camille marie.

Our little Camille Marie arrived at 9:07 am in April 21, 2015.  She weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was 21 inches long. Looks so much like her sisters - a perfect little mix but also with some of her own characteristics!  She's just beautiful.  

the pups.

Better include a couple pictures of our pups too.  Not much new to report with them!  They still like breakfast, dinner, (and demand treats in between) and some running/barking in the backyard!

little LITTLE sister!

We have #3 on the way!  And it's another GIRL! We couldn't be more thrilled about this little miracle in general, but the fact that it's a girl just makes me giggle.  Bill wouldn't have it any other way, he says. We know girls!  This little lady is due to join our family on April 21st.  I'm feeling pretty good overall, but was really sick in the beginning and now I have typical pregnancy aches and pains. I was advised to take it easy due to a minor issue early on that has since resolved itself, so my running came to an abrupt stop in September. So not only am I patiently waiting to meet this gal, but also anxious to go on a few jogs this spring.  I'd like to be able to keep this running up!  Here are some pics of the newest princess in Bill's life.

Face Shot

Foot Shot

Her little fingers wrapped around her big toe

I'm a Girl! 

Profile Shot (foot in upper left of screen, arm behind head)

Profile Shot (You can see a little better that she's pretty much folded in half with that foot up by her forehead; she was trying to grab her toes.)

our active little jillian

Not much new in the world of our toddler, soon to be preschooler come fall!  And that's ok by me - she is a busy BUSY little gal!  She is speaking in full sentences, and is interested in anything big sis is interested in.  She adores Peppa Pig and her favorite foods are fruit snacks, applesauce, yogurt, lucky charms and a plethora of other things she really shouldn't have but always gets her way with getting them!  She is sure a charmer and she's hard to discipline because she turns on the charm and the humor and tries to switch gears before things get really serious.  She recently started bunking with big Sis and they got new bunkbeds, and potty training is upon us as well.

busy miss ella!

Ella has had one busy fall and start to winter!  She started as a Kindergartener at Sioux Trail Elementary in September, broke her arm in October, lost teeth in November and turned SIX in December!  She is certainly keeping us on our toes.

the new runner in the house.

Ella has decided that she would like to start running like Mom. So, last weekend I signed her up for a little race to see how she would like it. She ran a Memorial Day kid's quarter mile at Lake Como after my 5k was done and She did GREAT!  We are now looking for another race with a kid's division. I smell track star!

two-year-old jillian.

We officIally have a two year old in the house!  And boy is she all of a sudden a sassy girl!  But so funny!  She's also a tall girl still - 96th percentile!  I see volleyball in her future maybe?

Easter 2014.

new adventure.

We Springers are always keepin' you on your toes!  I've decided to start a little photography business.  This may sound strange given the amount of photographers advertising out there on Facebook and such, but I believe it's hard to find a good photographer these days to fit your family's personality, budget, schedule, etc. So I decided to put my passion for the camera to good use and hopefully be of service to families that may have shared in our frustration of being able to capture good photos and memories.  If all I get out of this is beautiful pictures of my little family and extended family, then I consider this a success.  So, here's to hopefully putting some smiles on people's faces....

www.dotandbirdphotography.com

If anyone knows of someone looking for a photographer, please share my name.  I am new - as new as they come, and still building my clientele and photo portfolio.  And my photos are admittedly not of Anne Geddes caliber (yet!), but I still think they are pretty darn good. Also, because of this brand newness, I have some pretty attractive introductory pricing!

finally, warm(er) weather.

We all enjoyed some playing outside tonight! It's about time!

growing up so fast!

Ella:

Jillian:

and here's 2013!

I missed this entire year!  Shame on me..

rewind to 2012.

It has been quite awhile since updating our blog, so here is a slideshow recapping the remainder of 2012! 

flicks on the bricks

We took the girls to an outdoor movie at Nicollet Commons park last Friday. The movie was "Gnomeo and Juliet", it is such an adorable movie! They didn't start the movie until about nine, and it got pretty chilly so we didn't stay for the entire movie, but I see a new tradition in our future! Ella loved it, and Jillian loved the people watching. So did I!

happy fourth!

two weeks old!

our sweet jillian sloane.

Our sweet little Jillian is here. She was born May 23rd and weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz. and was 20 1/4" long. She has lots of dark hair and blue eyes (so far). She looks similar to big sister Ella but we can see more differences than similarities! Mostly the similarities are in their demeanor and facial expressions.

We had a good delivery, and we were out of the hospital on Saturday after going in on Wednesday for our scheduled c-section. Since I was put under general anesthesia for Ella's birth, Jillian's was technically Bill and I's first delivery (although I will say that with Ella we actually got to labor, an experience we didn't get with Jillian). If I wasn't so excited to meet this girl, I probably would have been more nervous. While waiting those last few minutes before heading in to surgery, Bill and I played a game of "Words with Friends" and it was just enough to keep us sane before going in to the OR. There are thousands of little things I want to be able to remember, but the one thing that seems to stand out the most right now is that she came out squawking, and made a ruckus up until they brought her over to Bill and I. Once I said something to her, and she heard my voice she stopped crying almost immediately (or at least that's how I remember it anyways!). SUCH a special moment that I never want to forget. Ella got to meet her sissie later that evening, and although we have had some minor behavioral issues since coming home, for the most part she is very much in love with Jillian. My heart is so full of love for these girls! More details later, but for now here are some pictures.

thirty-eight weeks.

"wake up mom, it's mother's day!"

Couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day weekend! Spent a lot of time outdoors, including a great trip to the zoo on Sunday morning. Ella even squeezed in a little time for swimmin'.

sibling rivalry.