Month Six

 My little six month honey bee. You were sick and fighting a cold for these first shots. You had some pink eye that was finally getting better in these pictures. Poor Boo. Still had some smiles for me though. Sadly you have had a lingering cold this past month. One of these days we'll all be better and healthy again. You hate having your nose wiped and hate the hydrasense even more I think.

 I love this little old school shirt you're wearing, so cute. You are still a fuss pot most days and we have tried everything to help you. Kinda at a loss.You don't sleep enough during the day, and certainly don't sleep enough at night. We keep hoping another month older will help, but it's not. Some evenings are better lately and you sleep a bit more. You are happier during the day and love watching your sister. You are a little mover and shaker. You love rolling around and we have to watch now, because even though you aren't crawling, you can get to where you want to go by rolling. I keep placing things out of reach and you can get to them. You are definitely a determined little thing.

 We recreated our valentines day love bugs. Both so cute in their valentines day outfits. Marcus absolutely loves Eleanor and most days she wants nothing to do with him. Some of the outtakes were her rolling all over him. And he is so calm and chill and just took it. Marcus, she is going to be a handful, you might want to re-think this whole girlfriend thing. lol.

 A true ankle biter. If you aren't paying attention, you will have someone biting your toes or grabbing your pants. Look down and there you are. You then look up with a big smile and a look as to say, what? I can't eat your toes?

Your first easter. No candy or chocolates this year. Just a very cute easter bib and some bunnies. And the poor bunnies get mauled to death. Or you eat the tags. Guess Mom needs to make you a taggie blanket. Your sister wasn't a big fan. She actually liked the toy! lol

You are growing so big. I keep thinking you are smaller then you are. Clothes that fit you one day, are not fitting the next. You love to eat so I shouldn't be surprised. You will try everything. Love your oatmeal cereal, and will pretty much eat all fruit and veg. You are not a big fan of mangoes though. One of the first things you haven't loved. Gwen enjoys when you eat arrowroots or mum mums, b/c she always gets the leftovers. You are noticing Gwen a lot more and love the feel of her fur. Gwen, a good dog, puts up with your nonsense.(you are also the only one in the house who enjoys dads scratchy face when he hasn't shaved. lol)
Being the second, we are a little less worried with feeding. You have had some hummus, I pureed veg soup and you loved it. I even pureed some homemade chicken soup, with chicken stock I made, so I knew everything that was in it, and mixed it with cereal and you gobbled it back. You are definitely our little eater. You may or may not have been given some ice cream. Like father like daughter, you LOVED it. Started crying when you didn't get more. Oh oh. What have we done?

Oh Miss Eleanor, how we wish you would sleep more. Mom and Dad are exhausted most days. Somedays you actually nap a bit during the day. Some nights aren't completely awful, but really kid, you need to sleep more. You wake up from naps so happy and all smiles, the baby we love to see, imagine how happy you would be if you slept all night?
You are nursing a lot lately more for comfort then anything else. I love that you want to be close, but you get so distracted and want to see whats happening all around you, that nursing isn't always fun. I know you want to be close and will sleep in my lap no problem, but sadly mom has to get stuff done. I swear your swing is just as cozy as mom. Wish we could figure out what makes you tick somedays. Would love to help you through those fussy times. Every month we hope it will be better then the last and you may "outgrow" this fussiness. So far, six and half months in and we still aren't sure. We love you, and even though we threaten to sell you off to the gypsies, we wouldn't trade you for anyone else. You're saving grace is your adorable little face and your sweet little smiles and giggles.

Month 40

 My little monkeys. How you two just keep growing. Audra, where has the time gone? I look at Eleanor and remember you at that age.
At almost three and half you are too funny most days. You have such personality and a mind of your own. You are a great big sister and always looking out for Eleanor. One of these days she won't be so fragile and you will be able to play with her to your hearts content. In the picture below you are saying smile Eleanor, smile. It is sweet somedays to see you with her. Other days you are not so gentle and drag her around the room. You are not a big fan of her rolling and trying to get to your toys. One of these days you'll share right? (yeah right Mom keep dreaming!)

 There are days you love to get your picture taken and smile willingly. Other days, you can be a handful, and don't listen, but that's pretty typical of three and half.

 You aren't like your mom at all, always a book in your hand. Or falling asleep with books. You never seem to go to bed and go right to sleep. There are always books piled in your bed. And you get out and open the door more so you can read by the light in the hallway.

That hair of yours is getting so long. One day we will take you in for a trim. I think you would like that. You like to tell me what hairstyle you would like, and if left to your own devices, the outfits you pick are hilarious. Nothing matches and you would wear a dress everyday if you could. Now that all the wedding nonsense is done, I definitely need to do some sewing and make you some dresses for spring.

