'm criticizing my own mother.  She got me to the dentist for regular cleanings, taught me to brush and floss, and impressed upon me the importance of keeping my teeth clean and healthy.  It isn't her fault that I didn't listen, it's mine.  If the girls end up with a ton of fillings, I want know that I did all that I could to encourage them to develop healthy oral hygiene ( like my mom did) and I want them to feel comfortable going to the dentist. So far, I'd say we're doing great!

Now, if you live anywhere other than Norfolk or Chesapeake, Virginia, you can stop reading.  If you do live here, but you already have a dentist that you're completely happy with, you can stop reading.  But for anyone in my area who happens to be in the market for a dentist, this next bit is for you!!

 I would HIGHLY recommend Konikoff Dentristry.  I've been to the Volvo office twice for myself, and once with the girls, and I can't offer even a single complaint about the care we've received.   Everyone we've encountered has been friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.   When Dr. Konikoff told me that I would need a crown, a bite guard, and several fillings, he took the time to really show me why.  I couldn't argue with the x-rays, and I definitely couldn't argue with the detailed photographs that were clearly of my mouth.  And when I called on Thursday, April 25 to beg for an appointment for those fillings before my insurance rolled over on May first, their office staff bent over backwards to get me in---the very next day.  And when I peppered Dr Fields with questions about that crown, he and his assistant happily provided me with clear answers about differences between the different materials and costs.  And I've already said how great Tara was with the kids.  Seriously, they are amazing, and if you happen to be looking for a dentist, this is the place to go!

Miss Kaylie, the Big Girl

Kaylie may be the baby of the family, but she isn't much of a baby any more.  She's growing like a weed!  There are a few 18m things that she can wear, but she's mostly into 24m and 2T clothes, and size 6 shoes, if you can believe it.  If she keeps going at this rate, she'll be into 3T by the fall!  

She's getting better at communicating, too.  It had seemed for a long time that she had stagnated and even regressed some in her speech development.   She's very verbal, but most of what she says is unintelligible babble, and when she wanted something, she would just grunt and point. Elora has always been so precocious in this area, that it makes Kaylie's more gradual progress seem even more so.  Now, she's started coming to get us when she wants something, and leading us by the hand to what she wants.  She still does a lot of grunting and pointing, but she's using more words now, too. She now says "Mama" and "Daddy" quite clearly, and says "Papa" and "Gigi" pretty well too.  She says "doh" for no, "dow" for down, "pwee" for please, and "dan oo" for thank you. "Yay" is an easy one, and one that she's been using a lot lately, because she's also potty training!

We're still in the early stages, but she's doing really very well with it.  I've been putting her on the little princess potty for a while now, but it's become obvious that the concept has really clicked for her.  She often wakes up with a (mostly) dry diaper in the mornings, and we've gotten to the point that she only actually needs 2 or 3 new diapers in the course of the day.  And a couple of times, she's even come to get me and pulled me with her to the bathroom!  She has her own potty chart, and gets a sticker everytime she sits on the potty, whether she actually uses it or not, and of course, we make a huge deal about it when she does.  It'll be a while before she's ready for pull up pants, but we are definitely off to a good start.

Kaylie has also graduated from the crib to a toddler bed.  I had hoped to keep her in the crib a while longer, but she put paid to that idea when she figured out how to climb out on her own, and fell on her head.  The discomfort of the experience may have been enough to deter her from trying it again, but I didn't really want to test that theory.    She's now sleeping in what was Elora's toddler bed, because it is lower to the ground and has the rails to keep her from rolling out.

Elora has the crib-turned-day bed now, which is the same size as the other but is a few inches higher, and has no rails.  Both girls seem to be perfectly happy with the arrangement.

The crib rail is now a hanging rack for their dress up clothes, which is great, because the bins were over-flowing.  Now the dresses and skirts, and leotards can hang, while the accessories can live in the bins.

And, while Kaylie isn't quite two yet, we're already getting into those "terrible two's".  She has definite opinions about what she wants, and isn't even remotely shy about letting her wishes be known.  (You should see her scolding Elora, scowling and shaking her finger at her in agitation.  I'm trying to discourage this, but it's hard to do when I'm also trying not to laugh.)  She's become quite proficient in the art of the temper tantrum already, banging her head on the floor when angry and displaying an impressive lung capacity.  All you have to do is tell her "no", and she falls to the floor, sobbing as if heart broken and/or screaming as if dying in agony.  I have a hard time telling the difference between her "I'm just mad" cry and her "I'm actually hurt" cry.  And I thought Elora was dramatic!  Although, in all fairness, it may just be that time has fuzzed my memories of Elora's tantrums, while Kaylie's are more immediate.

Potty Training: Sweet Success

My poor children.  Are they going to hate me later?

We are finally getting there!  Elora has made the transition to using the potty.  Diapers are a thing of the past, and pull-ups are only for bed time.  She's still having accidents (she always waits until the last minute to say something) but she's getting there.  And, she's finally started putting #2 in the toilet.  Thank the Lord! 

All Good Things...

...Must come to an end.

My Kaylie girl is no longer nursing.  It wasn't my decision.  It was hers.  She just up and decided that she was done, about 2 weeks ago.  I thought at first that it was only a nursing strike, so I continued to offer, but she continued to refuse.  I've accepted it now.

Mostly.

Kaylie Walking!

