almost christmas

well, this week, we pretty much stayed in, and it was really nice. parker and gg came to play, and we got the christmas tree up, and relaxed...you went to school one day, but you didn't feel up for it the next day. this last weekend grammy and grumpy came up and we went to warm beach together, and it was 17 degrees outside, but we still did it! we had thanksgiving at our place this year, and enjoyed having everyone over. but I got a cold right after, and feel still blah. but, I am getting excited for christmas with you both. we are going to celebrate here the weekend before and then go visit all omi and papa and all your cousins. giselle, you wrote a letter and mailed it in our mailbox to santa and you wrote very clearly that you want a barbie house.. so fun shopping for you this year, I know you will love all the fun puzzles, and books, and the doll house we got you! we have been searching for a school for you, and trying to find where you would love the most and blossom. you fell on your cousins trampoline and hurt your knee..we took you to the dr, and it wasn't broken thankfully, but you were hurt pretty bad and limped for almost a week. but, all is better now, and you are ready to trampoline again...although we don't think so. you ask about god a lot and we started going to all souls church here and you like the preschool. you always ask what god eats, and how old he is, and if he is awake all the time, and if he can hear you..I try to answer but I don't even know. but, I am glad you are interested. you are very ambitious and smart, and you are trying to read words, and you remember a lot. you have been going to a dance class, and you love it so much, I tell you the teacher says you need to take a nap, so you do...which is usually impossible. you and makena love playing together and mostly get along, but both of you like to hit each other..but I make you hug and makeup. giselle, when you are tired you get very lippy, I am just trying to make sure you get enough sleep since then you are as sweet as can be. makena, you crack me up...if giselle gets lippy to me, you try to protect me, you hug me and tell giselle no. and if you think I am sad, you give me a kiss. today the crackers spilled and you ran and grabbed the big broom and tried cleaning it up, then you rode it like a horsey horsey. you love the idea of santa, but you get close and then start crying..we got one picture of it. you like to run in the room and yell "wake up mommy wake up!" and you also ask to hold me mama in the morning. you helped decorate the tree and even knew how to put the ornaments on. some of your sayings..if we ask if you went potty... "me no poopoo mommy" or "the sun at me mamma!" meaning the suns in your eyes. or "I did it!" and right now you are saying ho ho ho merry christmas. you try to sign twinkle twinkle little star, it's very cute, every time I ask you a color you say green, and your age you have said 2 forever and recently 3 and a half...( I am sure you heard hunter say it), and you say " hey!" when something goes wrong and "ohhhh" if you are sad..and I love you mamma...I just love this talking stage. and zelle hit me. Im happy mamma! or I sad. you eat so well, and out eat giselle many times..you try everything and like most. giselle, you are really picky with food, but you did eat pizza, but without the olives, and dad gave you a slice and you said no, you want to get your own.so independent. makena, I am still feeding you, and I love how close we are, I hold you and put my head on yours and it's just a special time for you to settle down and let me cuddle you. giselle, you still love having your back scratched and rubbed, and you have been sleeping with me, but you don't like when I am too close or you can't breeve. love you both so much.. I am so grateful to share everyday with you.

Talking

Makena- you are adorable talking now- this morning we were making pancakes and Lucy wanted outside and I told her to wait and you said patience Lucy. Just a minute ok? It was cute- It's usually what you here what we say to Giselle. The other day I thought you were asking where's kitty go and you were trying to get cookie dough- for breakfast too. You can count a little and you always say green when I ask you a color. You are so easy going- you whine a little about something and I say well yes Or no and why and you say otay in the cutest little voice , you love talk on the phone hello daddy. Hello daddy. And you get sassy right after Giselle repeating what se says or saying ya momma! Hand in hip and pout. Sassy pants , then you laugh and today you put her face on your shoulder and smile and said in Excited or when we come home you say I crying mama. And you both fight over your daddy or mamma. Giselle you are in the when you grow up can I be a bakery or mailman or I wish I could do that- when can I fly a rocket? And you still ask a lot about god and you remnered the story you learned in church. You like to play house but everything is your way or you get frustrated. Trying to teach you to share and be nice to sissy. But you are starting to compete a lot w her and don't understand. But other times you love and hug her And pick her up and tell her how much you love her. It's the sweetest thing to see.

