2 months old

How is Ben TWO months old?? He is still really struggling with reflux. It's hard to watch/listen to him choke and spit up and not be able to do a thing about it. We've tried EVERYTHING, including soy formula and prescription reflux meds. My aunt recommended gripe water, so we've been trying that out this week and I've seen a slight improvement. I think it's something he's just going to have to out grow over time.
2 month check up stats:
22 inches long- 50th %
12lbs 11 oz- 75th %
He is a growing boy! Smiles all the time. We moved him on Tuesday night to his own room. Hoping to start seeing some sort of schedule and pattern in night time sleeping routines in the next month because that is my only complaint...so very tired all the time. God really does make you forget!!

tummy time

his cheeks are starting to fill out

he had found his hands!

first smile captured on camera

Girls just wanna have fun

This is a typical day in the life of Brooklyn Michelle. She officially wants to dress herself, and I quickly realized that's OK! There is part of me that really wants her to match and look nice, but the part of me that says "who cares, she's being creative" wins out. I don't want to be a control freak, and since I do have to say "no" to so many ludicrous requests these days...I am choosing to say "yes" more to the one's that aren't a big deal. Our only rule- she has to wear a shirt, pants and shoes. I got a great suggestion to make a chart of some sort that shows that she can pick her own clothes on x,y & z day, but on say...Sunday for church, mommy get's to pick. That way it's clear for her to see.

The second we walk in the door and often even on the drive home she will say "take my pants off"? She can't stand to wear pants and when they are on she has to have them pulled up above her knees and the same goes for long sleeved shirts- she ALWAYS rolls them up above her elbows.

We really need to work on getting her some personality :)

She absolutely loves to try on all of my shoes. Matt and I were crying from laughing so hard when she kept trying and trying to stand up in my boots- butt naked none the less.

This was her pick today- I am diggin the hat!

Yesterday she wanted to wear her "Christmas dress" but was putting up a fight about putting on a shirt and leggings underneath. So, teachable moment #501, I asked her to put her shoes on and go out on the deck. Her eyes could not have gotten any wider at that suggestion. We haven't been playing outside much these days :) So out she went. I asked her if it was cold out and she said yes. She danced around and had a great time for about 5 minutes. I have to admit, the fresh air did some good for me too (it's been very hard lately to be cooped up in a small house all day). She would look up at me after the wind whipped and say "it's coooooolllld" all with a huge smile just to be out there in a sleeveless dress with mommy's permission! When she came in I got down on her level and said, "so, you had fun outside, but it was pretty cold right?" she said "yeah", I responded with "how bout we put our shirt and leggings on...and then we can STILL wear our Christmas dress to the store?" She emphatically and with complete agreement said "yes!". WOW. She completely understood what I had wanted to get across and the best part is she came to the conclusion on her very own big girls self!

Silly silly girl

first smile

6am on Wednesday morning (1.5.11) Ben looked up at me after eating and grinned ear to ear. At first I thought it was just the milk smile he does when he's nursing sometimes, but then he looked right at me and smiled again! It is completely true what all the books and websites say, that little smile makes all the lack of sleep, spit up, blow outs and hours of crying (when he actually does) totally worth it! Tried to capture it, but we aren't ready to smile on command yet.

He can now completely hold his head up and look around the room for about 10 seconds or so. He loves to lay on our laps and push off with his legs or stand for a second or two. Still not diggin tummy time.

Brooklyn has entered this stage of make believe that is amazing to listen to. As I am typing she is next door in her room talking to Lily and Pinkie (two of her puppies) about flowers and the playground. She also told them they were going to have to have a "consequence" for not listening and obeying her. She is so impressionable right now. We have shifted our discipline language a bit. Instead of threatening with a spanking we now say "consequence" which means a time out of a spanking.

Sweetness = This morning I slept in a little and after I woke up she came up to me and said "I missed you today mommy because I really love you".

Family Pictures

Jennifer Komp who does a phenomenal job came out a few weeks after Ben was born to take pictures for us. It went so well and she got some great ones! The sun was out so we were able to go outside for a few. The key to the successful shots of Brooklyn...mommy was out of sight :) Hey, whatever works!!

Christmas 2010

Ben's first Christmas, Brooklyn's first Christmas that she was aware of. Lot's of firsts in our house. We were so blessed to just stay home on Christmas day and savor time with each other. Brooklyn spent the entire month of December talking about how "Christmas is for Jesus' birthday". She also spent an awful lot of time talking about santa, presents and cake :) I loved seeing the joy on her face, and the meaning of Christmas through the eyes of a two year old. silly gilly on Christmas eve

zoolander pose

b's big present from mom and dad, princess chest

she kept this number on ALL day including nap

titi hauling some loot

doll house courtesy of mimi and papa

Had to post this of the Christmas hangover monday morning.