11 Months Old!!!

Stella turned 11 months old yesterday.  I really can't believe how quickly this year has gone by.

She is hard to keep up with these days but some of her favorite things are (in no particular order):

• eating grapes
• eating oranges (seriously, Josh and I have both been yelled at by Stella for not getting her fruit fast enough)
• drinking water as fast as she can until she starts choking, not that this is a favorite thing but more something that she does everyday
• saying her name 
• screeching at the cat
• having raspberries blown on her belly and/or face
• pounding on anything
• climbing stairs
• dancing
• cooking
• riding in Abram's cozy coupe
• being outside
• wagon rides

All of these pictures of her were taken within the last week.  I love her joy and hearing her giggle never ceases to make me smile.  The thing on her head in a few of the pictures is a bandanna that Abram wears when he is being a chef - so she is copying her big brother.

Happy 11 Month Birthday my Beautiful Stella!

Abram and the Chocolate Factory

We have been enjoying unseasonable warm weather the past few weeks so when I saw the weather forecast that called for 55 degree weather I pulled out our parkas from the basement and came up with an 'indoor' plan.  We were going to have a play date with a new friend.  Abram was very excited for his 'date' and was sooooo sad when we found out that his friend was sick that morning.  Abram didn't understand why we couldn't go to his house.  When I explained he was sick and that we would see him later that week Abram asked, "Well - can't we go to someone else's house?"  Poor kid - all that energy and no one to tackle.  I explained again that we can't just show up at other people's houses, especially when we don't know them.  He then asked if we could go to Max's house.  Max is a friend from Iowa City.  My heart which was already aching for the little guy just about broke in too.  No Abram, we can't go to Max's house........but we can go to a CHOCOLATE FACTORY!!!!

Most sane people would save a visit to a chocolate factory for when a child's puppy dies or they break their arm or something, but since we were both feeling homesick for Iowa a trip the chocolate factory was just what we needed.

Before we even got in the main door we found the coolest gumball machine ever.

Then we took Abram's picture with Lucy and Ethel.  You can't quite see his face  - he was about 2 feet short even with the chair they provided.

The next tour didn't start for another 40 minutes so what were we to do but eat bagels and drink chocolate milk while we waited.

Miss Debbie led the tour - which included Abram, me and 20 kids from a local pre-school who definitely livened things up.

Abram was not too happy about having to wear a hair net.

This is the best picture I could get of the two of us.

Abram got to make a chocolate dipped spoon at the end of the tour.  I wish I had got a picture of him eating the spoon at the end of the day - he had way more on his face than he ever got in his mouth.

I totally recommend the South Bend Chocolate Factory tour for cloudy days when you miss your friends :)

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!

We've been taking advantage of this crazy warm weather with lots of playing outside.  Abram is driving Miss Stella.

"What's wrong Officer?  I wasn't driving that fast!"

Stella's version of a picnic outside.

Abram was pretty sad that he spilled all his bubble juice - he's lucky that he has a nana who ran to the store to buy him not 1 but 3 more containers of bubbles.

What St. Paddy's Day Parade?  I'm more interested in seeing if I can fit this entire graham cracker in my mouth.

No one told our family that it is the green in the Irish flag and not orange that is worn on March 17th.

Stella was 1 part confused, 1 part intrigued, and 1 part tired during the parade - but she was all cute in her shamrock dress (thanks Kiley!).

 Stella isn't even smiling but it's the only picture that I have of her showing the adorable little leggings.

Do I have any on my face?

 

Stella learned to walk behind her bug mobile today.

She was being chased by her big brother all around the house.

Hello South Bend

We've been here about a week and everyone we've met has been extremely kind and helpful.  Due to the warm weather we've been out and about and met several neighbors.  We've also found a wonderful Italian grocery/bakery a few blocks away.  Abram tells me their cookies are 'delicious.'

Here are a few pictures from our new house.

Good Bye Iowa City

We are so sad to say goodbye to our Iowa City friends and community.  We've spent the past few weeks saying our good byes.

We spent our last weekend in town with Erin, Donny and Drew who were visiting us from Des Moines.  Stella loved attacking Drew. 

She really did try to go after him.  She would have gotten in trouble if she wasn't so cute while she was in attack mode.

Stella & Adel saying goodbye.

Adel wanted to give Abram a hug but he wasn't so sure.  This is a total turnaround from when they were younger.

Joan, Stella and Nana.

Stella had a little crush on Max.

The Sittigs' are awesome!  We will miss you - Abram already asked if Max can go with us to the zoo tomorrow...so sad!

Something we will miss the most is our Thursday night dinners with Rachel and Caity.  They already have a trip planned in April so we'll be able to see them sooner than later.  Rachel and Abram baking one last batch of cookies.

Abram gave Caity about 30 kisses goodbye.

Last bath in I.C.

We sure will miss our friends!

But we hope you all come visit us in South Bend!!!!