Lilly the Puppy

Lilly is finally becoming more self sufficient.  As of this evening, she can finally put food in her mouth with her own hand!!  For the past few months, we've been calling Lilly our little puppy dog because back when she was crawling, she would pick up toys and stuffed animals off the ground with her teeth so that she could crawl faster.  I was on a mission to get her to feed herself and it was a success!  We've been practicing with Cheerios and I happen to capture this gem on video.  I normally do not allow food in the living room but I let it slide for Lilly's sake.  I hope you enjoy the video of our little Lilly, the puppy.  :)

p.s.  Abby is intently watching 101 Dalmatians in the background.  She got popcorn instead of Cheerios and that seemed to keep the peace.

Happy 4th Birthday, Abby!

Today at 7:11 PM our little Abby will be 4 years old.  She has grown to be a sweet, savvy, too-smart-for-her-own-age, sensitive, hug-able, loving daughter.  And in the past year, she has also become her little sister's best friend, protector, perma-play date and #1 fan.  Her little sister can do no wrong, cannot look any cuter or be any sweeter in her eyes.  We love you and are so proud of you, Abby!  ♥

Playing under the tent together.  :)

Playing outside together and sharing pine needles.

Impromptu hug.  Mei Mei wasn't ready yet.  :)

This was Mei Mei's first time to play out on the drive way and she was enamored with the shells in the concrete.

Kiss!

Mei Mei's thinking "Oooh!  I can't get out of this chair!"

I knew she wouldn't want me to help her and sure enough, she got it!

Daddy and his girls!!  ♥

Abby's 4th Birthday Party!

We had Abby's 4th Birthday Party at Wonderwild this year!  She hasn't had a big birthday party since her 1st birthday so this was exciting for both Abby and me.  :)  She had SO MUCH fun with all of her friends and family.  And not surprisingly, everything was pink, pink, PINK!  The Disney Princess themed party was inevitable so I'm sort of glad we can check that off the list (for now).

Abby said it was her birthday party but Mei Mei didn't have to give her a kiss because she wanted to give HER a kiss!  So sweet!  ♥

Mei Mei is freakin' fearless!  Really gotta keep an eagle eye on her.

We are ever so slowly opening all of her gifts and of course, Mei Mei wanted in on the action as well.  :)

A couple of days ago when Bryce asked Abby what she wanted for her birthday dinner, she said "I want chips and guacamole but I want the chips that are scoops.  With black olives.  And cheese.  And beef on it." So she essentially asked for a nacho dinner so she got what she wanted!  Bryce made his super fancy nachos and we sat outside to enjoy the perfect weather with Mexican martinis to boot.

Yummy!!  What a fun way to end a birthday party day!

I turn my back for 2 seconds...

Okay, it was more like 5-10 minutes but in my defense, I was only 5 feet away from the two little boogers!  Lilly just woke up from her nap and Abby decided to give Mei Mei some more dolls to play with in her crib.  We have a 1 doll rule in her crib to help distract her (and give me a few more minutes before getting her) so this was really high up there on the FUN scale for both of them.  I was making measurements to put the last 2 door knobs on her closet doors - I turn around and this is what I find!

Can't tell if Abby is putting dolls IN or taking them OUT, huh?  She's actually taking them OUT.  Mei Mei didn't know what to think about all those dolls!

Oh well, everyone was safe and having fun so I let it go on.  :)

This week at school is all about bugs so they were instructed to go bug hunting and put it in a clear, plastic container to bring for show-n-tell tomorrow.  OBVIOUSLY this is a Daddy-daughter thing since I abhor bugs.  It was raining so I had Abby put on her boots and I noticed she looked like my little cowgirl.  :)

"YEE-HAW!!!"

Incidentally with all the rain, the bugs were mostly all tucked away in their homes so all she got were doodle bugs.  Better luck next time!

I had fun installing our new gate to keep Lilly out of our study/work out/storage/junk room that is far from being child proof.  I just love installing things.  It's just as exciting as buying a new pair of shoes for me (and those that know me, know I loooove to buy shoes...♥...something I've passed on to Abby already).  Lilly's going to have a rude awakening tomorrow morning!  Sorry Mei Mei!  It's for your own safety!

Daddy's Home!!

What a lucky guy...♥

I'm lucky to get these girls all day!

More Random Pictures

Finally - we are all pretty much on the mend.  Except we got my mom sick over the weekend.  :(  I feel really bad about that.  I've been trying to get back to taking pictures regularly and here are a slew of random pictures from the last few days.  As with all kids this age, they are just endless entertainment.  Gotta love it.

This was the re-occurring theme one night.

One of Mei Me's favorite places to be - look at that smile!  That's her "I got what I wanted!" face.

Does anyone else's kid like to snack on romaine lettuce?

Mei Mei likes to yell a lot.  This is mid-yell.

Typical Mei Mei sucking her thumb even when she's walking around.

I got leg hugs from my baby Lilly!  ♥

Jie Jie is eating romaine lettuce and Mei Mei is thinking "I want some!"

I finally got a picture of Mei Mei doing her new "trick."  She likes to blink her eyes really hard and then see our reaction.  Doesn't sound special but we think it's SO CUTE.  :)

They were just lying around this afternoon.  No reason.  Just relaxing.

Abby decided to peruse her LEGO catalog.

♥ KISS! ♥

Mei Mei's other favorite thing to do - stick her tongue out.

I love these ruffle butt bloomers and her chubby butt and legs.  So squish-ably yummy!

My goofy, sweet girls.

My dad and I took Lilly out for some fresh air before picking up Abby from school and this is her "Don't hold my hands - I got it!" face/pose.  Already growing up TOO FAST for my liking!

Miss Independent

Sick of Being Sick

COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!

Ugh.  Excuse me.  This is the pits.  It's the 2nd time all 4 of us have been sick all at the same time.  We each have our own different ailments and our own specific concoctions of medicine to take and we're all using tissues (well, except for Bryce who never uses tissues).  We've each taken turns as to who is the most sick.  First it was Abby, then Bryce and now Lilly.  I have yet to have a fever but I've been coughing up a storm for weeks now.  You know, to where your lower back, chest and diaphragm are all sore.  Like I said, it's poor little Lilly's turn now.  This is her 3rd day of fever and she's a snot ball.  It's a good thing there is an infinite amount of cuddles I can give out because I feel like I've been cuddling/coddling both girls for over 4 weeks straight now (and I secretly LOVE it!).  Everyone is getting spoiled.  :)  Luckily in the Baker household, no one really loses their appetite no matter how sick they get.  Lilly has really been attached to my hip lately.  My favorite, FAVORITE, FAVORITE part about her sitting on my hip is how her right arm hooks onto my left arm.  I don't know why but that makes my heart melt!  There's something about looking down at that chubby little, pale, pale arm wrapped around my arm that makes me want to hold her like that forever.  Since I'm always the camera man, my mom was gracious enough to be my model.  :)

Like many moms from many moons ago, this is how she held Kirk as a baby too.  :)

Do you see it??  That's the arm I'm talking about!  I just looove it!!  ♥

It's Chef Lilly Baker!

I've GOT to get a video of this but lately Abby's been saying "Hey guuuys!  It's sunny outsiii-de!" for some reason but it's in the most southern twang you can imagine.  Think Steel Magnolias.  It's freakin' hilarious!  It's one of those things where you have no idea where it came from.

Just look at those long Baker legs.

And lastly, here's a sad picture of my two sickies enjoying each other's misery.  :(