Monthly Update June

Well, we had a slight change in plans this month. My parents were supposed to come down for a week to visit. Unfortunately my mom got shingles right before they left! She was miserable so they called and switched their flights. They are coming down in July now so we are busy planning and getting ready for that! We did manage some other fun activities this month starting with a birthday celebration for Tim. Tim and I went out for sushi and the whole family celebrated with a chocolate cake.

Ellasen got to have a sleep over with her friends Eric and Sydney. She had so much fun!

She also got to go to Eric's birthday party. It was at their gymnastics place, and she had a great time! 

Ellasen got a box from my parents with a bunch of my old toys in it. There was a lot, but there were two cabbage patch dolls and two sets of barbies. Ellasen was in heaven. The twins enjoyed the dolls too! 

We also celebrated Tim for Father's Day! I surprised him by renting a boat for the day up on Lake Lanier. I invited some friends, filled a cooler with beer and sandwiches and rented a tube. We had so much fun, and we can't wait to do it again. 

We also had family pictures taken! These are just a sneak peek so we haven't seen them all yet, but we are really happy so far! 

We also had a lot of regular days this month. 

Hanging out with Daddy when he is home.

Giving kisses and hugs

Finding wild life in our water table

Painting and Coloring

Giggling

We have had a great month despite my parents not being able to make their trip. We are looking forward to hosting them next month. We are loving our summer vacation so far, and we plan to keep the party going! 

Eden and Everly 18 Months

This was the best I could do of the two of them...

This is a big one!! Eden and Everly are 18 months old! A year and a half old! Amazing. These cuties are just 6 months away from their 2nd birthday. They only have 6 more monthly posts before we switch to mid-year updates like we do for Ellasen. These two continue to grow and change all the time.

Everly has decided this month that she is totally done taking Eden's bullying. She puts up a loud protest any time Eden is trying to take her toy, book or spot on my lap. She has decided she doesn't want to give up anything ever in fact. Her milk cup, her baby doll, her paci all have to be given up when SHE wants to otherwise you are in for a loud protest. Eden, for what it's worth has decided it is not worth fighting her for most things maybe since Everly has about a pound on her. Eden can even be found offering Everly a toy and saying "share?". So sweet. She also usually says "SHARE!" when she is trying to take a toy from Everly so there is that.

The girls are both walking consistently these days which has made my life so so so so so much harder. I remember the opposite being true with Ellasen. When she started walking and talking I remember my life getting a lot easier. The twins still aren't super steady yet so they fall some, and they don't exactly listen so usually they are going in opposite directions when they somehow manage to fall at the same time. Awesome. Today I was going to let the girls walk from the gym daycare to the car which was right outside the front door. As I let  them out of the daycare I realized Eden was missing a shoe. That was all it took for total and complete chaos to ensue. One. Shoe. By the time I grabbed the shoe Everly was almost to the gym floor and Eden was right behind her. I turned Everly around to head in the direction we needed to go. I grabbed Eden and put her shoe on. By that time Everly was back on the gym floor so I put Eden down and turned Everly around again. As I was turning her around Eden passed me on the left racing for the gym floor. I finally had to dangle my keys in front of them like bait to get them to follow me. I was carrying my gym bag and my diaper bag so picking both of them up really wasn't an option unless I wanted to put something else down. This kind of thing happens All. Day. Every. Day. I would just use the stroller or carry them, but they really need to practice walking. Anyway, I probably look frazzled most of the time, but that is just life with mobile twins I guess. In all seriousness, they look so cute toddling around I really love to watch them!

Both girls are talking a ton. They babble all the time back and forth especially in the car. They can both say a lot of words and understand a lot of what we say. When we ask them to do something they usually do it so we know they understand.

Everly is still very adventurous and Eden is still pretty clingy. She actually isn't partial to me or Tim, but she loves to be held by anyone who will pick her up. Everly would run away from me the second she gets a chance, even if we are at a new place but Eden takes a few minutes to warm up to a new surrounding.


