Babies, maps, iPads and, oh yes, a wardrobe change

My long, lean string bean....  Whom is the easiest baby of all time, but we are quickly learning she is the 'easiest baby of all time' for me.  Only me.  Kind of the little stinker for grandma and dad.  So as long as she and I never part ways for more than 3 hours at a time, or we wait until 8pm to get a babysitter, we'll be good.   Fine by me.  I can only hope this lasts through college.

She is oh so close to rolling over.  Funny how with the first child I was encouraging and excited about all these little milestones, this time I want to push her back down so she stays my cuddly, immobile baby 4-eva.   I bet you're diggin' her mini-mullet hairdo.

 I love when the girls bust out the world.  They get a kick out of finding the 'funny' countries.....Turkey, Chile, Greenland and for some reason Georgia is a hoot as well.

 On the prowl....

 Ryan rocks in the big sister department....she already has Emerson (or 'Emme' as the ladies call her) well versed in the iPad language.

 It is 7:30am....what is your 3 year old wearing?  Her big sisters' party dress?  Backwards?  Of course.

 Buds

 Melt my heart.

Happy Wednesday!

Valentine love

 
Happy Valentines Day!

Chillaxin

You know, when you're high rollers like we are you bust out only the best for your children.  Granted our yard could more than accommodate a nice pool but who needs such extravagance (um....me?) when you have your made in China plastic replica?

The lap of luxury
Now we just need the cabana boy and pina colada station....

Dress code

Apparently dinner in the Stiff house is now swimsuit (with underwear)/tutu casual

Passing the time

Dad returned last night after having been out of town for 5 days.  Thankfully we split up the week by checking into Grandma and Grandpa's over the weekend (they offer a fantastic reduced rate with a Saturday night stay) but prior to and post, we girls can get all crazy over here by doing things we rarely do.......long (and I mean loooonnnnngggg) walk to the park to help pass the witching 4pm - 6pm crazy hour.  Eating breakfast for dinner.   You get the idea... I'd load up the girls around 4:30pm, we'd walk up to a park, they'd play their little hearts out and then we'd head home around 6/6:30pm.

Late afternoon snack
The fresh air works wonders on their attitudes (and mine)
Rain boots with attitude
I mean....holy cuteness
Her 'polar bear' was a constant fixture this day....and since you can't hear what she is saying I will gladly relay: Mom, I'm not ready to go home. Polar Bear is not ready to go home. Just go back and sit down and I will tell you when I'm ready.
*ps - I'm well aware the boots are on the wrong feet
Chalk!  Fun when she's not trying to lick it.
This girl kills me...she LOVES dogs. Whenver we see them in parks, she makes a beeline wanting to play. This picture was two seconds after the dog she was eyeing wagged his tail in her face for the 50th time (such a fun game)...her reaction:
The best part of late afternoon walks? Stumbling upon my lovely Aunt and Uncle's house only to be invited back....one glass of wine....and a delicious dinner on the patio....and dessert later we returned to our house at 8:30pm.
So Grant, while I don't love the long business trips, as long you leave me with decent weather we're cool....lest I forget all the design and decorating projects I like to take on when he is not home to object. Love you....

Thelma and Louise

Easter, continued...

The cousins....Christopher was missed.   Reese was somber and then promptly flipped the switch and shortly after these pics proceeded to greet everyone with a gigantic shriek that could easily break glass or alert the dogs four neighborhoods away.
"Go crazy" was the direction given
Reese is into bear hugs as greetings
Assorted cuteness
Go "night-night"
Biker chick
Kid tables(s)
What?
Randoms
My takeaway from Easter.....jelly beans are evil. Addictive. Evil. My downfall. I have tossed them all in the trash. And then taken the trash to the curb to prevent any awkward dumpster diving.

Easter

Started off with a little hunt on the back patio...actually, rewind, started off with what the big guy upstairs would surely approve of....breakfast at ihop with the family.   Then followed the much anticipated, 12 egg hunt on the back patio.   60 seconds later, we were done.

Notice the egg differential.....
Naturally a disagreement ensued




Enjoying the fruits of her labor
More from the fiesta at Grandma and Papa's later......