Goodbye...

This week I'm saying goodbye to my very first brand new car I've ever owned.  It was a college graduation present from my parents and I loved this car so much.  But with two kids, it was becoming less and less practical.  I could get everything in this car that I needed to, but it was cramped and frustrating.

 So...we scoured Craigslist and Carmax and wound up purchasing this beauty...

A 2004 dark gray Honda Odyssey.

I NEVER thought I would be a mini-van owner.  And I'm still in shock that it's in my driveway and I have the keys.  But the fact that in the last day I have had so much more ease with my kids just shows me that I will love this van.  I love that the front seats are probably more roomier than my whole entire car.

 I can open both sliding doors with a push of a button.  And the cargo space?  Love.  I can put ALL THREE of my strollers back here and still go grocery shopping if I need to.

And remember how Haylie's new favorite holiday is the 4th of July?  Yep, it just got better now that we will always have a comfy seat to watch them from.  The back seat just flips right over.  Seriously?! 

It may not have been love at first sight, but I can tell that this new van relationship will work out juuust fine!!

New Favorite Holiday

Haylie's new favorite holiday is the 4th of July.  What's not to love about this summer holiday?  This year, we attended the LibertyFest parade and let me just say...

This. Kid. Loved. It.

From seeing it with two of her BFF's, watching the firetrucks with sirens, horses, princesses (Miss Oklahoma, Miss UCO, etc.), marching bands (ok, this was just my favorite) and everything else, this kid barely sat still!  She kept waving at everyone and shouting "Hooray!!"  Not to mention she got to wave her American flag. 

Waving...

Still waving...

Jace slept through some of the parade but with all the sirens going off, that didn't last long.  I guess he feels like he needs to hold on or else he'll fall out.

After the parade, we decided to keep celebrating with grilling out lunch and letting the girls play in the kiddie pool in the backyard. They thought they were big time stuff because we let them play outside while we watched through the window.  They didn't know they were being supervised AND the adults got to stay in the A/C.  It was a win-win.

After everyone went home for naps, we met back up for the LibertyFest ParkFest at UCO.  What else is more fun than watermelon, bouncy houses, big tubs of water to splash in and getting a patriotic heart  on your face?  NOTHING.

Then we let them stay up way too late watching fireworks.  Haylie was really scared at first but once she got to snuggle with Daddy and watch the cool lights, she really loved them.  Jace did great too.  He was such a trooper this whole day.

Forget Christmas. This was the best holiday yet!

A chunky 5 month old

 7.2.2012

Jace is 5 months old!!

People say time flies...and it's the truth.  I think especially when it's your second child and you don't have as much time to dwell on their every move.  Jace is such a chunky monkey baby...we think about 17 lbs.  When I'm carrying him, it feels closer to 30.  I get my arm workout in every day with this guy.

He is wearing size 3 diapers (we just graduated H up like, 2 months ago, from a size 3 to a 4...) and wears 6-9 month clothing! He wears some of the unisex clothing at 5 months that Haylie wore way after she was walking.  The difference in their sizes is amazing.

I love this smile.  He smiles more and more each day, but lots of times you have to work for it.  It already shows his more serious personality.

Jace is sleeping through the night.  We give him a 6oz bottle right before bedtime and that seems to fill him up enough to fall asleep.  He usually doesn't have a paci for long.  More and more lately he's just spitting it out.

This is his usual look - scared and why am I in this?? Although he is getting more interactive with his exersaucer and is figuring out some of the toys on it.

Rolls upon rolls...I just squeeze his chunkiness whenever I can.

He is pretty happy most of the time. He does scream like a girl and yells a lot too, but nothing like Haylie.  He's just trying to communicate and usually when we (finally) figure it out, he goes back to being happy.

Not yet sitting up or rolling over, but he is working on it.  He is really getting the rhythm with his legs and using them to play with and kick at toys.

He has started teething as well.  Nothing is popping through yet but his hands are constantly in his mouth and he even sucks his thumb for occasional relief.  I change his outfits a lot because of all the drool. 

