Spring Break...or Winter Break #2

It has been awhile since I have been able to make time to write about our family!  It seems like our weekends go by in the blink of an eye each week and on Sunday nights I realize I forgot to write down our memories again...well, now that we are on Spring Break and Elena is taking a nap, I thought now would be the best time to sit down and get some pictures uploaded and memories written down.
Juan and I are just SO happy right now because we are officially off work for a whole week.  We had all these intentions of getting outside, opening the windows and airing the house out, cleaning this and that...but that has all come to a halt now that we have 7+ inches of snow on the ground as of right now and there is no sign of it letting up anytime soon.  It is a blustery cold mess outside and I don't want anything to do with it!  Sure, we will take Elena out in it to play at some point, but for now, we are just cozy in our warm home...again...what a start to spring break, huh?  This has never happened!  I remember thinking that I was glad spring break was late this year so that we would have warmer weather...ooops. 
Unfortunately, Elena has a cold, so we won't keep her outside for long, but she just LOVES being outside and running up and down the driveway...we will be sure to bundle her up well to enjoy what we hope is the last snowfall of the season.  Elena was up at 3:30 this morning and just didn't feel well.  I went in to check on her and she had a full diaper and her jammies were soaked...I felt so sorry for her.  We got her all changed and in dry clothes, got her a warm drink and she came to sleep in bed with mom and dad.  She quickly drank her milk and off to sleep she went...I must admit...it was super sweet to have an extra snuggle buddy in bed for the remainder of the night.  She has been crabby today, so I am very happy that she went down for a nap without hesitation...she needs some rest.
Other than this cold, Elena has been doing great.  She went to the doctor earlier this month for her 15, yes, 15 month check up and she is progressing just fine.  She is still in the 25th percentile on weight (only 20.7 lbs), but everything else is right on...I think she's just going to continue to be our little "long and lean" flea.  I feel like she is starting to really fill out, though...she seems to be getting "denser" if that makes sense...I can feel it when I pick her up.  Elena is starting to expand her tastes and we try to offer her foods that we eat.  Sometimes she will take a bite, but quite often she refuses.  Our child is very picky when it comes to textures.  It still baffles me that she loves home made peas and carrots in baby food form, but if I offer her an actual pea or a piece of a cooked carrot, she throws it on the floor.  She does the same with bananas.  Her favorite food continues to be cheese.  She will NEVER refuse some cheese.  Lately, she has been getting into peanut butter sandwiches...I have been enjoying this...finally another source of protein!  Elena has eaten chicken nuggets a few times, but as of late, she doesn't want them anymore.  She is just so fickle with her food choices. There hasn't really been any fruit Elena will eat that's not in baby food form...we continue to offer it to her, but she just doesn't take it...I have been trying to be as patient as possible, but I just wish she would eat a gosh darn piece of fruit!! Applesauce is her favorite, but she will eat almost any kind of baby food fruit...I guess I would too...it's SO good!
Elena is doing so great at the babysitter's.  Brenda lets me know everyday that she is beginning to play well with the kids...I am really glad that I can take Elena to Brenda's so she can play with the other kids and learn interaction.  Last week, Elena had to go to time out for trying to take toys from her very good friend, Jude. She screamed in his face when he wouldn't give her the toy guitar, so Elena had to sit out for awhile...let me tell you, she wasn't happy.  Ha! I thank God everyday that we have a safe and fun place to take Elena while Juan and I are at school.
Well, onto a week off we go...hoping for a nice week so we can get out and get some things done that we have been needing to get done for awhile now...Elena will also be celebrating her 16 month mark on Saturday...where is the time going?!

 Helping Daddy grade papers

 I'm a big girl, so I need a big girl piece of pizza

 Just your typical Monday night...seriously.

 I guess she thought Homer was hungry.

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Sorting twist ties

 Good Morning!  Cheerios and Super Why it is...

 Watching videos on the iPad with daddy

 Trying to fix her toy

Snow Days!!

