growing up!!

After many, many, ... many moons, I'm back to say, "Yes, we're still here" AND growing up. Ivy's hair is long enough to hold a little clip in it (not that she leaves it there). She started being able to crawl about a month ago and is now very confident and quick, quite the mobile little peanut. She love ice-cream, and her preferred method of consumption is from a cone.

 She is also, as of the 19th (Monday?), a professional at going up stairs. I mean, instant professional. She just decided to go up, and up she went. 

Tonight, she started learning, with Booboo's help, to go downstairs. Also a first, tonight she waved goodbye to Booboo as we were walking back to our house. I didn't even know she was doing it until I heard Mom calling to me to tell me to look at my rather amazing (and sweet) daughter.

Other notes: she stomps and claps when she's excited or sees someone she loves. She is a very good dancer and her favorite songs are "Bushel and a Peck" and "Mairzy Doats".  She scrunches her nose and/or grunts and/or yells when she wants something really bad.

Levi is also growing like a weed. He seems taller every day and is officially in 3T clothing (i.e. I finally put away everything else). He is learning to go potty in the potty rather than a diaper. He never has an accident when he's naked, and he's getting better when he wears underwear. He even remembers to go to the potty when he's wearing Pull-Ups. He loves Elmo (especially Elmo's Potty Time), Signing Time, Curious George, Little Bear, Star Wars, Cars (esp. Lighting McQueen and Mater), Buzz Lightyear, and most especially, Ivy. He likes to hug her, kiss her, giver her nose kisses (Eskimo kisses), carry her places, sit on her, stand over her, and other such things. We try to limit any potentially harmful activities.

One of their favorite things to do is take a bath together, and the favorite place to do that is in Booboo's kitchen sink. (Levi has outgrown our sink, but Mom's is deeper and slightly bigger.) 

They also will occasionally deign to bathe in our upstairs tub. They love to make themselves into ice-cream sundaes. Levi received this foam soap from Mom's friend Kathy Pitt, who's grandkids love it, so she wanted to share the love.

And here are some more that are just cute:

Cold swimmer

On the stars 2.July.2011

Self explanatory.

This one is almost a year old. Levi is modeling a shirt Mom made for Ivy. Cute, nicht?

This was in March.

Ivy was blessed March 13th: Ivy Fiona. Being held here by my aunt Becca Hogan.

Star Wars fans!!!!

Storm troopers at the Safe Kids fair. Notice the "pale green pants" and the very nice giraffe boots, too.

80's girl. She got this out fit from Auntie Zan and the headband from among the stuff I wore when I was a baby. 

Ivy and her friend Alivia.

Master Levi

Knight in shining froggy boots

Nose kiss!

Ahh!! Darth Vader's in my bathtub!! (Explanation: Levi is Darth Vader whenever he has something covering his face.)

Levi's birthday party. That's his friend Cade.

The hungry Caterpillar. Notice the super-cute socks Ivy is wearing that came from my Auntie Kris.

A boy and his grandma.