Last week was a busy one for our little family. Easter weekend started early when a power outage left us without heat for Thursday night, so we packed up to stay in a hotel. Anissa was so excited when she discovered the hotel pool that she didn't walk anywhere the rest of the night - she bounced. I confess, I was even a little excited to have a night away from home...but my excitement had already dampened by 10 that night when Elianne was fussing and crying, keeping Anissa from going to bed, and the same happened in the middle of the night. We ended up with an overtired 3 year old the next day, but thankfully Chloe and Zack came all the way from Montreal to keep her entertained and happy. They enjoyed an Easter egg hunt in our playroom and way too much chocolate. The next morning, Anissa, Elianne and I attended a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, and both Saturday and Sunday night we had dinner at friends' houses (during which, of course, Elianne provided plenty of background noise). And between all that fun, the Easter bunny made a visit to the house and left clues for Anissa to find her treasure of Easter eggs and a chocolate bunny. See that gleam in her eye? That's the pure joy of a chocoholic.




Oh, and although Elianne was not always in the most cheerful of moods, she still shared some sweet little smiles with us. (They are hard to catch on film, though!)

We can no longer call Elianne Grumpy Smurf: she has started smiling! On Sunday morning, she greeted me with a huge grin when I went to pick her up out of her crib. I was thrilled but not 100% sure that it was the real thing and not just bad gas. Since then, however, she has graced me with two more beauties, Anissa and Mehdi with one each, and then smiled for the receptionist at my midwife's appointment this afternoon. Unfortunately, the grins are so fleeting that I have no photo for proof. In fact, when Mama Jo requested more pics on the blog this evening and I went to check the camera, I realized something horrible. I am guilty of what I have always accused my parents of - second child photo neglect! I don't take nearly as many photos of Eli than I did of Anissa as a baby. I feel a little guilty, but also know that between driving Anissa to school, painting Easter eggs, playing board games and hosting playdates, there just isn't as much time to snap shots. (Sorry Elianne...but you know we love you just as much.)

So this is the best I can do for now: Elianne snoozing in the swing. (I love her cheeks...and love the swing!)