Morning Snuggles

Sometimes I'm lucky enough to catch these sweet moments on camera...

Look Who's Walking! (Finally!)

Everyone keeps asking: is he walking yet?  Even though Julian took his first little steps right at 15 months, he didn't seem to want to repeat it or try anymore (he was more interested in climbing everything!) until 2 days ago - just after his 16 month bday.  He always stayed clutched on to our hands.  Well the other night, he finally let go and walked in between us.  Everyone was so excited and Leana was both cheerleader and photographer... In just 2 days he is already doing so much more, pretty much all the way across a room!

3 days later....

Carmel

Leana, Julian and I had a nice week in Carmel.  We enjoyed some sunshine, playground time, lots of yummy food and a nice baby shower to celebrate Baby Picard due in April.  We are all so excited for our first nephew/cousin!

While we were there Juju spent a lot of time practicing his walking skills holding onto to Nana's, Mama's or even Leana's hands and he learned how to "jump" on the bed with Leana.

Leana turned 3.5 and stopped napping.  So far that has been mostly ok, but a few rough evenings while she is adjusting.

 Leana's half birthday cake pop

 Helping Juju walk

 Fun at the park

 With buddies Reese and Fiona

 Reading with Nana Ruth

Leana: 3.5 Years Old!

Leana has been counting down to her half birthday for at least a month now - coinciding with her new interest in calendars.  Now that she has the days of the week and telling time mostly figured out, she has moved on to months, the numbers of days in each month, when all the holidays are, and of course when all the birthdays of various family members fall.  And half birthdays.  And quarter birthdays.  She really loves those birthdays.  We celebrated her half birthday in Carmel with a cake pop from Starbucks.  After an initial "it's not big enough" disappointment (a common theme with this 3.5 year old) she enjoyed her treat, wearing her tights, blue tutu/leotard and princess crown.  This is the same outfit that she wore home on the plane today while also carrying a silver "angel wand".  That pretty much sums up being three and a half.
Other big interests right now include : Olivia, fairies, ballerinas, princesses, fairy princesses, princess ballerinas, angels, wild animals, sea creatures, nice and mean monsters, maps, and where on the maps all of these things live.

Dinosaur hunting fairies

Boys will be Boys...

Juju has discovered trains! 

He did this for about 20 minutes straight and only stopped because we were ready to move on.