Our New House

We moved into our new house on Pahlmeyer in March 2020, right as the world was beginning to wrestle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Your dad was worried sick we wouldn't get to close because of the chaos, but the house officially became ours on 20th. As Ginny says "The Misters are finished with our house!"

You girls love the new house, but mostly all the kids your age in the neighborhood. Ellie and our next door neighbor Teegan have become the best of friends, playing barbies for hours at a time. Daddy and I counted, Ellie has lived in 6 houses in her 6 years of life. Hopefully this will be a our house for a long time to come, no more moving :)

Mommy and Daddy worked so hard to have the opportunity to build this house, we actually sold two houses (Fairbanks and Fenton) to have enough of a down payment to build the house of our dreams. We hope you girls love it and can see how hard we have worked to give you a safe and fun place to grow up!

Visiting Roo in your Dreams

This morning on the way to daycare, I asked you Ellie how you slept.  You told me "I slept great Mommy, Roo visited me in my dreams!"  It almost brought tears to my eyes.  You went on to say that in your dream Roo didn't look old and gray, we was young and running all around.  You said he was very happy and that the two of you spent time playing and snuggling.  Sometimes you know just how to cheer your mommy up :) Love you so much Ellie!

Goodbye Roo

Last week (May 2018) we said goodbye to our Roo. He was Mom's first baby, the one who taught me how to be a mom and love unconditionally. Roo was a pound puppy, rescued by Mommy at just 8 weeks old out of a litter of 8 puppies. A few weeks later he was in the Vet Clinic on an IV drip fighting for his life after getting Parvo. We were once told by a vet he’d probably live to be 8-9 years old, in December he would’ve been 12, we got a couple more years than we thought. He’s been on many adventures with us, he moved across the country twice and was a trooper both times. He hated elevators, shiny and hardwood floors. He’s made us happy, laugh, he’s frustrated us, he’s creeped us out (with his “I’m hungry” stare). Both of you girls loved him dearly, Ginny especially. She would often crawl in his bed with him in the evenings to snuggle.

We sent him out in style with a couple days of spoiling, including long naps in the tall grass, cheeseburgers, ice cream cones, and endless snuggles. He’s was one heckuva dog. There will never be another Roo, we are gonna miss you big boy, you can swim for as long as you want now.

Ginny's 10, 11, and 12 months :)

Only six months behind :)

9 months!

Ginny is 9 months old!  You have 4 teeth (two on the top and two on the bottom), are crawling, are pulling up (but haven't really started walking around while holding onto things), you clap (yay Ginny usually gets you going), you occasionally will say "hi!" and wave, and you are a total momma's girl.  You still only really say mom when you are hungry, but you babble about daddy frequently.  You gave us a little scare recently with pneumonia, but you seemed to have kicked its butt (with the help of lots of antibiotics!).  We love you tremendously, Ellie most of all :)

You weigh 17 pounds 10 ounces
You are 27.5 inches tall

7 months!

Don't mind that was posted after you 8 month photo :)

Let me try to remember what you were doing at 7 months...you were on all fours rocky, but not moving anywhere and getting mad that you couldn't move.  Still had just to lower teeth.  Still nursing, but SLOWED down quite a bit.  Still love your sister and daddy's tickles make you giggle uncontrollably.  You love you momma snuggles very much :)

8 months!

You have have your two bottom teeth and the two uppers are JUST starting to poke through.  You started crawling at 8.5 months, you definitely lead with your hands.  HUGE dramatic hand movements, but you drag you left leg and step with your right leg.  So you really more bear crawl, than traditionally crawl.  You are eating all kinds of foods, and LOVE to feed yourself.  Your favorite right now is to bite of little bits of peeled grapes with your little bottom teeth.  You survived your first airplane rides just shy of 8 months.  You LOVE animals of all kinds, especially when you can get your hands on then.  So far Mandi and Roo have been tolerant of this, but you definitely
use your new found mobility to terrorize them :)

8 months ago and now :)

Auntie Sarah gave Jenn and I matching Hokie outfits when we were both pregnant, this past weekend Callum and Ginny got to sport those fancy outfits :)

Ellie's First Day of Preschool

Today Ellie you started your first day of preschool at Robbinsdale Elementary.  Auntie Danielle (who works at the school) gave us the inside scoop on preschool through the school system, we put you on the wait list and in less two weeks you were placed in the 3-year old class! Your teacher is Ms. Lewis (you call her Ms. Sarah) and the teacher's aid is Ms. Mary.  You started about a week behind all the others, while we were waiting for a spot.  But you will catch on fast, I am sure of it!

You were so brave this morning, both mommy and daddy came with you drop you off on the first day.  We lined up outside and waited for the bell to ring.  A school bus drove by with kiddos and you started jumping up and down, screaming "A real live school bus, with real kids!" Just a small measure of your excitement :)

 I tried to explain the bell last night and you asked if it was like santa's bells (jingle bells)...hehehe.  But when the loud bell rang you got it! You stopped playing in the rocks and lined up behind all the other kiddos.  Ms. Mary and Ms. Sarah were there shortly to great you and you marched right out, never even looking back at mommy and daddy!  You are fearless in some regards and I love that about you.  You will do great things my little lady :)

Ginny's new trick, stinky face :)

6 months (only 5 days late)

Ginny, you are 6 months old!! How can this be? You have two teeth, you sit by yourself for 30 seconds or so before you topple over, you don't really roll (except when you are on your tummy and you don't want to be any longer), you babble constantly, you love to blow raspberries, and play peek-a-boo. Your sister is simultaneously one of your favorite people and the one who can make you scream instantly! You are such an easy going baby and I can't imagine our family without you :)

You weigh 16lbs 3 ounces (49%), you are 26.5 inches tall (75%), and you head circumference is 43.3 centimeters.  Doctor says you are still tall and skinny :)

Pop Pop's Monkey

On mommy's birthday Ginny got a very special present from Pop Pop and Grammy, a monkey that was Pop Pop's when he was a baby.  Aunt Lynn found it in Grandma Bank's things when helping Uncle Dick clean out his house for sale in Cheyenne.  Aunt Lynn sent it to Pop Pop and Grammy, and they had it restored and gifted it to Ginny.  Ginny loved her monkey and it now lives in her nursery :)

 

the monkey before

 opening the monkey while camping for mommy's birthday

5 months!

I am only a month late with this post :)  Hopefully your 6 month photo will be up soon!

Ginny and Ellie 4 months

Ginny's 4 Month Photo Shoot

You are such a big girl these days! You survived a week without Momma, as I had to travel back to Virginia for work.  Grammy was here to help Daddy and you barely even noticed I was gone.  You learned to hold your bottle all by yourself while I was gone and when I got back you suprised us all by rolling from your tummy to your back!  We had you 4 month appointment yesterday, the doctor said you are happy and healthy baby, and again described you as "tall and skinny" :)

Your 4 month stats:

Height: 25.5 inches (86.8%)
Weight: 13lbs 12oz (47.7%)
Head Circum: 41.3 cm (55.6%)

And of course Ellie couldn't resist a photo shoot, nor could grammy...

Ginny's Raspberries

I have been blowing raspberries at you for the better part of a month, today you woke up and decided you would blow them back. Heart. Melt.

Sisters in sunhats

Ginny's 3 months!

Of course Ellie had to put on her fancy dress and join the fun :)

You are one of the happiest babies I have ever met, you are super chatty and just starting to sleep in your crib (still sleeping 8-9 hours at night).  We love you!

easter

Ginny's 2 month