"No Fun"

It's really amazing how children can make you laugh without even meaning to. McKenna is really growing up fast. She knows it, I know it, and she makes sure I know she knows it. She is getting really good at sweet talking me also. As I said a couple of weeks ago, McKenna has already lost her first tooth. At the same time there was also a second tooth that was loose. Since the first one came out we have been telling her to work on getting that other one out. Each night she goes into the bathroom and stands in front of the mirror and wiggles that tooth. Each night ends with her saying that it's stuck and it's not coming out. Then she pleads with us to let her leave it in one more day and work on it the next day. I usually end up giving in and letting her go another day...maybe the tooth isn't ready, how am I to know? So, tonight she is in the bathroom wiggling the tooth and we tell her not to come out until that tooth is gone. She slowly walks into the living room and we ask her where the tooth is. She says that it's not ready to come out yet and we say to go back to the bathroom and try a little more. Her response is...."It's no fun!!" That is her new phrase and anytime she doesn't want to do something that we want her to do she says that. So, I starting laughing out loud because it has become a well known phrase in this house. I know this story probably isn't as fun to read as it is for me to tell...it's one of those things where you just have to be there. Since we are on the topic of teeth, I think that Aislynn is very close to cutting her first tooth. Sometimes I think I can feel something just beneath the gums. She sure likes to gnaw on my fingers and and drool all over everything right now. As far as eating goes, I think she looks forward to her rice cereal even though it's rather unapeasing to me. Soon, I will give her fruits and veggies and she should like that much more. I have a short video of Aislynn eating rice cereal so hopefully it will work. I best get going for today, I am actually getting tired sitting here typing. To all you night owls, I wish I had some of your energy. Have a good one. Here is McKenna sitting in one of her favorite chairs. Notice the lone middle bottom tooth poking through. This is a necklace that McKenna made for me the other day at her school. Close up of Aislynn Kambry riding her "new" big girl bike that was handed down from McKenna.

Accumulation

Do you ever sit back and take a look at how much stuff you accumulate each year? Well, we were in the process of moving some things out of storage and back to the house this past weekend and it brought me back to reality. We needed to get rid of some things. I have grown to love craigslist. It is an easy way to sell things and get some money for them. Plus, it's all local so no shipping or anything. I have decided that from now on with each and every purchase we need to ask ourselves this one thing...."Is this something that we will still use after one year?" If the answer is no...then don't even get it. Of course we are still struggling with toys for the girls. We want to get them new things but I have found that if I just put something away for awhile and then in a couple months I bring it back out...it's like new to them. Does anyone out there have any good ways to keep the accumulation to a minimum? Just thought I would share my thoughts for the day. It's kinda foggy and dreary here. Not a fun day to be outside, plus, it's Monday.

Aislynn update...5 months today

Today marks the five month point for Aislynn. I have to say, "I can't believe it," again because time has gone by so quickly. I weighed her this morning and she clocked in at 14 lbs, 6 oz. I didn't measure her, I am sure she is close to what she was a few weeks ago at the doctor's office, maybe even up to 25 in now. Last night she decided to surprise us with a full night's sleep. It was very nice. She went to bed by 9pm and didn't wake until 5:30 and then ate and went right back to sleep. I am not going to count on it again but it would be nice to see more of those kind of nights.

McKenna had a play date this afternoon with a girl from school so Kambry and Aislynn tagged along too. They had a good time. The little play park they built here is really nice, and the kids just love it.

Happy Birthday Daddy Mac!!!

So, for our third birthday of the month, it's Bart's turn. Congrats on the big 33!! I hope you had a great day, thanks for being you, we all love you so much. We celebrated by going out to dinner and then back home for some yummy cookie cake. I love you!!!!

A Day at Chucky Cheese

Kambry's little family party went quite well yesterday. We got off to a good start in the morning, stopped by the commissary for some balloons and to pick up Kambry's cake and then off to Chucky Cheese's. When we arrived it was already packed with little kids running around all over the place and not a table empty. Luckily, we didn't have to wait very long for a place to sit and start the "party." We had pizza and soda then let the girls play on the rides and other games for a while. We gathered everyone up, lit the candles, sang happy birthday to Kambry and then opened presents and ate cake...yummy. After that, the girls were off playing again. Aislynn slept through most of it. Even though we didn't have a big party for Kambry this year, I think she had a good day.

Happy Birthday Kambry Lynn

Our little girl is growing up. We hope you have a wonderful 3rd birthday. Mommy and Daddy love you so much and are so grateful to have you in our lives. McKenna and Aislynn are so happy that you are their sister too. This is your special day and we are going to celebrate it to the fullest. Kisses and hugs little angel.

