Girls Day Out

This past Monday Eliana and I met my good friend Christy in Ft. Worth for a day of shopping, Mostly, it was a day of talking and catching up with a tiny bit of shopping. Eliana had a great time with the ladies and did so well. I am sure this will be the first of many mother/daughter shopping days. Christy was very patient as we took a tour of bathrooms at the mall so I could nurse.

It is so wonderful to have a friend like Christy who I can share everything with and who I can completely be myself around. We have been friends for over a decade now and she is like a sister to me. I know hers is a friendship I will have for a lifetime.

All dressed in our Christmas colors

Mommy and Eliana

Christy and Eliana
Mommy and Eliana

Getting bigger and bigger...

Eliana is now fifteen weeks old and is still such a happy baby. She is laid back, content, and is ready and willing to give a smile at any time. Josh and I have noticed lately how different she is from Ethan at this age. She is definitely more talkative and is more interested in stuffed animals and any toy she can put into her mouth. Lately she is been having a difficult time sleeping and is still sleeping in her swing at night. We have bought a crib for her and are hoping this will help her sleep better. Keep your fingers crossed and the prayers lifted up!

Oops...I missed the photos at fourteen weeks old. Here she is looking as cute as ever!

Go Broncos!!

Ethan and Eliana's Daddy, Grandma, and Aunt Jamie love the Broncos! In honor of the Denver Broncos, I dressed Ethan and Eliana up for game day in their Bronco gear. They looked adorable, of course ;-)! I tried to get a picture of the two of them together but it wasn't happening and getting a picture of an active toddler is such a chore these days. Gone are the days where he would see the camera and pose for me! Eliana on the other hand is full of smiles when Mommy gets her camera out! Here are my kiddos in their blue and orange. Of course, Mommy thinks blue and silver look better!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Did you start singing? LOL! I love this time of year and most everything about the season. My friend Katy has been blogging about her favorite things this time of year and I thought I would follow suit. I think one of my ultimate favorite things about this time of year is Christmas music. I love Christmas music!! I have many favorites but I love these: O Holy Night, Silver Bells, Silent Night, Snoopy vs. The Red Baron, and O Come All Ye Faithful. I also love Mannheim Steam Roller. My second favorite thing is the Christmas lights and decorations. As a kid, I loved the days when we would hop in the car and go look at Christmas lights. My dad would crank up Snoopy's Christmas and off we would go. The good houses would get a honk! I still love hopping in the car and finding the best houses. Sometimes I honk but most of the time I just ooh and aah and clap! If you haven't looked at Christmas lights with me it is quite funny! I LOVE them! They don't get the same reaction as a beautiful mountain landscape but they do get a big reaction. Of course, I love the food - Who doesn't?!? I love all the sweets and the things that make my hips expand ;-0! I love fudge, divinity, Special K Bars, lefse, Christmas cookies, on and on! I love Christmas wrapping paper too! Crazy I know but I always want to buy more and more! I get so excited when the Container store puts up their gift wrapping display. The wrapping paper costs an arm and a leg but it is fun to look at and splurge on at least one roll! I suppose ultimately I love how there just seems to be a certain feel to the air. People are more giving and happier during this time of year. Well, most of the time! I love the Christmas Wish on KLTY and hearing the ways people give to others. Most of the stories make me cry. I love all the different ways you can give: Operation Christmas Child, Toys for Tots, Angel Tree etc. The season is full of hope. I suppose this is what makes it so special. I hope this Christmas and the Christmases to come we can teach Ethan and Eliana that Christmas is more than what you get but ultimately about what you can give to others.

Spaghetti O's Where?

In Ethan's Hair! That's right..today Ethan was helping to feed himself Spaghetti O's and afterwards I noticed something in his hair. After closer examination I saw that he had Spaghetti O's all in his hair. How he got them in his hair I do not know. I could not help but laugh!

I know he needs a hair cut, but I just can't bring myself to get it cut!

Growing so big

Eliana is now 3 months old! I can't believe it is going so quickly. I have to remember in the day to day craziness that is my life to sit back and enjoy these moments. Before I know it we will be picking out prom dresses and talking about boys..yikes!!

Eliana is now grabbing onto things instead of batting at them and has recently began to roll to her side. This is what Ethan did before he learned to roll over. Eliana's favorite toy is the Aflac duck that Josh got from work that says, "Aflac, Aflac, Aflaaac". It gets an immediate laugh! It is the cutest thing. She has regressed in the area of sleeping. She has a hard time taking naps and she will not go to sleep at night. We have started a bad habit and let her fall asleep in the swing at night. We are planning on getting a crib this week or next and just letting her cry it out. We hope it works for her like it did for Ethan. We will keep you posted!

I neglected to post some pictures of Eliana at Week 12..so here ya go!