Here are a few things we notice about the girls together:
*They sleep 7-7:45 and nap 1-3
*They eat three meals a day and three snacks
*They love the water and usually want to get dunked in the pool
*They love our new water table
*Daddy and Ellasen are the most favorite people
*They say a lot of new words but my favorites are Happy, I See You, Shoes On, Big Girl, Peek-a-Boo, Shake It and Open.
*They wear size 3 diapers
*They wear size 4 shoes
*They still take paci's at night and during naps. I am seriously too afraid to take them away.
*They can go up the stairs
*They probably could go down the stairs because they can get off the couch, but we don't let them
*They are cuddly when tired
*They love the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" and sing it (Just "Row, Row, over and over) all the time

Here are some things we notice about Eden:
*She is quieter than Everly, but she does know a lot of words. Her new favorite is "Uh-Oh Spaghetti O's"
*She loves to make people laugh
*She is super proud of her walking skills and still makes an excited face when she is walking
*When she is upset about something she will lay her face on the the floor and cry. So cute.
*She is a picky eater
*She loves books and baby dolls

Here are some things we notice about Everly:
*She can repeat pretty much anything you say. Her new favorite is "Are You?" (where are you?)
*She loves to explore
*She wants to go first with things, She wants me to do her hair first or change her clothes first
*She loves to put on shoes and watch me put on my shoes
*She eats everything
*She loves to make noise
*She is interested in the potty.
*She says "Watch" to me a lot. I think she learned this from Ellasen.
*She also loves to play a game called "Baby" where she pretends to be my baby. She really thinks outside the box.


We are so excited to have two mobile toddlers, and I am only being 20% sarcastic. We love these not so littles to pieces, and we can't wait to see what the next month brings!

Monthly Update May

May has been a fun month for the Griffith Family. Tim and I started the month by going on a date night to an Atlanta Braves game. We actually had to get dressed up because Tim was meeting with some colleagues during the game and checking on some players before and after the game. I actually got to spend some time in the family gathering room where all the wives hang out before the game. That was fun!

We celebrated Ellasen's teacher during teacher appreciation week! We gave her a little gift every day of the week with a cute little saying. Example: You were the highlight of my year (highlighters), Hands down you are the best (hand soap), I could never erase the mark you left on me (dry erase markers and eraser). I had Ellasen write the "key" word for each day. It was a fun project. 

Eden started standing up without holding onto anything this month! She is actually taking steps now too! 

I got to celebrate an amazing Mother's Day! Ellasen got me a gift certificate to get a mani/pedi and she came with me! We even went to lunch first! 

We got to have our first pool day of the year this month! Ellasen was off swimming!

Ellasen got her first little love note. 

The twins are getting really good at climbing! 

Gunner usually tries to protect them on the couch.

Everly

Eden

Eden

Everly

Ellasen's school hosted a Kindergarten Showcase. She has been talking about it for months, and they really put in a ton of work to pull it off! There was singing and dancing and so much more! It was adorable.

Ellasen got the award for Writer of the Year!

We baked cupcakes for the last day of school and since Ellasen's half birthday happened to be that day we used it to celebrate! 

These big kids had their last days of ballet and gymnastics.

These two crazy lovebirds celebrated 7 years of marriage this month! 

I got beautiful lilies to celebrate! I think he still digs me! 

Since summer is decidedly upon us here in the south I decided it was time for some outdoor summer toys for the kids. We got Ellasen a bike and helmet and the twins a water table for the deck. 

Picking out just the right one! 

Test driving a few!

Getting our safety gear on! 

She's off! 

Everly loving the new water table

So much fun! 

Some times they look like such twins to me. Anyone else? 

I just put this one in because those ruffle bottoms are so cute!

We have had a really great May! We are looking forward to even warmer weather, summer camp for Ellasen and a visit from my parents in June! 

Ellasen is 5 and 1/2!

Our big girl just keeps getting bigger and bigger! She is so amazing inside and out!

During a mom class I took at our church recently I learned about the four temperaments. Hippocrates basically said people fall into one of four categories based on what drives their actions and personality.  The four categories have fancy names, but they have each been assigned a color as well: red, blue, green, and yellow. I think these assigned colors correlate nicely with the descriptions of each temperament. Through this class I discovered that Ellasen was as yellow as any yellow could be. Yellows are outgoing, friendly, fun-seeking, imaginative, lively, talkative, warm-hearted and optimistic. They love to perform, love to be praised, love to tell stories and love to be the center of attention. I could not write a better description of Ellasen. She is all these things and so much more! We just love our little yellow sunshine and all the joy she has brought to our lives!

At 5.5 Ellasen

Weighs 40 lbs

Is 46 inches tall!! (3" in 6 months)

Sleeps from 7:45-7:30

Goes to Kindergarten M-F 8-3PM at Crabapple Academy

Is taking swimming lessons

Is taking gymnastics 

Is taking ballet

Won the "Writer of the Year" award at school

At 5.5 Ellasen Can:

Sound out words

Write stories

Read

Skip count (5's,10's,20's etc)

Count backwards

Add and subtract 

Count coins

Sign her name in sign language

Spell her name in Spanish
Do a forward roll
Walk on a balance beam
Pump her legs while swinging
Memorize lots of songs

At 5.5 Ellasen Loves:

Eden and Everly

Gunner

To hang out with Daddy

To write stories

To color

To sing

To swim

To dance

To perform

To read
To be read to (we started chapter books!)

