Sikorski Saga

We tried to see Comet Lulin but the lights of Baltimore created enough light pollution that we couldn't see it. Tim bought a telescope, so hopefully it'll be put to good use later. Here's Katja all bundled up and not enjoying star/comet gazing. Luella let me French braid her hair for the first time! Oh so pretty! The girls are matching because they are both "Absolutely Gorgeous"!

Katja enjoys a completely bland palette. Here she is trying applesauce. She's much happier when she eats rice cereal. She has her mommy's Norwegian taste buds . Kyla didn't eat any spices stronger than black pepper before she met Tim!

One of our church friends with an older daughter (she's 4) passed down her outgrown clothes to Luella and eventually Katja . Luella found her new swimsuit that has " floaties " blown up and inserted in the suit. She loves it! We can't wait to try it out on our way to Minnesota next week!

Still, no one can make Katja laugh like Luella can! My monkeys love bouncing on the bed.

Just before Christmas Luella got a squishy toy from the FRG . It's a little pig filled with gel and balls that squishes, makes bubbles and is really cool for a two-year-old. Luella played with her first one so much that it got a hole and was leaking around New Year's. We had to rush it to the Emergency Room (co-located with the Harford County Landfill). Just last week we went back to the office of the lady who gave Squishy to Luella. She asked when he was coming back from his doctor's office appointment. So yesterday Kyla went to pick him up from the doctor's office (co-located with the Dollar Tree). Luella's showing how he stretches and will probably need another trip to the doctor's office soon. She really does love her Squishy! A video with Luella and her all-better Squishy.

Last night, Luella wasn't sleeping after we did our bedtime routine. We put her to bed around 8:30-9pm every night, last night no exception. She stayed up until midnight and yelled down that she had a poopy diaper. We've taught her that poopy diapers are the only "acceptable" reason not to sleep and ask us to come to her room after her bedtime routine. Tim went up to change her diaper and discovered the following: Picture Luella naked from the waist down. Head to toe she has dark marks on her. First thought is that she smeared poop all over herself. Then Tim turned on the light and saw small dark circular stains and streaks on her bed. Looking closer, it's not poop smeared all over her and her pajama top, it's dry erase marker in eight colors. She looks very primitive in her tribal markings, even cat-like whiskers drawn on her face. Tim yells, "Oh Luella! What did you do?" That's when Kyla storms upstairs thinking about how much she hates cle...

We've been practicing sitting with the Bumbo and Boppy . Luella was a little jealous that Katja was getting all the pictures for sitting. She took her neck pillow and used it like the Boppy for her tushie . A back view of how straight she sat with the Boppy . Kyla pulled the Boppy away - she's still sitting straight! She sat straight long enough for Kyla to move around to take a front view photo! Yeah! Katja's official sitting milestone was achieved today!

Luella loves holding and kissing her sister. She's such a good big sister! Katja and Luella are modeling the coordinating dresses that they got from the Carson's before Katja was even born! She's finally big enough for it! Bug-eyed Luella with the bottle nipples. Video of Luella and Katja's sister love!

Katja is definitely not a failure to thrive! Her adorable chubby cheeks give that away! She was 18 pounds 8 ounces and 26.25" tall. Luella at this time was 17 pounds 15 ounces and 27" tall, but also if I remember, that height thing is all fuzzy until they can hold still and not kick the nurses. According to all the questions they ask, she's developmentally ahead of most kids since the nurse-in-training was asking us the 9 month questions and Katja's doing some of those activities. She's now sleeping off her immunizations. I wish Luella was doing the same. She's taken to waking up multiple times at night and walking around the house, just to make sure we're all still asleep. Which we were, until she woke us (really just Kyla) up.

Every dentist's dream...she got a lollipop for going potty on her potty chair and she loves to brush her teeth too! Katja wondering what's up with that sister of hers. This is what you get when Luella chooses her own outfit. She wore her Halloween pirate costume with tights and her helmet because she wanted to ride her trike. The only thing Kyla insisted upon was her jacket. Kyla put up Luella's swing in the tree, now that the birdies have vacated their nest. It's a good alternative to going to the playground when baby sister is upstairs napping. The baby monitor only goes so far. Luella tells you all about her fun afternoon!

Katja , Luella and Tim admiring the flowers Tim brought home. Too bad this isn't scratch and sniff because they smell amazing! Katja smiling after breakfast. She got bananas for the first time. The rest of us had blueberry pancakes with fresh fruit, bacon and eggs. Tim grilled for the first time in 2009 - steak and lobster, asparagus too. Sister hugs! Katja loves her big sister! Tim also got his ladies a fondue set. We loved dipping all our fresh fruit, cake and gourmet marshmallows in the chocolate. Mother/Daughter hugs! For some unknown reason Luella started calling us Mother and Father last night. Chocolate baths come when the 2 year old plays with fondue!

Katja is now six months old! How did that happen so quickly? Here's the only picture (which was really a video) of her on her half-birthday. Luella and Katja just hanging out, talking and giggling!

Luella started waking up to see Tim get ready for PT (Physical Training), and then going back to sleep, on the floor. This is usually how Kyla finds her. Luella wanted to hold Katja . They're both a bit apprehensive about that. Okay, we're done. Let's go play!

Luella is perfecting her somersaults and Katja loves slapstick humor! No one can make Katja laugh like Luella can! More giggles!

James Rebolledo came to play while his mommy and daddy had a date. James and Katja are only 6 months apart! Crazy to think they'll be in the same grade. Katja's just too cute!

Luella is such a cheese ball and Katja loves her so much!

Kyla needed a milk shake and Katja thought she needed it too!