videos

I've been meaning to share these videos for a while - since they were taken 2 months ago.

Rylee got a book for Easter that plays music and I sing along to it.  The words are "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so"  She LOVES it and asks for it often, she then started to sing it to herself.  She requests many of the nursery songs and will sing words in church now too.  The song she knows best is Twinkle, twinkle little star. Its very sweet.

Then the first video of Kelsey rolling over. She's a rolling both ways now, close to sitting up and it looks like she may do the army crawl first like her sister.  Time will tell.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

We have a 2 year old in the house.  This means no one is allowed to open their own presents.  We went to the craft store on Saturday and they were offering free make and take frames for fathers day - Rylee decorated a foam frame with stickers and we put a picture of the girls in it to give to Michael. She was so excited to open the present and see her face.  (she loves looking at the pictures on our phones and camera and enjoys naming the faces she sees - or mostly asking "who dat?".) She was just as excited to see said picture and frame proudly dispayed in Daddy's office.

Here's some of the pictures we had taken:

Father's Day Pics

You've had a Birthday, Shout Hooray!!

Michael's birthday was this week.

It likely didn't make the list of "best birthday ever" but he knows he's loved.

This is his 'busy time' at work and we don't get to see him much, but he came home early Thursday and we had dinner together and he opened presents.

The next day Rylee didn't stop talking about "Daddy's Special Day"!! (its really been fun to hear her talking more and more . . . . .even if she lies about what we do every day)

 He got his requested Strawberry Pie {Sorry, no candles}

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.  We're so glad you were born and so happy to have you in our lives.

dog-sitting and growing

So a couple weeks ago we (I) reluctantly agreed to dog-sit a friends dog while they were out of town.  See, I don't claim to be a dog person mostly because I never had a dog but you-know.  However, I did tell Michael that I do think we could get a dog "someday".  So we decided a week would be a good 'trial-run'.

Well, I do think we took this dog in under false pretenses.  That being he is house trained. If that were the case I don't think I should be getting up in the night with a dog (when my baby has no problem sleeping 10 solid hours).  And dog crap REALLY stinks.

The bottom line is I'm not sure if this experience brought be closer or further from getting our own dog.  I will say Rylee was pretty funny.  She was quite skeptical when the dog first came in.  Michael sat on the ground with her reassuring her it was ok.  Kelsey was in the bumbo and he sniffed around and then got a little bit in Kelsey's face to smell her as well at this point Rylee screamed "KELSEY!!!" As if saying "Daddy, save her!!"  very sweet to protect her sister, but from a distance.

She loved being able to call him "cody. come 'ere, where's cody? come 'ere, Cody"  Then when he actually obeyed her call she'd freak. saying "scared".  There were a couple times she wouldn't leave or pass by a room that she knew he was in but all in all it worked out.  He's a little older of a dog and was pretty mellow.  Our neighbors dogs didn't particularly like the fact that we had a furry one on our side of the fence - but all is back to normal now.

 Not much makes me happier than seeing my girls play together.  Nobody can get Kelsey laughing like Rylee can, and Rylee gets the biggest kick out of her power as well.  If Kelsey is sad Rylee loves to run up in her face and dance around her then run away to see if Kelsey will cry again (which she does) so Rylee can run back in to be the hero.

Kelsey is really growing.  It kindof makes me a bit sad.  A girl in the ward the other day saw me with her and said "Is that YOUR baby?" (she had a baby herself only a couple weeks after Rylee was born). She is particularly tall.

rolling forward and backward all over the living room.

giggling and grasping for toys.

 She has been loving to play with her toes lately too (something Rylee never did). I think its adorable.

We'll probably start her on solids once we get back from our trip.  That and potty training.  I'm not particularly looking forward to either.

Mother's Day

Here's this year's Mother's day pics:

 We were too pre-occupied with getting Rylee to look in the general direction of the camera to notice Kelsey is sporting the rambo look with her headband.

I had a lovely day filled with extra "Thank you's", hugs, kisses and FOUR (the sunday school made a big deal about that) pieces of chocolate.

I feel very blessed to be the Momma to these little ladies, and grateful for all the wonderful women who inspire me.

a little update

I'm having troubles uploading *current* pictures (I think its a virus :( ) so I thought now would be as good a time as any to share some older pictures (babies change a lot in two months, you know) and give an update on the girls.

