Big Achievements

4 years ago today, Bryce and I went on our first date. Happy dating Anniversary Bryceeee! In honor of 4 years together, here is a picture from when we were first dating. How adorable are we?



4 years and what do we have to show for it? This funny lady, here she is peering around the recliner at Daddy,



The other day I put her in the crib and came back upstairs because I forgot something, and this is what I came up to,



Hi Mom! I'm standing up!



So she can now pull herself up, and she will on just about anything she sees (chairs, couches, piano benches, side tables, her jumper, any toy above 1' tall that she thinks might provide leverage)









This morning she was playing with her puffs container, and with her feet took off the top! They spilled out everywhere. She lit up like Christmas morning! She was beyond thrilled at her craftiness,







And the biggest news, we now have a crawling baby! She started yesterday. We've been so cruel, putting her favorite toys on the other side of the room and making her crawl over and over again.



Here's a good action shot,





So yep, lots of achievements in this family lately. Oh, and she can also sign "more", but I can't ever get it on camera. Plus, it would just look like she's clapping.

Stay tuned for pictures of Eleanora's newest cousin (man, Keaton didn't get to hold that title very long did he?). Amy is being induced tonight/tomorrow morning so hopefully we'll get to meet him soon!

Easter

Eleanora all dressed up for Easter,



We met my dad and the Peterson's for brunch buffet at Champp's. Eleanora was jazzed about the Puffs Grandpa brought for her,



Carsten enjoying all the chocolate fountain had to offer,






Then we went to Great-Grandma Viv's for an Easter egg hunt with her cousins. She was very intrigued by the eggs,



Making sure Daddy doesn't steal her egg for the candy inside,






Just being cute & girly,



Playing with Daddy's cell phone,



Funny faces with Auntie Malia,



She had a great day!

Hey baby

Eleanora's newest cousin arrived yesterday evening. He looks just like his daddy and so much like a "Keaton" to me!

Introducing Keaton Lloyd Filbert:



Eleanora got to meet him today. She played with his adorable dark & curly hair and eyed him up.



Sick of uncle Bryce and wanting his mama back,



Congratulations to Ben & Nisa! 8 months apart...this is gonna be so fun!

(A full Easter post to come...just wanted to blog real quick to share the pics of the new babe)

Some stuff (I really hate thinking of titles)

Carsten came over Tuesday while Amy went to her doctor's appt and Eleanora was so happy! They looked out the window into the backyard together (Carsten loves watching Kirby and the neighbor's dog outside). Now that she can stand up I had to take these photos,







Then my mom and I tried to get them to sit down next to each other for a photo, but Carsten wasn't having it...



But Nora wouldn't let him leave!





She is always putting her paci in upside down! She doesn't seem to mind, but I often look over and see this during the day, (eyes closed from the flash, she's not sleeping sitting up)



Today Eleanora enjoyed her first time swinging!







Love this face, it's her really hearty laugh face,



This afternoon my friend Mary came over and we took our girls for a walk (they both snoozed while we walked & talked). Lily is only 6 weeks younger than Nora, it's so fun!

(the girls sleeping)


That is all for now, I hear Eleanora fighting daddy on his decision it's naptime...

Can't think of a good title, sorry...

Eleanora's new favorite spot by the back door became about 100x more fun when she realized that Kirby is often on the other side,



Thursday night we went on a family date to Cheesecake Factory. A couple shots before we left since her outfit + hairdo was so adorable,






(this is such a Nora face, I love it!)


Eleanora & daddy waiting for a table...in the same spot Bryce and I sat waiting for a table on our 3rd date 4 years ago (well, 3 weeks shy of 4 years ago exactly)



She has started to become agitated by watching other people eat with nothing to eat herself, so we bring along Puffs (for those of you w/o babies they are like little pieces of flavored cereal that melts in her mouth). She has almost mastered getting them in her mouth all by herself. That's not to say we don't often leave a mountain of Puffs behind on the floor of restaurants, but she's getting really good! See....?





Checking out the cheesecake selection...



and of course daddy playing Nora's favorite "pick up menus" game,



Showing off her style before leaving for Grandma Kate's,



We've done a lot of snoozing in the recliner this week. Eleanora, Kirby & I,



And Eleanora & daddy after he got home from work on Friday,



And lastly, Eleanora loves this foam letter puzzle piece...I think it's probably because the "K" is bright orange, but I like to think it's because she knows it's her last initial. Either way, this is what she was doing the other night,



In crawling news, she's not quite there yet. She can get on all fours and sort of rock back & forth, and scoot backwards, but no real crawling yet. Here she is practicing,