Out of the mouth of Collins'

Hey! Anyone still read this blog? I've been wanting to sit down and blog again but usually when the kids sleep, I just want to sit in quiet and stalk Instagram and snapchat. Brooks turns two next week (waaaahhhhh) so his post will be coming but for now, it's all about Collins. She was 3.5 in May and up until that point, she was pretty sweet. Now? Girlfriend has some att-a-tude. I'll be glad when the threenager phase ends. It will, right?

At 3.5 years, Collins...

• believes she is Brooks' mom.  She can change his diaper and takes his plate to him at every meal.  I'm constantly telling her to leave him alone and stop picking him up.  He almost weighs as much as her!
• speaking of weight, I think she has broke 30lbs.  Our home scale says she's 30.5 pounds
• for the most part, still naps and sleeps about 12 hours at night.
• prefers showers
• starts preschool at the end of the month.  I'm going to cry my eyes out
• hates hamburger.  Not ground up or any thing.
• gave soccer a try over Spring and loved it. We give her a 2 sport at a time limit so we rotate between dance, gymnastics and soccer. I'm anxious to give t-ball a try.
• still baby doll obsessed.  It's pretty much the only thing she plays and she wants a reborn baby for her birthday.  Look up reborn baby on Youtube, they look crazy real. 
• still obsessed with Youtube kids too.
• wants to wear a dress every day
• Jumps into the pool and swims to the side

I'll have more about her come November when she turns FOUR! How is that even possible?!

Aside from the bossiness, she is hilarious. I wish I remembered to write her quotes down more often but here are a few I've noted.

I've maybe told her a time or 2 that she's being bossy

Collins- "you bein bossy!" 

Sarah- "No, actually, YOU are."

Collins- "No, you ah!"

Hyvee called to get directions for a delivery. 

Me- "we have a surprise coming!"

Collins- "Really?! What?! A baby?!"

(If only it was that easy. And no, there is no baby on the way).

"Me not bein naughty today. Brooksie being so naughty. Him hittin and not keepin him hand to himself."

We got a caterpillar kit and they eventually turned into butterflies. While they were in their cocoons, I made a do not touch sign because it's a very fragile stage and cousins were coming over. My brother came over and moved the cage a little bit to look at them...
 "that sign say no touch."  

It weel (real)? You sewious? You kidding me?" 

"Brooksie hit me."

Me- "I'm sure it was an accident."

"No, it was fo weel."

"Are we having blankets in a cow tonight?" -Refering to pigs in a blanket 

"I don't wike time out. So don't tell me no, just let me do whatever I want to do."

Derek's mom- "Do you guys want I.C.E.C.R.E.A.M?"
Collins- "Did she say ice cream cause that's what that sounded like?"

So there's Collins in a quick nutshell.  She is still my little sidekick and she is sweet 90% of the time but I think it will be good for the both of us that she's starting preschool this month.  Me and Brooks are going to enjoy a couple hours of less noise :)

Brooks at 18 months

He's nearly 19 months but you know what they say, better late than never! And since I haven't even bought him a baby book, I better get an update on the good ole blog.

This will not come as a surprise but little man weighed in at 21 pounds 3oz (3%) and 31 inches (21%). We just don't make large kids. I will say though, he was diagnosed with RSV at this appointment so his eating had been horrible. He weighed 22 pounds the week before when we went to doc for ear infection. You got it, RSV and ear infection all in a weeks time. Before Christmas, he had never been sick (other then a cold) since Christmas (Eve to be exact) he's had croupe, fevers and a sore throat on top of what I already mentioned. Needless to say, we are ready for warmer weather.

Despite his low weight, he can eat like a teenager. He goes through picky stages but he's a pretty great eater. Usually eating 2 helping at every meal. Breakfast foods are his love language and since Collins isn't a big breakfast eater, he gets to polish off her food too. He only likes to drink water. Juice is effy and milk is a big fat NO. We've tried every flavor under the sun and he refuses. So he gets lots of yogurt, cheese and a vitamin. Still wearing 12-18 month clothes. 

Some of his vocabulary includes oh no, no no no (think he hears no very often?), sish (sis), amba (amber), mamy (Amy), tuck (truck) etc. I'm horrible at writing down words he's said but needless to say, he does a decent job repeating any word you ask him too. Only if he wants to though. He could care less about learning his body parts.  He probably knows them but he's sort of a punk. He for sure knows where his belly button is and want's to see everybody's after he shows his.