Having babysitters
Her teacher: Ms. Winter

To take walks

To swing

To help Mommy in the kitchen

To practice her Spanish words

Pizza, fish, broccoli, green beans, chicken, bananas, watermelon, peanut butter, pancakes, strawberries

I did an interview with Ellasen and here are some of my favorite answers:

Me: What is your favorite color?
Ellasen: Pink and Purple
Me; If you had to pick just one?
Ellasen: Blue

Me:What do you want to be when you grow up?
Ellasen: A mommy

Me: What do you do really well?
Ellasen: Draw pictures

Me: What are you afraid of?
Ellasen: Bugs! Except for ladybugs and butterflies

Me: What makes you laugh?
Ellasen: Funny jokes

Me: Do you have any hobbies?
Ellasen: Hobbies? What are hobbies?

This girl is silly, sassy and just an all around joy! We are so proud of who she is becoming. She has a kind heart and we are so glad she belongs to us! 

Eden and Everly 17 Months

Eden and Everly are 17 months old! This has been the most exciting month I think in terms of their development. They are doing so much more now then they were when I wrote their 16 month post. Watching them learn something new every day is amazing. Eden is taking several steps now, and Everly is pretty much walking. She does resort to crawling when she wants to get somewhere really fast. Both girls are crawling up the stairs and climbing on top of everything. They can get down from most heights without too much trouble, but haven't mastered going down the stairs. Everly is talking a ton. She is repeating everything she hears. She can put a few words together now and answer several questions. Eden is more careful with her words and talks less, but she is watching and listening all the time. She will regularly say things I haven't ever even heard her practice because she has waited until she can say it just right. Everly is getting tougher every day. She used to be super easy going and go with the flow, and that caused her to get walked over a little by Eden. Everly is holding her own these days though putting up a bit of a stink if Eden tries to take her toy or her spot on Mommy's lap. Eden is taking the hint some, and is getting a little better at not being in charge all the time. These girls really are the best of friends. They regularly share, hug, kiss and make each other laugh. Their twin talk is alive and well, and we regularly find them babbling back and forth to one another like they are having a real conversation. It might be one of the cutest things they do. This twin thing is a ton of work, but it really is so much fun!


Here are some things we notice about the girls together:
*They eat three meals a day and three snacks (the third "snack" is milk before bed)
*They sleep 7-7:30 and take a nap from 1-3
*They wear size 3 diapers and 12-18 month clothes except for shorts which need to be smaller
*They love the bath, the playroom, daycare at the gym and snack time
*They love Ellasen and ask about her many times a day
*They love to climb on the couch and up the stairs
*They love to dance and listen to music
*They love to make silly faces
*They sign love you and more
*They love to high five
*They can point to their belly button, eyes, nose and cheeks
*New words are: At school, baby, cereal, apple, open, eyes, shoes, song, kiss, pants, cup, milk, more, aww, car, boat

Here are some things we notice about Eden:
*She weighs a little over 19 lbs
*She is walking!!!!!
*She is so proud of herself for walking. She gets this huge grin on her face
*She sticks her tongue out to be funny
*She is much better about getting her hair done, but she covers her eyes while I do it. It is my favorite.
*She likes to be the boss
*She is either in a great mood or a terrible one, there isn't much in between
*She is not a great eater, but she does love broccoli, green beans, corn, turkey dogs, quinoa, yogurt, apples, bananas, pasta and chicken
 *Her favorite toys are books, her baby doll, and her push stroller

Here are some things we notice about Everly:
*She weighs over 20 lbs!
*She is walking
*She is very happy most of the time
*She is a great eater and her favorite foods are crackers, fruit snacks, chicken, fish, sausage, eggs, waffles and applesauce
*She makes funny faces just like Ellasen used to. Her favorites are crazy eyes and stink eyes
*Calls Eden "Sissy"
*She loves to sleep
*She loves to play patty cake
*She loves "Row Row Row Your Boat" and asks me to sing it over and over
*She points at thing and says "that?" asking what it is.
*Her favorite toys are books, little people dolls, blocks, and puzzles

Here are some pictures that prove how hard it is to get a picture of these two together!

These girls light up our world! We are so lucky they belong to us!