Rum pum pum pum...

As he gets older... the drum set just keeps getting bigger... and BIGGER... Pretty soon, I'll have to get a bigger kitchen!! Right, Eric? :)

Not exactly sure why he's not making full use out of all of the drums... I think he was just trying to make me laugh. Crazy kid.

What's up, Doc?

Iced In!!!

What do you do with 3 days off school... and nowhere to go???

We painted...
...ate lots of really healthy food, like gigantic cinnamon rolls...

...watched cartoons...

...went sledding... on the ICE!

.

..and took really long afternoon naps

Not pictured: a trip to Costco to get some fresh air, many games of Super Mario Brothers (by Mommy and Daddy), many games of Hide-and-Seek, and numerous basketball games and drum concerts

The Perfect Weekend!

It all began with a night out at the Pacers game with the boys and Kim and Nick.

It took Lucas awhile to take it all in... he was speechless when we got there. (Our seats were amazing... we had a suite that was half living room/half stadium seats!!! Plenty of room for Lucas to run around in!)

Complete with chicken fingers and snowcones!!

This usher was so sweet to Lucas... he sure reminded me of Grandpa Rupp. He even asked at the end of the game if he could take Lucas home with him.

Homies 4 Life...

While we were at the game, Sophie had some one-on-one time with Grandma and Grandpa!

Trying on work boots...

and coloring...

Saturday we bundled up everyone and headed outside for some sledding and snowman building!

Grandpa, peeking through the window...

Saturday evening Eric and I headed out for a delicious dinner and a little shopping, just the two of us. The kids got baths and had pizza with Grandma and Grandpa. Sunday we headed off to church together, had lunch at "Bob's" and G and G ventured back to Ohio. It was a fabulous weekend, for sure!!

Snapshot: 18 months old

Sophie Nicole Bland
18 months old

Dear Sophie-girl,

You are 18 months old today, sweet girl! I can't believe how big you're getting and how fast you're growing into a little girl. I sure don't see many signs of the baby stage anymore. While I miss that tiny stage, I've fallen in love with the little girl you're turning into. Here are just a few of my favorite things about you right now...

Your vocabulary is developing at a rapid rate (with the help of your big brother) so I love that we can have little conversations together. You can understand me when I ask you to get your bib for dinner or to get ready for a bath. I also love that we're starting to understand you when you need something (milk? snack? book? night-night?) Yes, you evcn ask to go night-night sometimes before we ask you! How long will that last? :)

Here are some of your favorite words (although, some are unrecognizable to most people): Nali, Grandpa, Grandma, basketball, football, duck, puppy, frog, bubbles, snack ("nack"), milk, book, Mamma, Dadda, night-night, snow ("no"), outside, ball, paci ("bubba"), blanket. You also sign: please, thank you, more, and all-done.

I also love that you beg us to read to you. You bring us a book and plop right down in our laps. You love to point to animals, make their sounds, turn the pages, and then when done, go backwards through the book. Your favorite books are the lift-a-flap books, just like Lucas loved at your age.

You play SO well with your big brother. While at times you still don't understand why you can't take things away from him, you just love being close to him. When he's playing basketball, you go for another ball and play around with him on the "court" (entryway tile). When he's eating yogurt for breakfast, you ask for yogurt. When Lucas is playing the drums you wait for him to be done then grab the drum sticks, sit just like he does, and play just like he did. And when Lucas watches cartoons (usually Curious George) you sit right next to him (sometimes you try to sit ON him) and watch right along with him and laugh at the parts he laughs at.

