Life Lately

This is a look at our life lately.

At least Henry and Elle look like they are having fun!

I had to be downtown for an event at 5:30am one morning, so instead of waking the kids up around 4:30am to head to my mom and dad's the 3 of us had a slumber party at their house so the kids could sleep in. Elle had so much fun! She was a nonstop chatterbox (which is nothing new). When it was time for bed she wanted to keep running in my mom's room to tell MawMaw one more thing.  I was finally able to get her to sleep!

All Doodle needed was his iPad and Minions to feel right at home.

I figured the kids would sleep pretty late but I got this picture texted to me from my mom at 6:30am. Awake, dressed and ready for more fun!

Whenever Ollie is in a bad mood Eric will quote the movie Elf and say "he's an angry elf!". Elle has started saying this as well when Ollie is being a grump. :)

99% of his grumpiness comes when Mama has to set him down for a minute. My baby boy loves to be held, and I love holding him!

My girl. 

Elle Belle picked out her outfit for our girls night. We usually go to Hobby Lobby, Target, Starbucks, the grocery store. It's never anything fancy, just running errands but I love this one on one time with my girl. 

Mom: "Are you funny and silly?"

Elle: "I'm not funny or silly.  I'm just cute."

Ya got that right!

One Sunday we went to a school program Henry had where he sang some songs with his class.  Adorable!

Elle took him this balloon and gave it to him after the show.

Dancing in Henry's classroom.

Who's excited to go to the splash pad?!

Since all these Blue's games have been on at our house Ollie has learned to hit/kick/throw a ball, put his arms in the air and say "Goal!"

The pink hairbrush was his hockey stick. :)

"MamaMamaMamaMamaMama"

Blowing bubbles on the deck. Ollie is trying so hard to learn!

Diaper delivery day is always exciting!

I feel like I can catch a glimpse of what they will look like as teenagers in this picture. Lounging on the couch, not paying attention to me.  I will take these baby days of hearing "mama" 700 times a day, needing me for help and being told I'm little Missy's best friend.  Trying to savor these baby days, they will be gone before I know it. :(

Well, this can't be good for Hermann's back! You have to keep a close eye on Ollie around the dogs.  If he sees one of them on his couch he goes up to them, pokes them with his toes and says "go!!!"

The makings of a fun daddy...

When Elle sees a cart she really wants to ride in across the parking lot and Eric takes off walking for it.  He then jumps on it and rides through the parking lot as I'm yelling for him to get out of the middle of the street because a car is trying to get around him. #mylife

My babies.

How is it possible to love two little people this much?

This boy.  He is full of kisses for his mommy lately.  He smacks his little lips and will give me endless kisses.  He also blows on his food whether it's hot or cold and when I sit down for dinner he immediately clasps his little hands together to let me know he is ready to pray. When I ask him something he will shake his head yes and kind of grunt "yes". My heart just explodes for this baby boy. What did I ever do without him. 

Girlfriend loves rolley polley's. I can't for the life of me remember what she named this one but she wanted to bring him inside and make him her pet. I convinced her to let him stay outside, although this picture may have been the end of his life.  She was so excited, she had a pretty tight grip on him. :)

The Dude.

My baby.  One of my favorite pictures of us.  I love having fun with this girl, I love hearing her stories, love our cuddles, love watching her grow.  I love everything about being her mommy. 

Elle's go to silly face is one she created called "Marmalade".  You don't get the full effect from this picture but it's just enough for me to always remember it. 

Doodle lives a tough life. :)

Watching Goldie and Bear

Mom: "Do you think that prince is cute, sis?

Elle shrugs her shoulders

Elle: "He looks handsome"

Zoo Day

Eric and I both had a Friday off recently so we took advantage of the amazing weather and took the kids to the zoo.

All loaded and ready for a fun zoo day!

Elle was having a bit of a hard time climbing the fence for a better look. :)

Stopping for a snack. Ollie was happy!

Showing off her panther tattoo. 

