Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Ty - 8 months old

Again, I am over a week late on Ty's monthly update post but, better late than never. IMG_0575
He is growing like a weed and I feel like he gets bigger and bigger every day. We went to Kinley's 3 year well check last week and I had Ty weighed and he was 20 pounds already! I am such a sap and just cried like a baby while putting him to bed yesterday as he wrapped his whole hand around my pinky because it won't be too long before his hand dwarfs mine and I know it. IMG_0569 IMG_0571
He is starting to get more and more of that blonde hair on top of his head. IMG_0570
He is getting more of a personality every day too. Sometimes he just starts babbling like he is having a conversation and it cracks me up. He and Kinley "converse" and laugh and laugh at each other and it is so fun to watch. Kinley's nickname for Ty these days is "Bubba Boo Boo." She says it all the time. It is pretty funny. IMG_0579 IMG_0581 IMG_0582
Ty is definitely more content sitting and playing by himself this month. He can play with his farm animal tractor and barn for a solid amount of time. He leans over and reaches and reaches for toys but, he has yet to take off crawling yet. I feel like he is so close and at any moment will just start moving but, he is just content these days to sit there for a while. I guess there hasn't been anything yet that he just can't live without and has to go after. I try hard not to compare he and Kinley and their milestone progress because they are such different babies but, that is all I have to go by and Kinley had already been crawling for over a month by now! I am sure it is coming quickly. batman
The last couple weeks have been filled, yet again, with ear infections, massive amounts of drool from teething and lots of waking in the night. It has been a little tough on mom but, we are making it through. I continue to wonder if he will need tubes in his ears eventually. On a high note, he has finally made it into his own room and bed now! I know it is good but, I miss him in his pack & play right next to me at night. IMG_0574 If you look close you can see those little white top teeth about to poke through. IMG_0573
Ty's absolute favorite place is outside. I feel like he is such a boy already. We always try to sit outside when it cools down at night after dinner and wind down for the evening. Kinley rides her car and Ty just sits out there content as can be. It is my favorite time of the day by far. outside
This month I have been praying and praying over the physical and spiritual health of our family and our home. As I am trying to get Ty to sleep for naps or bedtime I cherish just holding him and walking around his room and praying for him head to toe. I sing and sway him back and forth and I will forever remember the moments that it feels like I am dancing with my infant boy to get him to sleep. I pray throughout his room and that it would be a place he feel safe and peaceful and protected. I am praying for whatever might be bothering him whether it be his ears or teeth or tummy.

I pray for Kinley when she takes her naps on the couch each day. She falls asleep watching a movie and she just looks so peaceful. Ben puts Kinley to bed most nights and if for some reason we don't all get to pray together at night, Ben always does with her. Last night I heard her say her eye hurt and asked her dad if he would pray for her eye before she fell asleep. It melted my heart.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will spring up from the floors and drip from the ceiling in our home for our children and that it is a place where Christ is center, creativity is celebrated, friends and family are always welcome, and it is filled with joy. We make mistakes daily as parents and as husband and wife and I pray that Christ's grace and love cover us each day and help us make better choices tomorrow.
We, in no way whatsoever, have it all together and each day is a little chaotic but, I pray we try to take in the sweet moments of having small children in our home and be thankful and remember and have patience with our kids and each other. mother's day That is just one other reason I am thankful for this blog and for the memories it helps me to document and holds me accountable that I might otherwise have forgotten.
Thanks for reading.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Teacher Appreciation - Under $5 Garden Bundle

On the last day of preschool, Kinley took some teacher appreciation gifts to her sweet teachers.  Both of them like to garden and work in their yard so we decided to go along that theme.  I was totally in luck because the $1 aisle at Target was full of garden items! 

I decided on an assortment of garden items to bundle together.
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  • Flower Pot  - $1.25
  • Basil Grow Kit  - $1.25
  • Garden Spade  - $.50
  • Gloves  - $.50
  • Kneeler  - $1.25
That's right...everything for $4.75! Total Jackpot!

IMG_0561 IMG_0557 I used my Silhouette and put each teacher's name on their flower pot with adhesive vinyl. IMG_0560 I also put a little sign in there that said "Thank you for helping me to learn and GROW this year!"  (Of course, I was out of paper and ink in my printer so I had to hand write it on cardstock in my not so cute handwriting...but, whatever...)
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Kinley was very sad on the last day of school.  She actually cried a little bit.  She loved her teachers very much and I think she really got it that summer was coming and that she wouldn't see them each week anymore....and that when summer is over and she goes back to school she will have a new class with new teachers.  I feel so blessed that she loves school so much and feel so peaceful and special there. Her teachers this year just went above and beyond pushing the kids in her class to learn so much.  Here are some pictures of her with Ms. Susan and Ms. Gail.  She wasn't in much of a smiling mood though.
Ms. Susan Ms. Gail2 Ms. Gail
Ms. Susan told me the sweetest story about Kinley that day.  They had been learning about God's creation the last couple weeks of school and what God created each day of the creation story.  When they got to day 7 when God rested, they asked Kinley:
Ms. Susan: "What did God do on Day 7?"
Kinley: "He laid down out in the sun." 
They loved that answer and Ms. Susan said when she writes her book about being a preschool teacher that she is going to include Kinley's quote. 
Sweet girl.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Last Day of School - 2 year old class

Yesterday was Kinley's last day of 2 year old class. Another year of preschool in the books. I really can't believe it flew by so fast! The two year old classes went out with a bang and had a big circus day theme for the last day of school. They turned each room into a station...like the snack room, the theatre, the train station...they had cotton candy, snow cones, a pizza party for lunch. It was a crazy day. I thought Kinley's red and white striped skirt I made her for her puppy party would be perfect for circus day.