Jace is still such a wonderfully, easy baby.  There have been no major curve balls with him and has been easy going for the most part.  I'm thinking this next month will bring a few milestones - which I'm really looking forward to!

Baby Shower Fun

Today was the first baby shower I got to host at my house!  I have been a little self-conscious about our concrete floors and nasty carpet...but now no more with our beautiful wood floors!

The shower was honoring my friend Amy and her sweet baby on the way. I was in charge of the decor...and had lots of fun with it.

I did wood letters from Hobby Lobby and put scrapbook paper on top to make them cute.  Then I did some construction paper dresses, which were super easy.  I found the idea on Pinterest.  Theirs came out a little cuter than mine, but same concept.

This was my favorite - the sleeping baby diaper cake!  I saw this idea on a friend of mine's FB page.  I had to find out how to make it.  A lot of people said it was kind of scary...I think it's super fun!

Here are the hostesses and some of my best friends!  Amy is the one in the middle - blue top. 

Happy baby shower day, Amy! We can't wait to meet your sweet Cailyn.

A Little Help?

Haylie's nap time.  Oh boy.  This kid could probably go forever and never stop to sleep.  I guess she thinks there are wild and crazy parties happening while she is slumbering.  But in reality?  I'm either laying down to gear up for round 2 of the day or trying to get things done that are boring to her anyway!!

So, I guess what I'm asking for is some advice from other moms.  Haylie is 2.5 years old.  She doesn't ever want to nap, but if I go in there and lay down near her and maybe rub her back for 10 minutes, she passes out and will sleep for 2+ hours.  If I don't do that?  She'll play in her room for an hour and then start banging on the door (which she can easily open) to come out.

If she didn't end up with such a bad attitude later in the day, I wouldn't feel compelled to make her sleep.  And if she didn't fall asleep SO easily if she is just calm for 5 minutes, I wouldn't even suggest laying down.

Lord help us all if Jace is still awake during this time...she keeps popping her head up saying, "He's awake!" or "He's crying!" just in case I didn't hear.

So, all that to say...

Should I give up making her sleep?  Should I give in after an hour of her playing in her room?  What has worked best for you and your kids?

Visitors from Neosho

This past weekend we had the pleasure of having Justin's grandparents stay with us!  We had a great time.  I don't think I cooked one meal and we were all over the city.  We enjoyed time at Cafe 7, showed them our duplexes, went to the Memorial, ate at Cattlemen's for a late lunch and finally went home to nap!  It was their 63rd wedding anniversary and I think they had a good day!

They were such troopers in the heat!

While out at the Memorial, I noticed J started sticking out his tongue.  I tried doing a self portrait since he was on my lap (I kind of missed) but still...

...look familiar?

I couldn't resist a naked baby picture either.  This is him being ornery.

The kids sure did enjoy Great-Grandpa and Grandma visiting.  Lots of tickles, hugs, snuggles and kisses!

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

This week we attended our church's VBS.  The theme was Jonah - You can run, but you can't hide.  The staff did an phenomenal job with the skits, props, crafts, and everything else that goes into VBS for 500+ kids.  I volunteered to help with crafts for 4 & 5 year olds, so my kids went to babysitting at the church.  The start age for VBS is 3, but since Haylie is 2.5, they put her in a group and let her go do the stations too.  And let me just say...

She LOVED IT!!!!  These are the things she keeps talking about after VBS:

-I hold the rope!!  *They have the kids hold a rope going between stations so no one gets lost.
-I see a big whale!  It's BLUE! 
-Where'd the big whale go??
-*After watching two whole skits, the whale's sound effects "burped" up Jonah.  Her only take away from the skits..."He burped!!  Big time!!
-I ate cookies!  They were black.
-Look, it's my fish! It lights up.


Imagine all of those being said with 100% enthusiasm...25 times over.


If you ask her what she learned about, she says God.  But if you keep asking questions regarding Jonah, she eventually gets around to telling you all about it. I love seeing her having such a good time learning about God and the Bible.  Thank you, MRCC, for doing such an AWESOME job...and especially for letting my baby girl join in this year.  It brought tears to my eyes seeing her take it all in and having the time of her life.