We had a lovely wet winter and the wild flowers were fantastic this spring!

 Kelsey was working very very hard to hold her head up.  It was a lot to ask of a 8 week old

Rylee and her bff Lily

 One of my favorite pics of Kelsey 10-ish weeks

 Bubbles!

 Its hard to resist matching outfits :)

I think one of the reasons I haven't blogged much about Kelsey is that I am doing everything I can to keep her from growing.  I contemplate not feeding her every now and then. ;)  I have a really hard time boxing up the clothes that are too small and Kelsey is such a chunker its happening faster than expected. It probably past time for the infant part of the car seat to come out but I can't bring myself to do it.

Rylee still doesn't care much to hold her.  I can't say that I blame her either as Rylee is barely pushing 27 lbs and Kelsey is a solid 15 (97% height and weight).  Rylee is usually the first to hear her get up from a nap and they both get so excited to see one another again. Rylee always wants to know where she is and loves to give her hugs and kisses.  Rylee loves laying by her (especially when she's on her tummy) and ask to have their picture taken.

I'm able to see more differences in their personalities lately.  Kelsey has always loved her bed, and been very good at putting herself to sleep.  It took her a bit longer to smile and even now I still have to work for them - but when it happens its a very soft, sincere smile. (you would looked at rylee and she'd beam, just a bit different).  They are pretty much on the same sleep schedule, Kelsey just gets a few extra naps- which is fantastic.  Right now Kelsey is a no-mad sleeping in a different room for each nap, but we're wanting to have them share a room soon . . .  . maybe this week (I've been saying that for a month now)

Kels has no problem with tummy time - she rather enjoys it.  She's getting to rotate around in a circle and can roll onto her back . . . . .getting closer to rolling onto her tummy, but not quite.

Rylee has been really loving to sing right now.  She requests songs from nursery and she's starting to sing on her own too and its adorable.  She's getting pretty good at saying her own prayers too.  The second (and all thereafter) prayers for lunch/bed she has to say on her own.  And she recently requested a prayer before nap.  She requests to go for a walk (or stroller ride) everyday  - and getting the mail is a minimum walk around the block.  She recognizes most letters and a fair amount of colors too.  I give games on the kindle credit for that.

These two munchkins keep me on my toes and I love them to pieces.

Aunt "see-ya"

A couple weeks ago (has it been that long?) my sister and her daughter came to visit!

Miss Ella and Aunt "see-ya" (most of you may know her as Lisa).

We had a wonderful and relaxingly busy long weekend.  We had plans, but we did them at our leasure which was fantastic.

 We held the baby,

went on a hike. . . . and a nature walk (there is a difference you know)

 (Miss Ella is actually kneeling in this picture)

 Friday we packed a lunch and headed to Guadalupe River State Park.  We almost were rained out, so we ate in the car and sure enough the skies cleared.

We walked along the river throwing rocks and catching sticks.  We would walk a few steps and Rylee would excitedly stop and yell "more water!"  walk a few more steps and in pure shock stop again "more water!"  

 We did have a small casualty.  Rylee tripped and skinned her knees - nothing a "sticker" (aka bandaid) can't fix.

 The water was a bill chilly, but we got used to it, and didn't go in past our ankles.

The shallow water was perfect for Rylee to explore and play.  We'll have to go back soon. 

 The squirls were also a hit.

 Saturday we went to the zoo. Who knew Rylee and Kelsey's first zoo experience would be the same day.

we went inside a butterfly exhibit that was pretty cool. 

(the lady behind Michael is pointing to the butterfly on his head) 

 Michael may have been secretly happy we couldn't all fit in one vehicle. . .  .that's a whole lot of estrogen :)

 The girls  brushing the goats hair,

 followed by the princess pigs (named Ariel, Jasmine, and Fiona)

 Our kind neighbor gave us a few dozen caserones (sp?) for Easter.  Confetti filled eggs are a big tradition around here. . . . you crack them on someone's head (preferably crack them before they hit the head but you know.)

 It was a fun old mess.  Good thing paper is biodegradable

My sister even offered to watch the girls so Michael and I could go out on a date.  A real date, and free baby-sitting? You bet!! It was so wonderful to be able to sit at dinner and quitely eat. . . . then after the check came just sit and talk because we weren't rushed and you know, we could.  We ended the evening watching a perfectly predictable chick flick.

Thanks again for coming!! We love, love, LOVED having you!!