Kaylie can walk.  She just doesn't want to.  She'd rather get around by walking on her knees.  When playing outside, though, she doesn't like the feel of the grass, so she's found walking on her feet preferable to walking on her knees... and I got it on video!  

Getting Settled

Or, well, we're trying to anyway.  Our household goods will not be delivered until Friday and we have no idea when the long term storage stuff will get here, so we're currently sleeping on an air mattress and living out of our suitcases.  BUT, we have a brand new washer and dryer (delivered Friday) so we can do our laundry right here at home.  And, we got a new dining set and a whole new living room set (delivered Saturday) so we have couches to sit on and a dining table to eat at.  I bought towels so we can shower; basic food stuffs so we can eat; disposable plates, cups and silverware so we have something to eat off of; and the sundry soaps and cleaning supplies so we can stay tidy.  Verizon came out on Saturday and hooked up our internet, cable, and telephone.  Of course, we won't have a TV to go with that cable until Friday, and I have no idea when the phones will get here, but the internet is AMAZING.  Hooray! Here are a few pictures of the house, and our new furniture:  

I'll post more pics of the rest of the house later this week. Brandon's budgeting program has gone into cardiac arrest with all the money we've spent since we got here, but it's worth it.  We have a lot of other ideas in mind--such as putting up a fence and replacing the cabinetry in the kitchen-- but we will be spacing those purchases out.

Today is Brandon's first day of work here in Virginia.  I hope it goes well!  After all, he will be working there for the next 3 years, so it wouldn't do for him to start off on the wrong foot.  Elora didn't want to let him leave this morning.  We've both gotten used to him being home with us, so it'll be another adjustment now that he's actually got to go to work every day again.  It'll be very good, though, to get back into a predictable daily routine.

All three of us have gotten sick since we got here.  Elora came down with it first, at the end of last week.  I got the sore throat on Saturday, and Brandon got it on Sunday.  I think I have it the worst.  Brandon and Elora are both stuffy and are feeling pretty crappy, but I've got the nasty sounding cough to go with it.  It'll pass.  I'm just hoping it does so before the movers show up on Friday.

My friend Rebekah continues to be a a great help.  She's been running around with me, keeping us company, and helping me to learn my way around the area.  She's going to come over and spend the day with us on Friday, to be an extra pair of eyes and hands, especially with respect to keeping Elora occupied while we're trying to get everything moved in.  Elora is loving her "Aunt Bekah"!  Han is still staying with her, too.  She waves it all off, especially the cat sitting part.  Han is keeping her kitty company, and both cats seem to be enjoying the situation.

These are a few more pictures that I snapped in the apartment before we left Germany, and they are just too cute not to share.  I especially like the last one.  :)

Because I'm Probably The Only One Who Found That Last One Interesting.

I snapped these pictures of Elora on one of our last mornings in our apartment.  

I went to brush her teeth for her like I always do, but she pushed her lips together and shook her head "no."  When I asked if she wanted to do it herself, she shook her head "yes".  

So I switched from the finger brush to her little white toothbrush, and put some of her safe-if-swallowed toothpaste on it for her, and let her go.  

Ok, well, maybe I did help her a little at first, to make sure she actually got her teeth clean, instead of just sucking off the toothpaste which is what she would have done if I'd let her.

The good news is that I have a kid who likes to brush her teeth--yay!

So, about that toilet paper...

Remember the other day, when Kara posted about Silas playing with toilet paper?  And remember how I said in my comment that when Elora tries to play with the TP, that "I take it away from her before she can make a mess with it"?  Well, within 30 minutes of typing that comment, this is what I found in my hallway.

I still haven't done any sewing, but I did finish another LO.  Slow but sure, I'm catching up!

I've also got  tri-strand black and gold necklace in the works, and I've been commissioned to do another bridal set! I so love doing wedding jewelry, and I love it even more when the bride wants something interesting.  The supplies for that are on order, I'm really excited about getting my hands on the stuff and getting to work. I'll post pictures when it's done.

Walking!! Clinging!! Swinging!!

She's been taking a few steps here and there for a while, but now, well, I think the pictures speak for themselves.  This was Saturday morning, and then Saturday afternoon:

Sunday we went to check out the playground on Patch.  We saw Jennifer out playing with her girls so we stopped by to say hi.  Elora lunged for Jennifer as soon as she saw her, and then immediately put her head down on her shoulder.  It was neat, because she rarely does that sort of thing.

Emily was too busy playing with a little friend to pay us much mind, but Ava wasn't. She was playing around the picnic table, and being adorable.

We encouraged Elora and Ava to say hi to one another, and it was going well until Elora decided to lunge for Ava the way she'd lunged for Jennifer.  Part of it was that she got too excited, and part of it was that she's still not real steady on her feet and she wanted to hold on to Ava for support.

Anyway, it totally freaked out poor Ava and she went to grab for her Mama, but Elora was still trying to hold on to her for balance.  It was so funny, and so cute!  After that, we left Jennifer to comfort a traumatized Ava (I may be exaggerating) and went to go swing.

Elora wasn't too excited about it at first, but she caught on.  And check out the shades!

After swings, it was slides.  I slid down with her the first time.

After that, I helped her to slide solo.

And she kept those sunglasses on the whole time! Either she wants to be like Mama and Daddy, or she just realized that they made the sun less bright.  I'm not sure I care why she kept them on, they're just so darn cute!

A lot of pictures this time, I know.  But seriously, how could I not post these??  And I needed this, the sunny-happy-fun-goodness.  It was exactly what I needed.