Project 365: {Days 223-229}

Day 223: We joined Adelaide & Brenna at Epcot for the morning...but I didn't get any photos to prove they were with us!  Don't my kids look so enthused to be meeting Chip & Dale?

Day 224: Yep...this was our swim day this week :)..you guys....I am so tired & it is noticeable in this picture!

Day 225: So happy to be playing with a ball.

Day 226: We met some friends at a playground and Carly chose to get very dirty in the sand. She had such a wonderful time "building sandcastles" (birding sayndkersuls).

Day 227: I now have pretty good control over my limbs which means I will hold onto your shift for dear life to prevent being set down. -Luke

Day 228: Brian was off & I closed so we spent the morning at Typhoon Lagoon because the summer block out has been lifted!! Yippeeee!  I like this photo as we are walking through the park because it's a perfect snapshot of C&L.  She's got a skip in her step & not looking back while he strains his neck watching.

Day 229:  There are so many things wrong with this photo.  #stopclimbing #pleaseobey #nomorecandy

"All of Me Loves All of You" {Carly 2 1/2)

My olive-eating, dramatic, loving, silly, energetic little social butterfly is 2 and a half.  She & I tend to fight over who is Queen Bee in the house and we have the most precious moments followed by sheer frustration.  Sometimes I feel like her & I fight just like a mother & daughter should and other times I wonder how I ended up with such a tender-hearted little angel.  She stomps as close as possible to any & all boundaries and frequently puts a toe on the line...just to see what will happen.  If said toe is not instantly removed with the threat of a spanking, a time out or loss of paci privileges...it is not only crossed but will be very very hard to set the same boundary next time...or for anything else the rest of the day.  What I love, though, is if we can catch her when she's dancing with the idea of crossing the line by reasoning with her; sometimes striking a deal, we frequently avoid havoc.  Parenting her is fun, exciting, challenging and truly rewarding.  I can only dream of how our relationship will grow over the years.

These are some of my favorite random fun facts that describe our Carly-girl:

• Loves olives.  Like requests them every day.  Does anyone else find this strange!?
• Really enjoys pockets...everyone should wear pockets every day.
• Coins are of the utmost importance
• Is bothered when she doesn't have a complete set of books.  Example: she always flips "Moo, Baa, La, La, La" over and points to all the books pictured that she does not have.
• Chews on her hair...
• All of her "F" sounds are pronounced; "SW" resulting in some mumble jumble only we can understand
• Swends = Friends
• Sworse time in Swow-ever =First time in Forever (song from Frozen)
• So swun = So fun
• Smell my sweet = smell my feet
• When implying the word, "to, too" in any sentence, it is always stated as "a"
• The word, "I" is in fact "My."  When helping her, she generally hear, "no MY do it!"
• She has the most intense diphthongs I've ever heard in the English language.  Goodness it's funny!  "Now" is usually, "nee-ow", time is "tee-ime"
• Counts to 20---frequently leaving out numbers 16 & 18
• Can identify just about any color or shape and recognizes about 13 letters
• Can sing her ABCs word for word (letter for letter?) along with a multitude of other songs.  We tend to hear ABCs, Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star & Rain Rain Go Away most often.
• Adores Minnie Mouse and owns a toy of her in about every size possible...
• Dislikes wearing clothes but loves wearing shoes

The following are her most made requests, in order:

• Go a swends house!!!
• Go a Mickey park see Meo (Nemo) ride big boo wooooorld ride donald get juice!
• Carly want candy...candy, candy, candy, candy, candy...
• Where my paci go?
• Pick out pitty pitty dress
• More yet it go (when in the car expressing she wants to listen to the Frozen soundtrack)
• Watch Mickey Mouse!
• Need a band-aide

Frequently used phrases:

• Oh, Ok!
• Sun come up say mommy, dida, and Ooke and Carly, go swends house (this is her phrase she yells every time we put her to sleep...every time)
• Go potty right now, right now! 
• It's oh-que (OK), mommy (insert this phrase when she disobeys or someone gets hurt)
• Is accident (it's was an accident)
• Carly hung-y

She sings at the top of her lungs, does not enjoy sharing her toys; particularly with her brother, likes to wear "braids like Anna", talks about the snow in Iowa, is always asking about a different family member (this particular week she is fixated on knowing where Mimi is) and will always say a big "cheeeeese" when I pull out the camera.