This Past Weekend

Well, it did rain after all on Saturday for the party. Not as much as I had anticipated but enough to make it wet and yucky outside. I moved the party inside and even though we weren't able to have the boucy house/slide that McKenna wanted I think she still had a good time. All the kids were really good, they played and ran around in circles like 4 and 5 year olds like to do. McKenna's cake turned out really cute with the pink and purple dinosaur on it. She is already talking about her next birthday and what she wants to do for her party next year. Now we are in the process of planning Kambry's big day. She will turn 3 on Sat the 17th and is very excited. Since we don't really know a lot of kids her age around here we are just going to celebrate with family this year. She wants to go to Chucky Cheese and play games and eat pizza. So, that's the plan for Saturday. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, all she says is what Kenna got. I think she wants to be just like her big sis. We are going to make her day just as special as McKenna's. I am ready for all these January birthdays to be over. It's a bit much after such a great holiday season, then it just keeps on for another month. Bart's birthday is shortly after Kambry's, then we get a break until Aislynn is one year old. I will add pics as I get them put on the computer. Have a great Monday.

Rain, Rain go Away!!!

Well, it is getting closer to the weekend now and I am getting ready for McKenna's party. Now the forcast calls for a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms on Sat. Just what I needed. I know it's January and I shouldn't have planned an outdoor party but we are in Pensacola, FL and the weather is actually pretty good most of the time. If I can't have a bouncy house I am wondering what all the kiddos will do. I guess I better come up with some game ideas. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks guys, just think of pretty weather thoughts.

Aislynn- 4 months

I took Aislynn to her 4 month check up today. We were a couple of weeks overdue but because of the holidays and such it was no big deal. The doc said that she looks great. She weighed 13 lbs 7 ounces and was 24 3/4 inches long. She is growing as she should. We have also decided to start working on her sleeping patterns and schedule. Once a baby is 4 months they are capable of self soothing(according to many sources). It's not that I want her to cry herself to sleep, it's that I need her to be able to go to sleep on her own. I really wouldn't mind rocking her to sleep but I can't do it all the time and then when she wakes up and finds out she is in her bed, she freaks out. Last night was our first trial. It took her an hour and a half to fall asleep. Then she woke up at 1am and at 5am. The good part is that after she had a feeding, she went right back to bed and to sleep. Then I almost had to wake her up this morning at 7:45 to get her ready to go drop McKenna off at school. Tonight we laid her down at 8pm and by 8:40 she was out like a light. Wish me luck that each night will get easier. With McKenna and Kambry I never had to address this issue. They were both great sleepers and by 4 months were consistently sleeping through the night. I know that Aislynn will grow out of this phase, I just hope it is sooner rather than later. I am going to attempt to upload a video of her kicking in the bath from the other day. It is so funny how much concentration she putting into it. Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday McKenna!!

She is 5 Years old today!!! We celebrated by going out to dinner and then coming home for cake and presents. She got a new bike, just her size and a new ladybug watch. She loved all her presents, and can't wait to play with them. It's hard having a birthday right after Christmas. This weekend on Saturday we are having a birthday party for her and her friends at school. She is very excited about that. I will update after the party to let you know how it went. I love you McKenna, you are my "BIG" girl.

New Family Pics

Already lost a tooth

We all knew that McKenna had a loose tooth for the past two or three weeks. I actually forgot all about it until this morning. We grabbed some breakfast tacos to eat in the car on our way back to Florida and stopped a couple hours later to have a bathroom break. I was talking to McKenna in the bathroom and noticed that a tooth was missing. She had no idea. I asked her if she knew where it was or when it came out and she couldn't remember at all. The only thing she had to eat this morning was the breakfast taco and I remembered that she didn't finish it all so we decided to disect it. Sure enough, burried in the eggs was a little tooth. We recovered it and brought it home so she can put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy. What a day for her huh? And her fifth birthday is on monday, Jan 5. You know what that means...more presents.

Home at Last

The past two weeks have been fun and busy. We had a great time visiting with everyone and spending our time in Texas. It was nice to get back home to see the kitties again and be back to our things. The trip home went very smoothly today. No fussing from the girls and Aislynn did great too. It took us about 12 hours to get home which I think is great timing. I am planning on posting some pics of our vacation soon. We took lots of pictures. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and had a great New Year's Day. We celebrated at my mom's house this year. Maybe next year we can have a party at our house. Check back soon for pictures.