Froggy caps

Jen Lewberg knitted the softest little green caps for the girls. One has a short little tassle. The other has a long floppy tassle.

The girls like them very much, and try to make interesting facial expressions to go with them.

Bare Butt Time

Wiggle Worms

Swaddling the girls is a ridiculous amount of fun. But even better is seeing how they try to wiggle their way out. Sometimes they almost wiggle out of their clothes...

Marousis Sushi

We’ve given birth to two little sushis.

The cavewoman who first invented swaddling should be given a gold medal. Or at least the big piece of mastodon. The girls love being swaddled; it helps them sleep better and it looks so cute to see a little head peaking out of the top of a wrapped up blanket.

But the very best part is the de-swaddlization process. I haven’t actually seen a butterfly come out of a chrysalis, but can’t be better than this. Released from their little sushi wraps, Eleni & Zoe slowly and delibertely uncurl their little legs and arms and spend sevearl minutes stretching – before finally spreading their wings and flying away.

OK, well maybe not the last part, but you get the picture.

Shiver me timbers

4 days old and already doing pirate immitations.

These are clearly my children.

The Happiest Day

Today I got to hold both of my babies together at the same time.

Today was the happiest day of my life.

ELENI MILESTONES

01-03-09, 1st cheesha in the yioyio (peepee in the potty)
09-30-08, 2 yr doctor visit: Height: 36 inches; Weight: 29lbs 14 oz; Head Circumference 49"
04-15-08, 18 month doctor visit: Height: 32 inches; Weight: 25lbs; Head Circumference 47"
11-22-07, pulls to standing on her own for the first time -- to see food being made for dinner
10-08-07, 1-year-old doctor visit: Height: 31 1/4 inches (90-95%); Weight: 23lbs 1oz (75%), HC 47 (90%)
10-07-07, attends the LaSalle Bank marathon
10-05-07, sits up in the crib on her own (find her sitting up)
10-01-07, becomes suddenly a picky eater
09-28-07, Elenis starts crawling. Well, more like hopping -- both hands, then both feet.
09-24-07, Svitlana goes to Ukraine for her son Roman; Her sister Zoriana takes over in the meantime.
09-10-07, does sign language for "flower" by sniffing. When she feels like it.
09-08-07, pulls up to her knees at the music playtable
September: Lounges on Pappoo for hours at a time. Complains when I try to pick her up!
09-04-07, starts drinking whole milk sometimes.
09-02-07, First illness: 16 hour fever of 101 degrees F. Poor hot little puppy.
09-01-07, Started to be fussy about food.
09-01-07, moves around by scooting on her butt. Sits indian-style, reaches forward and drags forward. Likes to swivel on the hardwood floor. Shows no interest in crawling.
-Loves all food. Especially cheerios.
08-29-07, Says "hi"
08-23-07, did a split (of her own accord)
08-21-07, Pappoo arrives! Lets him hold her the first day he's here!
08-18-07, waved bye-bye. or hi.
08-12-07, holds her own bottle for the first time
08-06-07, pulled apart playmat
08-04-07, opened toy drawer
07-19-07, 2nd tooth
07-17-07, 1st tooth
07-04-07, fed herself Cheerios with the pincer grasp
06-11-07, Height: 28 1/2 inches (75%); Weight: 20 lbs 8oz (75%), HC 45 (75%)
06-01-07, BopBop's 2nd visit. Sits on BopBop's lap on Sunday without crying...much (3 days after he arrives)
05-28-07 , first playdate with Jenna Lieberopoulos
05-24-07, Betty's 2nd visit
05-20-07, first did the raspberry when I put my finger in her mouth
05-19-07, first swings
05-12-07, stole toy from Zoe for the first time
05-01-07, starts giving hugs
04-27-07, sat up for 10 minutes
04-24-07, first sat up for a whole minute with Thia Mars
04-16-07, first visit to the zoo
04-2007, Jumped in Jumperoo (after Zoe)
03-25-07, Ate foot for first time
03-22-07, applesauce
03-21-07, first fight
03-4-07, First food eaten: Banana
02-15-07, First said "mamamamamamama" in her crib in the morning.
02-12-07, First rolled over, front to back (no more tummy time!)
02-04-07, first superbowl
01-27-07, 1st laugh
12-15-06, 1st slept through the night
11-11-06, 1st babbled
11-10-06, 1st lick of apple from yiayia. Hated it!
11-3-06, 1st smile for yiayia. "Hahas"
09-18-6, Eleni still has "froggy legs" -- tucks her legs up under her tushy. She looks like a little octopus sucking on her binky.
09-17-06, come home from the hospital
09-16-06, Happiest day of my life - hold both my girls at the same time
09-16-06, Eleni is brought down to my room from the NICU
09-15-06, Mom nurses Eleni for the first time in the NICU
09-14-06, Mom goes to visit Eleni. Cries a little. what lovely big hands she has!
09-13-06, Baby A, Eleni Melissa Marousis -- taken straight to the NICU

