I'm learning so much (Hannah)

Hannah:

I am getting smarter and smarter every day, and it is so much fun.  I am learning new words, new sounds, and new everything!  I'm even starting to put two words together from time to time.

Daddy is teaching me numbers below.

And now I know all my letters!

I also learned my name.  I say "Nana" instead of "Hannah", but I say it every time I see a picture or reflection of myself.

 

Mommy took a video of me WHERE I COULD SEE MYSELF on her phone.  This was the coolest experience EVER!

I have also figured out how to work this magnetic fishy game, and WHOA am I excited about that!!

I also discovered how the phone works.  Although I've never actually spoken on a "real" phone before, one day I grabbed our little pretend one and made sure I said hello to everyone, including the tricycle.

I also learned how to climb in a box with my sister.

And put the baby doll hat on my head.

I'm also getting really good at "ring around the rosie"

I am learning all of my animal sounds.  I can't say I'm 100% with them, but learning is fun!

I'm also learning at school.  Here is my "first day of school" picture and I am so happy!!

As a special part of learning, I'm playing with my sister a little.  I can't say that we always get along, but anytime we are being cute with each other Mommy grabs that obnoxious camera to capture that brief moment.  This video below has one of my favorite things - Moo!

Here is another precious moment when we were playing so sweetly together with our little toy house.

Last but not least is this picture of Rebekah giving me a hug and kiss.  I love my sister so much!

Summer of Swimming

Rebekah:

I love to swim and we did a lot of swimming this summer.  I made so much progress and have conquered so many fears.  Hannah did great too.  She was even starting to jump in a little by the end of the summer.

Let's look at our first trip to the pool this summer:

Notice how we are "standing" in this shallow water?  We didn't even swim!!

Now let's compare our first pool trip to one towards the end of the summer.  Now we are actually "swimming"!  I wasn't even using a life jacket (but I had quite a grip on the pool noodle).

 

 

I wish Mommy had a video of Hannah jumping off the big step, but at least you can tell here that she's having fun (sorry for the lawnmower background noise!).

 

Here is my impressive pool noodle technique.  I still don't like getting my head or face wet, but 2015 is looking good!

Grapefest 2014

Rebekah:

A few weeks ago we went to Grapefest to walk around and check out the petting zoo.  This is the first year it's been open on Thursday afternoon and what a total score for us.  Nobody was there, except the goats of course.  We had such a great time!

They had a bicycle area which was a lot of fun.

They even did a "show" and we got to throw all these Velcro balls on this guy's super cool outfit.

 

Hannah wanted a really good seat!

Happy Birthday. I'm TWO!

Hannah

Can you believe I am already two years old?  You would never know it by my cute little baby face, but people tell me that I'm already growing up.  I guess I can tell that too, since I don't want to sit in a high chair anymore and would rather use Mommy's big fork than my own.  That's how it all begins, isn't it?

We celebrated my birthday yesterday with family and had so much fun.  Mommy didn't know what to expect when it came to my talents in opening presents, but I did so great.  I'm excellent at both "tissue paper removal" and "wrapping paper ripping".  What can I say - I'm a natural!

You are probably wondering what my favorite present was.  While there were so many great presents, I think the award goes to the mylar balloons.  These were discovered as soon as I woke up and I couldn't get enough of them.  Rebekah loved them too.

Check out this big hug from Grandma.  We had fun together.

 

We received some awesome dress up clothes and we had a blast with them.  I think we wore them all!

And then there was cake - or muffin.  I was fascinated by the fire.  Perhaps too fascinated.  Daddy ended up helping me get the candles blown out and then I stuffed my face as fast as I could.  Then Rebekah did too.

Here is the video of the Happy Birthday song:

P.S. - Mommy just leaned over and told me that my birthday isn't actually until tomorrow. Whaaaaattt???  Does this mean I get more presents tomorrow?????