Blake is 4!

Blake turned 4 on June 7th! {yes, this post is a few weeks late, but it's been a little busy around here} I'm not sure how he is four already. It seems like with each year they just go by faster! Since his birthday was on a Saturday this year we had his party on his actual birthday which was fun! {there will be a post on that one of these days} Although I kind of like it when the actual birthday is on a different day, then it's like you get two special days. Anyway, enough about the birthday-day-party and on to my big FOUR-YEAR-OLD!

Last year we started a tradition where on every birthday we ask him a set of questions, so here are his answers, now that he is four:

Yearly Birthday Questionnaire:

Name: He wrote his name using his right hand

Age: 4

1. My favorite color is: blue and orange

2. My favorite toy is: red plane

3. My favorite food is: Mac n Cheese and hot dogs and strawberries 

4. A food I don’t like is: Broccoli 

5. My favorite show to watch on TV is: Wild Kratts, Mickey Mouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates

6. My favorite thing to wear is: Shirts

7. My favorite game to play is: Angry Birds and baseball

8. My favorite sport is: Football

9. My favorite animal is: cow

10. My favorite song is: ABCs

11. I love the book: "I don't know what kind" {not really a book}

12. My best friend is: Tristan, Luke, Roman, Jayden and Liya

13. When I’m outside, I love to: play with water guns and ride my bike

14. My favorite holiday is: Christmas

15. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Night-night, Re-re Bear and Elmo

16. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mac N Cheese and hot dogs

17. When I grow up I want to be: Baseball and football player

Blake has grown and changed so much over the last year. He has gone from a toddler to a kid!

He went through a time of really bad separation anxiety. It started right after we moved into a new house and I think that {which was something he had never experienced} was what brought it on. He wouldn't go into his class at church, he would start crying before we even left the house if he knew we were going somewhere, where I wasn't going to be with him. It was bad. But we pushed through and kept trying and he finally, got through it. {however it did almost take a whole year!} He just finished a week of VBS and loved it! 

He can now {almost} write his name. {I'm not so sure academics will be his thing}

He can ride a two wheel bike {with pedals} without training wheels. 

He absolutely LOVES to be outside.

He really would eat Mac n Cheese and Hot Dogs everyday for lunch {and probably dinner} if we let him.

We went from having a great sleeper who always slept in his bed from about 8pm-7am, to a little boy who likes to wake up in the night and come crawl in bed with mommy and daddy. {we figure he won't do this forever, right?}

He gets himself dressed almost everyday and usually picks out his own clothes too! 

He starts preschool in the fall!

He loves his sister, but also likes to push her buttons and has done a very good job figuring that out. But really, for the most part they are great friends and have fun playing with each other.

Blake,

You are sweet, loving, full of spunk and laughter! 

You are growing up so fast! We love you!

Lily: 18 Months

She's definitely a toddler now! 

I can hardly believe she is one-and-a-half. 

Lily's 18 month stats:

She is almost 22lbs {not sure on her exact weight}

She has a mouth full of teeth. Four up top, four on bottom and 4 molars.

She can say, mama, dada, more, bubbles, uh-oh, no, Bade {aka Blake}, I know there is more... she tries to repeat us a lot, but it doesn't always sound like it should.

She loves to sing, and will sing with us at night when we sing Jesus Loves Me.

She does a great job feeding herself. Partly because there came a time when she refused to let me feed her.

She can throw quite the temper-tantrum. It's not pretty when she doesn't get what she wants or if her brother takes something from her.

She sleeps about 7:30-8pm to 7:30-8am she still wakes up occasionally at night, but it's usually worse when she's teething or sick. She will sometimes take a morning nap if she wakes up early or if we are in the car and she falls asleep, but usually it's just one nap from 1-3ish. 

She loves, playing outside, climbing on things, playing with her brother {most of the time}. Her favorite book is "Moo, Baa, La la la". 

She is growing up too fast! We LOVE you Lily!

{Blake's 18 month post}

A 3.5 year-old and 16 month old

So I've been meaning to post an update on both kiddos. I missed Blake's half birthday and Lily's 15 month post and so I kept thinking I'll do it when Lily turns 16 months. Then today I get the email from Baby Center that says "Your 16-month-old: Week 3". And I thought WHAT?! 16-month-old: Week 3?!!! How in the world did that happen?! I swear she was just 16-months!

