Kisses

One of Jensen's new things the past few weeks is giving "kisses." I will say to him "Jensen can Mommy have a kiss" and he will come over and lean his face in and give me his version of kiss. It is just so darn precious. Lately I have been asking him if Bella can have a kiss and he will go over to her and give her a kiss, totally melts my heart!

and I love this picture below because it is so sweet! It is showing Jensen trying to put Bella's paci in her mouth. If she is every on the floor or in her car seat he will try to put her paci in her mouth. If she cries he will bring me her paci... just too cute.He has a gentle and caring soul.

And just because he is so cute and so sweet and my little love I had to add a few more pics of him. So grateful for Jensen. He is my little Prince.

rare photo of me with my lil Love

Love his joy

always on the go

sweetness

playing with the crayons Grandma Elwell got him

Me with my loves. I am immensely grateful for these 2 little people. God has indeed blessed me!



Easter in Chicago

We took our first family road trip this past weekend to Chicago to visit Grandma & Grandpa Elwell and the extended Banks/Elwell family. THANK GOODNESS for a mini van w/ a DVD player... major lifesavers! Both the kids did pretty well on the 12 hour drive with only a few short breakdowns from Cupcake. Our time in Chicago was wonderful and Grandma & Grandpa Elwell went above and beyond to accommodate us and our little family that made a HUGE mess! Jensen loved playing with all of Grandma's toys and followed Grandma around the house. Sissy gave Grandpa and Grandma a run for their money with a crying fit when Nate and I were out. We got a priceless phone call from Grandpa who was very concerned something serious was wrong.... oh no that is just Sissy!! We loved spending time with Great Grandma & Pa Banks and also the other extended family. They are all so sweet and fun to be with. We really enjoyed our time and look forward to going back soon!

Jensen using Uncle Jordy's towel growing up

Happy time with Grandma

Grandpa fed Bella several times

Grandma put Lola's doggy diaper on Bella... too funny!

Jensen with his Arthur namesakes enjoying a special cookie from Great Grandma & Pa

We went to the park and had a great time! 

Love her smile!

Cupcake rockin the zebra look

2 VERY special people

Great Grandma still has the magic touch

so sweet

Lots of reading time

Jensen had such a good time

Best attempt at an Elwell family picture

Jensen LOVED the swing and I love the sparkle in his eyes

Grandma had great Easter Buckets for the kids

Meeting Auntie Gail for the first time

Random Hump Day

What to do on a random Wednesday? Take pictures!! I love looking at my little family, makes me so happy!! HAPPY Monday!

Jensen is such a big boy

Love this little baby

Memorized by those eyes

Cupcake

an attempt at a brother/sissy picture

Bella got her outfit from Miss Kayla. My talented friend made this! Check her out at Diddle Daddle

Love the ruffle booty

Cutie Pie



such a HONEY!

Brotherly Love

It only took me 10 weeks but I finally got some cute pictures of Jensen and Bella sitting together. The first weekend Bella came home Jensen was pretty traumatized and cried quite a bit and followed Daddy around like a lost puppy, but within a few days he bounced back and now almost 3 months later he is becoming more aware of her everyday and all his interaction with her is sweet (or at least most of the time!). I can't explain the joy I feel when I see the pictures below. Not only because I hope these two become great friends and confidants but because I still can't believe I have two incredible children and a boy and girl for that matter. They are Nate and my dream and the fact that we get to wake up each day to these 2 just makes life so sweet there are really no words to explain. I am feeling so overcome with joy and gratefulness for these two peanut people and I look at my little family and sometimes have to pinch myself because I can't believe the Lord has given me Nate to share my life with and Jensen & Bella to give my life to. As corny as it sounds I sometimes wonder how life can get any sweeter than it is in this moment (Ok maybe a full nights sleep and less stretch marks and baggy skin??!!) They give us a whole new meaning and we are so humbled and blessed to have them as our children.  

Don't mess with my sissy!

So much love

Chillin

LOVE LOVE LOVE these 2!

9.5 week Update

So strong! She has been holding herself up like this since 6 weeks old. Although she really does not love tummy time.

Just love that little face!

She looks like a little doll here

We just got back from Bella's "8 week" appointment which was really her 9.5 week because for some reason I get behind on these things. She is doing great but as we guessed she is teetering on the lower end of the charts at only 10lbs 1oz. Her length at 22.3 inches is in the 40th percentile. The doctor said she is just a little petite cupcake (the mini kind, not the over sized kind:) and that she will probably always be. With my genes and the Bank genes her chances of being petite are pretty good.

Currently Bella enjoys:

1. eating every 3-4 hours during the day and 4-6 hours at night

2. Smiling at Daddy

3. Snuggling with Mommy

4. Rolling from her tummy to her back

5. Her BATH! (sorta) we have had 3 straight baths with  no crying

6. Her vibrating bassinet. She is actually staying anywhere from 45 min - 2 hours at a time.. HELLO!!!

7. Sleeping by Mommy at night and coasting in the morning after her am feeding

8. Holding her head up like a champ!

We LOVE our (mini)Cupcake!

Jensen at 9 weeks.. he was 13.5lbs. Our little Chunky Monkey! I  love comparison because it is so fun to see how different they are. They are their own people and we love that!

Have I mentioned how BLESSED we are to have this kiddos!!

Love

This litte cupcake!

My Wombmate is 8 weeks!

8 weeks old

7 weeks

5 weeks

2 days

Sweet Bella Bear is 8 weeks old today. TIme has flown by and it is hard to believe that 8 weeks ago I finally convienced the doctor to let me come in and have her (I had been pre-laboring for over a week and was miserable). She arrived at 6:42pm and our life has never been the same:).  I always tell Nate that both Jensen and Bella and I were wombmates. When Jensen was born he seemed content to welcome the big bad world and reside comfortably away from Mommy for long periods of time in his swing, and bassinet etc. Sissy on the other hand is enjoying her 4th trimester. This includes being happiest when she is closet to mommy and by that I mean strapped on to Mommy, being held by mommy, sleeping with mommy etc. Pretty much 24/7 Cupcake and I hangout. We are convienced she was not ready to be born and if she could she would hop back in the womb where it is always warm and no one bothers her. We have learned to adjust to her preferences and really enjoy her sweet little (or actually big) personality. We know that this season will past and someday we will miss all the snuggling she currently likes to do. At 8 weeks she is almost 10lbs compared to Jensen at 13.4lbs. She is just a little peanut and Daddy says she has chicken legs! I love all her little sounds and coo's and noises. Jensen has adjusted like a champ and when Bella has a screaming spell he brings me her bottle or paci as if to say "here mommy put this in her mouth so she will be quite"... ahhh if it was only so easy! Nate and I are in our groove with 2 kids and feel so much peace and happiness that this is our little family. Today we all went grocery shopping and I was just happy reflecting on how in 5 years Nate and our life has become so rich and full. We are blessed beyond measure and just thank the Lord for the favor He has shown us. Happy 8 week old birthday Bella, we love you!