You are developing such a cute personality... you are happiest at home when you're close to us. When I'm fixing dinner you happily play with the kitchen gadgets and tupperware. When we walk away you come bounding after us... and when I say bounding, you literally bounce up and down as your little legs come running after us. You LOVE to be chased too and giggle/squeal until you're captured (usually by Lucas). Your smile melts my heart, little one. When getting your picture taken you show us your biggest smile and say, "Cheese!" (hence the pictures at the beginning of this post!) You do have a "drama streak" at times. You have a slightly angry squeal that's like a warning signal for all around you. Like when you want something and we haven't attended to your needs quickly enough. Or when you want your paci and we don't allow you to have it (only at bedtime/naptime). You sometimes throw yourself on the floor and squeal in disapproval. We try to ignore this behavior... but I have the hardest time walking away. You certainly have your momma wrapped around your finger. :)

Schedule: You continue to take nice long afternoon naps... typically 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours long. We always read 1-2 books and sing you a few songs before laying you down. You stand at your crib as we blow kisses night-night. Very rarely do you cry at all, though, when we walk out the door. When you wake up you often play in your crib, and lately you've even mastered the art of taking off your jammies!! Yes, zipper/buttons in all. What a crazy girl you can be! You laugh out loud when we tickle your tummy when we get you.

You continue to eat well. Your teachers at school often ask if there's a food you don't like. Not really!! You especially enjoy rice, cheese, carrots, plain whole wheat bread, and milk. What a healthy eater you are. :) Your big brother, however, has introduced you to some of the finer foods in life: Oreo cookies, candy, frosting, to name a few. You definitely approve!!

You're just getting into size 4 diapers and wearing 18 months clothes. My absolute favorite thing to dress you in is still your Baby Legs with a cute dress to match. You get lots of compliments from everyone around you... saying you are just the cutest little girl ever. Your daddy and I sure think so.

We love you so much, sweet girl. You bring us such joy each day. Every night I pray that you will continue to grow into the healthy and happy girl that you're becoming, and that you will grow to love Jesus with your whole heart. You make Mommy and Daddy as happy as can be.

XOXO, Mommy

Basketball Buddies

Oh you know... just some friendly competition. :)

Last Saturday, the kids and I got together with my good friend Maria and her kids for a little playdate. She has two kiddos, Camden and Ella. Camden was born exactly a month after Lucas. They were in the same TOTS class at school for the first several years of their lives so they're long time buddies. And what do you know... they both love basketball. It was hilarious... before leaving for their house I told Lucas to change out of his basketball clothes (shorts/jersey) and put long pants and a long shirt on. We get to the Esterline's and the boys are playing in the other room and all of the sudden run out giggling. Lucas was wearing his jersey and shorts from home!! He had those clothes on UNDER his other clothes. And Camden had his BB clothes on as well. They were 2 peas in a pod. It was really fun watching them play. They especially loved falling down and helping each other up, just like the "big basketball players" do.

Pure Delight

Feeding Sophie-girl is a pure delight. She eats anything and everything we give her. And she's even mastering the spoon!!! What a big girl.

Last but not least, a cute little video for the Grandma's, the Grandpa's, and the Nali's out there. :) To many this may be pretty boring, but to me, it's a sneak peek into what dinner is like sitting next to Sophie each night. Definitely entertaining. (Notice... the two-handed bread move at the beginning. She LOVES plain ol' whole wheat bread...nothing on it.)

It takes three, baby!

... to color in this coloring book!

Notice Sophie is wearing Lucas's shoes? Yes, that's normal around here.

Going strong...

Football season may be over... but not here. It's still going strong.


As soon as Lucas puts on his helmet, Sophie goes to get the football field.



Here's Lucas's "tough man" look. i think we'll need to work on that a little...

So many things about this picture make me laugh out loud!!! ...if only you all could see Eric wearing this small little helmet close up. It's. Hilarious.

busted.

Our computer has been giving us trouble for awhile now... hence... the lack of posts lately. Ugh. So... in order to post pictures I either have to do it at school (not ideal!) or hook the computer up to the TV here at home and that's just not fun. Sorry if you're eagerly anticipating more updates. More will come soon. In the meantime, I shall go back to playing basketball with Lucas.

Chop Chop! :(

Another milestone... come and gone. Sophie's first haircut. Clearly, it's been needed for awhile.

Before...

During... (Mom was our master-cutter. She only cut the bangs.)

After...

Oh how we love this little girl.

Just Playin'

I just can't get anough of watching these two play together. This picture was taken over Christmas break at Grandma and Grandpa's. They were playing together so nicely... you almost hate to interupt them for a picture.