January Randoms

Things have settled down a bit around here, so we've had some time to enjoy our Christmas gifts, including press-on nails.

And Miles' "car". He's finally getting the hang of turning it without help.

Brooke, Mati and Lexi had a "Princess Picture" exchange and this was Brooke's pic.

A couple of weekends ago, Matt and I went on his company Awards Trip to South Beach. While we were there, we got some fun picture updates. Will and Jamie took Brooke to Oberweis, but she explained to us that she had to tell Miles that they just went to the "shopping store" so he wouldn't be sad.

She and Grammie Deb also met Aunt Jamie out for lunch one day.

 

Miles was on the tail-end of a stomach bug (that he shared with Paige and Grandpa Brian), but still had a little energy to be silly.

My sweet baby. Thanks again to Grammie Deb and Grandpa Brian for taking all three kids for three nights. It's no small feat and we REALLY appreciate it.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but we joined a gym in December and got a month of free swim lessons for the kids, so we signed them up...for a month.

Miles has been kind of a stinker both times we've gone so far. He'll refuse to give the instructor high fives for the first 10 minutes or so. Last time, I saw the boy next to him ask him something and Miles shook his head "no". Then the boy yelled, "Hey Mom! He said he can't talk!" Usually by the last ten minutes or so, he's smiling and playing along.

That's Brooke in the purple. She has her swimming groove back and seems much more confident and comfortable in the water.

 

Paige is almost ready for real baths.

Which is good because Brooke has decided that she likes showers better so this guy has been lonely in the tub. All these milestones are so bittersweet to me.

Just today, they were playing house with the dolls (Isabelle, Rose and Baby Bubble Guppy, for those keeping track). Brooke was a wealth of knowledge, informing Miles that "Daddys can't feed babies from their body," and "Now you need to give me a kiss."

She was really excited to feed Paige, for about 5 bites.

I think he lasted two or three bites. It's still sweet to watch.

This girl's tummy finally seems to be feeling better. She had a little tooth pop out last Thursday. She's sleeping longer and longer at night. She'll be starting formula for a couple bottles a day this week, which I'm thinking might help her sleep longer. She's still a very happy and content baby most of the time. 

I love when they play together.

Until next time!

Frozen On Ice

Last Saturday, we had tickets to "Frozen on Ice," which might be the last possible incantation of "Frozen" that we had to invest in (maybe they'll come out with a "Frozen: Underwater" soon?). We bought the tickets last May thinking we'd use them as a Christmas gift, but realized that the kids are a little too young to get that concept. Instead, we told them about it about a week beforehand and Brooke asked about it every. single. day until Saturday finally came. Seriously, though, it was sweet to see her so excited.

We told Brooke we'd need to leave around 10 that morning (closer to 10:30) and as soon as the clock turned to 10, she said, "We need to go! We're going to miss it!" Luckily, we got there in time to take a few pictures and tell the kids no to a plethora of over-priced souvenirs that we could find for a quarter of the price at Target. I had to say no to the $15 Olaf snow cone multiple times.

The show was really good and the kids seemed to like it. We didn't get out our phones in time, but Brooke was belting it out when "Let It Go" was played "sang".

Miles kept asking about Olaf, who didn't make his appearance until the second act. Miles clapped and yelled his name anytime he came back on the ice. Miles did get a little freaked out when the Ice Monster and  sparks from Elsa's magic appeared.

Little Miss Trooper. And Creeper Daddy.

We were due for an awkward smile picture, right?

 

Speaking of, I tried to get a shot of all of them after the show (in their defense, it was way past nap/rest time). Here's the good one of Miles.

And the good one of Brooke.

And the good one of Paige. Too bad I have no clue how to use photoshop.

When we got home, the figure skating championships were on tv, so Brooke watched part of that and spent the rest of the day pretending to be an ice skater.

Ah, Disney. You've got us right where you want us. Thanks for another fun family day!

Paige at 9 Months

This sweet girl was nine months old on Monday. She continues to be such a joy. She's generally very easygoing, especially if she's being held. In the last month or so, she'll do the "I can see mom so I'm going to cry" if she's playing and I'm not holding her. But (according to others) when I'm not in sight, she's pretty chill.

As I mentioned in the Florida post, her facial expression is generally either very happy or contemplative/scowling."Grumpy Cat", if you will. Her nights are not so dreamy (ba-dum-cha!). On average, she wakes up once around 4 to eat, but at least 2 nights a week, she'll wake up 1-3 times earlier.

She seems to like the water and being outside. She's happy to observe her brother and sister playing. She's independent at sitting up now and sitting in carts and high chairs in public has made life easier on all of us. She's still not a huge fan of tummy time and usually rolls pretty quickly to her back. She's a pro at scooting on her back. She'll do a mermaid kick and propel herself. Basically, she's following her brother and sister's gross motor trajectory.

Her hair is still pretty straight so far and her eyes seem brown to me, although I've heard hazel from a couple people. Her nickname is "Grabby McGee" because she loves swiping at anything in sight. She's eating three solid meals per day and is enjoying teething crackers and puffs. In addition to her solid food at mealtimes, she nurses around 9:30, around 1, around 6:30 and around 4 am. I've cut out her afternoon nursing but she's still exclusively on breast milk.