He loves balls and throws a fit every time we come in from playing outside. We just got our yard fenced so he may spend 99% of Spring and Summer out there. I'll toss him food and water every now and then. He is becoming quite independent and wants to help with meal prep, cleaning, laundry, etc. Kind of nice, kind of annoying. Speaking of nice, he is not always that. He knows how to push buttons and can really get on his sisters' nerves. He is for sure a mam's boy and pretty much wants to be attached to me 80% of the day.  We recently went to an indoor pool and he was hesitant at first but warmed right up.  I think he's going to be a fish like his sister this summer. He likes blues clues, dancing and trying to do everything Collins does.  He dislikes me leaving, the 4:30-5:30pm hour and his sister always being in his face. 

 

Sleeping is his strong point. He sleeps from about 7:30pm-7:30am and takes a 2-3 hour nap.  We haven't braved taking the binky away yet but we try to only give it to him when he's sleeping.  He also loves to cuddle a blanket when he sleeps and prefers his crib. I kind of dread going out of town cause he doesn't always sleep good in a pack n play. 

Brooks, you run wild all day and wear your mommy out.  But at the end of the day, when your fast asleep in your crib, I miss your little guts.  Love you so so much. 

 

 

 

 

 

A day in our life

The 3 topics that I love to go back through my blog and read are:
1. Weekly pregnancy updates
2. Kids' monthly updates
3. A day in our life

So, I'll have an update on Brooks later this month when he turns 18 months but for now, you get a day in our life.

This was Wednesday, February 3.  Collins is 3 and Brooks is 17 months. Derek works a lot from home and we try not to bother him to much. HA!

 

7:03am I hear Collins coming out of her room and into ours.  Her clock turns green at 7am so she's got the a-ok.  She snuggles in bed with us for a bit and then I jump in the shower. I need some coffee before I tackle getting ready so the 3 of us head downstairs and Collins makes our coffee.

 

 

 

 7:40am Brooks is up.  As soon as he gets a clean diaper and comes downstairs, he points to his highchair and demands breakfast.  They eat some mini muffins and pears and hang out with Derek while I go finish getting ready.  He brings them upstairs when they're done eating and we get them dressed and ready for the day. 

 

8:45am Stephanie and Avery come over for a playdate and Derek goes to workout.  The kiddos play everywhere but the playroom, have a snack and then Steph and Avery head back home. 

 

10:00am I get the bean box out for the kids and Brooks lands himself in time out for the first time because he won't stop throwing beans and toys.  He didn't enjoy it but he actually sat there until his time was up! That activity lasted all of 4 min so we go to the unfinished basement for what I like to call recess! Derek gets home and does some work and I watch the kids ride their bikes-- aka fight over bikes.   We have 5 different bikes down there but they always have to fight over the same one.

 

Caught him in action

 

 Time out mister!

 

11:25am Time to feed the kids.   Today's menu consists of hot dogs, yogurt, veggies straws and grapes.  Derek and I sit and eat lunch with them. They both eat good so they get a couple m&ms. After lunch gets cleaned up, Derek is back to working on his laptop and me and the kids play in the playroom and turn some music on and dance. 

 

12:20 nap time! Collins gets to play on my phone for 10 min while I change Brooks' diaper and get him down for nap.  Then I take her up and get her in bed.  She doesn't usually fall asleep but has to stay in there for an hour until her clock turns green.  She's been pretty grumpy and emotional this morning so I don't give her the option of getting off her bed and playing when her star pillow turns off.  She actually listens and falls asleep.  I catch up on Facebook and Instagram and then I get the meatloaf prepped for dinner.

 

2:15pm Collins wakes up and Brooks wakes up shortly behind her.  We play for a couple minutes and then I set them up with a snack and leave them with Derek while I go to the gym.  Derek has an unusually slow work day on this day, he doesn't normally take over the kids in the afternoon.  And I very rarely go to the gym.  Cats out of the bag :)

 

Who knows what they do while I'm gone.  Probably wrestle with daddy and tear the house apart.  I run by the store after the gym to get all the things I forgot on my weekly grocery run.  I swear, mommy brain is a real thing. 

 

 Gym music.  I heart T Swift

 

4:15pm I get home and Derek has the meatloaf going in the oven.  I make the sauce to pour on top of it and get that on there and back in the oven.  Kids are whiny so I let Brooks paint while Collins plays with some stamps.  This is what I like to call the witching hour.  Hurry up dinner!

 

Strong work

 

 

5:30pm My mom makes a surprise visit and we all sit down to eat dinner.  It actually works out perfect that she comes over because we have someone coming over to discuss finishing our basement.  I rotate between talking with the guy and Derek and helping my mom wrangle the kids. 

Brooks didn't have a super long nap so he's pretty cranky.

 

6:30pm Leave Derek to talk basement decisions, mom leaves and I take the kids up for bath and pajamas.