fall already

well, time is flying here.and you girls are growing so fast it's hard to believe! Giselle, you are in school right now and makena, you are holding a baby and trying to put her in a little shoot car and yo are mad she won't fit. life has been crazy, as we had mac, kristi and parker move out (you guys miss parker, especially makena), we went to europe, and now we've all been a little bit sick and snotty seems like ever since we got back... miki is still living with us til she leaves for school next month. you guys love playing with her, she really likes to tickle you, and really plays hard, and you guys love it. since you won't remember europe, I will tell you now how cool it was. hopefully you'll get a glimpse from the photos..we spent so much time together and so much time at the beaches, you guys loved it! we only spent like 3 days in each spot though, so it was kind of like backpacking w/you guys, and that was a big adventure! miki was with us too, and it was pretty smooth except of the train. we thought we went straight from one destination to the next, but had 3 stops and get on other trains in between.. and w/all our luggage, and you kids, and not speaking the language or knowing where to get off or on quickly, it was an exhausting zoo...at one stop daddy was off w/giselle and we got trapped on, and the door wouldn't open, and we didn't have a phone, someone had to pull the emergency release for us to get off..we were exhausted, but the train slowed at one point and we watched a black head/fluffy white body lamb give birth..we happened to be sitting in the right spot at the right time..it happened right out our window. giselle, you also found the most beautiful shell. we were walking back from dinner on the beach in pitch black about 3 miles and you picked up a shell, and held it till you got to the hotel, and in the light, we saw it had a beautiful heart in it! it was so unbelievable..you could have dropped it anywhere on the walk, and the fact that you picked that shell in the night, was amazing. the whole trip was awesome..we went to sitges, barcelone, quarantine france, the french riviera, the italian riviera, switzerland and germany. makena, you got sick in the middle of the night we had to fly home...you started throwing up all over ilona's house, and she doesn't have a dryer and we didn't even have time if she did to wash all the sheets! and we were worried about getting on the plane because you were throwing up all the time...so we made it, and you actually slept a lot, so it was ok, but I was worried. makena, you love your hunter...when we go to preschool to drop giselle, you cry when we leave for "my hunter". giselle, you two are still best friends, and you love baby ali and always want to hold her. makena, you have still been feeding through the night and using me as a pacifier, but these last two days I have been sick so daddy took you downstairs, and he said you woke up twice the first night and cried for me and the second night you said hi daddy and went back to sleep. for me... you literally are using me as a paci from 5 am on..and so restless, so I think this is a good move, since every day I am exhausted. but of course I want to baby you as long as I can, and I still do :) it's almost halloween, and this year you are peacock, and giselle you are a fairy..so cute you two are:). makena, you talk all the time now, and when you get frustrated at me you say "hey..mama" just a little off on timing, and its cute. you copy everything your sister says, I think you two are like max and ruby now, ruby talks and then max repeats, and you do the same, and makena. if I tell giselle she needs to come inside, she will say we want to stay outside..and makena you will throw in a "outside mama" you always say milk pls mama, you love to dance with your arms in the air, and you love to eat..you love avocados, and eggs..you out ate giselle the other morning. giselle, you are our emotional little girl..so happy, so sad, and so much drama..I am wondering if its just girls, or what? you had another night terror the other night where you just scream, and we can't do anything to console you...you push us away..I think it was the sugar from the west seattle trick or treating. you are so smart, and ask so many questions, and then repeat what you learn. you are very interested in jesus and we went to church and you loved preschool there too. you ask so many questions that I don't have the answers too. does jesus eat? sleep? on and on and on you both love to laugh and play and it melts my heart all the time. giselle you told makena you love her this morning and she said you too. it's precious. love you

oh makena

and when your breastfeeding, I ask you questions and you shake your head yes or no..do you love dada up and down, do you want to do whatever..you shake no no. and you are pretty shy except for your family, you love mama holding you. you can sit pretty good for periods of time..you watched part of despicable me, and you don't sit in a highchair but I can keep you contained in the booth at restaurants for longer than giselle. and you don't like the stroller much either, you'd rather I carry you. you love your mama!

