These make me smile:)

The other day we had a lunch playdate at Christa's. The kiddos played and the mommies chatted about celebrities, diets and all that fun mommy stuff. Then we looked over and saw Kayden and Tula rolling around in the trampoline together. The mommies started laughing. No one was crying, they were just having a friendly "wrestle". At one point Tula had her hand on his back giving him hug taps. I love that they have each other to wrestle and hug and learn about being a friend to someone with. They have their good days and their bad days with eachother like everyone else, but at the end of the day Kayden always Thanks Jesus for Tula and tells me he loves her:) And then of course he Thanks Jesus for John too b/c he thinks John is the coolest after the whole towel slapping incident, now everytime he goes to Tula's he asks if John will be there!!

Zoo with 2!

Last Thursday I took both kiddos to the zoo for the first time. We met Christa and her crew and Brenda and her crew there........so 6 kiddos and 3 mommies treked it through the zoo. Brenda said soon we'll need a group discount, which is so true. I don't remember doing many outings like that with my mom and her friends and all their kids. And now I might know why:) Going to one of our houses and letting the kiddos play while we chat is much easier now that we all have more than 1. When we each had one it was so easy to pack up and run around to all these fun, new places. And of course I still want my kiddos to experience all that stuff and I'm not going to just sit at home all the time. But I do see why it is less frequent once you start adding to your troop! It seemed like we were always stopping to give someone a snack, a drink, nurse a baby, run after a baby that was falling behind, chase after a toddler that was running ahead:) We were our own little zoo! But the kiddos had fun and that is all that matters. Kayden was super excited to tell daddy about all the animals he saw, so it was worth the chaos for sure!

Brecken is 3 months old!

I really believe a baby has a "4th Trimester" where they are too big to be inside of you but still just need to be right by their mommy, nursing, sleeping and cuddled up on you. I love that 4th Trimester so much, I love those tiny, cuddly baby days more than anyone can probably imagine. I can't believe it's already over and now your going into the bigger baby stage already! I can already see it happening, in these past few weeks you have changed alot and you are much more interactive and "awake", not the lazy, sleepy new baby days anymore. I'm excited to get to know you more and more each day but I do miss that little ball snuggled up on my chest! Aww baby boy, I just wish I could bottle you up and save you the way you are right at this moment. You have such a sweet disposition and are so happy all the time (well sometimes you do let me have it if you are starving!). I seriously am in awe sometimes at how happy you are. You rarely cry. You don't even care if I have to put saline drops in your nose and then use the aspirator! You just sit there and smile at me while I do it!?!? At that moment I knew I was a very lucky mama b/c even easy babies usually freak at that!
At 3 months....
-you weight 15 pounds, 4 ounces
-you nurse on demand, not sure how many times a day
-only like to nurse when your hungry, not much of a "comfort nurser", if your tired you want to sleep, not really nurse to sleep, you just want to go to bed
-have had 2 colds already but they don't make you cranky or anything, you just have a little trouble sleeping at night bc of the drainage so mommy slept with you on the recliner a couple nights so you could sleep more upright
-you sleep all snuggled up next to mommy at night on your side
-nap 3 or so times a day in your crib
-like to be swaddled to sleep for your naps but at night you are just swaddled from the waist down to keep you warm
-like your paci sometimes but not really dependent on it or even that into it
-like tummy time! You love to stretch out and play and kick your legs and move your arms around
-like reading books with very simple pictures on them and like touch and feel books
-are in size 2 diapers already and they are even seeming small!
-wear some 3-6 month clothes and 6-12 month clothes, depends on the brand
-love to sleep in the Ergo on our daily walk
-coo and goo alot and do little squeals and make lots of other great baby sounds
-love a warm bath
-roll from tummy to back, sometimes when we do tummy time you just constantly roll from tummy to back so much we can't even keep you on your tummy!
-you like to watch your big brother play

You are a little Angel baby boy! I am so smitten by you and so incredibly in love with you! Each day you wrap me around your finger a little more and I am already very worried about how bad I will spoil you bc you are just too sweet for words! I love to cuddle with you so much and some of the best parts of my day are sitting and staring at you and looking into your sweet baby eyes! Happy 3 months baby boy!

