5 Months and 2 1/2 Years Updates!

I have a toddler and a baby... that still amazes me!  It's great, it's fun, and it's also a lot of hard work and very tiresome, but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of AR falling out of her bed this morning at 5am and waking W up who wouldn't go back to sleep b/c apparently he had a dirty diaper and then was hungry!  On to an update of our babies:

2.5 Years

Sorry I didn't have a photo of her alone since the last blog!

What she's up to these days:
-loves her baby dolls, reading, and her baby brother
-talks nonstop and remembers every-single-thing!
-100% paci-free but still loves her sleep sack!
-prefers wearing skirts, dresses, and tutus (thank you Lovey) over pants, but mostly prefers to be in nothing but underwear!
-it's daytime potty-trained but still working on nighttime
-can often be caught "mimicking" one of us, either by how we are sitting, how we talk to W, and so on
-enjoys "school" and will often ask if we can do it
-can almost count to 10 but often skips 3 and 4 so we are currently working on #3 in "school"
-would eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich for every meal if allowed (or cheese)
-already a little analyzer like her mama!  Every day I hear her say something to the nature of "when daddy gets home, I'm going to say 'daddy, _____'"... already planning out her conversations!
-gets frustrated very easily, which is unfortunately another one of her mother's traits
-fights sleep like it's her job and it's about to make her mama go insane (all tips appreciated!)
-is really good at trying to have a little control while "obeying" us at the same time... for instance, I might say, "AR put this cup in the sink" and she'll say "I put it right here (being the counter)"... unfortunately for her this doesn't always work in our house at this is still disobedience but you have to give her credit for trying.  (love her but she can drive us nutto around here!)

And now for the easier one (I guess that means he is more like his daddy ;) ):

5 Months

 

 What W's up to these days:
-we are on a "loose" schedule if you will now
-5 feedings, 3 with solids (rice cereal, squash, and carrots so far)
-sleeps from about 7:30/8ish - 7/7:15ish
-just recently went to being unswaddled at night and transitioned sooo much better than I thought!
-takes 2 good naps and 1 cat nap during the day
-still smiles all the time
-don't know about weight and height but i'm guessing 16.5lbs or more due to the fact that we just went to size 3 diapers
-starting to play with toys more
-enjoys our jumping exasaucer but instead of jumping he goes side to side from one foot to the other
-still just rolls from tummy to back

Handsome fella!

 A few other pics:

AR reading her bible to her baby during "me time".  She loves to sit in this doll highchair and it makes her look like a lifeguard to me

"Feeding" Baby W with a measuring spoon and a red paper plate.

 All ready for church:

Can't wait to share our Halloween pictures with y'all!!  We are looking forward to going trick-or-treating for the first time this year... though William is probably the most excited about all the candy he'll be eating!

Visits with Grandparents, Parent/Child Dedication, and More!

Ahh... lots to share in this one post!  Hope you can stay with me!

So, I've been itching to put this little boy in some overalls and it was finally cold enough and he was finally big enough to do so!  Isn't he adorable?!

Last week, in "school" instead of making the pumpkin playdough... b/c we are still playing with the apple and pineapple from the previous months... we made pumpkin cookies!  It was the first time AR got to actually help me by dumping in the ingredients and she loved it!

Not so much help with frosting as she kept eating it!

Two weekends ago, we went to Mimi and Papa's house for the weekend and to introduce W to their church family.  We had such a nice and relaxing time!  We got in quite a few pics of our little cheerleader too!

This girl LOVES water bottles!

 

That Sunday afternoon the kids and I headed to Grand Daddy and Lovey's house for a few nights.  We enjoyed this little trip as well and AR got to stay for a few more nights after W and I left!  I also got to meet my friend, Heather's, little baby boy and spend some time with them.  Can't wait for these boys to be able to play together... well, I can wait b/c I know it goes too fast, but I do look forward to it!  :)

AR had my and my sister's old sleeping bags and felt W would like to be under the Minnie Mouse one

Grand Daddy and AR during one of their daily sea wall discussions

 A few other pics:

AR loves books and she likes to "read" to W and it is super sweet.  I figured up that she "reads" to herself at least 2 1/2 hrs a day and probably up to 3 1/2.  She reads an hour or more before naps and going to bed (b/c it takes her that long to fall asleep :/) and then some during "book time" and more.  That doesn't include what is read to her by us!

Holding her brother's hand

This past Sunday we had Parent/Child Dedication at our church.  This is a time where we go before our church family declaring that we will raise our child in a Christ focused environment and commit to bringing them up to hopefully one day accept the Lord as their Savior.  We are also saying that we can't do it alone and depend on the church to help us in this journey.

We were so blessed to have so many family and friends join us and greatly missed those who were unable to come!  Here are a few pics.

 

AR fell asleep on the way home from Fuddruckers and I let her slept a little bit and tried to wake her up so she could visit with everybody but she kept on sleeping!

Collecting her gold dollar!

Can you believe that this girl is 2 1/2 years old?!?!

 And of course we waiting until W was desperate for a nap to take pictures!!

Goodbye Paci and Hello Solids and Mountains!

We introduced W to rice cereal this week.  You forget how they have to learn to eat from a spoon!  He seems to like it!

Waiting patiently for his food!

 

This past Friday was a BIG day for us!  AR gave away her paci to another baby girl and then we had a "Goodbye Paci" party!  I totally didn't get any pictures from the party but we did it up with balloons and presents!  Aunt Katie came over to eat pizza and then we went out for frozen yogurt and met up with some more friends!

AR got a doll accessory kit that included a doll carrier, diaper bag, and a swing/high chair/doll car seat all-in-one thingy.  She's been loving it!  Aunt Katie also "gave" her a big girl sippy cup... :)

Oh, I bet you want to know how the past few days have been!?  Better than expected.  She will ask for a paci here and there but she hasn't (knock on wood) woken up in the middle of the night looking for it.  When she does ask, we just remind her that she gave it to a baby who needed it and that seems to pacify her... no pun intended!

Here she is with her doll carrier:

Saturday, the four of us headed up to Hendersonville for the day to see the mountains and get some apples!

We ate at a little sandwich and soda shop

The best part about day trips is having a child who now has to use the potty... not.  She did well though and daddy was a trooper with setting up the travel potty before and after almost every stop!

First time eating a apple (that I know of) not cut up!

W's view while at the apple farm

There's not much sweeter than this!

And of course, the other random pictures since the last post:

Our smiley boy!

This is what happens when AR gets her hands on stickers!

Sweetness!

 

While mama sweeps and mops under the kitchen table, AR makes a "bed" out of the chairs!

I've said it before and I'll say it again... this girl LOVES her brother!

 Oh what a difference 2 years makes... almost 2 years to the day to be exact!

Almost 2 1/2!

AR around 6 months

 

AR more into the toys that used to be hers now than she did then I do believe!!