Makena 19 Mos Giselle 4

Hi girls, you have been my sunshine! I just want time to freeze as this is going by so quickly! Makena, you change so much every day! You are so smart and sweet and funny. You will say dad in the car and he turns around and you do a funny face..and then you laugh. and I presented that baby allessandra was my baby and you said no no..and wanted me to hold you and you said mama..and pointed to andrea and tried to hand her allesandra. you understand everything I say and you will do it, and you are talking so much now..you say otay which I think is so cute. I will say something for you to stop doing and instead of fighting me on it, you say otay. and smile. it's precious. you know everyones names and you love your hunter so much and parker. you really like to play with them. running around and yelling with them. you really want to go to giselles school. when we go in you go and sit on the chair too and you color or whatever they are doing. then when we leave you cry and say hunter! and you say hi and bye and good morning to everyone. and alright. and today you said awesome! pretty much anything giselle says you try to repeat. you can count a few numbers after I say one. and when I ask how old are you, you say two. (auntie taught you that for coming up use). you like buckles and you love shoes..trying on everyones..and you love that silly car at the park that you get in and out of and shut the door. you and giselle fight over a few things but you are also very loving to each other. you love to give hugs and kisses. you like to eat berries, and you pretty much try anything avocado, beans, but you like to take your own bites..you like the whole thing, which freaks me out since you and giselle like to choke..and you cry and cry if I don't give you the whole hot dog. and today you insisted I give you the stick in the cheese and crackers..which is a choking hazard. giselle, you just told me you like my face. that was sweet. you are pretty funny and cute. you have a sweet side, today at the gym the teacher said you went right over to makena when she woke up and consoled her. so loving.but you also like to tease her, and think it's funny sometimes when she cries. and you don't like to share very much with her, so she doesn't share back. you are very smart and ask so many big questions already. and you are really particular on things..wanting certain clothes or certain things on or off, and you only eat certain foods unless I tell you that you need to eat healthy to grow big. then you say alright alright..and then you fight on how many bites. you love to play with hunter and your cousins. you are quite the leader and they let you lead. your big in to how old people are right now.. you told auntie andrea you think she's 70 and I am 75. but you want to be older.., and you love princesses and super why and agent oso. we went to a princess party and you met snow white. and you wore your princess outfit out the other day all day, with clothes under it because it's too scratchy. you love going to omi and papas house. you really get excited and you pack your own bag and you also get dressed and shoes on by yourself and brush your teeth. you really want to learn to tie shoes, and you are really interested in your little work books to draw letters. you like to swim, and you can doggie paddle across the pool, but god forbid water get in your eyes. maybe later. this summer has been busy and fun! we went to lake entiat w/grammy and all the cousins, and we did a trip w/hunter and the friends there too, did a family reunion where you played and sang happy97th birthday to uncle nick, grammy and piper stayed with us for a week, and lucy and jeffrey came up too, we did a lot of the pool, and the boat, and the fox hollow farm, and rem linger farm, you both love all the animals. you have an amazing memory. you remember from last year and a half ago random things and weird details of where we've been and what you did. you remember lucy and jeffs visit last year and them sleeping with you in our bed. and you also had your first seleepover w/out us! over at hunters house..you had a campout on the roof deck, and watched movies on the tv and ate popcorn. we were sure you would cry for us in the middle of the night, but you loved it, and told me you wanted to stay for fifteen days. but sometimes you are so bashful its cute. you will open your mouth and hide behind my leg, and other times you go right up to people and start asking questions. you are usually really cranky in the morning and it takes you awhile to be happy, unless you are well rested. you want treats right when you wake up, and we have the same conversation every time that you need to eat healthy first and you usually start crying, and then you have oatmeal. you want to go camping still this summer and we haven't scheduled anything yet, but we want to take you..you are so much fun! you enjoy a lot of things and have a good time doing them..you always want to know why you can't do certain things yet..like riding a horse, or diving off the diving board, or wake boarding. so you are really interested in trying things. you liked to go on the tube at the lake with daddy. I love you so much, and am sad you are just getting so big! we took you to despicable me last week and you enjoyed it! makena came too, but kept saying hi to the people sitting in front of us, and she liked it and would clap and say yeah but at the quiet moments, so we had to leave. you eat healthy too, you like apples and carrots and tonight ate green beens, you just don't like a lot of variety. I love you guys! hugs my girls! tomorrow you both go to the dr, and I am worried it's shot time!