At her check-up today, she was 27 1/4" (34%) and had a head circumference in the 95%. She had only gained ounces from her last appointment (14 lb, 13 oz. - 5%), but I'm pretty sure that's because she's had what seems to be an upset tummy - based on many gross diapers - the past several days. (Miles also had a tummy bug.) At any rate, we're going back for a check-up next month to make sure she keeps gaining. We'll also be starting formula soon, which should help. I think I'm going to starting call her my "Let's Check this Again Next Month" kid. because it seems like that's what's said at every doctor's appointment we go to. I know that it's better safe than sorry and I'm so thankful that she's been so healthy thus far..

Speaking of her eating and wanting to put her hands on everything, this is how she looks after meals if she has her way. Matt's mom taught me a trick of putting a towel around her shoulders to keep her hands down and that keeps her a little more presentable. And protects her eyes from food getting in them!

Miles and Brooke are still pretty great with her. I don't think that I've seen either of them deliberately do something to bother or hurt her. They're very into getting her toys, helping feed her, and letting me know if she's upset. Miles says, "Mommy, Paige needs you!" multiple times each day.

She takes a morning nap from around 10-11 and an afternoon nap from around 1:30-3:30. She'll get a little extra fussy and start wiping her eyes when she's getting tired. She's still a major thumb sucker. Right hand only. She's starting to wave, but not with total accuracy yet. I haven't even starting teaching her signs when eating. She's at a fun stage where she's starting to enjoy playing with toys. She's still teething a ton, but no teeth to speak of.

She's such an adaptable, fun, sweet, cute baby and we're so thankful to call her ours!

We love you, Paige-y Poo!

Florida

 

We took our annual family trip to Matt's parents' condo in Florida again this year. (We missed Mike, Jane and Bri this year as Bri was still too teeny-tiny to fly.) We left around 9 am on the 27th. Having the extra day after Christmas was life-changing and if I have anything to say about it, I don't think we'll ever go back to leaving the day after Christmas. It was nice to have some extra hands at the airport and on the plane (For the record, I didn't make Jamie hold Paige during the flight).

 The photos in this post are a compilation from lots of cameras and phones, and therefore because I was dealing with such an overwhelming amount, I just lumped them into basic categories. So let's start with the night that we went to the sunset.

It's always a risk/a little awkward asking a stranger to take this pic, but I think this girl did a pretty good job. Fail on my part for not taking off my sunglasses. 

 

 

 

Just so Paige has photographic proof that I was around when she was a baby.

 

The big kids were having a blast playing in the sand...until Miles started throwing it at us, which is what ended up causing us to leave a little earlier than we'd have liked. But let's forget that scenario and enjoy the serene sunset pictures where my kids look kind of angelic.

 

 

 

 

I love, love, love these pics of the two of them. They almost make me choke up. But really, what doesn't?

 

 

 

Too big, too fast.

 

 

 

 Pictures with Grammie Deb and Grandpa Brian.

 

 

 

Annual shot.

 

 

Captivated audience.

 

Paige was more interested in playing with Grandpa Brian.

 

 

The weather was pretty incredible the whole time we were there, but it was also very crowded. We got the hang of timing by our third or so trip to the beach. Brooke and Miles had a blast, of course.

 

I'm coming to the conclusion that Paige is either going to have a great smile or a legitimate scowl in any pictures we take of her. There's not a whole lot of in-between. She was great, though. She'd hang out under the umbrella for part of the time, then we'd take her by the water when she started to get antsy.

Surfer dude.

And dudette.

Both kids' cool shades are courtesy of Grammie Deb.

Pretty epic pose fail by my kids. Models, they are not.

Hanging with Aunt Jamie. Brooke had a rash around her face and neck after our first day, which we thought might have been sun poisoning, so we tried to have her wear this hat. Thankfully, it cleared up and didn't seem to bother her too much.

We also spent several days at the pool.

I took this picture because Matt, Jamie, and Will each had a kid and I was kind of excited to have a free set of hands.

Paige's routine at the pool was similar to the beach. She'd hang out in the stroller and watch us, then when she started to fuss, we'd bring her in the water.

 

She seemed most happy sitting on the edge.

Matt got his workout.

With our new friend, Mia Petunia, the killer whale.

Brooke was much more confident after we bought her a pair of goggles.

We had a few dinners out and I'm relieved to say that the kids did a pretty good job each time we went out.

"Who is this good looking kid?!?"

But there were also a couple of nights that we probably pushed them a little too far.

We had fun hanging out at the condo, too.

Enjoying the wildlife.

Like a boss. LOVE this picture.

"How YOU doin'?"

Matt's parents watched the kids while Jamie, Will, Matt and I went out for dinner. We were expecting things to be crazy, but got such an early start that we got right in to dinner and drinks after. We may or may not have been back at the condo before 12. But everyone was awake to ring in the New Year!

The kids had their own celebration.

Matt was able to golf several times.

One of those times, Debbie and I took the kids to the playground.

Her first time in a swing! It was a hit.

Lots of lizard hunting occurred.

Impromptu latish-night ice cream run...along with the rest of Bonita Springs.

Family walk to the pier. Another great shot of my photogenic kids.

We also played a round of mini golf (Miles has been asking to go up here since last summer). Brooke got two legit hole-in-ones! She was actually beating Matt after the first hole. Her other holes weren't really anything to write home about, though, and all three kids were ready to go after about 12 holes.

Oh, Miles.

It was another great vacation and we're so thankful for the opportunity!