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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Easter Faces

Sarah and I had fun with the camera today. I always have an interesting subject with this girl!!

Happy!!
Startled
Mad!!!!!
Her famous "Puffer Fish Face"
Goofy
Curious
Stressed!!!
"Outta Here!!!"

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Batter Up!!!

As the kids are getting older, I have finally given in to the fact that our Saturdays will now be less of doing whatever we want and more centered around "events" that the kids participate in. I was against this type of
"kid events-driven" weekend for so long, but this year I finally succummed!!! And I couldn't be happier!!

Buddy's first T-Ball game was probably the most hilarious thing I have witnessed in my 35 years!! It was just adorable and extremely fun to watch. At one time, this would have been a nightmare, but now I am looking forward to many, many more Saturdays like this!!!










His team is the "Tin Caps," named after the Ft. Wayne minor league team
Rooney #3!
Scoring his first run!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Buddy Turns 4!

I managed to talk Will out of a Chuck E Cheese birthday party and we all spent the weekend doing something we ALLLLLL enjoyed so much more...a weekend at the beach! The weather was perfect and we headed down to Santa Cruz for a little "staycation" to celebrate Buddy's Big 4!!!

Even though he's 4, he seems like an old soul to me. He's definitely a one-of-a-kind kid and as much as he frustrates me sometimes, he and I are very "close." I feel like a lot of it has to do with the fact that since he was about 2 1/2, I only worked 2 days a week. So I feel like I got to see him "grow up" a little more.  Overall, I have just spent more time with him than I ever spent with Brooke and somehow that makes our dynamic a little different. Some highlights and lowlights from age 4:

- This kid is my travel buddy--he'll go anywhere, anytime. Grocery store, post office, taking out the garbage cans, you name it. He's always up for going someplace, without a complaint. He's a great traveler.

- He's always been a kid with high sleep needs and that has not changed. He will still nap 3 hours a day if I let him. I have to cut his nap short to go pick up Brooke from school, so he sleep soundly for about 1 1/2 hours. Luckily, he's doing better on days he doesn't have a nap. He used to get super cranky and fall asleep at 5pm. Now he can hang in there until bedtime.

- On the social end, he is far behind Brooke at this age. I think most of it has to do with his general temperament (he's not socially outgoing or savvy at all!), but I also think some of it has to do with him being a BOY and maybe some has to do with the fact that he didn't have as many "social" experiences via daycare like Brooke did. He's had (minor) issues with hitting other kids for the past year and a half. It's gotten a thousand times better just with age, but every once in awhile his preschool teacher will tell me he smacked someone. This last time, we had a loooong talk about it and I could tell I was getting through to him. He even told me, " I don't hit anymore, mom. I gave that up." It was super cute to hear him say that. I truly feel that he's just NOW understanding how wrong it is to hit his friends!!! He can FINALLY understand that other people have feelings, too!! Now, Brooke (a true sensitive GIRL) knew this at like 18 months! Like I said, Will is WAY behind in the social realm. I am just happy to see improvement!!!! Raising a boy is so different!!

- He's extremely stubborn and very resistant to try new things. He likes things the way there are. Change is NOT good, according to him!!

- Academically, he knows A LOT. But he's one of those kids who can be lazy if he's not pushed. This is another point of frustration. I find kids that have "talent" and who don't apply themselves waaaaaay more frustrating than kids who just genuinely try their best all the time. Will is the former and Brooke is the latter. But as far as picking up new concepts, and knowing kindergarten "academic stuff," he's definitely ahead for his age.

- I love having him and Sarah home together! I love to see how he interacts with her. He just looves her!!!! He's also very protective of his little sister. For a kid that doesn't show much emotion, it's vert sweet :)

Here are some pictures of our beach trip to Santa Cruz and Capitola!

Boardwalk fun with sissy! She really is his true BFF!


Blue cotton candy heaven!!!
Beach fun at sunset


Busy busy!!!
Swimming at 9am--why not??!
The best attempt at the group pic
We love the beach!!!
Dysfunctional kid pic #2...notice Sarah's sand beard!!!!

Friday, March 1, 2013

9 Months Old!

Yes, yes I'm late posting. But here's the latest and greatest about 9-10 months!!

I love this age!!! Here are the highlights:

1) She's my happiest baby! The other two were not nearly as smiley and happy at this age. She'll smile and anyone, especially men!

2) She definitely demands attention. If all eyes are on her, she's happy as a clam. When you don't pay attention to her, she'll somehow get your attention!! It's a great skill for a 3rd child.

3) After a rough patch with sleeping, she's now back on track. Her schedule is weird but right now it works for us...bedtime at 5:30 and wake up at 5:00-5:30. It works great for school days but she hasn't figured out the meaning of "weekend" yet :) She's a great napper and goes with the flow during the day regarding naps.

4)  She completely bypassed the baby food stage. I was so looking forward to making baby food again but she won't have anything to do with a spoon in her mouth. She MUST feed herself. The kid eats EVERYTHING. Some foods include: chicken curry, hummus. taco meat, sharp cheddar cheese, Clif Bars, In and Out burgers, french fries, waffles and her sister's homework. I haven't found a food (or non food) she won't eat yet. I'm sure that'll change in a year or two!!

5) At her 9 month appointment she was 21.2 lbs (75th-90th percentile) and 29 inches long (90-95th percentile). I make giant kids--i don't understand it!!

6) She loves: sticking out her tongue, smiling, riding in her Little Tykes car, eating paper, climbing stairs, cruising.


Quick and Easy Meal Prep for Breakfast + Lunch + Snacks!

Ready for a SUPER quick and easy meal prep?! No joke, it took me longer to find all the lids to these containers than it did it prep my b...