So here is a quick little update on my 3.5 year old and 16, almost 17-month old.

Blake:

I can't believe he's just four short months away from turning four!

He is such a fun, loving, full of life little boy! 

He loves to do anything outdoors, or anything that is active. 

His favorite foods are, mac n cheese, hot dogs, quesadillas, pizza and most any fruit. Still not a fan of any vegetable. 

He had been going through some major separation anxiety stuff. Like wouldn't want me to leave him with anyone except Russ. If he knew we were going to church or somewhere where he would be in child care he would start crying before we even got out the door. It went on for several months and I think we are finally, almost over it. {thankfully!} He has started a bad habit of coming and crawling into our bed at night {this is an almost every night occurrence}. 

He still naps about 1.5 hours everyday, but can do without it if we are busy. 

He goes to bed around 8pm and wakes up between 6:30-7am

He can spell his name! And is starting to recognize letters!

He's taking a soccer class right now {although we have yet to be to one yet because we were in Medford on week and it snowed the next}

Here are some pictures from over the last couple months:

 Christmas morning Santa brought a helicopter!

He loves his hot cocoa from Dutch Bros.

 Christmas Tree

I often find pictures like this on my phone.

 Blake and his buddy Luke, meeting Benny the Beaver!

Checking out a fire truck!

Blake, you are a caring, thoughtful boy and a great big brother to your little sister. I am proud to be your mom and have loved watching you grow! Mommy and Daddy love you!

Lily:

16, almost 17-months! Where has the time gone?! Seems like yesterday she was just a little baby! Now she is a walking, kind of talking toddler! Geesh, they grow up too quick!

She weighs 19lbs 5oz {5th percentile} and is 30in tall {25th percentile}

She loves to read books, sing {she'll sing Jesus Loves Me with me when I sing it to her before bed, I can't understand anything she is saying, but it is seriously the sweetest thing ever}, dance, climb on anything and everything and take any toy her brother is playing with ;)

Her favorite foods are yogurt, cheerios, bagels, mac n cheese and hot dogs {like her brother} and most any fruit. Oh, and she has a sweet tooth!

She start walking right after Christmas and hasn't crawled since! 

She can say, mama, dada, more, yeah, uh-oh, B {is Blake}, ball and water.

She sleeps 7:30-7:30 generally.

She takes one 2ish hour nap a day. Unless she wakes up supper early or isn't feeling well, then she'll do a short morning one and an afternoon one.

Just about a week and half ago she was diagnosed with bronchitis for the second time. She had a slight cold {with a pretty bad cough} and started doing this weird breathing thing, and the doctor didn't like the way her lungs sounded so he gave her a prescription for prednisone and it cleared right up. It could also possibly be asthma related.

She has learned that if she doesn't get her way she can scream, or if Blake takes something from her. I'm ready for her to have words to use ha!

Here are a couple pictures of her from the last couple months:

Christmas Eve when she turned 15 months

She's a walking girl!

Getting sleepy during lunch

First pigtails!

{Gah! She looks so grown up in this picture!}

Lily, you are growing up so fast! You aren't a baby anymore and I can hardly believe it! I love watching to learn and grow. Mommy and Daddy love you!

Lily: 11 Months

Really not sure how it's possible that Lily will be one in less then a month. This year has really, truly, flown by. Summer is ending, fall is coming and my baby is going to be one! 

{This was the only good picture I got of her. The others are of her scream or trying to rip her headband off.}

Lily: month 11

My guess is she's closing in on 18lbs

She eats mostly finger foods and loves fruit and meat, isn't much of a veggie fan. She eats three good meals a day and nurses 3-4 times a day. 

She has 2 bottom teeth and almost 4 top teeth! Teething surprisingly, still hasn't been too bad, thankfully!

She takes about 2 naps a day. Morning and afternoon and goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes up between 7-8pm. 

She still does the army crawl everywhere and can now pull herself up to her knees but hasn't figured out how to get all the way up onto her feet yet, I think walking is still a ways away.

She can now wave and clap and we are working on some sign language.

She loves being outside, going for wagon rides, laughing at her brother and bath-time!

I seriously can't believe she is going to be one!

