Bailey: 2 Months

Bailey Boo,

Has it really been 2 months already!? It seems like you just got here, but also like you have been a part of our family forever! I was not sure how chaotic it would be with 2 little babies, but you are just a perfect fit to our little family!

We went to the doctor today for your 2 month checkup. You had to get your first shots, which was not fun.

Your stats are:

Height: 12 lb. 3 oz. (84 percentile)

Weight: 23 in. (76 percentile)

Head: 67 percentile

You weigh more, and are longer than your sister was at this age.

In the past week or so, you have become so much more alert! You have started making faces, smiling and even laughing.  You will smile and laugh when we make funny noises at you, and you are also ticklish! It is such fun watching you become aware of yourself and the world around you! You are such a sweet, sweet baby.

We have finally gotten your tummy issues under control.  Your bottles are premixed, and in a anti-colic bottle.  You get gripe water and tummy drops as needed and you get a probiotic each morning.  You are on the sensitive formula.  All of this seems to help, thank goodness, because mommy and daddy hated seeing you in such pain. 

We also finally caved and tried the paci that your sister uses. You love it (especially the monkey on the end), but you still do not want it often.  You love to cuddle with lovies when you are sleepy or upset.

You are a strong little baby! You love tummy time.  Last night your daddy was holding you and you were able to stand there on your own while holding his hands! 

You are wearing size 0-3 and 3 month clothes.  Mommy had to pack away your newborn clothes, and it was a little sad.  You are in size 1 diapers. We will start cloth diapers up once you run out of the disposables that we had.  You go to sleep around 9:00-9:30 and sleep until around 7:00 or 8:00, waking up around 2:00-4:00 and 6:00 to eat.  You take 3.5-4.5 oz bottles every 2-4 hours.  You are not on a great schedule yet, but are working your way towards one!

You still do not like to be swaddled, but you love being carried in the baby carriers.  You love bath time. You also love swinging in your swing and laying on your playmat.  When mommy gets ready, you will lay in your bouncy seat.  If you are upset, the hair dryer calms you down instantly. 

You are just like your daddy and get hot very easily.  The other night mommy was cold so she put pants on you.  You got so hot that daddy had to open the freezer and hold you there until you calmed down! 

Sweet Baby B....we love you so much! Your sister included :) I cannot wait to see the friendship bloom between the two of you!  Your daddy and I pray for you always, and love you more than you will ever know! Happy 2 months!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Memorial Day 2013

On Memorial Day, we headed down to Mark's parents house to grill out!

Ashlynn got a quick (comfy?) nap in before we left.

I tried to snap a "cute sister's in matching outfits" picture when we got there. Not a calm posed picture, but still two sweet girls and a little bit of reality :)

We had such a great time just relaxing and catching up with Mark's family! The boys grilled out and us gals made up some sides, while Miss A got into all kinds of fun stuff (sprinkles=fun music shakers!)

Ashlynn also got her first "Corn on the cob" experience.

And she loved diving into a giant slice of watermelon!

After dinner, she played with Grandma and Grandpa a little bit more! 

Graduation

A few weeks ago, Mark's youngest brother graduated from high school! The 4 of us drove down on Friday night to attend the ceremony.  It was great to watch such a special event.  I have known Mike since he was 8, so it is pretty crazy that he is fixing to be in college! 

I was not sure how the girls would do, but they were troopers! We only took them both out once, and that was only precautionary because there was a speaker on stage.  Ashlynn spent plenty of time making friends with everyone around us!

We are so proud of him and all of the hard work he has put in! We know that great things are in store for his future.

Congratulations Mike! We love you!

Ashlynn: 15-17 Months

Sweet Baby A,

I am a little late on posting your updates! Adding in another baby has made your mommy a little scatterbrained :)  In the past few months, you have gone from our little baby into a full fledged toddler. You are looking and acting so much like a little girl.  It seems like just yesterday you were the one who I was rocking in the middle of the night.

You will only take you monthly picture if I give you a "prop" to play with!

15 Months

16 Months

17 Months

You went to the doctor for your 15 month checkup on the same day as your sister's 1 week appt. It was a little crazy, and I did not record your stats. I do know that you weighed 25 lbs!

First Pedicure!

You are talking up a storm.  Words like purple and rainbow have found their way into your vocabulary, along with names for food items (apple, peanut butter, oranges to name a few!) Here are a few funny things you say:

Please: You used to say "peas" now you say "Dada" while you sign please

When pretending to talk on the phone: "Helloooo!" and "Who is it?"