 

7:15pm Collins gets time on her iPad and sitting with daddy and I take Brooks up to brush his teeth, read a book and go to bed.  Derek's getting Collins her bedtime snack when I come downstairs so we both sit with her while she has a cereal bar.  Since it's Derek's turn to put her to bed, she wants to sit with me after snack and be held super tight so daddy can't take her up to bed.  She had a nap so she gets to stay up a little later and play more on her iPad while we watch TV. 

 

Looking entirely too old

 

 

8:00pm Derek takes her up to brush her teeth, read 2 books and bed for her.  I jump in the shower for what I intended to be a quick rinse from the gym but realize too late that I got my hair wet! I had already showered that day (all the moms will understand how upsetting this was)! I'm forced to blow dry my hair when I get out of the shower and then go downstairs to watch TV/get on my phone with Derek.

 

9:05pm Head up to bed.  Derek watches TV in our room while I mess around on my phone.  I'm usually already asleep by the time Derek turns the TV off about 10 and goes to bed.  And that's our day!

5 on Friday

Better late than never! I've had a hard time getting this to upload so here we go...

1.  Last weekend I took Collins to her first movie! We met my mom, sister and nephew to see The Peanut movie. For a kid who can't even sit through a tv show, she did pretty good. Her candy was gone before the movie started but she ate her popcorn and sat in her chair or someone's lap, the whole time. 

2. Christmas through a child's eyes is truly magical. This was the first year we did the whole Elf on a Shelf and even Brooks looks for Jolly as soon as he  wakes up. They both get so so excited when we tell them we are going to go drive around and look at Christmas lights and Santa is pretty much the best person ever according to them. It may be a different story when it comes to sitting on his lap though. 

3.  Midget #1 AND #2 had well visits this week. Other then them both literally rolling around naked on the germy floor, they did well. Both are 25% or less in weight and height but that's no surprise. Only one of them cried during shots, I'll let you guess who that was. 

4.  I saw this and it couldn't be more true. Gotta love Amazon. 

5. We're dropping the kids off with grandma and grandpa tomorrow and going on a date to the Garth Brooks concert. I'm am so excited. I'm going to be singing so freaking loud 😀

Have a great weekend! 

Collins at 3

We have officially entered the threenager year. Although she started taking that role  several months ago. Girlfriend is so dang cute and funny but she's very very independent. She doesn't really throw fits but wants to do everything on her own. Shut doors, turn lights on and off, put toothpaste on her toothbrush etc.  Let's hope we all make it through this year.

She's still a bitty little thing.  She had her well visit this morning and weighed 27.8 lbs (25%) and measured 35.5 inches (17%).  For the first time they told us she had a small hernia which would explain her outty belly button but it's not big enough that anything needs to be done about it.  She had to have 1 shot but she was tough and didn't cry. 

 

She loves loves loves babies (preferably real ones), her brother (usually too much), gymnastics, dance, eating, going places, blues clues and playing games. 

She doesn't like hamburger, taking naps (but she still does) or sitting still for very long. 

She's incredibly shy but once she warms up to you, she'll talk and talk and talk. I've started writing down some of the funny things she's said

After asking her numerous times to go blow her nose, she comes out of the bathroom, slams her used Kleenex on the table 

Collins- "you happy now?!"

Our dog was at the groomer 

Collins- "I wanna go get Elsie girl."

Me- "they haven't called to say she's done yet."

Collins- "Maybe text them."

Derek was giving them a bath and put the towels on the bath of the toilet 

Collins- "put them up there" (pointing at towel hook)

Derek- " oh yeah? Why?" 

Collins- "Mommy be mad."  Touché girl, that's gross!  

She was asking me what bedtime book I wanted to read 

Me- "I don't really like that one, why don't you pick a different book." 

Collins- "Come on! Me wike that book!" 

Holding one of her baby dolls 

Collins- "She came out of my boobs already." (Meaning her belly). She really wants me to have another baby. 2 in fact! One that she can hold and 1 that I can hold. She's a baby hog, just like me. 

Some of her favorite phrases are "five more minutes!" "Wike, a wittle bit." "Hope so!"  

Collins Cate, you are my little spitfire. You can drive me crazy sometimes but I can't stay mad at that cute face very long.  I love watching your imagination and being able to play games with you now.  We get some good hide and seek games going on when daddy's home.  Lets hope this year is full of less attitude and times outs and more laughter and fun.  Love you baby girl!

 

photos by The Studio

https://www.facebook.com/TheStudioElDorado/?fref=ts

Brooks at 14 months

At 14 months, Brooks is a boy through and through.  He is wild! Into everything, thinks the word no is hilarious, runs faster if I'm coming for him, hates sitting still, has a sixth sense for open toilets that he can get his hands into and eats as much as a teenager. 