12 weeks old
12 weeks old

We have much to be thankful for...

Of course, there is the obvious: an amazing husband, two beautiful children, a wonderful extended family, and great friends. Then there are those things I take for granted: food, shelter, a running car, and good health. I am truly blessed and shamefully I do not always remember this. I often complain about what I do not have instead of what God has given me. This Thanksgiving I was reminded once again of the Lord's blessings.

We spent Thanksgiving day with my brother Blake, my sister-in-law Lindsey, and my nephew Russell and niece Sydney. We had a great day together. Russell and Sydney were enamored with Eliana. They kept saying she was their best friend. It was so cute. Ethan had a blast with his cousins. It is fun to see him play with them. Here are a few pictures from our day.

Our family

Mommy and Eliana

Ethan eating his Thanksgiving dinner (last year he had turkey out of a jar)

A picture of Josh and I with all the kids (not one of them looked at the camera ;-o!)

Eliana

Eliana with her cousins Russell and Sydney

Russell and Eliana

Ethan having a blast swinging in the big boy swing

I think I can I think I can...

We brought out the Bumbo (a special seat that helps babies sit up for those who are saying, "a what o") for Eliana the other day and Ethan decided if Eliana can sit in it then so can I. Well, Ethan is way to big for the Bumbo but that did not stop him. He tried a million ways to get in it to no avail. It was quite funny. I snapped some pictures of his endeavor! He has tried to sit in it since but gave up more quickly. I bet it drives him crazy that Eliana can fit in it so perfectly.

Eliana so cute in the Bumbo

Ethan's many attempts to sit in the Bumbo too!

Another week gone by...

Gosh weeks seem to go by fast in the Munkeby house. Eliana is now 11 weeks old and already has such a great personality. She loves her Mommy and will follow the sound of her voice when Mommy enters the room. Mommy and Daddy both get lots of smiles and laughs from their precious daughter. Ethan is not left out and he too gets lots of smiles. Every so often I will see Ethan playing with Eliana and Eliana is just smiling away. It is a tiny glimpse of what is to come in the next few months as she interacts with Ethan even more and it warms my heart. I have a feeling they are going to be the best of friends! Here are some pics of our happy baby at 11 weeks.

My how fast they grow...

Ethan turned 20 months old on the 15th...20 months old - only four months away from 2 years old!!! Can Ethan really be about to turn two years old? I can already picture him getting ready for that first day of Kindergarten! Boy am I going to be a mess! Until that time I am going to treasure the day to day moments where he delights in seeing a plane over head and points to the sky, how he is mesmerized by water and says ta ta (for water), the way he says please in sign language by just pointing to his chest, how he runs out the door as soon as it is open as to say "YAY Freedom!", the way he leans his head on my shoulder while I read him a story, how he runs to the door to greet his daddy, and a million other little things that are simply Ethan! He is such a joy, even on the days where he will not listen and tests every bit of patience I possess ;-)! I love him so much and am proud to be his mom!

Here are some cute pictures of Ethan at 20 months.

Cheesing in his cute blue jean jacket

Having a blast at the park

Playing in the leaves

Mom, do I really have to wear the hat?

Just a cute picture!

Ten Weeks Old

While I was pregnant and waiting for Eliana to arrive time just seemed to creep by and it could not go fast enough. Now time just seems to go at super sonic speed. I can hardly believe Eliana is already ten weeks old. She is growing and changing so fast. She is super talkative..always cooing and smiling at us. She looks a lot like Ethan did at this age. I was looking at a picture of Ethan the other day where he was about the same age and it could pass for a picture of Eliana. I have a feeling she will not have Ethan's bright blond hair, as it is darker than Ethan's ever was. I do hope she keeps the blue eyes.

Here are some pictures of my sweetheart at ten weeks!

It is official

my daughter has the cutest smile ever! Eliana has become quite the smiley baby. It is hard to not want to take pictures all day long. She has this huge grin which takes up her entire face. She also has dimples like her big brother which are absolutely adorable. She is nine weeks old now. Wow does time fly!! She is sleeping MUCH better at night and only waking up once or twice a night. Mommy is loving being able to sleep more at night. It is crazy because now that she is sleeping more at night I feel more tired. I think my body is finally beginning to relax and the lack of sleep is catching up with me. Eliana is growing like a weed and at her two month appointment weighed 12 lbs 4 oz and was 24 inches long.

I am enjoying being a mom of two although when both of them are crying I feel like pulling my hair out ;-0! The hardest time is the evening when both of them are a little cranky and both want my attention. God is truly teaching me patience during these times!! Overall, I have two very laid back children and I feel so blessed to be a mom!

Here are some pictures of my adorable daughter with her adorable smile at nine weeks old!