The penguin house is always a favorite.  Not only is it really cold which is amazing on a hot day but you can see the penguins up close.  One time when Mary and I were there the man working the area told us a penguin had jumped out about 30 minutes before we walked in. 

Waiting to ride the carousel. 

Look at Ollie's face...turns out the carousel is a little scary. 

My baby. 

Sissy was loving it!

Selfie while waiting for the sea lions. 

We happened to catch the sea lion feeding time. I had never seen this before, it was so neat! 

Headed to the train!

Elle fell asleep on the walk to the train so she slept on me the entire ride.  

Ollie was a wild man and did not want to sit still. 

After the train ride we loaded them up in their strollers to leave.  This is when Elle woke up and cried to ride the train.  I kept trying to convince her she already did and she finally believed me. :)

We stopped for dinner on the way home.  Check out my handsome dinner date.

Elle played on the playground while we waited for our food.  You can see her little head going down the slide. 

A full head of curls after a long hot day. 

Ollie Russ

I wanted to do a post all about my Oliver Russell, all the things he's learning, saying, loving.  This little boy is growing so fast and I swear he somehow manages to get cuter every.single.day.

I swear I wouldn't do this with our second child but Oliver is officially a co-sleeper. I never put him in his crib anymore, Eric tries to after he falls asleep but Oliver wakes up as soon as he lays him down, sometimes when they just get to his room. He can be completely passed out and can still tell Eric is trying to take him to his room.  It's a gift. On the rare occasion Eric is able to get him in his crib without Ollie waking up he is awake within the hour and snuggled back in bed next to me. I just love having them lay with us.  I have read articles on it and try to tell Eric about the supposed benefits but he thinks I'm crazy. Truth be told, in our king size I end up practically falling off the side with Elle's feet flung over me and Ollie right next to my face...but I love it.

Oliver can say 

"Mama" - we hear this the most, "mamamamamama"

"Me Me" - he will say this when he wants something

"Goal" - he throws/kicks a ball, puts his hands in the air and says "goal"

"Go" - says this to the dogs all the time when he is eating

Oliver looooves to have books read to him.  He picks one he likes from his room or Elle's and will bring it to you and sit in your lap.  Once the book is over he immediately wants you to read it again...and again...and again...and again. Some of his favorite are "Penguin Gets the Hiccups", "Big Small" and "The Daddy Book". 

Ollie also loves brushing his teeth.  His toothbrush is in our bathroom and anytime he walks in and sees it on the counter he says "Me me me me me" He gets so angry when I have to take his toothbrush from him so it usually ends with some high pitched screaming but the beginning is always fun. :)

My little doodle is turning into a mama's boy...actually he's there. My sweet boy!!
Now, I just need to keep him a mama's boy for-ev-er!!! I'm a complete sucker when it comes to my baby boy, I absolutely adore him. 

Oliver can wave to people and is learning to say "bye"

He can shake his head yes or no and is learning to say "yes"

He smacks his little lips and will give kisses.  One night Elle came over and gave me a kiss and 2 seconds later Ollie was standing in front of me smacking his lips for a kiss.

Oliver isn't great with the word "no". He thinks it's a game.  He loves standing on the fire place, trying to reach the cords under the computer, playing with toilet paper.  The words "Ollie Russ that's a no no" are heard often in our house. :)

He loves playing outside.  These rocks in our front landscaping are his favorite.  He tries to wrangle out of my arms anytime we walk past them to get down and play. 

When he is eating something he likes he dances in his seat. Cutest thing ever!

He loves strawberries, blueberries, spaghetti, lunch meat, cheese, turkey sausage, mashed potatoes, pickles, eggs, pizza, chips or puffs of any kind and the boy will lose his mind if he is thirsty and a drink isn't readily available.

He does not like avocado, bananas, other than corn he isn't huge on vegetables - some days are better than others. 

And that's a few little details about Oliver at about 13 months old. I'm savoring this sweet time before the tantrums kick in. :)