 Swimming lessons have started and you LOVE the pool. You ask daily if you can go to swimming lessons. We are just over at the Dundas pool, and they put you guys in these little cages. They are great, b/c you are in the water, and don't need life jackets. I wondered how things would work as you are still a little short to touch the bottom in the shallow end. They open the cages and you guys swim back and forth with the life guards. You have no fear and will blow bubbles and last week you actually jumped in the water. I think you got the surprise of a life time, but the life guard caught you, even though you went underwater. I love that they try these things with you guys. They know you are brave and willing to try and that makes a momma proud. Now if we could only get you to stop running on the pool deck!

There have been some challenging days and nights lately, but it's you testing your boundaries and limits. One of these days you will realize Mom and Dad are right, or maybe never, lol, but we love you so much and only tell you things to help you. Hate seeing you get hurt b/c you are being silly, and hate when you don't listen or do the complete opposite, but that's life and childhood. You are a little monkey and we are looking forward to some nice weather so you can chalk in the driveway, ride your bike and go for wagon rides.

Butterfly Conservatory

A cold winter day saw us loading up our friends van, and 6 ladies traveled out to Cambridge to the Butterfly Conservatory. Well two adults, two kids and two babies. A little crazy, 4 kids under the age of 4, but everyone had a great time.

Audra was a little nervous around the butterflies. She was a little unsure of all the butterflies flying around, close to her, and landing where ever they wanted to. It was nice and warm inside though and everyone eventually got used to the fluttering close by.

Cambridge is definitely not as big as the Niagara Conservatory, but perfect for the little girls. We got to see the various stages of growth and even watched a few butterflies come out of their cocoons.

The fauna and flora was amazing inside. Some of the plants were beautiful.

The best shot of the three girls, b/c no one ever wants to look at the camera at the same time.

Eleanor was one sweaty mess at the end of all of it. She held up not too bad. She wasn't too sure what was going on and many a times tried to grab at the butterflies flying by.

It had many ponds with goldfish and turtles to examine as well. The girls had a great time. And at the end were sad to leave.
A great little afternoon out of the cold and into the tropics. We will definitely have to go back again.

A little cooking

 So being off has meant some really good home cooked meals. I came across this meatloaf recipe that is seared then cooked over potatoes, and let me say, OMG, I will never make meatloaf any other way now. Also pictured is our weekly soup, and that week was cheesy potato I believe. (I love soup and have been trying to make a bigger batch at the beginning of the week, then Audra and I have l;unch. She is also a fan of soup) And the cake was a carrot and zucchini that turned out rather well for having zucchini in it.

 I started hacking into it, and realized I should take a picture, so it definitely doesn't look all pretty anymore. Food blogger I am not.

 Cheesy enchiladas, with really yummy homemade enchilada sauce, and a mexican rice to go with that I threw together. Both turned out well.

 And those little yummy bites are pancakes. Technically its a pin-fail (recipe from Pinterest that didn't work) but worked out different then intended. The recipe called for pouring pancake batter into a muffin tin, and it was supposed to create a dip, then you could put jam or syrup. Well mine were more muffin like, so we sliced them in half and did jame and icing sugar. Mmmmm....so yummy.

 And a little easter baking. Audra and I dipped some peeps for her "peeps" at daycare. Peanut butter M&M cookies, and some babkas. Yum.

Month Five

 Miss Eleanor, where have the last five (well almost six as I am really behind in posting) months gone? They are certainly a blur with all that lack of sleep, but you are so damn cute, that somedays the no sleep is ok.
Audra got that cute little hat, and the only person it would fit was you.

Surprisingly that hat fit with all your crazy hair. It usually looks like a rooster all sticking up in every which way. Thanks Dad for the double crowns!

 The five month sticker shot.

 Still looking cute......

 Then the Eleanor we have come to know and love.....grumpy and not happy, comes out.

 Angrily chewing on the pillow. Oh child. Its really not that bad! lol

 Your beautiful blue eyes, so gorgeous.

 You are starting to enjoy being in your exersaucer, and like your sister, you love the cake toy. What is so fascinating about it?

 See that moving hand? Its the reason the bumbo needs to be on the floor at all times. You keep trying to get out. You little daredevil. You just want to be moving all the time. You roll all over the living room now, its funny to see how far you get in a short period. You are an ankle, slipper, pant biter. If we don't pay attention, suddenly you're at our feet, grabbing and biting and trying to put whatever you can into your mouth!

(what Mom, I'm being gentle, I swear.) Now turn away so I can put the cat in my mouth! lol.

Miss Eleanor, you are definitely my wild child. Most days there is no rhyme or reason to your antics. You are so sweet and wonderful when you actually get a bit of sleep. If only you would sleep a bit more. Mom and Dad would certainly love a little more sleep. Your smiles are great and we want to see more of them! You love watching Audra, shes a great source of entertainment some days for you. You are already starting to take her toys, and that isn't going over so well. I can see the fights now.
Oh little Miss, you drive Mom to the brink most days, but you are so cute, its worth it most days.