Hadley's turn in the dress

My mom's great grandma made her a dress when she was a baby and it has survived. We put Ellie in it in 2007 on my mom's birthday and it fit perfectly. Well since Hadley was born at the same time (let alone the same day) it fits her on my mom's birthdya this year (which is today!)
This dress is 50 years old and Hadley and my mom had a photo shoot today.

and here was ellie back in 2007

Mom is Fifty!

Saturday my mom had a party for her fiftieth bday. All five of us kids got together and bought her a new grill. While we were at teh football game on Friday night Steve set it up and hid it in the barn. Saturday afternoon we all went out and while Sadie distracted my mom in the garage while theboys loaded it up in the back of the truck and hurried it across the yard and on the deck. After passing it a few times and all of us trying to get her to look at it she noticed it and this is her expression

and her checking it out!and all of us (minus Nick)

her party was great and tons of people came. Here is my mom, Kelly, and Brad. They all are older than their parents were when they passed away. WE consider that a huge blessing!

My mom and a few of her friends!

horse ride

a few weeks ago we went to the Picket Fence Creamery's sample sunday and ellie went on her first horse ride. despite the look on her face she loved it and wanted to do it again.

comparison

everyone is always saying that hadley looks so much like ellie that they could be twins. I can see similarities but I think they look so different. these two picture are both taken in aug. The top is this year of Hadley and the bottom is Ellie is 2007. What do you think?

Pampered Princess

The day before I went in to have Hadley my sister gave me a pedicure with a flower on the big toe. ellie wanted her toes painted too, but we didnt think she would sit. Boy were we wrong. Not only did she sit she begged for a flower too and has had her toes painted (with a flower) since. If it starts to come off she wants to call Maggie to do it again. The other day maggie came over and brought her polish and here is Ellie waiting for them to dry. Maggie was blowing on them and asked Ellie if she wanted to help. Ellie responded sitting back in the chair, "NOPE!"

We started the pampering way too early :)

Smile

Isnt she so cute! She loves to smile when you talk silly to her. Ellie is so funny because she copies everything I say to Hadley. I will have to catch it on video soon and share.

I was waiting for her to laugh she was smiling so big. Im sure that will come soon and I cant wait!

Looking just like Jess down to the small smile :)

1st haircut!

This past Friday Ellie got her first haircut. We only cut it to have bangs but still it was hard for me! I had not planned on cuttingher hair but I was sick of her hair always in her face and she was starting to fight putting pretties in it. So at 2 years and 3 weeks she grew up in a matter of seconds. Maggie cut it and ellie did so good. she was nervous but did not fight and just ate her suckers. Here is a before

and an after

2 years and 2 week check ups

On Friday Jess and I ventured to the girls 2 year and 2 week checkups. We found out we have very healthy and very big girls!

Ellie hit the scales at 33lbs and was 34 1/2 in tall, 95% for both. She is in perfect health (thanking God for this) and is very smart although she didnt really show the doctor her skills although he believed us ;) While filling out the checklist for her developmental milestones it is amazing how she is beyond what is needed. I saw the ? does she know some body parts and the ? with does she know at least 50 words and kind of laughed. 50 words was so long ago! The girl is never quiet! We have even come to find out that our choice of words do reflect in our daughter! (so basically here is where I admit that ellie on more than one occasion has repeated my not so nice words! And yes I am still waiting for her to do this to Jess)

Hadley shocked me by weighing in at 9lbs 14 oz which is exactly a whole pound bigger than her birth weight! she is bigger than ellie was at 1 month! She is still 22 in they said she was at birth. When they tested her hearing at the hospital she did not pass in her right ear. they told us to talk with our doc to have her retested. So we asked him and he wants to wait til her 2 month appt to schedule something since she it is just the one ear. He said that 9 out of 10 times it is nothing so he wants to wait awhile to make sure if it was fluid or something like that then it is resolved. other than that he said she is perfect and is obviously very well fed!

sisters

I of course know the joy of sisterhood since I have 2 great sisters,but I am in awe watching this as a mom. Ellie is just head over heels in love with Hadley. Whenever she opens her eyes Ellie comes running and says "hers awake now!" she then talks to her as if she is her best friend. It just brings tears to my eyes knowing the friendship they will someday share. My sisters are two of my very best friends.

I am so glad we have given ellie the best gift she will ever receive, a sibling. I hope that they both will cherish the gift of having a sibling for the rest of their lives. I know I do.

Down on Howell's Farm...

My cousin Lauren was back from CA for the month of July. Normally we would of had her stay the night several times over her stay but with waiting to go into labor and then getting up 2-3 times a night I just did not have the energy to entertain anyone. Sadie had her stay last week and we decided to check out a farm in Cummings. The kids had a lot of fun and we look forward to going back in the fall to visit the maze and pumpkin patch.

Ellie is obsessed with farm animals so she was in heaven and loved petting all of them and playing on their playground. Hadley of course decided that sleeping was more fun!