We took some pictures outside like we did on the first day of school this year. I loved doing this comparison last year. It is crazy how much she has grown!

First day of school - September 6, 2011
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Last day of school - May 17, 2012 IMG_0541 IMG_0539 IMG_0543 We also added Ty to the end of the year pics since he was days away from being born at the beginning of the school year. IMG_0545 IMG_0547 He kept getting distracted by a rollie pollie. IMG_0553
My how things have changed. IMG_0546 Yay for Summer!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

clean babies

This weekend Kinley and Ty took their first brother / sister bath together.  No inappropriate pictures here...just some adorable cuteness of playing and splashing away. 
 I think I imagined this as one of those moments being a mom of more than one kid.  Ty has been in his own baby bathtub until now and I just love having both my babies play in the bath together.  So innocent and sweet.  I am pretty sure I am totally emotionally overboard on this but, I just loved it.  This time of life is so fleeting and I dont want to miss a minute.
It was hilarious because Kinley has always been pretty calm in the bathtub, as an infant she was really relaxed and peaceful and as a toddler she just kind of quietly plays with her toys and makes up scenarios with her toys.
But, not Ty.
He could not stop splashing.
He was about to topple himself over because he was flailing himself all over the bath at the toys and at the water.
Just another difference between a boy and girl I guess.
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Friday, May 11, 2012

come on summer...

I am just loving that summer is coming.
I feel like this spring has been so, so busy and that we have something scheduled every single day. I am looking forward to more mornings like this where we just hang out together and enjoy each other. Kinley dotes on Ty and helps him with his paci all the time and makes him laugh and he just can't stop smiling at her. They are always up for a photo shoot.  It's like they just ham it up when the camera comes out....and they were somehow coordinating so I went for it. 
I am excited to see how their relationship develops over the summer.
I know Sept 14th will be here before we know it and Ty will be one. I can't believe it. IMG_0367 IMG_0382 IMG_0376 IMG_0375 IMG_0371 IMG_0373 IMG_0383 IMG_0370 IMG_0361 IMG_0372

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

way...delayed birthday questionaire

I am way sure you guys have seen this idea on pinterest
I have been meaning to ask Kinley these questions for a while.  (like since her birthday...but, I am almost 2 months late...oh well)  I thought it would be so fun to keep track of her answers to these questions each year on her birthday. 
It is sometimes hard to pin her down but, when Eden was over the other day I decided to grill them both. 
I asked Kinley all the questions first and then Eden because I knew if I asked them each question back to back, all of their answers would be the same. I thought it was so funny what they each answered.

Kinley's answers are first / then Eden's

1. What is your favorite color? Purple / Purple
2. What is your favorite toy? my barbies and my car / Jackston Wayne Fogle (her brother)
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries / blueberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? Yo Gabba Gabba / Dora
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? "nola bar" (AKA granola bar) / chicken nuggets
6. What is your favorite outfit? my bunny dress / Belle dress
7. What is your favorite game? Simon Says / soccer
8. What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks / fruit snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? bunny rabbit  / camel
10. What is your favorite song? Twinle, Twinkle Little Star / Firework - Katy Perry
11. What is your favorite book? ABC Book  / Cat in the Hat
12. Who is your best friend? Eden / Kinley
13. What is your favorite cereal? Fruit Loops / Capn' Crunch
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride my Car / Ride Kinley's bicycle
15. What is your favorite drink? apple juice / apple juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? my puppy party / Chuck E Cheese
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Perrito (her puppy dog she named Perrito which is spanish for puppy...thanks Dora) / an animal
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? waffles / strawberries
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  chicken & french fries / cupcakes
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a barbie / an artist

Ben said after reading these that you can tell Eden is 6 months older than Kinley.  Her answers are just a little more mature I guess!  I loved asking them these questions and hearing their answers.  I can't wait to do it again when Kinley is 4 years old!

Monday, May 7, 2012

princesses, pit crews, and popsicles

School is almost out for the summer and Kinley and Eden have been taking full advantage of seeing each other and having play dates after school pretty much daily. One day last week we loaded up our extra car seat in my car and took Eden home from school. Kinley & Eden car Kinley & Eden car1
They are at such a fun age to watch and listen to. They play pretend (which Kinley just calls "tend") all day long and it hilarious and adorable all in one. They run to the dress up clothes and immediately dress like princesses the minute they walk in the door. (what are they looking at???) IMG_0477 IMG_0476
Princess playing in the kitchen and eating snacks IMG_0482 IMG_0478
princesses watching tv while I put Ty down for a nap. IMG_0486 Then we ditched the dresses and loaded up on Kinley's car. IMG_0502 IMG_0496 It was hilarious Kinley trying to teach Eden how to drive the car in reverse. At one point Eden hit the curb and Kinley sprinted out like the pit crew to put it in reverse and move it back to the middle of the street so she could go forward again. IMG_0504 IMG_0505 IMG_0507 IMG_0508 There was a cheering section.
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And then they took turns driving each other. IMG_0524 IMG_0519 And after all that hard work, we had to have some popsicles. IMG_0516 IMG_0513 IMG_0510 AG came down for a popsicle treat too! (although mine were the processed fake kind..not the homemade natural apple juice kind that Leslie makes...sorry!) Kinley & Eden & AG
Speaking of AG, she is now a BIG SISTER! It was so fun to visit Leslie and baby Sean Ryan in the hospital last week...even though we brought the circus. Sean Ryan birth
It was adorable. Everyone loved seeing a baby and having a picnic on the hospital floor. Kinley and Mav played around in the car when we stopped to pick up lunch. Kinley & Mav car
So excited about future Ty, Mav and Sean Ryan playdates soon too!