Little Mama

Eliana wants to be a little mama, just like me.  She recently got her hair cut, and when I asked her how she wanted it cut, she said, "Like yours!"  Yesterday she was downstairs playing with William in the basement.  She asked me if I could read her a book, but I was making dinner at the time.  I asked her to wait five minutes.  So Eliana went back downstairs, and I heard her "reading" the book to William! It was so cute!  When I came downstairs, she said, "Look, I have this bracelet.  I am pretending it is a watch, just like you!  and I have this ring just like you!"  I have a lot to live up to, to have a little girl want to be just like me!

Eliana love to feed William!  It tends to be a little messy, but it is fun for everyone!

When William wakes up from his nap, Eliana will run in there to see him.  If I am too slow, she will climb in his crib and play with him until I can come get him up.  He laughs so much when she comes in to see him.

3 Years Old!

William's half birthday also happens to be Eliana's third birthday!  We celebrated by going to the pediatrician.  Luckily, Eliana didn't have to get any shots, so it wasn't so bad.  She is 37.5in tall and 34lbs (about 75th percentile on both I think).  Eliana didn't just get a birthday, she got a whole month of celebrations!  Hmm, for her first birthday, we had one party.  Last year she turned two and had two parties.  This year for her 3rd birthday, we had three parties.  I'm not sure we can keep this pattern up.  What will be do when she turns 30?

On her actual birthday, we had a little party at our house, just our family.  Well, William was asleep, so just Eliana and her parents.  I let her choose what she wanted to eat (cheese pizza) and what type of cake (chocolate with chocolate icing).  She was so excited!  David was even able to come home early from work to join us.  Then I gave her a birthday present (a barbie - her first one!) which she liked a lot. 

Three blue candles

She used her fork at first...

but then gave up on the fork.  In the end, she mostly licked the icing off the top and left the cake.

We also celebrated her birthday back in Indianapolis with family and friends.  This time her cake had purple icing and sprinkles.  Also a hit.

So excited!

Eliana helped put the sprinkles on her cake.  She was great!

Lots of friends at her party.

Grandpa and Grandmama Bond and Uncle Ray

Playing with her presents with her friend Addison.

Last weekend we had our final celebration.  Eliana had a joint birthday party with her friend Amelia here in Columbus at Firefly Play Cafe (you see why I haven't been posting on the blog?  I've been too busy having parties!).  That was a lot of fun.  All of Eliana's friends came to the party including Jake from her old daycare.  Eliana was so funny because she told everyone she saw, "See that boy?  That's Jake!"  She spent a lot of time in the bounce house and just running around.  I made chocolate cupcakes with white icing for this party, but Eliana got a special cupcake just for her with chocolate icing.  It was really cute to see all of the little kids sitting at the table together eating cupcakes.  Eliana is really growing up.  Before I know it, she will be going off to birthday parties all on her own!  Every day feels like a new adventure watching her grow.  Happy Birthday Big Girl!

6 Months old

Way back at the beginning of the month, William turned 6 months old!  He weighed 18lb 2oz (around 75th percentile) and was 26in tall (25th percentile).  He is gaining weight really well, but didn't grow quite as tall.  He is one solid little man!  Everything went well at his checkup, and he did fine with his shots. 

Big Man

He smiles so much!

Of course, Eliana wanted to join in!

You might think this is really sweet, like William is giving Eliana a kiss, but really he is trying to eat her face.

And now that William is six months old, we started some solid food with him!  First I gave him rice cereal mixed with breastmilk.  He wasn't such a fan at first, but now he likes it.  Although what he really loves is fruits and veggies.  I can't hardly feed him enough!  I have been making some baby food at home.  So far, William has had squash, green beans, peas, carrots, sweet potato, rutabaga, apple, pear, and banana.  Last night with dinner, I made roasted parsnips.  I tried to convince Eliana they were just like french fries.  She didn't buy it, even when dunked in ketchup.  However, I saved some of the parsnips for William.  I just boiled them until tender, pureed them, and it was a hit!  It has been fun trying out different foods to offer to William.  A lot of times he makes a funny face the first time he tries a new food.  But he just keeps eating it.  I crack up watching him eat!

First bites of rice cereal.  It actually made him cry.  I think he was thinking, "Why is she feeding me this milk with a spoon?  Where is my bottle?"

Now he gets really excited about going in his high chair.  I sign "Eat" to him, and he gets super happy and smilely, like he is saying, "Bring it on!"

Eating at Grandma's house.

Messy boy

Post squash and carrots.