Happy Leap Day!

And Happy Half Birthday to Nani! Only once every four years does she get to feel a half a year older.

Gone Fishin'

Waking up this morning and seeing snow on the ground and two kids who woke up way before they should have on top of having runny noses, had me begging for spring. So, if spring refuses to come to us, we decided to come to it and go fishing. Courtesy of the Mini-Eco blog, we created our own basement pond using pencils, yarn, magnets, paper clips and a cute little fish template.

 

Violet reeled in a few, too.

After I told Max that worms are used as bait for real fish, I'm not so sure he'll want to do the real thing just yet. So, I guess this is good practice.

After a long day on the boat, we needed a little entertainment.

Fat Tuesday

The kids and me made a spur of the moment trip to Chicago for Fat Tuesday. Several servings of jambalaya and paczkis later, we spent the rest of the night clowning around with Aunts, Uncles and our cutie cousin, Leo. 

"What'cha feel like playing tonight, partner?"

"How about a little heart and soul?"

"These guys are nuts, right?"

Our best shot yet.

President's Day Weekend

Papa and Memaw Ober came up to visit us this past weekend and brought with them some warmer weather (well, warmer in our minds). We visited The Discovery Museum, ate a lot of good food, played a lot of card games and enjoyed our long weekend with loving grandparents. Here are some pictures from our day trip to the museum in downtown Milwaukee.

By far a better "underwater" experience than any aquarium I've been to.

She wasn't so sure about the glass walkway. Hence the grip on Papa's leg.

Cautious.

Out-Numbered

We had our 20-week ultrasound (half-way there!) and discovered we are having a healthy baby boy this summer! Two arms, two hands, two legs, two feet, two kidneys (phew) and an active little boy who kept wiggling around and opening his mouth. We're thrilled to welcome another man into the house to take care of the two princesses (ahem)!

His profile - just amazing that a baby weighing only ounces and about 10 inches long can look so real already.

"What's up, ya'll?"

Valentine

Armed with card stock, pencils, and plenty of candy, Max and me made his school valentines for the big party today. Inspired by Martha Stewart, I think our valentines were a little more original than the 10 princess cards Max received in his bag. But what a player!

I cut out the hands, he stacked the candy.

Our finished product. 

Congrats, Daddy!

The Wisconsin version of a hula dancer.

A little dot paint, paper flowers and a warm welcome home to Daddy on his big day.

Teacher and Student

Here is Max reading Violet her picture book. The video is a little fuzzy since I was far away trying not to disrupt the teacher and student in progress.

Camel Jockeys

I would think you wouldn't normally see this sign at a Wisconsin winter festival. So, naturally, we explored further.

Just like in the sands of the Arabian desert!

Giddy up!

18 Months

At 18 months old, our little girl has become quite the character. She'll give you a dozen different smiles, laughs and gestures that can make your day in a second. Over the past month, her vocabulary seems to have doubled and she's even putting two words together (something a two-year old should be doing according to our doctor). She'll give you a sweet "tank you", a stern "nooo" and a winey, but heart-tugging "mommy daddy!" Max has taken the lead in teaching her new words, which usually ends in giggles and slap-happy behavior from both of them. And Violet has taken the role of disciplinarian when she'll start counting to Max to give a toy back (obviously repetition from us). 

Her laughter is infectious and she'll even chuckle along with a stranger who belts out a loud laugh. She runs, climbs (on everything) and bounces her way around the house. She'll happily sit down for a meal and after begging for "mo" about seven times, she's done and ready to move where she'll make the rounds around the table chairs eating off of everyone else's plates. She's popped her first four molars through which I believe attributed to the nasty colds and bugs she suffered all last month. She still seems to follow her brother's growth chart in reaching the 95% for height at 33 1/2" and only 22 lbs, 12 oz. for weight which she maintains in the 30%. We are so in love with her personality each day and enjoy watching her and Max play and bond together. Our household dynamic will dramatically change come summertime, so for now, we're trying to enjoy one-on-one time when we can. 

Genetics

After thumbing through old pictures today, I came across several photos of me as a little girl that were strikingly similar to Violet's appearance today. And with her new pigtails I was so proud to show off, this seemed all too relevant.

Notice the hairline.

I wonder where she got it! I guess the receding hairline runs in the family. Oh and by the way, isn't my Dad's mustache hilarious! 

Nursery Inspirations

We are about 97% sure we will find out the sex of the baby at our next ultrasound (scheduled for Feb. 13). So in the meantime, my head has been spinning with ideas for the nursery. This will, after all, be the first time we can create a special room in our house since the first two times we were either trying to sell our place or didn't have a room! Here are my "inspiration boards" for a boy or girl nursery.

Ever since Nick, Max and me climbed to the top of the lighthouse in Key West (Max in a baby carrier no less), lighthouses have sort of been our "thing." We've climbed a few of them since and thought this would be a perfect boy nursery theme.  I adore the blue and white striped feature wall and the nautical wall prints.

Growing up my parents had a million Jim Dine "Hearts" prints all over our house. And to this day, my Mom has many on her walls. With some old pieces from my own nursery, I loved the idea of duplicating it for a baby girl's room. Even though I'm not sure what color we'd focus on, I do love the idea of bright, vivid shades. I'm not one for pretty pastel pinks!

Pigtails

Violet has a serious mullet going on and with little hair up front, this is the best I could do to avoid the "Oh, what a cute little boy you have."

The best part is they stay in easily since she can't pull them out!