Elliott 7 months

Swimming, our favorite activity during this hot summer

Elliott has made it past the half year mark! I thought it seemed like he was at a stand still with developmental milestones between 5 and 6 months, but in the last few weeks he has started to change quite a bit. He is proving to be quite a bit different than Hannah, but also similar in some ways... like they both love/d to eat at this age, fairly flexible, and content going on walks, hikes, bike rides as long as we are moving. He is definitely less cautious, loves the weather, meeting his motor milestones quicker, and likes to be on the move. 

What Elliott is like at 7 months:

°Sleeps through the night, usually 11.5 hours in a row

° takes 2-3 naps 1-2.5 hours in length... he has just started to have really good naps and now they are re doing the kitchen in the apartment next to us, which is LOUD, aka hard to sleep with the noise... the is the biggest downside to apartment living!

They both love bear

° Started to crawl, very slowly 3 days before turning 7 months

Love the uncoordinated crawling

Elliott's adorable crooked smile

° Eats 3 solid meals a day, nurses 4-5 times a day plus a bit extra in a bottle at bedtime. He isn't too good at picking his food up and getting it in his mouth so he is mostly spoon fed. But with his 6 teeth he can eat some normal food... like spaghetti for dinner tonight!

Love oatmeal and apples for breakfast

° He has been working on getting his 7th and 8th tooth forever, but they are not through yet!

° He loves to be outside, doing anything... a true Patton!

He loves watching sister... She is so cool!

So much fun swinging 

Hannah: 3 years old

 

Our little baby Hannah turned three years old last week.   She is definitely no longer baby Hannah, but the title has stuck.  This post will mostly include pictures of Hannah at this age.  Currently Hannah enjoys playing with friends, if they are familiar ones. She is always asking to go play with a few of her friends here, whose mom's I am also friends with.

Eating in Annecy, France

 

 Hannah is definitely going through a shy stage, not wanting to talk to people even if she knows them well. I am hoping this is just a phase and I also think going to two playgroups a week, in German, this fall will be good for her to meet new people.  Hannah is very creative with her play. She plays well independently making up stores or situations, which is quite entertaining!  We hope she continues to build her imagination as she grows up.  She is also quite patient in her play, dressing and un-dressing very small dolls, not getting to frustrated when a particular shirt is hard to get on.

Birthday party fun

Looking like a big girl in overalls

She is still quite a cautious little girl, definitely not wanting to get her eyes wet when swimming, but she has been doing quite well with her run bike. And she often surprises us with how much she wants and is able to hike. Hannah is also quite emotional at times, usually joyful, but when she is upset or woken early from a nap she lets us know by crying quite loudly. Speaking of sleep this girl still loves/needs her sleep, 12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day.... pretty sure she sleeps more than Elliott :)

Wearing daddy's hiking hat

Her new whiteboard for drawing