4th of July and Giselle is about to be 4

hi sweeties, mama loves you. we had a fun 4th at omi and papas house. I always will love the small town 4th for all the fun times! we do the parade, the races, food and festivities, backyard bbq, egg toss, sack races, and just walk to everything..and watch the fireworks at the lake. I truly appreciate it, and hope someday you do too. you always have a lot of fun. grammy, grampy, the young's, and brandi matt brendan all came. it was busy busy, but fun. giselle, you are almost 4 and you can't wait, you always want to be older..you want to be five, you want to go to kindergarten..on and on. I try to tell you to appreciate right now. you want attention all the time, and are starting to pick up on every conversation..so I have to watch what I say :). but you still believe in everything and you are so creative. you like to play dolls and make believe, you love to go across the monkey bars and always want to do it by yourself. you can swim across the pool and you always want to do that by yourself. you like to tease makena whenever you can. and without fail, you both want the same thing. same color balloon, same sucker, even same booster seat..doesn't matter if there are two, you want the same one. its crazy. giselle you always say you love makena's cheeks and say they're so cute and kiss them. you love omi and papas house and you didn't want to leave today. you can swim in the lake with your lifejacket on and you get right in, doesnt matter how cold it is. but you then want right out of you swimsuit in warm clothes. you are very particular about things..no i don't want your towel, no not that one it's too small. that one is just right. I need a wet clothe right now my hands are sticky. I want to watch tv in that room, no not that show. no not that episode...very very specific. wondering if it's just a stage or part of you. makena you are talking up a storm. its so cute...you still call lucy oof woof, and you repeat everything. milk, bye bye, and this weekend you said love you. ove you...it's so sweet. you are so happy. you smile and put your head on your shoulder so sweetly. you love your mama. you understand anything I tell you. and you say huh humm all the time. and instead of yes you say hum. hummm. but you love to say no. and mine. you love all the animals and the cats at omis house. you love to ride the bike,a nd you say helmet..and oh no. oh no. and you have a cute bottom lip pout. love you both to the moon and back. we are having a fun summer and I just love being with you. we go to the beach, the pool, the farm, omis, and hunters..and the boat too. hugs my babies.

hi

hi liebshens. we had a fun week since the sun has been out. today you went to the beach 3 times! yes..breakfast with dad at christos, then we went to the alki beach festival, and met hunter for dinner and play in the sand. makena..you are answering no in different tones in conversation and it's funny..do you want to go outside. no. do you want to give your sister the sucker. no. do you want to change your diaper. no. it's pretty cute. and you love to talk and repeat everything now..whatever word it is. and once you say it you laugh like you figured it out, so we laugh together and its so cute hearing you say things for the first time. blueberry. thank you. hot tub, hot dog. stinky stinky. hi hiee. bye-bye. this is such a fun time. you even say ali for baby allessandra. you love books. you mostly love to turn the pages and flips yourself, but you love them. you are really good at putting the straw in your drink, and taking it out and putting back in your juice box. you always whisper pa pa. it's cute. papa papa. you love watching toy story in the car. it's surprising, as giselle didn't watch tv forever. and you love ranch and ketchup and stick your finger in it and lick it off, and giselle still doesn't eat it. you love doing whatever giselle does..climbing on the swing set, running after her, you want to ride her bike and you pout like no other if you don't get to do what you want. you run away and pout, til I come grab you and love on you. giselle, I asked you what I love you means and you said when you are happy and you love someones cute cheeks. you have a routine at night of cartoons and always try and negotiate more cartoons. lately you've been brushing your teeth and cleaning your room before bed. you woke up this morning and told me I could stay asleep and get more energy. you just told dad that you have energy so he told you to do burpees and you went and did them with the clap and everything. makena you like to scream mine..since that what giselle says every time you try and take something from her. makena you like to help mommy make coffee and push buttons on the coffee machine. giselle you got your first cavity but we don't have the heart to tell you, so hopefully the filling won't be too painful for you. we are sorry as we give in to all your treats you want, and the brushing is inconsistent (until now!). ughh. bad parents. we went to the zoo and you wanted to see the bats and crocodiles from the map you saw, I thought that was an interesting choice, but they were very cool to see. well, I love you both with all my heart. til tomorrow.night my loves.