She loves her brother with all her heart and tells him that all the time ("my love you really really much!").  She loves both of her parents and favors one of us each week.  Last week it was Brian...this week it's been me.

She can barely hold still to read a book, lets us know she is too hot and needs to go inside, is fixated on swimming (+) playing with friends, loves to go to church, the Mickey Park, the store...nearly anywhere if it means being on the go and sings at each of the those places & all throughout the day.

She loves to pray to Jesus and has had some cool experiences in doing so.  One day Luke had been crying at bedtime for about 5 minutes & she prayed Luke would stop crying & as soon as she spoke the words he did.  You can bet she said more prayers after that happened. 

Carly, we love you with all of our heart.  You are growing into a beautiful person and we are excited to see your heart continue to love and your mind continue to learn.  Jesus has blessed you beyond what you understand and we look in awe as we watch you skip through your toddler years.  Thanks for loving us, too.

I took her out for a photo shoot and was fortunate she was in such a good mood! I captured quite a few different looks...

  Let's not forget her precious little brother...

Hey...can you guys smile for mommy?....

 Ok...just both look at me...over here...la la la la la.....

 Well...it wasn't for lack of effort...

"If I Were a Boy" {Luke 7 Months}

First of all...I'm finding it hilarious that I write about my kids every single month.  Like do they really change that much that y'all need an update that frequently? As I am sitting here writing I'm like...sheesh...I just posted about Luke! ;)  I remember thinking Carly had changed so much just week to week and couldn't wait to get it all down on "paper."  However...life moved soooo slloooww with Carly so maybe that's why I felt that way?  Apparently we now live in the fast lane...which means a quick post...about a little boy...I love dearly...

I'm starting to notice this crazy mother-son bond that everyone talks about from the inside but from the outside looks totally silly and ridiculous.  My Dad commented on my bond with Luke while he was here and I thought...hmm...even others are noticing this bond that is a new feeling to me.  For crying out loud I baby this boy to the endth degree.  I mean really...it needs to stop.  Good thing he has a father to toughen him up. ;)

With that being said...I'm not totally sure if his lack of independence is because I baby him or if it's because I'm comparing him to Miss Independent or if that's really just who he is.  I guess time will tell.  For now, my adorable little boy still desires to have mama squeezes all day long.  On my hip, in my lap, holding my hand, touching my face...all physical contact is welcomed, expected & demanded all day long.  On the one hand he's super heavy and it's hard to get anything done while he's tagging along and on the other hand the cuddles are the greatest thing ever.  Sorry house...I'll clean you when he's older. ;)

I think this may be my last month reporting on a boy who is not on the go.  Everyday his skills improve.  In the past two weeks he's gone from being on all fours to staying up on all fours, to rocking on all fours, lunging and now can scoot a bit.  He can go from sitting to being on all fours and back and has pulled himself up a few times only to lose his balance and fall over.  He's taken a few cruising steps but really doesn't have the mind-leg coordination to be a successful cruiser quite yet.  So close!  He gets so frustrated with his inability to move and within 60 seconds of failed attempts is usually crying out in hysteria.  Oh ya...and because I'm no longer in sight. ;)  He's also the weight of an average 1-year-old...so my guess is it's hard for those under developed muscles to lug all that meat around!

Ok...just a few more fun facts:

• Loves balls...the ones that bounce...and roll...and seriously don't turn that into anything other than what you know it is. ;)  He can be fussy and all I have to do is sit him down and roll a ball back and forth with him or shoot hoops with him in my lap and that frown will turn upside down. 
• His other desired activity is playing with his music table. His face lights up when he sees it!
• So far so good in the food category! He's not picky and happily chews on whatever is placed in his mouth.  We even started him on puffs this month just so he would have something to do during the million times/day Carly needs a snack.  I can't even list all the foods he's had...squash, sweet potato, peas, broc, chicken & all fruits except strawberries.  
• I decided to attempt to skip the pureed food and so we feed him really small chunks of whatever food he's eating.  I still mash quite frequently...but I don't use the food processor. ;)
• His babble is much more intentional now and we frequently hear some "duh duh duh" with Brian takes to mean "da da da." :)

