Sunday, June 13, 2010

Fun in the Sun

Eva and Kellan have definitely felt the season change this weekend. Mommy loves summer and I am making sure my kids do too! 

We spent Saturday in Ft Smith with my cousin and her family + Lauren & Sawyer. Not a lot of pictures because I had both kids on my own but hoping Lauren and Heidi grabbed some because it was so fun. I mean, how could it not be with a roller skating party and afternoon with 6 adults and 9 kids ranging from 8 months to (almost) 8 years!!


Then today with Patrick and his fiance Talia in town we took advantage of two things: Sunny day and a certfied swim instructer. 
After a yummy lunch....


Off to the pool we went.













Super fun time and both Eva and Mom learned so much about infant swimming. I think I'll be saying "1,2,3, ready, go" for days... weeks to come! Lots of dips, kickers and bubbles make the pool heaven for Eva, but the incoming rain was our cue to head home. Clearly, it was a great choice!




Look Who's Standing UP

And pulling up... and sitting up.... but definitely loves standing up... ALL ON HIS OWN!!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

2 Cousins + 1 Duck Tub = Loads of Fun

One Tuesday night in May, two sisters had a plan that started something like this:

Amanda: Hey, Lauren, Lets let the boys take their baths together tonight
Lauren: Sure, Sawyer's never been in his tub so lets see how he likes it
Amanda: Oh Kellan loves it so this should be good.

And...this, my friends, is how that plan played out! Let me know if you think it was a success??!! :-)




























Saturday, June 5, 2010

My kids know how to make the best of it!

Jon and I always joke that life is hard for Eva and Kellan. Being that cute and playing this hard can wear you out sometimes. I love these two pictures of when my babies took advantage of a little snooze time.


Eva after a morning of playing with friends (notice the chapstick she would NOT let go of)


Kellan says "Walmart is exhausting"! I agree brother! 

Just for Fun

I couldnt resist. Since I have them... you think they're related???
 Eva at her 6 mo check up and Kellan at his. 

6 month and 18 month check ups = SUCCESS!!

Friday morning's doctor visit was quite the experience on a number of levels. I learned a lot that I feel is worth sharing.

1. I have two extremely healthy children and thank the Lord for that everyday. Its not something I ever take for granted.

2. I was either out of my mind or over confident when I decided to schedule their 6 mo and 18 mo checkups at the same appointment. My need for efficiency overshadowed my ability to care for two little ones in a small room at the same time. Reminder to self, two trips with one kid at a time is always a better idea.

3. Finding the right doctor makes all the difference. NWA Peds is fantastic but due to the number of kids in the clinic you typically just rotate through the doctors. I have loved them all but recently met Dr. Stacey Furlow and I am thrilled. She's now seen both my kids and I got full permission to specifically request my kids see her for all their appts (unless of course its an emergency and she's out). I always heard having a pediatrician who you trust and knows your kids is so great, it just took us a little bit to find that one. Now that we have we are not looking back!!

4. Eva is going through a growth spurt. She weighed in at 24.6 pounds which is right on and puts her in the 50th percentile on weight. Now the big news. At a whopping 32.5 inches she measured in the 75th percentile in height. My jaw dropped. This is the kid who came in either in the 10th or 25th every time and was deemed my shorty. Who knew! My favorite though was when she asked if Eva was saying at least 4-10 words clearly. I had to laugh out loud. I am not keeping count but would be shocked if it wasnt more like 40!! Shes totally my child in that regard. Atta girl. Then, she got 4 shots which she was NOT happy about but was so brave. The best part was that was her last round until she goes to kindergarten!! Phew!

5. Now there's Kellan. My shinning star, developing perfectly! However, now we have a new "shrimp" of the family. Weighing in at 17.1 pounds he's in the 25th percentile for weight and yes, at 25.3 inches he's in the 10th for height. What he doesnt have in size though he makes up for in personality. He's super strong, pulling up on his own, laughing, grabbing at things, jumping in his bouncy, eating baby foods but already eyeing grown up foods, and switched to only 4 bottles a day. Eva would never drink more than 6 oz at a time but Kellan will down an 8 oz bottle like its nothing. Dr. Furlow said let him progress as he wants. Being the second kid he has an example of what he's supposed to be doing so not to be surprised he wants to do things sooner than she did. So he's in the tub with his sister sitting up and splashing around, loving his highchair and still madly in love with his teachers at school. His smile lights up my day and his cheeks are the most kissable in the whole world.

6. Even for all the headaches they give me, the uncountable number of diapers I change and my intense desire to get my pre-baby body back, I couldnt imagine my life without these two. I was scared to death about what life with two a year apart would be and now cant imagine it any other way.



Eva wasnt much for the camera at this visit mainly because she was too busy taking the trash bags in and out of the cans while we waited on the doc. Hey, whatever kept her happy!!


Little man was also easy to entertain... I brought 3 books and 3 toys and all he wanted was the tongue depressor.


I just love this little face. Like "what? I'm just chillin'" - and that he does. He's so easy-going and all the time happy. 

How I got so lucky to have two such great kids is beyond me but I'll take it!? They are just perfect!!

Growing Up Too Fast!!

Eva is definitely keeping us entertained this week but a new kid is on the block that is quickly catching up to her. Mister Kellan is in full force: "talking", laughing, sitting up, trying to stand up, teething (but no, no teeth yet) and winning major points with Mommy for how much he loves to snuggle. I didnt think any kid would be more snugly than Eva but Kellan more than makes up for how you cant keep her still anymore. These pictures are from our special time last weekend. Jon and Eva were still asleep and we just hung out in bed and watched cartoons. These moments are so fleeting that I am doing all I can to hold onto them as tightly as I can. At this point with Eva I knew I had Kellan on the way. Now I know that my "baby days" are soon over and my days will be full of sassy toddlers. Needless to say, there are lots of good to that but certain mornings I'd love to keep my little man a baby as long as I can.