hi girls, it's a nice day out- think we'll go to the park soon. dad and I have volleyball every wednesday, so kendra is coming over to watch you. Giselle, you love the song this girl is on fire-you sing along and it's really cute. you also love your sister-you say her cheeks are so cute. makena, you are talking up a storm- adorable..love this stage..you say no..no and shake your head. you say bubble, backpack, siss..for sissy, up, bahby, for baby, wa wa, and you throw the cutest lil tantrums..stomp your feet up and down and run and throw yourself on the ground. it's cute now of course...:). you just get frustrated easily, you want to hold food by yourself, or do things by yourself, and of course, I am just trying to save your life so you don't choke..but you don't understand. you are climbing everything now, and thats another challenge. we just got back from visiting gg, your great grandma in arizona. you two were the talk of the nursing home, everyone loved you both and were so nice to you. you got lots of chocolate, and some lady gave you things out of her purse. gg loved watching you too. giselle, you shared your cheese and crackers with her, and got her a bouquet of red flowers you picked out. makena, I would try and have her hold you but you just wanted to go go go. you both loved playing on the elevator there, and running around. gg always says are you my baby? are you my baby, and we got "you hungy" from her too. she is so sweet and gentle and loving to you. we stayed at grandpa's and you guys would play with your balloons, and in the pool. grandpa and nancy were very nice to you. they had a nice park by their house too. we went and watched grandpa play baseball too, and there was a guy with the last name mckenna, so we introduced baby makena. gisell, you want to know how old everyone is, and you know most of your letters, anything around you read the letters to. you were at burger king today and you would ask if the kids wanted to be your best friend. it was cute. makena, you tried to put a qtip in your ear today. you like to get up way too early, and you say hmmm to everything we ask. or no.

We just left ocean shores Went to the property with grandpa- he brought marshmallows To roast. Lucy jumped in the water- and we not Burger King on the way out- Giselle you could t stop asking if Different animals have bad breath- do squirrels have bad breath, what about hippos, do gorillas? On and on and on. Makena, we just got our food at Burger King and you came over for The play area With a big piece of poo in your hand. I think your diapers was loose, and it rolled down your leg- thank god you didn't eat it! But no one has ever brought me poop before! Ok night night!

