My Helper

Iris is always on my heels and always wanting to do what I do. Her most common phrases now are "I can do it" and "I can help!" Sometimes her enthusiasm comes in handy but more often not. Today she was very persistent so I let her "wash" all the plastic dinnerware...

then it was onto the floors....

really putting her back into it...

I hope she's still this enthusiastic about chores when she gets older!

The Bite

When Isabella and I finished her Kindermusik class Tuesday morning I noticed I had two missed calls from Iris' preschool---not good! A million thoughts went through my head as I was quickly dialing my voicemail. Luckily it was nothing too major. Someone bit Iris. Here's the injury... I spoke with the school director and she said it was a pretty good bite that broke the skin and would probably turn black and blue later. I said I would come get her but she said Iris had just left her office and told her she was fine and wanted to "go play toys." I decided to let her stay. They were very secretive about who bit her. Apparently they are not suppose to tell the parents which child did the biting. I know my Iris though so I wasn't too concerned about that. When I walked into her room that afternoon she held up her arm and said "Look mommy, I have a boo boo, Evan bit me!" Mmm-hmm, just the culprit I had suspected. It is a little worse than this picture shows but I didn't think it looked all that bad. Apparently it looked much worse when it first happened. Iris has been milking it ever since she got home though. Anytime she's tired and whiny she holds her arm up and starts crying about her "boo boo." I just hope she doesn't start biting anyone now!

Dentist

Iris had her 2nd dentist appointment today. She took a little more coaxing this time. I finally told her there were "Princess Sparkles" on the polisher and that seemed to do the trick.

Look at all those Princess Sparkles!

Isabella was awesome during the whole visit. While Iris had her mouth clamped shut and we were trying to convince her to open up and say "Aaahhh" Isabella looked up at us and went "Aaahh." She continued to do it every time the hygenist or I said it to Iris. It was too cute! The hygenist gave her a toothbrush and other than her "Aaahhs" she sat quietly and watched the squirrels outside of the window and kept brushing...

and brushing...

and brushing...

I had two Perfect Sparkly Princesses when we were done!

Tunnel Time

I brought this tunnel out for Isabella. She wasn't quite sure about it and looked a little distressed at first....

Trying to figure out her best exit strategy...

Isabella: "Hhmm, toys that way...

...but mommy is this way, we'll go this way!"

Trying to figure out her next escape.

Isabella is 11 Months

Isabella is 11 months... ...and as cute and sweet as ever! Her hair is getting more curls every day. They are all in the back though so you can't see them in most of her pictures. She is no longer nursing and is finally sleeping through the night-----yeah!!!!! She is eating more and more finger foods. Two new foods this month were meatballs and tofu and she loves them both. She is a great eater and loves just about anything she can eat herself. She also likes bananas now which is a change from a few months ago. She has two more teeth on the bottom now for a total of eight. She is walking while holding onto furniture but not quite ready to let go yet. She has started to climb the stairs though so we will have the gate back up very soon. I cannot believe she is going to be one soon. This year has flown by! Happy 11 Month Birthday Boodles! We Love you!

New Orleans

Brad and I took a trip to New Orleans without the girls. I missed them dearly but I must admit it was nice to sleep in and not change any diapers for a few days. The food was delicious and we had a great time. I did not take many pictures but the driver of our carriage tour offered to take this one for us. I swear Iris and Isabella both grew while we were gone. I told mom to finish up the potty training with Iris and get her into big girl panties (she's almost ready but not quite yet) but to discourage Isabella from walking because I did not want to miss her first steps. Iris was still in Pull-Ups when we got home but Isabella wasn't walking yet so I can't complain. Thanks Mom! We brought the girls some souvenirs. I could only get Iris to share one strand of beads but no way is she going to share this mask. (Isabella is blurry in this pix because she would not sit still!)

Portrait Day

Iris had her portrait done this morning. It was done by Donna McMahon. I meant to take a picture of Iris while she was having it done but she was such a wiggle worm that I had to entertain her the whole time and forgot. I brought her Strawberry Shortcake DVD to watch but she was not very interested. When it was all said and done it took 3 lollipops to keep her still (No, "3" is not a typo). She did pretty good though and I think the portrait turned out great!

They had a jumpcastle set up outside so afterwards she got to jump around and get rid of all that excess energy. Thank goodness they did not blow this thing up until after we were done. If Iris would have seen it on the way in I don't think lollipops would have even saved the day. Peek-A-Boo...

Isabella is too young to have her portrait done but I didn't want to leave her out (like I did at the zoo). Here's a "portrait" of her today enjoying a chickpea and formula snack...

and for those if us that thought I was going to have one curly haired daughter and one with straight hair....

we may be wrong. These Curly Q"s are sprouting everyday.

Concert Prep

I am taking Iris and Isabella to see the Imagination Movers concert in Spartanburg this summer. They played a live taping of the concert on the Disney Channel and we recorded

the show. Iris asks to watch it everyday. Each time she gets on the couch and jumps or hula dances or whatever they are doing. Here she is practicing her moves...

this is the hula dance....

Isabella could care less about the concert. She is more interested in shopping for bologna.... and tasting the toast.

Sisterly Love

Iris showing some sisterly love.....

....too bad Isabella's not feeling the same.