His sleep rhythm hasn't changed this month (naps 10-11; 1:30-3 & 5:30-6ish & sleeps 9pm-8am with a feeding still some time between 3-5am) but he did go from eating 5, 4oz "bottles" a day to eating 4, 5oz "bottles" a day.  So he's still getting a similar amount of milk in a 24-hour period.  Truth be told I am ready to be done nursing this little man.  He is pretty tough on me and is so easily distracted.  He still really seems to enjoy it and asks to nurse quite frequently but I won't be sad when he does decide to give it up.  Had Carly given up nursing before she turned one I would have been heart broken...so it's funny how different the experience has been this go-around.

This little man did not want to take pictures this month but with some crazy noises from me he flashed a few smiles.

He and Carly look so different to me!

Project 365: {Days 216-222}

Day 216: Play date with Aria & Anya.  Luke is lucky that so many of Carly's friends have younger siblings for him to play with!

Day 217: We had friends staying at Disney's Art of Animation Resort who invited a group of us over to swim! So so fun!! (I'm pretending I have my desired twins in this photo).

Day 218: Visited the Animal Kingdom expansion & saw the Nemo Musical!

Day 219: Carly has so missed seeing Holden...so he & his mama came over for dinner one night while Daddy went out to dinner with his colleagues.  I could not get them to hold still so I settled on posting this photo of them because it's a really nice shot of how long Carly's hair has gotten! Pull those curls straight & it's half way down her back! :)

Day 220: Whachu lookin' at?

Day 221: She LOVES olives.  She eats them every single day...weird.

Day 222: I posed the kids with the three things they need to go to sleep...their lovies, their blankies & their pacis.  It turned out pretty cute & years from now I think I'll look back at this picture & be glad I have it. :)

Project 365: {Days 209-215}

Day 209: Bye, bye, Bapa! See you in three weeks!

Day 210: Bye, bye, Nana!  Thanks for taking care of us the past two weeks! See you in October!

Day 211:  The 7th family day we've had since I went back to work the last week of March! Of course we spent it at EPCOT where Carly requests to go every single day. ;)

Day 212: This one is for Uncle Dick & Aunt Crystal...what a cute shirt!  I think in Luke's case this shirt is pretty true.  Too bad he's a Floridian. ;)

Day 213: I thought this activity would be super fun but instead it was super easy and therefore a bit boring.  I guess she's got her colors mastered!

Day 214: A very tired Luke playing outside before his nap; also sporting his summer buzz cut.

Day 215: Yes this was the dinner I came home from work to.  Surf & Turf New York Strip Steak & Crab Cakes.  No we do not eat like this all the time ever...hence why I had to document it. ;)

Project 365: {Days 202-208}

Day 202: Nana working with Carly on her swimming.  Fun fact about my mom: she actually trained for the Olympics during her teen years but didn't continue swimming in college because Title IX hadn't yet been passed.  We were walking through the ISU swim practice facility one day and she gasped when she realized she was swimming faster than some of the women's records in high school!

Day 203: I snapped this picture right before heading out the door for work...Carly thought it would be fun to have Nana feed her like she does Luke. ;)

Day 204: Madelynn's 3rd Birthday Party!

205: Luke is frequently spotted in this position...I think that means "on the go" is right around the corner!

Day 206: Bapa arrives! We spent the morning on the Boardwalk, ate at ESPN Club and played in an open grassy area.  This picture is so funny because it looks like my dad is about to kick Carly like a soccer ball when in actuality they were running toward each other at full speed and Carly would duck under his legs when they passed.

Day 207: More swimming! 3rd time this week!  Brian & I picked this giraffe out for her months ago and decided she was ready for it.  Look at all those warnings on the side!  Do they really think I'm going to put her on that & not stay right by her side?  Anyway...every kid in the pool loves that it... ;)

Day 208: 4 days swimming this week! That's gotta be a record...right?  I hope her blonde locks don't turn green!  This was actually a late dip in the pool from 7:30pm-8:30pm.  You can see the difference in color from the above picture. ;)  And have I mentioned Luke now LOVES the pool, too? :)