 

 

Became a full time walker about a week after his first birthday and hasn't slowed down since.

 

For the most part he sleeps 12+ hours at night but we also have sleepless nights here and there too.  When he has a good nights sleep, he only takes 1 nap but occasionally has a morning nap or a car cat nap.

 

 

He does a really good job mimicking animal sounds, says mama, dada, hi, I think he was saying Elsie (eh see) today and maybe a couple other words that I can't recall. 

 

Likes: being outside (like obsessed), riding in his wagon, baths, clapping and people clapping for him if he does something good, food, mommy, reading books (like actually sits still and listens) and balls.

 

 

Dislikes: anyone being outside without him, when mommy leaves (sometimes), his sister smothering him and not getting his way.

 

He's definitely harder toddler then Collins was but he can be the sweetest thing too.  He's always trying to get a laugh out of people and has a fake laugh that you can't help but not laugh at. His smile melts me to a puddle and I truly can't imagine life without him.

 

 

 

 

 

Brooks, your crazy but I love you just the way you are. xoxo

 

Brooks at one year!

Happy birthday my sweet and adorable baby boy (a week and a half late).  You are always on the go, fighting with your sister or getting into things you shouldn't.  So, when you sleep, I usually just want to enjoy the stillness. We had a Mexican themed fiesta for your first birthday and I think it turned out super adorable (more on that later. Maybe).  I can't believe a year has already went by! Here's what your up to at a year

 

 

 Birthday breakfast.  Sissy sang to him all day

Stats| 19lbs 11oz (7%), 29in (25%). He may be a year but he definitely doesn't look it. He's just a little guy.  He's still fitting into 9-12 month clothes and we've started to collect some size 4 shoes. They're a little big but since your not walking, they work. No new teeth this month so still has a total of 8. They've been swollen lately and pediatrician thought some were on the way. 

 

 

The only way to keep him still for a pic, turn camera around.  Not cocky at all

 

Eating| We've dropped all but the bedtime bottle and until he'll drink whole milk or we run out of formula, he'll  get that 6oz bottle. He despises whole or soy milk. Wether it's warm or cold. Our pediatrician gave us some recommendations that we are going to try. He doesn't even like Collins' chocolate milk. Must take after his mom and dad, we hate milk. Eating 3 meals and 2 snacks. He eats so so much. At least 2 helpings at every meal. 

Sleeping| 12+ hours every night. Occasionally  he'll wake up between 5-6am so I'll give him a bottle and he'll sleep till 8-9am!! 7:15pm-7:30am is the usual though. We skip a morning nap if he sleeps late so he has anywhere from 1-2 naps ranging from 1-3 hours. When people ask if we are ready for another baby I say heck no! We are finally getting some good sleep in this house! 

Playing| The fighting!! Already!! Brooks knows just what to do to make his sister mad and boy does she scream and get bad. I'm always telling them to share and be nice. We have a lot of girl toys but if there's a ball in sight, he's gonna get it. He'll drive his trucks around and make car sounds which is about the cutest things ever. He loves playing with things he shouldn't- cupboards, toilet water, dog food (I've lost count of how many times I've pulled dog food out of his mouth),  and anything sister has. We were facetiming Derek and he asked Brooks to blow him a kiss and he did it! I had no idea he could do it. 

 

 

Health|  Healthy as can be. They did an eye screen at his appt and he passed with flying colors. I held off on the blood draw since he got 4 shots but we'll get his levels checked next week (required at 1 year).

Likes| His mama's constant attention, dancing, food, climbing stairs, climbing the fireplace, climbing, climbing and climbing.  He's enjoying having the freedom to crawl around at the park and go down the slides. I'm pretty sure we've been to our neighborhood park every day this week and he loves crawling through a tunnel on the play system. He's been an awesome house hunter this past month. We've spent lots of time in the car, driving around neighborhoods  and inside random houses and he's been great. 

 

 

Dislikes| diaper changes, walking by the park and not getting to play, waiting on food, being told no, his sister not sharing and when mama leaves. We've had our first taste of seperation anxiety this month. It's only happened a couple times but it breaks my heart to leave to the sound of him crying.

Words| mama and dada for a couple months now, woah, hi and I think he says sis.

Other then your "witching hour" which is about 4pm to dinner time at 5:45pm, your a happy dude. You can be clingy but I try to remind myself that it won't be long before your running around and not needing me. You'll go to anyone and you have the cutest wave ever.  You've taken 7 steps so I think you'll get this walking thing down this month.  I'm  so thankful that your mine and love you to pieces. 

 

11/21/2015: Birthday shenanigans.  You played with the balloons for several days