"First Born"

Kayden tonight we snuggled as you drifted off to dreamland and as I rubbed your back and smelled your hair I remembered how blessed I am to have you and what an amazing gift you are. I love this poem about a mommy and her first born little boy, everytime I read it I think of you and how much you have changed me. And this poem speaks directly to my heart my little boy! You are full of spunk, strong willed, very determined and have a very passionate heart! And I know you are as perfect as can be and God gave you to me because you will do great things! I can't wait to see all you do in this world! You are my laughter, my purpose and my joy!

First Born
I used to study parents and dream of a day
When I'd be called "Mommy" by a child at play.
I imagine the kind of mother I'd be
Rocking a baby upon my knee.
I'd be faithful and patient, creative and fun,
A friend and a mentor all wrapped up in one.
I'd love him a lot and offer him grace,
And surely the rest would fall into place.
Then my dream dawned; and I was with child.
God looked upon me, and knowingly smiled.
He bid all His angels to gather nearby.
He pointed me out with a twinkling eye.
He said, "see that woman, a daughter I adore?"
She's asked for a blessing, but I'll give her more.
She dreams of a child whom shortly she'll see.
I've got one in mind, a gift straight from me.
I've known him since time had its start.
He's full of spunk with a passionate heart.
He's got a strong will and determination;
He's smart and noisy, my prized creation.
Yes, this child is perfect, I know.
He'll mold her and shape her and cause her to grow.
He'll challenge her wit and knock off some pride.
He'll test the boundaries 'til her patience is tried.
He'll hound her often with impossible pleas,
And daily he'll drive her to her knees.
She'll turn to me for strength and grace
To raise a child who will run the good race.
She'll quickly learn the task at hand
Is not as simple as she'd planned.
She'll cling to my Word and fervently look
For wisdom and guidance in My precious Book.
And though he will test her, on days, wear her out:
This child will teach her what love's all about.
He'll be her laughter, her purpose, her joy,
Her greatest blessing, her firstborn boy.
She'll love him with a love so great
That some days her whole heart will ache.
And then she'll understand my loss
When I sent my Son to Calvery's cross.
Oh, yes, this child, a work of my hand,
Will grow my daughter into ALL I HAVE PLANNED!"
-Alicia Bruxvoort

SanTan Flats

Sara had a friend in town for the weekend and invited us to join them for a night at SanTan Flats. It was a fun, chilly night! Breck hung out in his carseat the whole time we were there, until he had a major blowout and then he wanted out to be cleaned up. It is still a new experience for me to have a baby that is willing to sit in a carseat for more than 2 minutes without screaming:) Or really to sit anywhere happily:) Mr. Kayden always wanted to be held, we have two boys with very differing personalities, which will make life fun and keep us on our toes for sure. Kayden had fun running around with Tatum and Audee and making smores and grilling marshmallows. And of course mommy and daddy enjoyed the adult conversations for the night.

Valentine Shaker

Kayden loved making this Valentine Craft and mommy had fun doing it with him! Now he loves shaking it in his baby brother's face:)

"A"

His brownie masterpieces

Yummy A


Sparkly As

Glitter is so much fun when your 2!

Alligator A, he looooved doing the foamy teeth and crazy eyes on the Alligator

Grilled Cheese in his letter of the week

Making his Alligator A

We've started doing a letter of the week with Mr. Kayden. He knows his alphabet song and can identify alot of the letters but he is very into knowing letters, numbers, etc now so I decided it was a good time to follow his cues and work on understanding letters more and what they mean. So I found this awesome site: www.notimeforflashcards.com and I have been taking some stuff from her letter of the week ideas and then using some of my own. I don't believe in drilling flashcards or rote memorization at all, to me that isn't learning. I want him to learn naturally in a whole langage way. That creates the most understanding and most importantly keeps learning FUN!! He is 2! Not 10, he doesn't need to know the alphabet yet but because he wants to I figure it won't hurt and we'll make it fun for him:) Studies always show that the best way for a preschooler to learn is through play! Not thru worksheets, flashcards, etc. So we are doing fun things with letters to increase his understanding and most importantly to have fun together. Off my soapbox and back to our fun A activities this week. He is loving making food into A shapes, making crazy crafts with As and finding A books to read. And I'm loving watching his wheels crank in his smart little head.