For food: "Mo mo mo mo mo!" while you sign please

Every morning: "Hi Deus" (for Hi Zeus)

You say "UH OH!"

Fearless girl

 You have kept us on our toes lately! You are not scared of ANYTHING! You got mad last week because you couldn't play in the rain when it was storming bad.  We have had to gate our tv because you like to "play" with it.  You stood up on the ottoman and looked at the gate like you planned on jumping over it.  We had to move the ottoman back!

Working on your coloring skills!

You have been gaining many new skills. You can run and climb up and down stairs. You have also started to color with crayons.  You are not a fan of weird textures or getting your hands dirty.

Sweetest sister

 It amazes me how much you love your sister.  You will ask to hold her throughout the day, and still try to take her if she is fussy.  You also bring her pacis or diapers when she is upset, and you share your "frog" with her, which is a BIG deal! You have also started to say her name. We are so excited to watch your relationship with her develop. She is lucky to have you to learn after!

First lollipop

 You are still a great eater! You get fun treats every now and then, but we are trying to instill good eating habits in you.  You think lima beans are candy, and you could eat blueberries all day! You now use a spoon to feed yourself yogurt and small food (rice, corn, etc.). You also try to use a fork. 

Daddy's girl

 You are wearing mostly size 24 month clothes, size 5 diapers and size 5 shoes.  You love shoes and you have a new love for purses.  

You are sleeping 10-12 hours each night! When you are tired you will go to your door and say "night-night"! Our bedtime routine has drastically shortened, because after about 1 verse of "Jesus loves me" you are sitting up and pointing to your crib.

Lil fish

 You are still our little water baby! You love splashing in the tub, the pool, and in water that you spill on the floor! We had our first trip to the splash pad last week, and you loved it.  You were running around sticking your head in all of the fountains and giggling!

 Your hair is getting SO long! We (aka Mommy) have had fun trying out fun new hairstyles! You got your first haircut about a month ago.

First ponytail!

 Your favorite toys include:

Your piggy bank

Puzzles

Stacking cups

Mommy's brushes

Your Barnyard

Her piggy bank

 You are such an observant girl. You will do things that we have done, without us ever actually showing you how.  One day I looked over and you were sitting in front of a ray of light , trying to "catch" it. When I gave you cereal in a bowl, you lifted up the bowl to drink the milk out when you were done!

Trying to "catch" the light

You still love people. You would go home with a stranger if we let you! And you love your dog. You will chase him, hug and kiss him, and lead him around by his tail all day.

Fun with Kel

 People often ask if you are always so happy, and if you always "go, go, go" so much. The answer is yes! Unless you are sleeping, you are on the go. And unless you are throwing a fit, you are smiling and laughing! It is truly a joy to watch you!

Love love love this smile!

Watching you grow into a little girl is such fun Ashlynn! Your daddy and I just laugh and laugh at you as you explore, learn and discover.  We pray that God will use your stubborn, feisty and joyful personality for HIS glory, and more importantly that you will know Him from an early age. As you approach a year and a half, we can't wait to see in what other ways you change!

We love you baby girl,

Mommy and Daddy

Memorial Day Weekend

Over Memorial Day weekend, we made a quick trip to see my Granny and Bampa! We hadn't been able to go since before Christmas, and we were missing them!

 On Saturday, we just played around at their house/aka were lazy!

Rocking with Granny

 Ashlynn LOVES her "Ganny and Ba-Pa!" She followed Bampa around (or maybe he followed her!) all day! They even took a few golf cart rides!

Bampa and his Lil Bit

She also got in a lot of sweet cuddles with Granny 

"Telling secrets!"

 Miss Bailey slept most of the time, but got some good loving as well!

After bathtime, Ashlynn got a late night snack (leftover corn from dinner!) for a snack

On Sunday, we went to church and then lunch with my family!

Eating chips and salsa

Sweet family picture!

We may have snuck in a nap too!

Before we headed home, we hit up the DQ!

Fun with Papa!

Over the past few weeks, we have gotten the chance to go a few times and visit my dad during the day! Here are a few cute pictures from our trips:

Bailey got some loving from Nanny!

 Ashlynn LOVES riding on the car outside...

...and going down the slide!

 Everyone needed a nap

One day,we went over to check out dad's new pool!

 Miss Bailey did a lot of napping and bouncing while Big Sister ran around

 Last week, we hit up a local park

 And then went for snowcones on our way home!

 "Mo, Mo, Mo" while signing please!

Nonnie even got to come home early for cuddles with the girls!