Bailey: 3 Months

Bailey,

You are 3 months old! I love the changes that come with 3 months. You have become much more alert. You smile and you recognize our faces! It is such a joy to see you figure out what this whole "life" thing is about!

We did not go to the doctor this month. I would guess that you weigh 14.5-15 pounds.  You are wearing size 0-3, 3 month and 3-6 month clothes.  You are in size 1-2 disposable diapers, and we just started back on cloth diapers this week.  

You currently take 4.5-5 oz. every 3(ish) hours. You are still a pretty slow eater :) In the past week you have started getting on more of a schedule. You normally wake up around 7-7:30. You go to bed around 9:30-10. During the day you take at least 3 naps, one of which is normally quite long.  You now take a paci, and you finally like one that is better for your teeth!

You have such a calm, sweet spirit. You are also a tad "dramatic" already! Your face lights up when you see your sister, and you are patient with her even when she wants to point out your nose or belly button, or tries to give you a paci! 

Your tummy issues seem to be either under control or subsiding. We are so glad about that, because it was hard to see you in pain so often.  

You are a strong girl. If you are propped up on our legs, you will pull your head up and try to sit up! When you do tummy time, you can wiggle yourself over the pillow and across the mat.

You still love the swing and the bouncy seat.  You also love to bounce and rock. Sometimes when you sleep, you get very fidgety, but you calm down as soon as I rest my hand on your chest.

We took a road trip to your Uncle Shane's new house, and you did great! You are very flexible in general, and just went with the flow while we were there. 

It is hard to believe that time is flying so fast with you sweet girl! Your daddy and I love you so much, and pray that your sweet spirit will be used to glorify the Lord. We love to see you with your sister, and can't wait to see how your relationship with her develops!

We love you,

Mommy and Daddy

Ashlynn: 18 Months

Baby A,

You are one and a half! Wow! The past 18 months have just flown by...the last 6 months especially! Your joy continues to be contagious, and your little personality grows by the minute!

We went to the doctor for your 18 month checkup last week. You only had to get 1 shot while we were there and you didn't cry a bit.

Your stats:

Height- 84%

Weight- 26.4 lbs, 76%

Head- 64%

You have gotten on a great schedule lately! You normally wake up around 7:30, nap right after lunch and then go to sleep at 9:00.  You are wearing size 5 diapers and size 24 month clothes.  Your shoes are size 5, but we are fixing to have to get you some size 6. We have officially "lost" the frog pacifier. It was doing damage to your teeth, so it had to go.  Thankfully you adapted to a new one, and your teeth are already looking better!

Your vocabulary is constantly expanding! Here are just a few of the things that you say:

Gulk (Milk), Gog-gog (Paci), Shhh, "whisper", Apple, Feesh (Goldfish), birdie, pahtomus (Hippopotamus), Beebee (baby), bite, pahco (popcorn), tahgeh (Target), ello! (hello), hoos it? (who is it), Poppy (pop tart), belly bee (Belly button), wa-ew (water), bah-ew (Bottle)

And a few names and their pronunciations:

Dahby (Darby), Schmamy (Amy), Ohnya (Tonya), Deph (Jeff), Acie (Stacie), Ahne (Shane), Gaga (Gma), PahPAAA (Papa), NonNIE, Grr (Gator), Gampa and Gam-mah (Grandpa Tony and Grandma Cindy), Bahpa and Gannie (Bampa and Granny, Bay Bay (Bailey)

You have started role playing things that you see others do. You will talk on the phone and you LOVE taking care of your baby! You have also started to "talk on the phone" and carry purses around.  You like to take your puppy to the car anytime we leave.

You had your first "sleepover" this month! You went and spent the night with Uncle Darby, Aunt Tonya and Aunt Amy. They all love you so much, and you had such fun!

You still love food! Lima beans continue to be a favorite, along with olives, broccoli and strawberries.  You drink milk with each meal, and water in between.  Chicken is your favorite meat, and you have a new favorite snack-veggie straws. You have figured out how to use a spoon, and are working on using the fork.

We have been working this month with a lot of sensory play.  You do not like to get your hands dirty (like your mama!). You really don't even like to fingerpaint.  This month we have been working on exposing both of us to fun textures! We have played in slime, playdoh, pudding and painted. We have also played games with ice and noodles. It seems to be helping! You played in the sand at the park and had a blast!

You are our little daredevil! You will jump off of anything, climb anywhere and have no fear trying new things! You love to run, slide and swing. You have learned how keys work, and you are always trying to unlock things and trying to open doors.

You are also such a sweet sister! You have started trying to feed Bailey her bottle. You also try to "pick up" her carseat, bounce her in the bouncey seat and burp her. Bailey lights up when she sees you.

Your hair has gotten so long this month! It is curly, curly. Your daddy makes fun of me because I bought some "product" for baby hair to keep it from frizzing in this Texas heat.  We also got our first "real" ponytail this month!

You have officially hit the toddler point, sweet girl, and I can see the "two-s" coming out already! You have a stubborn streak in you, and one strong personality! We pray that in the coming months you will grow healthy, gain knowledge, and learn to respect and obey.  

Happy 18 Months Baby A!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

The Fourth

I love the 4th of July.  Ok, yes, part of that love is a love for all things summer [good food, friends, family, sun, swimming and fireworks...yes please!] But it is also a love of country, of freedom and of that home, sweet, home feelin'.

We spent the first chunk of the day eating hot dogs and swimming with friends! Well...the boys actually did "nerd" computer type things all afternoon :)

Miss Bailey slept through the swimming fun.

That evening, we went to visit good friends who were in town!

Sweet family picture!

And crazy family outtake! (I love Mark and A in this)

Matching sisters!

We spent the evening catching up, eating yummy ribs and going for a walk. Bailey loved the cool weather, and spent some time talking to her toys!

On the way home, we even saw some fireworks! Maybe next year we will be able to take the girls to see fireworks :) Until then we will soak in the moments of them being sweet babies!

Father's Day 2013

Our girls are so blessed to have the daddy they have.  He loves them more than he knew he could, he protects them with a fierceness that only a dad could understand, and he desires for them to know their Heavenly Father more than anything.

Mark's Father's Day gift

We are also all so blessed to have dads, grandpas and great grandpas in our lives.  They are all such amazing men, leaders and examples who love our little family so well.

For Father's Day, we headed over to my dad's house to grill.  The goal was for none of the dads to work so that they could relax! Everyone chipped in for a great meal.

Miss Bailey did a lot of relaxing with them!

These girls sure love their dada! It brings such joy to this mama's heart to see that!

Uncle Shane and Papa got in a little bit of baby girl time too!

We had a great day of relaxing, watching tv and sitting outside.

Ashlynn and Buck

Her "puppy" that she likes to take when we go anywhere!

Dad with his 2 "babies" haha

 Mark's dad had to do some work that day, but we swung by on our way home to say hi!

Ashlynn and Grandpa

Uncle Mike and Bailey

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