Juan, Elena, and I had another wonderful four day weekend this weekend!  Due to the snow storm that came through on Thursday, we ended up being home all day on Thursday and Friday.  It was so much fun on Thursday to watch the snow as it moved in.  We didn't have anything going on when we woke up on Thursday morning, but it didn't take long for it to move in and dump about 12 inches of snow when it was all said and done.  The coolest part about it all was that we had thunder snow!  I don't think I've ever experienced thunder snow like we had on Thursday.  It repeatedly thundered for awhile and the snow just kept coming down like crazy.  It was so much fun to watch with Elena.  Over this past weekend, we just enjoyed a whole lot of lazy time at home.  I thought I'd get so much accomplished around here, but in reality, not much got done except getting toys out and putting them away and laying on the couch.  I must admit, it wasn't horrible ;)  On Friday, we all spent some time in the afternoon outside. Juan got the front porch and driveway shoveled and Elena and I played in the snow.  She had a good time.  Now, we are getting ready for another snow storm that may give us another snow day this coming week...I'd rather not have another one, but will enjoy the day if we are at home yet again!!  Getting to spend any whole day with Elena is a blessing for Juan and I...she is so much fun and teaches us so much about life and love everyday. Pictures and videos below of our girl!  She's getting SO BIG!

 Learning her opposites

 This is where I fount Mittens this afternoon, and why Elena's door is CLOSED when she sleeps!!

 Getting ready to play in her first snow!!

 Our snow angel

 "Pick me up!!"

 Being a helper.

 She is never happy when taking a picture with me!! Ha!

 That's better.

 We are funny.

 Getting ready to open the oven.

Homer was teasing Elena :)

Four Day Weekend!

I have never been so ready for a four day weekend! It feels so wonderful sitting here on a Sunday night knowing we don't have to be anywhere in the morning. I am enjoying some quiet time tonight on the couch watching pointless TV...and loving every second! We have had a fabulous weekend so far. I was able to get some cleaning accomplished on Friday while Elena took a long nap before Parents As Teachers that afternoon. Elena's development is right on track and she has a strong "leader-like" temperament.  In other words, she is THE BOSS in all she does...not surprising at all.  We made a bean bag and practiced throwing it into a bowl. She is getting better at this skill each day. Elena is still working on using crayons and not putting them in her mouth. She still thinks it's funny to put the crayons in her mouth and quickly pull them away when we tell her no. I have to sternly tell her no and put the crayons and paper away. This seems to be a bit of a trend for Elena...thinking it's funny to be naughty. If I give her the evil eye or tell her to stop what she is doing, she just looks at me (or whoever is telling her to stop being naughty) and says "Hi," in her sweet little Elena voice. It is hard not to smile when she does this. We all just continue to love her to pieces!! On Saturday, we went up to visit family for my birthday and my day's birthday. We enjoyed some awesome Chinese food and had a blast watching everyone play with Elena. It was a great way to spend the evening.
Elena just continues to grow up too fast before our very eyes. She is running around everywhere and talking up a storm. She is saying words like "thank you, hi, here you go, more..." and others too...Elena definitely understands more words than she can say. I can tell her to get my shoes and she can go to the closet and get my tennis shoes...it cracks us up! She is doing so great at the babysitter's house and enjoys her days at home with Abuela and grandma. Juan and I are so thankful week after week that Elena gets the care that she gets...both out of the house and time with her grandmas at home.  We are loving every single second with our baby girl...she is the sunshine in our lives everyday. Even when she is looking at us yelling and stomping her feet about something, it almost makes us love her even more because she is so dang smart about what she needs and wants and is able to communicate with us.  Life is good and we count our blessings everyday!!

Pictures and videos from the last few weeks that tells more of what Elena is up to...I can't seem to keep up with all that she is doing!!  :)

 Her funny hat...actually a shape sorter toy :)

 Who needs pants?

 Just love her hair!

 Vapor Bubble Baths are the best!!

 Reading an awesome story!

 Now grabbing another...

 Mom wanted a picture...Elena wanted to finish eating her cracker.

 Windy day!!

 Puzzles with daddy

 First time eating an Oreo!  Mmmmm!!

 This bite looks good...

Just a typical night in the kitchen...notice the oven mitts nicely filed on the refrigerator?

 Elena thinks our animals are total entertainment.

Don't mind the club music in the background...I was cleaning while she was reading ;)