you kids never stop running

wow. another dinner out with daddy's coworker over in bremerton, and I swear I just chased you guys back and forth from the fish tank. I don't expect you to sit still on the ferry over, and the car and then for dinner for two hours...so I just try to keep you seated and then walk back and forth. then on the ferry ride home you guys were just go go go. makena, you finally crashed and giselle, you are watching max and ruby again! we had fun, and I think, someday you both will sit still, until then I will enjoy this age and stage and just try and make it so you are not annoying people, but most people enjoy watching you guys. I think you two are so cute together. giselle, you always pick her up and try and walk with her, and it's just cute. and now you hold hands. and giselle you try to help her when she falls and you say it's ok, but she usually screams for me. we went to grammy and granppys and stayed the night. after a terrible scream fit from waking in the car, all was ok. we went to granpys park the next day and ran silly. granpy and granny sure are sweet to you. they get a kick out of you guys and ask you lots of questions, and always spoil you. they are really sweet to you. we saw all of your cousins too, and your aunties and uncle brent. so much fun. you both were shy until you warmed up. g you are always saying come on bailey or come on jared..and they are all so sweet to you they do exactly what you ask. makena, you were not so sure..you wanted to stay with mommy or you cried. you did let auntie becky hold you with food on a plate in front of you. takes you a lil while. makena, so much personality. you shake your head no, and smile so big. and you run with your arms out and a big smile and run to me. and big kisses and you say mwah. mwah. and you love doggies and kitties, you get so excited. and you still raaah back at fatty..like you are having a conversation with her..except she is usually hiding from you. but fatty totally raaaahs. giselle you love to have chocolate milk at night and you always want your vitamins too. you love sweets and you like to negotiate your dinner..3 bites or 2..we will say 3 then you say how bout 4...obviously, you haven't quite figured out which is more yet. you love playing with hunter..you get so excited for him to come over. you love talking to your sister like she completely understands you. no makena, I told you not to touch my baby. makena, you can't come in my room. let me hold you makena. makena, see the sign says this.., now she is over one,she is starting to understand everything you are saying. makena, you still cry every time I take you to the gym, you grab on to me so tight and you know it's coming that I have to go. but I now hand you over and now you stop crying really quickly after- like you finally accept that I will be back soon. giselle, you said you fixed your baby and put a band aid over your babies mouth, cause she hurt her lip. you love to pretend play mommy, and you carry your babies around, and have me take care of them if you have to run downstairs. you like to knock on the door to the room and pretend you are coming over. you sleep crazy..sometimes screaming or crying and throwing your body around- one night you had a full night terror. I think it lasted like an hour..of you complete screaming at the top of your lungs and we couldn't calm you down. we didn't know what was going on. then we read about it on the internet. we had never heard of it and it freaked us out, and you had no recollection in the morning. it was quite traumatic for us to deal with because it was extreme screaming. hope that doesn't happen again. baby allesandra is here and you were so excited to hold her. you see her and you keep wanting to hold her. and makena, you are so interested too. you also say bah bah. for baby. makena you take a baby and carry her and you rock her back and forth and sing. it's so sweet and unreal. I just love watching you. melts me all the time. I don't want you cuties to grow up. so in love with you both. always have always will.

giselle

you are so full of questions right now and we don't even know what to say. how did god make us? I feel like I need a good answer, sometimes we just say he put you in my tummy. sometimes you are happy with that answer, then other times you want to know more. how did I get out of your tummy mommy. were you in omi's tummy. you ask pretty good questions for a three your old. you are big in to how old people are and you always want to be older, someone asked you and you said four. you said you can't wait to be six. and we said why don't you just enjoy being three and you said you will enjoy being six. and your funny too. daddy and you both play temple run, and daddy lost and complained and you said it's okay daddy. you always lose that game. you love swimming and try to do it by yourself whenever we are a at a hotel pool. you start lessons this week, so I hope you have fun! your in to princess big time right now, and you can't wait to go to disneyland!!! you love sophia the first tv show... and doc mcstuffins. you let parker come in your room the other day and said ' the doc is in; and when you were sick I told you what is was and you said is that your diagnosis. you are a smarty pants. love you!!

happy 1 year makena

Happy Birthday Makena! You are the sweetest, happiest, smiliest baby!!! You love to laugh and you will laugh if other people are laughing! I hope you always have this cheerful outlook on life, and realize you were born happy, so keep this internal happiness going! No reason not to be happy, and you are in charge of your attitude! You are on the go go go. We call you frankenbaby, you toddle back and forth. Right now you just played happy and you know it with sissy, and you stomped your feet. you are doing so much now. you tried to put a qtip in your ear, you pretended to be talking on the phone, and even tried to sing in Giselle's karaoke machine. you said car, and I swear you said please. And you still say mamma dada. if you want something you scream like a banchee like your dad says. we went to the buffet and I could hear your scream all the way across with all the people. -==========-= you love the computer and the remote and you always know the buttons to push to turn on or off..you just typed that above and you try to shut it. sister still carries you everywhere. for your birthday we went to the beach, and you played, it was so beautiful out in january! no wind, and so we had lots of fun at the beach and the pool. omi and papa came. you love them and you saw papa four floors down from our room and said papa. and waved. I didn't even know he was down there. I made you a rose pink cake for your cake smash, and you loved putting your hands in it. you guys have been playing with the balloons for days now. we love you, we couldnt be happier.or more tired! but happy birthday!!

one year later

Happy Birthday Makena! What a beautiful, smiley, completely happy and content girl you are. I couldn't ask for a more joyful child. You are seriously always smiling. Or laughing. you even laugh after other people laugh. you love to be in the moment loving life! what a great outlook on life. I hope you always remember how internally

You alone are in charge of your attitude

Some days life will be amazing and it will be so easy to be happy. Sometimes you will feel awful and

what I want my girls to know...

this idea came from another blogger, and I think it's a nice way to capture

1- the only thing that matters is god, family and friends... life gets complicated, and busy, and oh so involved. enjoy every minute of it, travel, work, enjoy activities, but remember, that the people in your life are what is important. things don't matter, you can enjoy them, but don't get wrapped up in things, people matter. sounds simple, but what people value the most is a true look at their character. don't forget what matters.

