This week:

The umbilical cord finally fell off tonight!! So Hope got her first real bath. She looks like she is enjoying it huh?

Hope slept through the night last night... that was a big one. And 11 hours at that!

Al threw the biggest tantrum in Gymboree this morning when they took away the "circles" to bring out the parachute. He hates the parachute. We had to just leave.

We took a great walk today, I am so excited for Spring weather.

I had a great time doing lunch with friends: Cary made creamy orzo with asparagus on Tuesday, Abby and I ate at McCallisters and I enjoyed a tall glass of delicious sweet tea and veg chili nachos (Cary's rec)on Wed, and Jess VanRhein brought me Pappy's bbq today (say yum and it was... good enough to break two of my rules, no meat on Friday of Lent and avoiding pork)

I am about to break my other Lentin rule which is no dessert. But there is a Cadbury Creme Egg sitting right in front of me. Beau is the devil bringing this home for me! What is a girl to do?

Pics from the week... Enjoy!

Grandma bought this for her and I thought these tights would never fit, but they do!

Look at these cheeks! She needs a bow

And she's done.

Dad is getting some much needed cuddle time, this never happens so we had to document

New things

I havent written in a while... we were in Wisconsin this past weekend and I dont know what is going on, but I havent had a lot of time to blog even when I am home. Lets be honest, in my spare moments to myself I just want to curl up on the couch and watch Project Runway or any of my other mindlessly entertaining shows that I have taped.
We had a great time in WI, I wish I had pics to prove it, but I didnt even break out the camera I so dutifully made sure that I packed. Al LOVED playing in the snow and begged to go outside most of the day. Poor kid, I think he wants to be an eskimo... we need to get him a backyard! Hope is doing well. Not sleeping through the night yet, but really such a good baby. She smiled for the first time today and it melts my heart.
As for Al, here is what he is up to:
-Says "One, Two, Five, Six, Nine" in order just like that...
-Said more than just one word today for the first time that I noticed.. "want it" talking about the coveted balloon at Winnie's house
-Has 196th cold of the year
- Continues to try my patience and just when I think I might lose it, he does something totally sweet like lay his head on my shoulder or actually help me pick up all his toys.

We are making some tough decisions around the Reinberg house this week, so if you all get a chance, say some prayers that we will do the right thing. Thanks...

My Boy is a Romancer

Check this out my friends...
http://winniegray.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day.html

(about half way down the page)

I Did It!!

I made the perfect cookies, finally!! I put the rack in the very middle of the oven this time and let the batter sit in the fridge for a little bit before I put them on the tray. This may not seem like a big deal, however, I was beginning to think Nestle had some sort of conspiracy against me.

the latest

We are going stir crazy here at the Reinberg house. I love the winter and I really dont mind the cold, but we need to GET OUT of the house! Al needs activity during the day, and by that I mean a place to run around freely which he cannot do adequately inside. So here is what he is doing to occupy his time instead.

Consentrating hard...

Got it! He cant actually color like this yet, but that is what he is going to work on next.

Al thought Baby Hope would like to help us fold laundry too...

And now everytime that I put foods in separate containers to eat, he inevitably dumps them all on one plate and eats them all mashed together. I dont know why I keep trying?

Thats all for now. I just tried to take a nap bc I am starting to feel the haze of sleepless nights, but I couldnt seem to fall asleep. Oh well, it must not be that bad yet! haha

Weighing In:

I took AL and Hope to the dr today for their 1 mo and 18 mo apts... taking two kids to the dr together is a disaster when they are both getting shots and your son wants to run out of the waiting room over and over again while you are trying to feed your other child.
Here are the Reinberg family stats:
Hope- 9lb 3oz (25th%) and 21.5 in (40th%)
Al- 25lb 6 oz (45th%) and 35 in (97th%)

Hope at One Month

She is now awake for an hour or so after I feed her and she is a total cuddle bug. Beau got his wish, that's for sure. She is most comfortable sleeping in our bed at night and actually slept 6 hours last night tucked in my arms. I am trying so hard to put her back in bed after I feed her, but I end up either falling asleep or she is fussy and only stops crying when she is being held... who wants to spend 30 minutes trying to put her to sleep in the bed when she will be quiet immediately in MY bed! :)
Tonight I am putting my foot down.

Hunter and Parker meet Hope for the first time and Hunter couldnt get enough of her! He wanted to hold her and kiss her all day. Too sweet.

Terrible Baker

I cannot bake cookies. Done. Finished. I give UP!
They are flat and burnt on the edges and uncooked in the middle.
Why is it that Aunt Donna and my friend Cary can make PERFECT chocolate chip cookies and I can prepare the exact same recipe with the opposite result.
Super frustrating.

Warning:

Do not submerge in water or use while bathing.

Do people really flat iron their hair while bathing?

Sweet baby moments

We had such a good day today. All of the extended family has flown the coop and left us to our own devices. Al and Winnie chased eachother around our loft today screaming with laughter and Aunt Cheryl, Kristen and Linda brought over lunch from Bread Co. When Al got up from his nap he, Grandma and I danced for about 30 minutes to "toddler tunes" (a music station on our TV) and had the best time. He loves to dance, so I think this is going to be our daily exercise while the weather is glum. Unfortunately Uncle Johnny now has the infamous stomach bug so Beau is taking care of the bar for him tonight. (Beau has such a helping heart, really, he would do anything for his family...it is one of my favorite things about him)

I had to nurse Hope during "reading time" before bed and Al was so sweet to her (the rocking chair was a little cramped, but its good to be so close to both of my babies). He rubbed her feet the whole time I read our last book and all through our family prayers. We talked about her toes and feet and he just sat peacefully holding them. Just a moment that I dont want to forget.