ZOE MILESTONES

12-29-08, Zoe pees in the potty for the first time (shares her candy reward with Eleni)
09-30-08, 2 year doctor visit: Height: 34 inches; Weight: 24lbs 12oz; Head Circumference 50" 04-15-08, 18 month doctor visit: Height: 31 1/2 inches; Weight: 21lbs; Head Circumference 49" 11-22-07, pulls to standing on her own for the first time -- to see food being made for dinner
10-08-07, 1-year-old doctor visit: Height: 29 inches (50%); Weight: 19lbs 12oz (25-50%), HC 47.7 (90-95%)
10-07-07, attends the LaSalle Bank marathon
10-01-07, Zoe becomes the less pi
09-24-07, Svitlana goes to Ukraine for her son Roman; Her sister Zoriana takes over in the meantime.09-10-07, shows you "dog" and "cat" on the blocks
09-06-07, pulls up to her knees at the music playtable
September: Lounges on Pappoo sometimes. Likes to read books and look at baby faces. Does NOT like mom trying to teach her colors.
09-04-07, starts drinking whole milk. About 3 sips.
08-29-07, started to crawl!!!! Very very very slow motion.
-Picky about food. Loves cereal & sweet potatoes and cheerios. Likes veggies. Not so sure about most fruit except watermelon. Makes very suspicious faces when trying new foods. Likes to pull off her bib and stick her hands in her mouth while eating. Oh, in the bowl too.
08-23-07, found her hitting Eleni on the head in the crib, Zoe sitting and Eleni lying down, for the first time!
08-22-07, can pull herself over her legs from sitting to hands and knees, but falls right down on her belly.
08-21-07, Pappoo arrives! Lets him hold her the first day he's here!
08-18-07, says "hi"...or really "i"
08-16-07, started putting rings back ON the ring thingy.
08-14-07, started greeting Kostas and I by doing the back and forth tongue thingy.
08-12-07, holds her own bottle for the first time
08-11-07, makes gasping sound when taking rings off the ring thingy like mommy.
08-10-07, pulled apart playmat
08-08-07, opened toy drawer
08-14-07, Zoe gets her first tooth -- we can feel it but she won't let us see it. She was crying and fussy all night last night.
08-05-07, big family bath
06-26-07, falls of mom & dad's bed for the first time
06-24-07, First logrolls off the baby mat and under the glass coffee table
06-11-07, Height: 27 inches (25-50%); Weight: 17 lbs 7oz (25%), HC 45.6 (90%) -- my zoebird has a big head (to fit all those brains!)
06-10-07, First rolls all the way across the bed
06-08-07, First feeds herself 3 cheerios -- holds in fist and sucks
06-01-07, BopBop's 2nd visit. Sits on BopBop's lap on Sunday without crying...much (3 days after he arrives)
05-28-07 , first playdate with Jenna Lieberopoulos
05-19-07, first swings
05-01-07, First sits up for 5 minutes in a row. Sits crosslegged, while Eleni sits with her legs stretched straight out.
04-25-07, First said "mamamamamamama" in her crib in the morning.
04-16-07, Ate foot for first time
04-16-07, first visit to the zoo
4-2007, One-footed bounce in Jumperoo
03-27-07, Zoe sleeps 7pm to 6:15am
03-22-07, applesauce
03-21-07, first fight
03-4-07, First food eaten: Banana sucked on while mom & dad held it
02-24-07, Zoe rolls over
02-12-07, First rolled over, front to back (no more tummy time!)
02-04-07, first superbowl
01-21-07, falls in love with Mr. Birdy
01-01-07, stays up for midnight on New Year's
12-01-07, 1st babbled
11-13-06, 1st smile (very serious little girl; sovarro)
11-10-07, 1st lick of apple from yiayia. Loved it!
10-07-07, tries to nurse on a pillow
09-17-07, come home from the hospital
09-16-07, Happiest day of my life - hold both my girls at the same time (Eleni back from the NICU)
9-15-06, Baby B becomes Zoe
9-13-06, Baby B is born -- Called "Baby B" as we waited for mommy to decide on a name

Welcome Eleni & Zoe

Our little family just doubled in size.

We welcome:

Eleni Melissa Marousis
6 lbs, 5 0z

and

Zoe Morgan Marousis

6 lbs, 5 0z

Gia and Her Posse

The girls' cousin Gia came to the hospital to welcome Eleni and Zoe into the world.

As always, she rolls with her posse.