Fair time!

BY EASTON

I have been busy this summer, BUSY. By the end of the day I look like this...

I got to go to the fair with my Grandma & Grandpa! Even my cousins and some aunts and uncle came. It was AWESOME! I saw a rodeo and jousting, I saw horses, cows, and goats. I got all sorts of stuff like hats and pens and bags. Here are some pictures of my adventures....

Me & Grandma

Rodeo!

I have so much to tell Grandpa!

My Aunt Jessssssssssss

My partner in crime aka my cousin :)

Also did I mention I'm a cowboy?

And a swimmer?

And I LOVE my sister. 

July 2013

If I could choose just one sentence to describe Kinley for the month of July it would be: Welcome to TODDLERHOOD! Now if you are like me you are doing some counting, let's see she is how old? 16 months? What? Yeah someone decided to start early :) My baby girl has been super busy running, dancing, scooting backwards in her very own careful moonwalk, and throwing TANTRUMS! One that included a bite on my shoulder. Most that include her finding something semi-soft to bang her head on, just to let me know she means business! She is discovering all of the drawers in our house and the fun things they are filled with. She is absolutely enthralled by chasing and wrestling her brother. Major squealing! She wants to ride his bike. Climb anything more than two inches off the ground. And be my door patrol, making sure every door is closed. Some of her new tricks include scooting her belly on the ground while hissing like a snake and mimicking brother by aiming her squirt gun at me and saying "DOOT DOOT!" (shoot, shoot).

At her 15 month appointment she weighed in at a whopping 18 lb 15 oz. My tiny girl only gained 1/2 pound in 3 months! She is <5th percentile in weight and 95th for head. And stinkin' ADORABLE. The doctor wasn't worried about her weight, just thinks she is taking after her Mama and is going to be petite.

She has so much spitfire in her it is hilarious. She is growing into her own person and definitely her own personality, it is one of the funnest things to watch. I'm sad to say she is phasing out her growl laugh and now has a regular laugh, though it is just as adorable. She is very busy at church and often wanders into nursery, two more months baby girl, two more months! 

She is all sorts of spunky but still such a cuddler. Oh we love our baby girl. I even overheard my kiddos talking to each other last week, Easton says "Kinley, I like you. I really like you". Celebration moment for this Mama!

A few pics of the last month

Icecream cone + carseat +feeding herself = above picture

Bath time!

Peek-a-boo!

Cute little nose-picker

Camping faceplant

Splash pad

My crazy naked babies!

Boy vs Girl

Now that we know our next addition coming in November is going to be a bouncing baby boy I have been thinking a lot about how my babies differ. I have had fun watching Kinley and Easton as they grow into their personalities and genders.

Check out my strapping firstborn and (for always) my baby boy!

Oh boy does he melt my heart. As a baby he was EASY. He was by the book. He went easy on me (thanks buddy!) He drank a lot of milk every three hours on the dot. Followed by a huge belch and grin. He learned to hold his bottle quick. He was full of smiles. He loved his naps. He loved to play and interact but not cuddle. When he was having a hard time getting to sleep we were forced into the "cry it out method" since cuddling him didn't do any good. He was independent from the beginning, needing to calm himself. He ate like a champ. Grew like a weed. So strong. So busy. . Started talking. Stopped talking when new baby came, then kicked into high gear and now chatters nonstop with an ever-growing vocabulary that still takes me by surprise.

As a toddler and preschooler he is physically BUSY. He is strong. He has excellent balance and coordination. He has crazy good fine motor skills. I have learned not to let him get a screw driver or he takes EVERYTHING apart. He is incredibly smart. He is logical. He is methodical. He is incredibly headstrong and determined. He gets an idea, forms a plan, and will carry it out at ALL costs. For example he woke up in the morning last week and decided he needed some cheese. So he snuck out of bed, found the grater in the dishwasher, got the cheese out and unwrapped, then grated himself some cheese. We never know what we will wake up to!

He is more loving and cuddly as a preschooler. When he is in the mood he is very empathetic, saying things like, "I so sorry you having a hard day Mama, so sorry" He likes to be in charge, especially of his littler sister and Mama but is perfectly content in taking a following role when playing with friends. He isn't territorial with his toys when friends come to play, but he is VERY possessive when it comes to his sister playing with his toys :) He loves interacting with people, he loves having friends. He is a people person. He is a problem solver. He needs to be constantly moving. He is SO ready for preschool. He is such an incredible boy.

Next up is my beautiful baby girl.

Oh so little!

Everything about my little boy was strong and loud and big! Everything about my girl was tiny and quiet and seemed so fragile! Even her first cry made me nervous, it was so tiny and little. She wasn't physically much smaller than E was when he was a baby, but she didn't sprout like a weed. Our little girl didn't go by the books, she dances to her own drum! Figuring out when and how she would like to eat was a guessing game. I realized WHY I needed a burp rag when I fed her. She was a fabulous napper. And a HUGE cuddler. She loved to be held and I didn't want to put her down. She was a picky eater, not liking mashed up baby food but LOVING finger foods. She loves to watch the world around her with big eyes, especially her brother. 

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As she has grown into the pre-toddler/toddler stage she has blossomed and broken out of her shell. Her brother taught her an excellent communication skill: GROWLING. Cutest thing ever. She is getting louder and more outspoken every day. She loves running and exploring and trying new things with her newlyfound legs, like walking backwards and dancing. She is convinced I am a tree and is constantly trying to climb to the top of me. She is discovering the art of tantrums. For example, "Oh the rolling around flailing on the ground isn't getting Mom's attention, maybe I will headbutt the floor. Oh yeah that worked!"

She loves wearing things. She constantly brings me articles of clothing to put on her. She loves trying to put headbands on but REFUSES to let me put one on her. It's fun to see the girly coming out in her. She loves giving hugs. She loves wrapping her arms around my neck. Snuggling the dog. Or just looking at me and cocking her head to one side with a cheesy grin. All girl.

She is physically TINY, except for her head. Her head is 95th percentile while her weight is < 5th percentile which equals ADORABLE. Unlike Easton she is an early to bed early to rise kiddo. I wish I could think of a trick to get her to sleep in just a tiny bit :)

It's fun to see the differences in their personalities and how they interact. I wonder how much of their differences and similarities are due to gender. Can't wait to see what new flavor this little boy adds to our family :)