Biking with Elmo and with Daddy

This past weekend, I tried out my "new" Elmo bike....well, it really isn't new. I got it for Hanukkah from Grandma and Grandpa, but I wasn't tall enough to use it until now. It is a balance bike....doesn't have petals, so I scoot along with my legs and learn to balance. It should help me learn to ride a big girl bike faster than if I were to start with training wheels.

Daddy and I also took his bike to the duck park for an outing. I am getting so tall that soon we will need a new bike seat for me!

And, a bath picture since it's been awhile.

Tati's Daddy's Birthday Party

Last night, we were invited to Tati's Daddy's birthday party. I went and played with Tati and another of her friends. Of course, I changed into dress up (Belle dress). Tati's Mama told Mommy that last weekend, she did a detour when they were out on a bike ride and bought the Belle dress and many other great items at a yard sale in Santa Monica. Oh no, now we have competition! (She told Mama it was all Mama's fault for talking up the yard sale deals :)).

We took the birthday candles out of the banana creme pie.

Tati and I were playing her piano toward the end of the evening.

Only 8 weeks to go!...and another baby bargain

Baby brother and baby sister are getting bigger which means Mama's belly is growing. I can't wait to hug them but I still want them to be tiny....in 8 weeks or less, I will finally meet them.

I hug and kiss them all the time....

and practice with my babies....having a picnic....feeding them, cuddling them.

and bouncing them in our new bouncer....This bouncer (doesn't it look brand new?) was only $20 (new $120). Mama bought it on Craig's List!

Pictures from School (Blueberry)

On Friday, I went to Blueberry. I am going to continue going there every Friday until mid-June. On Monday, I start 3 days per week at The Treehouse...my new school. I can't wait!

Here, I am painting Mommy a Mother's Day present.

A picture of Me and Mama From Saturday....

Zoe's 4th Birthday Party!

On Saturday, we went to Zoe's princess party...

There was watermelon eating (my boyfriend, James)

and Ariel came to play with us!

we played with the parachute

and played a dancing game that started with a bunch of hula hoops. When the music stopped, we had to get in the hula hoop until at the end, there was only one hoop left!

Here's Isabella and her mommy, Sharon

And, of course, the pirate pinata!

poor pirate!

Happy Birthday, Zoe!!

I had SO much fun!

My 2 1/2 year Dr. Appointment

I went to my 2 1/2 year appointment today. I grew more than 2 inches since September. I am now 37 1/2 inches! (80th percentile)

and only gained 2 lbs (now, 30 lbs)....at 65th percentile, I am a bit smaller on weight, but it is because I don't stop moving and jumping.

Doctor Hamilton said everything looks great! And the better news (according to Mama) is that Dr. Hamilton is going to start carrying our insurance again (just in time for baby brother and baby sister!)

You might wonder what I am doing....Mama was trying to keep my mind off of the upcoming shots so we were playing tug of war with my bracelet....I kept giggling....it worked!

One Kid's Trash is Another Kid's Treasure

by Mama and Gigi...

Mama: When Gigi was on her way, we were so happy that we were finally going to welcome a long awaited child into our family. We were getting ready and decorating her nursery. Sure, we didn't go all out on everything, but there were many moments of, "we deserve this" ... "she deserves this" when we splurged. For example, we bought the Orbit Stroller at full price. We then bought a Bob stroller at full price.....and then when we needed a travel stroller, we bought the Quinny travel stroller AT FULL PRICE. We were starting to look like stroller collectors. Then, at one point, when Gigi was about a year old, we discovered the YARD SALE. When we were going to Spain last summer and decided that although the Orbit had traveled around the US, we didn't really want to take it to Spain and although we had a travel stroller, it didn't recline and we might be out at weird hours when Gabrielle needed to sleep, we turned to yard saling for another stroller we could bring to Spain. We found it....the Inglesina Zippy which ordinarily retails for $350.....for $35 at a yard sale....in great condition. Now, truth be told, at that point, we no longer had the Bob because it was stolen not just once, but twice....we recovered it after the first time, but didn't replace it after the second time. Can I just tell you that Gigi's favorite stroller is the Inglesina?? Now, when she was a baby the Orbit was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and we definitely got our money's worth. They still sell for a very high price used, so all isn't too bad there.

Now, that we are adding two more to our family, many have asked if we are "ready". Well, no. We haven't turned Allen's office into a nursery. The babies are going to be in our room for awhile, so what's the rush? And, we really haven't bought all that much.....some clothing for baby boy (some of it at yard sales, some at a boutique that had an amazing sale and of course, TJ Maxx). In the last month, yard sale season has come upon us and it is amazing what we have gotten....

Last weekend, we scored this almost brand new Graco carseat (normally $99-139) for EIGHT DOLLARS! Savings of at least $100.

and, on Craig's List, we found two double Snap N Gos for $30 each (one for NannyG and one for us)....normal price $99 each. SAVINGS of $140.

A double Maclaren stroller....for TWENTY dollars (full retail of $250 or more). Savings of over $200. At the same sale (no picture), we bought a barely-used double Burley bike trailer to fit the twins. Retails for $500....we bought it for $100. Savings of $400!

At a yard sale that was a fundraiser for a family who lost everything in a fire, we bought this cool wardrobe for Gabrielle's dress up clothes. Cost of $40, but worth every penny given that the proceeds went to a family in need (hard to bargain at that sale).

Yesterday morning, we bought this crayon apron for Gigi.....with the crayons. $3.

After we came home from yesterday morning's garage sale adventures, Gigi put a bunch of her stuffed animals out and some summer clothes and declared she was having a yard sale.

She then went into our closet and helped Daddy set up his yard sale, adding some of her books to it since Daddy didn't have much to sell.

This morning, we set out for a few more sales in Brentwood. We went to the 7:30 one because they supposedly had an "assortment of baby monitors". Of course, they told us at 7:30 that none of them worked.

Oh well. We went to breakfast while waiting for the next one (8:30)....what child when offered a blueberry muffin or french toast orders salmon and blueberries! We chose the Governator (Arnold S, the governor's) favorite breakfast spot. He came in with either his trainer or a member of the secret service after going for a run.

Gigi: Today, we bought baby brother and baby sister a swing! It is very similar to the one I used when I was little, but a more expensive version (on Amazon, it sells for $184 now). Mama bought it for $40! SAVINGS of $144 plus shipping.

I also bought this princess chair....perfect for lawn concerts or the beach. It folds up and has its own carrying case. Price: $2.

After all that shopping, Mama took me to the park for 2 hours. I really didn't want to leave, but Mama looked like she was about to fall over, so I finally agreed (with a few tears).