Miscellaneous February Cuteness

Happy vs Sad





My Cute Kiddos!



I love this little boy's smile!


Not sure why I buy paper...



Potty Prizes

I told Austin that when he had been completely dry for 2 solid weeks we could go horseback riding. I was so proud of him that he did that within a month or so of starting (for the umpteenth time) potty training. I guess when he was ready, he was ready!







Of course, McKenna got to go too and was happy as can be!

Pure Determination

You may remember McKenna's early attempts at hopping. By Febuary she had gotten a little better, in that she wasn't flailing herself about. But she developed a funny setup for hopping. She looks like she's about to attempt a back flip, not get her feet .5 inches off the ground.

Such a determined little thing still!

Best Buddies!

Right around the beginning of this year, Austin and McKenna really started playing together, rather than just bugging each other! It was so cute to see it evolve.

Austin started taking McKenna by the hand and leading her to play in different parts of the yard. At first she resisted being led and then she started asking to hold his hands.










And then they started giving each other unprompted hugs...and with the hug recipient actually enjoying it!




But their favorite thing to do is to sing and dance together. All the time! We do lots of Ring Around the Rose and lots of dancing to whatever song comes on the TV.

Miscellaneous January Cuteness

Night Night!

McKenna loves tucking her dolls in good night. She used to cover these little dolls with a big blanket, so Grandma cut her some pint sized ones out of the extra fabric from the big one. Much better!





Pooping Prize

In January we were still working on potty training with Austin. He did great with going #1, but #2 was a little more of a struggle. So I felt a little extra motivation was in order. I got him a yellow Angry Bird that he'd receive if he went a few times on the potty. He was so proud when he finally earned it! So much so that he still shows off his yellow Angry Bird to people (random people, no less) and announces that it was his pooping prize! I have a picture of it, because he really wanted me to take one. Gotta include it, since it's so important to him!



Teepee Picnic

The first of many teepee picnics. Thanks Grandma!!


Woohoo! Another month blogged! On to February!

2 Months Already!

New this month...

So many smiles! Oh how I love her smile! We have already graduated from little ones to full body wiggle smiles. I can tell already that she's going to be a joyful little thing! We've gotten a few giggle precursors I think. Those will be coming soon I'm sure!

She really is the happiest baby! She hardly ever cries. Only if she hasn't pooped in forever or if she's just crazy crazy over tired. And being overtired is really quickly remedied with a swaddle, her blankie and a binkie. She just snuggles in like you've given her what she's been craving forever and then her eyes roll back and she's out cold in seconds. I love how snuggly she is. If I lay down with her to help her fall asleep, she wiggles until her face is touching mine.

The only time she doesn't go to sleep easily is if she's having some reflux. And then she has a hard time settling down still. We've done a few tummy naps as last resort. So far it's not nearly as bad as McKenna's was, so we're holding off on meds. She only struggles every few days. I've been putting her down inclined on a pillow and that has been helping a ton.

She is consistently sleeping 6-8 hours a night too! (I'm afraid to say it outloud, for fear she'll stop!) Seriously hit the baby jack pot with this one! I've tried waking her up to feed her and she won't. But since she's gaining weight fine, the dr didn't see a problem with it! I don't know if that's how it's going to be or if she is still just a sleepy little newborn, but I'll take it and be thankful for it while I can!

She had her 2 month well baby check on Friday and is a healthy little thing! 12 lbs 8oz - 85% and 23.75" - 95%! She's a full 2 pounds bigger than McKenna was at her 2 month check up!

Her hair still sticks straight up. It's starting to lay down a teeny bit right after a bath, but eventually boings right back up. I haven't really attempted to tame it. I love it just the way it is! And what is growing in new is really dark still. Both of the other kids had dark hair at birth, but lightened up almost immediately.

Her eyes appear to be staying blue, but who knows! Austin's didn't change for 6 months. She also appears to be getting the same eyelashes as Austin. I think his eyelashes with McKenna's eyes would be awesome!

She loves her big sister and big brother! Which is good, cuz she has to put up with them no matter what! She is incredibly patient with the pokes, hugs and squeezes and baby talk from both of them. And she gives them the best smiles with they talk to her. I can't wait for all three of them to be such good buddies!

Camp Snoopy

For Christmas, I asked for a pass to Knott's Berry Farm so we could go with our good friends, Becca, Jack & Sammy and Becca's mom and nephew, since they all get passes there too. My kids love hanging out with Jack, Sammy & Luke and I love hanging out with Becca & her mom, so it's a win-win!

Have I mentioned how much I love that my son is such an outgoing little guy? As soon as we got there, he ran right up to Snoopy and gave him a hug. I don't think he even knew who Snoopy was. He just saw a big dog character and was immediately drawn to him.


First we went on the plane ride. I get mom of the year award for this one. McKenna loves rides so I put her on with Austin. At first she was happy...and then she realized I wasn't on the ride! And then she was very not happy. What a way to start the day! (Austin loved it though, so I guess I did good there!)




McKenna did, however, like the train ride! So I was back on her good list.


And...back on the bad list. Both kids' bad lists, for that matter. I couldn't go on the cars with them because I was pregnant, so Becca & Phyllis took my kids instead. Well, Austin was upset that he couldn't go by himself like Jack could, but he wasn't tall enough. He did eventually have fun with Becca though. But apparently McKenna only likes Grandma Phyllis as long as she isn't stuck in a car with her. Woops!


Thankfully, after that it got much better and the kids forgot my Mom fails. Austin loved going on this "roller coaster" all by himself with Jack.


All the kids liked going on the big trucks.



And I enjoyed them just being cute!



And any lingering emotional scars were easily erased with ice cream!

Ringing in the New Year

Last post of 2011! Woohoo!!

We celebrated New Year's Eve with our good friends, the Robinsons. Our kids are all good little buddies! And of course we watched the east coast feed of the ball dropping so that they'd get some decent sleep! (I wonder what the people on the east coast do with little kids!)

McKenna was fully in her "Cheese!" mode at this time


Our good little friends


Austin boozing it up!


He may have had a little too much!


Oh, that's better!



2011 was a great year! 2012 is proving to be just as great too! And I finally get to start blogging it!