Kids

Playing "Ship me to Tokyo"- a favorite game around here.


Watching Connor doing big jumps on the patio and so wishing she was out there too!



I love this one- her face definitely says "oh crap she's going to see that I've found my way over to the tissue box again..."

Playing (separately) in the backyard.




"Monster Baby"- another fave. Connor gets covered up with a blanket and Leyla crawls all over him (he pretends she's a monster)

Cause she looks so scary.


LOVES him. Seriously thinks everything he says or does is awesome!

Leyla Lately

So many developments just in the last two weeks since her 7 month update. The biggest- this crazy little nut is "walking." And by that I mean she'll walk while pushing something across the floor. Dare I say this might have been even earlier than Connor- who was full on walking unassisted at 10 months- oh my. My Dad was here to see her in action which was fun. Leyla has also occasionally been able to stand up on her own without holding onto anything. She is strong- and so fast!

She's newly pointing, waving, and shaking her head yes and no. Andrew was in Tokyo for 10 days last week and the night he returned (I kept the kids up a little later than usual so Andrew could see them before they went to bed) she laid there in her crib saying "Dada dada dada dada" for like 20 minutes. So I'm thinking it is a purposeful Dada after all? Either way- she sure does love him ;)

When she's walking along she's usually shrieking and giggling, as if to say "check me out people!!"


And usually, no matter what she's doing- she has the biggest of grins on her face. Her smile is totally infectious too. Now if she'd just grow some freaking hair...



We think she's finally starting to put on a little weight, although most of the stuff she wears is still 3-6 months. She's such a petite little thing! I've got an appt. for her to do a weight check so I'll know better next week. She's a decent eater, but she's still a ridiculous puker. We have to really watch her too because the second she pukes she likes to stick her hands in it and smear it all around (so disgusting- I know). Someday when she's mouthing off to me as a teenager I will remind her that as a baby she used to like to play in her own vomit but being the nice Mommy that I am- I always kept her out of it. My silly girl. You can kind of see her two new chompers in this one!

You know you've got a big brother when you end up with Lightening McQueen stickers on you.

Or are made to dress as a fireman.

Heart to heart with Elmo.

Standing.

Although its easier when big bro helps!

Happy Saturday!

Easter Fun

A few pictures from Easter. My Dad came up to spend the weekend with us- so great to spend some time with him!

Spring is here (finally)!



Leyla and her Easter bunny.

Dying eggs. Yes we are still eating off a card table but that actually comes in quite handy for kid art projects and things like dying eggs!


A few of our finished products.

Connor and his Easter morning loot.

Showing Leyla some of her goodies too!


Sweet!


One of the highlights of the weekend for Connor- Dad taught him how to play the harmonica (and let him keep it!) Connor is actually really good! He catches on to instruments so fast. I really do think he's musically inclined.

Dad and Leyla.


Hope everyone had a very Happy Easter!

My Sweet Kids

SO behind in my blogging! It's been a really busy couple of weeks over here. Lots of pictures to share, just need to upload and organize them a bit. But here's a couple I took on my phone today. You know I love sleeping Connor in the car pictures! I just have to say how much I love having a son. Yes, they are definitely way more work than little girls (as in double). But so freaking worth it in every way. And then some. My boy is just so sweet, in everything he does. Like today in the car when he said:
Connor: Mommy I want to take you on a date.
Me: That sounds fun, where to?
Connor: Bowling. I'll knock down ALL THE PINS (said extremely enthusiastically) for YOU Mommy!
Me: I would love that!
Connor: But I have to ask Daddy first, because he needs to drive us.

And then he asked if it was ok if Puppy came too ;)

And then there's this one, who makes me feel so so so lucky to get to have a daughter too. She's about as sweet as can be too. Little girls really are sugar and spice and all things nice or whatever the saying is. And she's so happy always! I just want to snuggle on her all day.

7 Months!

Our baby girl is now seven months old! This has been a big month for her. The biggest- she is ON THE MOVE. She started really crawling on her 6 month birthday. And a month later- man is she fast! Seriously- she's a mini speed racer. She's now also pulling herself up to a standing position and even cruising a little. A couple days ago she cut her first teeth- the bottom middle two. They haven't come all the way up yet but you can see that they are on their way. I will miss her little gummy smile! She's also way into solid foods. While she doesn't seem to love squash, she's been a big fan of everything else. She babbles a lot and is really interested in exploring everything. She loves to play with her toys. But her greatest love- is her big bro. He is definitely her most favorite person in the world. She follows him around everywhere and loves to climb up onto him. We call it the "monster baby" game, where we pretend Leyla is a little monster trying to get Connor. Sometimes I'll chase after Connor while carrying Leyla in front of me and she just shrieks with laughter. It's unreal how much joy I get from watching the two of them together!

More about little Leyla: she really is little. I took her for a checkup two weeks ago and she was only 13.5 lbs (10th percentile.) SO different from Connor who I believe was in the 75th percentile at this age. I swear he was like twice her size then! The doctor doesn't seem concerned, and says that babies' rate of gain typically lessens right around 6 months when they start moving so much more. But I am a little worried, and I'm trying my best to pump the food and milk into her! She's just not as interested in food as Connor was (and still is). And she spits up a ton (Connor did too). It's funny- Connor won't let her on his bed or near his favorite toys because he "doesn't want her to puke on them!" He also loves to be on puke watch, I'm always hearing "Mommy come quick- she puked again!" Lovely I know.

Leyla has the following nicknames right now:

Baby Leyla (Connor has referred to her as this since she was born)
Leyla Lou Bugaboo (Melanie this totally caught on when we were visiting you- I know you call Emmy the same and it stuck!)
Angelface Boo Boo Kitty (started as a joke but stuck)
Miss Kicky-pants (both because you just can't keep pants on her and if you hold her up so that her legs dangle in the air she just kicks them back and forth like crazy!)

What I want to remember most about Leyla at this age is just how crazy happy she is. She'll burst into the biggest smile just by looking at her or saying her name. I love her giggles, her shrieks, and watching how much she loves us and her brother. She really is so awesome.



Coming over for a hug.


Couple more from yesterday-
You can see why she loves Connor so much. He's just an unbelievably good big brother. So kind, gentle, caring, etc. Here he was wanting to put her shoes on for her yesterday.

Then he wanted to take a picture of "the girls." Not bad!

Yesterday afternoon we were having a picnic in the backyard and I ran back inside to get my camera. I came out to find him feeding her her bottle- so sweet!

Munching on pears. Don't worry I was closely monitoring Leyla!

Happy Birthday baby girl! We sure love you lots!