The Groshans Family: Update!

It has been a while since I have posted. I have found it is a little more difficult to squeeze it in with two kids, but I'll figure it out!

We had so much fun with the girls during Halloween this year. Reese had decided she wanted to be Batgirl and Berkley wore her skeleton zip-up jumper that Leena got her. We went to a few fall festivals where Reese rode her first ride. She also loved riding the ponies for the second year in a row. Berkley really enjoyed scooting around in the stroller, all bundled up because it was freezing!

One night in December we took Reese to see the Christmas Cirque de Soleil. Adam got tickets through work and we had a great time! She really loved the music, dancing, and of course the "beautiful dresses".

Christmas came up super quickly and was over before we knew it! Berkley had a great first Christmas. The girls both received a ton of Disney items (mostly Mickey and Minnie) which they loved. When we got to the ranch for Christmas, Reese had a 102.6 fever and was super shaky. After a few days of an antibiotic she improved drastically which was good. I hate to see her like that :( It snowed towards the end of our trip and it was absolutely beautiful. We hopped in the Polaris and drove around, taking it all in.

As of right now...here are a few favorite things for the girls...

REESE (2 years old...3 really soon!):

*She is the girliest thing. In the mornings I can hear her on her monitor discussing (to herself) what dress and shoes she will wear that day.
*She loves to put on a dress (and always shoes), spin around the living room, and sing.
*The other night, while at Andrea's, she was in a princess dress. Andrea gave her dress up shoes and Reese put them on. She said, "Eww they are like magic on my feet!" as she closed her eyes and spun around the house.
*She loves mostly every food and will at least try it. She is a healthy little eater and loves salad.
*Everyone (even when we're out shopping) makes reference to Shirley Temple when they see her...future Halloween costume?
*She is becoming more and more articulate every day. She speaks mostly in full sentences. We have been creating her "word wall" and so far she recognizes am, all, are, as, and, an, and away! She can sort them when I call them out and she recognizes them in books. Also, when I saw letter sounds she can come up with other words that have the same sound.
*She remembers everything! For my birthday (in November) my mother and father in law took our car, with the girls in it (it had the car seats), to a restaurant where everyone threw me a surprise birthday party. She looked through a book on the way to the restaurant. A week ago we got in the car and she spotted that book. She said, "Mom, that's the book I read with Grammy and Paca in the car when we went to your birthday!" We haven't discussed that at all since November. Last night she saw her life jacket that she only wore one time and that was in July. It hasn't been out since. She said, "Oh Mom! I wore that at the lake with Tatum (who was there in July)." So weird what she says sometimes. The other day my Dad said, "Give me five Reese" and she gave him five and then said "Four and One"...we were like..what?!?
*Reese LOVES Berkley. She has from the moment we brought her home. She is always talking to her and loves to give her hugs and kisses. It is so sweet to see.
*She loves to hear the Bible every time she goes down to sleep. It's a must.

BERKLEY (7 1/2 months):

*She said "MA-MA-MA-MA" starting a month ago...not quite Mom, but I'll take it!
*She said "Dad" a few nights back...much clearer than Mom, but still...mine came first!
*She has had oatmeal, applesauce, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, butternut squash, and brussel sprouts so far. It took her a bit to figure out the whole eating thing, but now she loves them all.
*She is such a smiler. When she sees Reese coming down the stairs she does this thing where takes a deep breath in, making a little squealing noise. She has the biggest smile across her face and she is kicking her legs like crazy.
*She likes to lay on her stomach when she sleeps. She always ends up there even when we start her on her back.
*No teeth to report of yet, but I think they are coming really soon!
*She is in the stage of "swimming" on the floor instead of crawling. Arms and legs lift off the floor, but they just paddle. She's not going anywhere, even though she thinks she is :)
*She observes everything and everyone. She is always wide-eyed taking it all in.
*She does wonderfully in restaurants and when we go to the store. If she's awake, she looks around the entire time, truly entertained by the things all around her.
*She's growing wayyy to fast. I have many clothes, depending on the brand, that are 12-18 months for her :(
*The last few days she has really discovered her hands. She has always put them in her mouth, but lately she will hold them out in front of her face, rotating them around, looking at them.

PICTURE UPDATE: