Open Wide!

A few weeks ago I told a friend that I was not going to introduce Lily to solid foods until she turned 6 months old. It's not that I didn't think she wouldn't be ready for it earlier. I just selfishly didn't want to have to add one more thing to our schedule until I absolutely had to. Dinner time at our house is already crazy enough and the thought of having to stop everything and feed Lily was just not appealing to me.

Fast forward to last Wednesday night...Lily (who has been sleeping through the night for months) woke up starving at 2 am and wanted to nurse. Not cool. I hoped that it was a fluke. The next night she was up at 4 am starving and wanting to nurse. I told myself that maybe she was in a growth spurt. No such luck! After four nights of having to get up and nurse a starving baby, I finally decided that it wasn't a fluke and she was not in a growth spurt. She was ready for cereal! So much for waiting until she turned 6 months- I definitely ate my words on this one!

I am not sure why I ever thought she could wait until she turned 6 months old. She is a big girl. She weighed in at over 16 pounds at her four month checkup last week. I should have known then that starting solids was in the near future.

Lily's first experience with cereal went pretty well last night. We started her sitting in the Bumbo but quickly moved to the bouncer. She needed to be reclined in order to help her swallow better. She hated the first few bites and started crying hysterically. After we got her calmed down we tried again and she did much better. She still needs a lot of practice with swallowing instead of spitting it out, but that is to be expected with a baby so young.

If you are wondering if it worked, the answer is yes! Lily slept all night last night and did not wake up to nurse once, which makes this sleepy momma very happy! I will gladly give up a few minutes during my busy day to feed this sweet girl if that means I get to have a full night of uninterrupted sleep!

Getting ready to eat- look at those cheeks! This girl hasn't missed any feedings!

What is this?!?!?!?

All finished- such a happy girl!

Happy 4th Birthday Jewell!

Today Parker's friend, Jewell, turns four years old. She is almost exactly 2 months older than Parker. Every year on her birthday I am reminded that Parker will soon be having a birthday and turning another year older. It is very hard to believe that Parker and Jewell are turning 4 this year. It seems like just yesterday that Stacey and I were pregnant and completely clueless about how much our lives were about to change. It has been so fun to watch Parker and Jewell grow up together. It will be fun to see if they remain friends all throughout their childhood.

This weekend we got to help Jewell celebrate at her Candyland themed birthday party. We decorated gingerbread cookies, ate yummy cake and ice cream, opened presents, and helped break open a pinata. The highlight of the party for Parker was getting to jump on Jewell's new trampoline. He and Eden both spent most of the party jumping and jumping and jumping! They both had a great time and we hope Jewell had a wonderful birthday today!

The birthday girl with her Candyland cake

Our Newest Addition

We got a new addition to our family this week! No, I'm not pregnant and we didn't get a new puppy! We got a swing set in our backyard! I have been wanting a play set for the kids for a long time but Cory wasn't sure the kids were big enough yet. After a lot of begging, I finally convinced Cory to go look at them. We went to a pre-owned place in town and they had just gotten one in that was in great condition. After a little bit of bargaining, we settled on a good deal and they were able to deliver it this week. We had thought about waiting until Parker's birthday to get one but I realized that we would miss out on two months of great outside weather if we waited. I am so glad we didn't wait- the weather has been great this week and the kids have spent most of their waking hours playing outside on their new swing set.

Parker was so excited when they arrived on Tuesday to set it up. He watched them out the window and kept asking when he could go out and play. Unfortunately, they had to treat the wood so he had to wait several hours before he could go out. It was pure torture for him! Finally, the wood was dry enough to go out. He and Eden played until it was too dark to play any more. They did the same thing every night this week. I had so much fun watching them play and I hope that this will be the beginning of many memories that Parker and Eden (and eventually Lily) will make on their swing set.

Watching them set up the swing set Finally getting to play Look how curly Eden's hair is- can you tell it was humid?!?! Playing in the dark- they did not want to come in!

A Bad Choice

Eden has been very interested in playing with her dolls lately. She is very nuturing and loves to carry them around the house.

I am not sure what this doll did to have to sit in the dishwasher for a time out. Personally, I don't think the dishwasher is an ideal spot for time out and I am pretty sure CPS might also frown upon Eden's choice of discipline! I will definitely have to discuss this with her before she starts babysitting in a few years.

I Feel Old!

I didn't feel old when I had babies of my own.

I didn't feel old when friends of my little sister started having babies.

But I felt really old last month when one of the girls I used to babysit had her first baby.

I started babysitting Kellie when she was six years old. I've watched her over the past twenty years as she has graduated from high school and college and gotten married. Last month she welcomed baby Avery into her family. Lily and I got to go a few weeks ago and meet Avery. She is such a sweetie!

I felt really old sitting next to Kellie comparing baby stories. It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting on the floor playing Barbies with her. How time flies! I know she is going to be such a wonderful mom and I can't wait to see how Avery has grown the next time they are in town!

At Kellie's baby shower in November

Meeting Avery

Four Months Old

Another month has come and gone and Lily continues to grow, and grow, and grow! She is getting to be quite a chunk and carrying her around all day is getting harder and harder. I am anxious to take her for her checkup this week to see what her current stats are.
Lily, here are a few of the things that you have been up to this month:

-You continue to be a happy baby and you "talk" all of the time. You love to coo and smile at us and have started laughing a lot more this month.

-You are about to move into size 3 diapers and are moving into size 6-9 month clothes.
-You are getting very close to rolling over. You can roll over onto your side but then you stop. I don't think it will be much longer before you are rolling over in both directions.

-You are still a great sleeper, both during the day and at night. I realize how lucky we are that you sleep so well and I do not take it for granted!

-You are holding your head up so well, especially when you are laying on your tummy.
-You like to lay under your activity mat and can now grab the toys that are hanging from it. We tried to let you sit in the excersaucer last week but you are not quite ready for it yet.
-You are such a sweet baby and I thank God for you every day! Watching you grow is somewhat bittersweet as all of your "firsts" are also "lasts". Knowing that you are our last baby makes me appreciate everything you are doing more than I ever have before. I can't wait to see what is in store for you this next month!

Who's Who?

Eden or Lily?

Lily or Eden?

I can't believe how much they look alike!

Do you know who is who?