Fashion Designer in the making

WOW! What else is there to say about this amazingly "creative" outfit? Alyssa put this outfit together herself - obviously, because her mother has WAY more fashion sense than this...and then she begged me to take a photo of her.
Alyssa: "Don't I look cute Mom?"
Me: "Yes, of course...but do you think you match very well?"
Alyssa: "Yes, there is pink in everything! Duh."
What could I say after that? She was right - every piece of her outfit had SOME pink in it...so to her it matched. She is always on the cutting edge of fashion and could be the next Versace' or Vera Wang...her initials already are A.E. like American Eagle...who knows???? This could be the next big look? Keep an eye out for it.

Hoppy Easter!

We hosted our 1st Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt Extravaganza on Sunday - even though the weather didn't fully cooperate, the kids didn't seem to mind and squished around outside hunting for the 200 eggs + 9 Golden eggs!!! We had all of our kids, Will & Jon, our neighbors: Jack, Hailey & Makalaya and of course our best buddies: Paige & Justin (not in photo - must have been inside counting their loot already).

Miss Harper and Auntie Amanda joined us too. We finally got a photo of the "twins from another mother" together! Ashton attempted to share her toys with Harper, but I think we'll need to work on that more in the future...I think Ashton was just jealous of Harper's pretty hairdo & bow.



Alyssa thoroughly enjoyed the egg hunt and could barely stand still for this brief photo during it - hence the odd expression on her face.?.? (I think she had spotted another egg and needed to get it before anyone else - she has her mommy's competitive spirit!)



Ashton didn't understand what all the fuss was about - why were they all trying to get as many eggs as you can?...you only need ONE egg to put in your mouth and drool all over, right?

Ashton is a "Bling Bling" baby!

Most of you probably think she is too young for the bling in her ears, but we think it's pretty cute...and she totally asked us to do it. ;) She was jealous of Alyssa's pretty earrings, so we told her we'd get hers done too. We chose the top of the line 14 K gold "diamonds." (okay, okay...I mean 14K gold CZ's...but they sure look real!) :) It wasn't quite as traumatizing as when we took Alyssa to get hers done - it's amazing how more laid back you are with your 2nd child. (which can either be a good or bad attitude to have, depending on the situation, I've learned). Either way, she only cried for a brief second and then was over it and looking darling with her sparkly new earrings! Bling it on!

"Swinging Sisters..."

We actually got to get outside this week and enjoy the brief sunny weather. Ashton got to try out our play structure - Big sister Alyssa showed her how to swing for the first time. Alyssa got a little frustrated that Ashton wouldn't pump her legs though...soon enough she'll learn.

Sisters playing "dress-up"

Alyssa is just a wee-bit over anxious for her baby sister to be able to play with her. This morning she decided that Ashton would play "dress-up" with her in her princess stuff. Luckily, Ashton has grown into a fairly easy-going baby and lets her big sis do pretty much anything with her and actually laughs at most of Alyssa's antics. Mommy, on the other hand, is still just trying to adjust to double-duty pretty pink princesses...Girl Power, eh??

Ashton's first tooth!

Don't know how well you can see it, but it's there. Actually, it's been "breaking through" for about the past 2+ weeks, but it is finally visible. She has her good days and her not so good days with the teething process...but as the song goes "we've only just begun..." We just think her one tooth (snaggle-tooth) grin is pretty darn cute though - wouldn't you agree?

Ashton is sitting! Well...

Okay okay, she's not sitting very steadily - but she can sit unassisted for like 30 seconds or more, that's something isn't it? :) She gets pretty proud of herself when she does it too. It's just amazing at how fast they grow up and all the changes that happen to them in this first year of life. And Ashton's milestones are SOOO different than the ones we are experiencing with Alyssa. With Alyssa, I could say "she's learned how to mock her Mom & Dad and back talk to us!" Ohhh, how proud we are of her. Ashton smiles when we walk into her room to get her up - Alyssa has hand written signs on her door stating "no boys allowed" and growls at me when I try to wake her up in the morning for school. Ohhh, the joys of parenting - gotta love it! Relish the happy little things like your 4-month old sitting up. ;)