Small Graces: in the midst of the stomach flu

1. Saltine crackers and cups with straws
2. Watching Ella fall asleep on the floor because she just needed a rest and she felt safe (Dad was nearby)
3. Washing machines and dryers
4. Spending lots of extra time cuddling with our babies
5. Our Nana that lives nearby and is willing to stay with us and help (this is more of a 'huge blessing' than a 'small grace')
6. After a long stretch of lethargy, hearing Noah say 'ba ba' when I picked him up this morning
7. The delight in Ella's eyes when she was reunited to her beloved froggy, who had taken a hard hit from the flu.
8. Seeing Noah perk up at the sight of a sticker from the doctor, clutching it as he got him dressed, holding it all the way home and then taking it to bed with him.
9. Being reminded by my husband that even though we are up a lot in the night, this is what it was like when they were infants. We have come so far!

Gigi Hats

Check out the girls! These are the little sweethearts in our playgroup, Ella is on the far right. One of the moms has a business where she makes these adorable hats (newborn to age 5). Every time Ella wears hers, it makes me smile.

Buds

Pish and Dan have been friends since elementary school. Here they are before our wedding.

Noah and Isaac are getting jump start on hanging out. During playgroup the other day I noticed these two little guys were missing from the rest of our brood. I found them in the kitchen playing 'Fridge Phonics' together. It is a little toy that, when you put a letter in the right place, it tells you the name of the letter and the sound it makes. Nothing says friendship like learning your phonics side by side.

Thank you Trader Joe's

We discovered a new favorite toy: Trader Joe's balloons. I knew that kids liked balloons but did not realize the amount of spontaneous laughter and shreiking that they would bring. Thankfully, I visit the local TJs a few times a week so we'll be able to replenish the supply often.

Doggie Stuff

We had movers when when we relocated from Durham to Chicago. It was the best move ever. These big burly southern boys came to our house, packed up our stuff, and viola, it arrived in out new place. No schlepping, no lifting. Yep, it was moving bliss. However, one of our favorite parts of the move was realizing that the burly southern guy labeled a box of Moses toys, bed, etc. with the title 'Doggie Stuff'. Still makes me laugh.

So, with homage to that man, here are the recent happening of our doggie. We took Moses to the vet last week because he is having some stomach issues. The vet checked him out and decided that he has extra acid in his stomach. The solution? Pepcid...the kind that I took while pregnant. So far, it seems to be working.

In other news of the doggie, he now weights a whopping 10 lbs and 2 oz. That is up a whole pound from the last time that he was weighed in September. Moses is no longer able to clean up the kiddies table scraps. We are both bummed.

13 months

Do you know the muffin man (or girl)?

As mentioned previously, we have a bit of a picky eater on our hands. In the past week, Ella has turned into a blueberry fanatic, consuming at least a few pints and refusing most other foods. In fact, she downed half a pint this evening at a Superbowl party. I can't complain as they are a good food for binging, but still, she can't live on blueberries alone. Needless to say, I've had to get creative with sneaking good things into foods that she'll eat. This week, I made a version of Morning Glory Muffins. Thankfully, she took the bait...

The first step is getting her to actually open her mouth for the food.

Apparently, she did not need that piece.

Lost it in the bib.

Found it!

Digging in (and depositing lots of crumbs on the floor for Moses.)

Explaining to me why this muffin is, in fact, edible.

And deciding that this snack is so over (and also noting that gravity works, every time.)

All done.