Note to self: next time take pictures after nap time.......

{She's really got the head throwing back thing down}

Blake: 11 months

Lily: Months 9 and 10

FINALLY getting around to posting about Lily's 9th and 10th month! This summer has been a busy one! Hopefully one of these days I'll get around to posting about all the fun things we've been up to and some pictures of our new house. But for now here's an update on our little Lily who is now less then two months away form turning 1. Not sure how that is possible. 

Lily's 9th month had two HUGE milestones: Eating solids AND sleeping through the night!!! 

She has started eating pretty much everything! She didn't eat purees for very long. Now if she can gum it (and likes the way it tastes) she'll eat it! It makes meal times sooooo much easier! No more fingers in the mouth!

I think the eating solids helped with the sleeping through the night. It was the beginning of July when she stopped waking up for that mid-night snack. It's been great having an uninterrupted night of sleep! 

She nurses about four times a day (morning, mid morning, late afternoon and before bed) and eats three meals.

She wakes up between 7-8am naps around 9-10am nap again around 1pm-3ish and then goes to bed between 7-8pm

We moved into our new house during her 9th month and now she has her own room!

She was in her first wedding! She was the little flower girl in her Aunt Kacie and Uncle Danny's wedding!

She is a very content baby!

 Not so happy about the picture taking going on. 

10 Months!!

(I really can't believe she's 10 months)

Weight: at her 9 month well check (which was really at 10months) she weighed 17lbs 14.5oz

She's been working on the crawling thing. She does the army belly crawling just like Blake did. She hasn't been trying to pull herself up on anything and she is pretty wobbly when she tries to stand so I think walking is a ways off, but I'm ok with that ha!

She has 2 bottom teeth! The top ones look like they are getting close. She has teethed like a champ! 

She has started throwing fits if she can't have something she wants or if Blake takes something away from her. She can also turn it on and off real quick, it's crazy how young they learn that, ha!

Overall she is still a very happy, easy going baby! 

Can't believe her first birthday is right around the corner!

Lily: 8 Months

Seriously, how did 8 months go by so fast?! 

{Blake insists on helping with the photo taking and took this picture of Lil and I... not too bad for an almost 3 year old!}

Some Stats:

Weight: 15lbs 8ish oz

She can now sit all on her own! She is happy just sitting and playing with toys or watching Blake.

Solids are still not her favorite. We've started doing three meals a day, although I don't think I'd call them meals, it's more like a snack. Hopefully one of these days it'll click.

Still waking up once or so at night. 

Still loves her two middle fingers on her left hand.

She has started making babbling noises, which I love!

Nicknames: Sister and Lil

We LOVE you Lily!

Lily: 7 months

First off, did you notice the date?! I'm actually posting this on her 7 month "birthday"! Yay for me, finally hahaha!

Some stats:

Weight: I'm going to guess 15ish pounds

She is almost able to sit unassisted! 

She rolls everywhere. If there's something she wants she'll roll to get it.

She has found her voice! Sometimes she'll just squeal this high pitched squeal just because.

She had began to throw a fit if you take something she is playing with away. 

She now goes in the nursery at church and mom's group!

Her two middle left fingers are her favorite. Doesn't use a pacifier anymore.

She is still waking up once or so a night to nurse, generally around 4am, and then goes right back to sleep.

She is still struggling with eating solids. She will now at least open her mouth for the spoon but as soon as I put a bite in she follows it with her finger. It's like she needs to suck on her finger to swallow the food. I've tried chunks of soft food but she just gags and gags and gags on it. 

Lily, we can't believe how fast you are growing! We love you so much sweet girl!

Blake at 7 months

Lily: 6 months 2 weeks

How is my baby already half-a-year-old?! Geesh, if the next six months go by as fast as the last six months, she will be one before we know it. Time needs to slow down!

{pictures take at 6 months}

Lily's 6th month:

Weight: Closing in on 15lbs

Still mostly just nursing. We keep trying solids but she's just not interested. 

She has started really rolling and moving around! I don't think it'll be long until she starts scooting or crawling!

Starting to wear 9 month size clothes.
Loves smiling and laughing at her brother.
Is still waking up 1-2 times at night, nurses and then goes right back to sleep.

Blake: 6 month