Fourth of July

There is something about a small town fourth...so 

baby is almost one!

you said sock today! you like to pretend like you are putting them on. you are such a sweetie. you love to be close to me..I remember giselle when she was your age, she would go, and not turn around and look where we were, but you stick close and always hold my legs. of course, I love it. I always want to be close to you both. you like to squat down and sit almost with your butt on the ground, it's so cute, and you do a pose where you lay on your side, I guess Maguire did the same pose. you also look a lot like grandpa hoven. we looked at a baby picture of him around 9 mos., and he was an adorable baby, and you look so much like him. and all of your daddy's cousins think you look like Aunt Debbie. I thought that when you were born. you definitely have a lot of hoven in you. you can say mama, mom mom mom, mamamamam, dada, sock!, woah, woof woof,up, ' and you have been saying raaaah forever when we ask you what does the kitty say. after omi's cat who screams really load. you are starting to care when giselle takes thing from you, and you let her know. you cry and scream and throw whatever it is you don't want that she tries to replace it with. you love to give kisses, and blow kisses making the kissy sound, a'nd giselle will blow bubbles on my belly and you do it after her. you are pretty much a mommy's girl, and very shy to go to others. you like me to hold you. and you lay your head on me, and when I say night night you lay it on me too. it's so precious. you can get up the stairs and slide backwards, however, you like to turn and walk down, and you can't do that yet. you started walking at ten months, and you have the cutest wobble. love watching you walk. giselle, you just asked dad if he is gonna stay here all day, and he said yes, and you yelled "ALL DAY!!. that is a long time!" you always ask every night if he is going to work in the morning. if you don't get enough sleep, you wake up screaming for him, and won't let me near you. you cry and cry. then you settle down and say you cried cause you miss him. you love your daddy so much. you want him to do everything, and be with you all the time. you follow him around the house, and you want him to make you lunch. if he is not around you of course want me, but right now you are daddys girl. you both had a fun christmas. first grammy came up to stay with us. we went to warm beach in satinwood, and it's one of our favorite traditions. lots of lights, santa, frosty, horse, animals, food, music..you name it, but it's very low key on a big scale. giselle, this year you were not afraid of santa, just a little, you had dad go with you, but you sat on his lap, told him oyou wanted licorice and suckers, and you smiled..last year you wouldn't even go near him. makena, you screamed the minute daddy put you on his lap. we have the best picture this year. classic! giselle, you love frosty, and you went and gave him a hug. big changes in the hoven house too, as giselle just decided to start going number two in the toilet. one funny time was when we went to grammy/granpys and you poo'd about the size of a grain of rice in the toilet, and you screamed "we're going to disneyland!!!" as we promised you when you start going we will take you. this has been about a year of trying to get you to go, so we are so happy. you start thinking you will never go in the toilet. we also had gg come stay with us for a week. she loved watching you girls with her morning coffee sitting in her green chair. she stayed in giselles room, and she got to see giselle's school concert ( which you sand felix navidade, and Idk the chinese song, but you actually sang really load and good, but with you hand in your mouth!) last year you just put you hand in your mouth and didn't sing at all. ha! we spent early christmas at auntie debbie's and we enjoyed family fun! then to grammy/grampys to stay the night- you enjoyed all the toys they had, and she made a yummy breakfast, then to longview to stay with omi and papa. we went to church and had the candlelight silent night, and had a fun night opening presents and celebrating jesus. giselle, this is the first year you actually got the opening, but you wanted to open everyones presents. it was fun. then we went to whistler, and enjoyed snow. you love the snow! love you both so much. you are my life!