Denver

Jared won a free plane ticket at a golf tournament awhile ago.  It was going to expire at the end of October, so he was so GREAT and let me use it to go see college friends in Colorado!  It was super sweet of him to give the ticket to me and I was so excited to get to go on this trip.  Blake and I took off last Thursday morning (unfortunately Landon and Jared had to stay home because we would have had to pay for a plane ticket for them).  It had been over 3 years since I had seen Ashley and 5 years since I had seen my other college roomie Melissa!  WAY too long!

Blake was so excited the night before getting all clean and ready to go!

The minute Ashley picked me up it was seriously like we hadn't been apart...super natural conversation and we picked up right where we had left off.  It is so amazing to have these type of lifelong friends!  We shared a TON of memories together in college and it was fun to chat, catch up, laugh, reminisce and look through old photos.  Sad that our style back then already seems super outdated (we definitely thought we were pretty darn cute back in the day :)

Did I mention that Ashley had twins in February?!?  

This is the scene at the airport...3 babies buckled up and safe in the van!

We kept saying we probably looked like sister wives with all the kids, the two of us and Matt (Ashley's husband) driving around!

Kai wasn't shy and thankfully Blake is used to his big brother crawling all over him too!

Ashley's daughter Allikaye was sooo sweet and it was fun to get to know her better (she is a lot like her mom).  The last time I saw her she was only 2 1/2, so she didn't remember me.  But she was just the cutest, sweetest thing and such a big help!

She kept covering my bangs and saying, "You have the same face as my mom, you look exactly like her!"

I was in charge of watching the babies for a minute while Ashley ran upstairs...Kai got into some paper with marker on it...OOPS!

I'm not cut out to have twins :)

On Friday we met some girls for lunch that we used to play volleyball with in college.  So fun to catch up and see them again!

Here's Ashley, Kai and Laura (who is due with her first baby in May!)

Ashley, Cambria, Allikaye, Laura and Kai

Me, Blake (snoozing), Erin and her little girl Megan (18 months)

Our crazy table of good friends, kids and babies!  We definitely got lots of stares!

I just L.O.V.E Ash so much!  

The Lord was so good in bringing us together our freshman year as roomies and volleyball teammates.  We were seriously ALWAYS together since we lived together, shared a room together, played volleyball together and had all of our classes together!

 Saturday is when Melissa came down to spend the afternoon with us! So very thankful for these girls.  Don't think I would have made it through college without them (it definitely would have been much more boring!)

Here's Ash, Allikaye and Melissa at lunch

The twinsies, Cambria and Kai hanging out!

Me, Allikaye and Blake

Here's our attempt at a reunion photo shoot! 

Taken by Allikaye, with the directions to "look silly"

The fun, self shot (none of us knew where to look on the iPhone!)

Taken by Matt!

Inspecting Matt's work to see if it was worthy to keep!

Melissa doesn't have any kids but she was so great with the chaos and all the babies!

We thought it would be funny to take a picture of her holding all 3 babes and send it to her husband!

Blake wasn't happy being squished between Cam and Kai!

Blakey did so good on the trip...he was a trooper meeting so many new people!

I will say though that coming home our flight was at 9:10 pm.  Blake had just fallen asleep before we boarded the plane and woke up when we got on the plane.  Unfortunately that made for a very tired and unhappy baby.  I had the baby the literally DEATH screamed for the first 10-15 minutes of take off before he finally passed out :(  He didn't want his pacifier, bottle, to nurse, etc. He was just so tired.  The Lord used that experience to give me more understanding next time I hear a screaming baby on a plane!

Allikay didn't want to miss out on the photo shoot and wanted to pics taken with Blake...

This one really made her giggle because it looks like Blake is screaming in her ear...really he was trying to eat her ear (he wasn't making a sound)!

Ashley with my sweet boy!

On Sunday, Ashley's parents came up for brunch.  They were my second family during college, as they came to most of our games and fed these two poor college girls often!  I spent every Thanksgiving and Easter with Ashley's family and even went to her cousin's wedding in Nebraska one year!  

That morning we tried to get some pictures of the 3 babies!

Allikaye getting in on the action!

Ashley is a great mom and does such a wonderful job with the twins and Allikaye!  

So fun to share our lives together as single girls in college and now as wives and mom's in our thirties!

Such a fun trip with great memories! I can't wait until next time!

Aquarium

My parents were just out to visit us for a week and we had a jam packed, great time!  We spent lots of time playing at home, taking walks, going to the park, going to the aquarium and going to the pumpkin patch!  I think everyone was exhausted by the end of the week but Landon and Blake really love their Nana and Grandpa.  

Nana thought Landon should eat his snack in a tree at the park!  Made me VERY nervous!  I have no doubt that we will have a broken bone or stitches in the future, but I wasn't ready for it to be on that day :) Landon loved it though...I'm sure he felt like a very big boy!

Towards the beginning of the week we decided to go to the aquarium!  Landon was a bit unsure of parts of the aquarium in San Diego, so I was curious how he would do 7 months later.  He still wasn't a fan of anything that required touching fish but was happy to look at them and throw food at them!  We also got a couple of huge shutters out of him when he got close to the sharks, octopus and big iguana! The ONLY think he actually wanted to touch was the jellyfish (the one thing we couldn't touch) because he wanted to "pop" them! Blake was a trooper, as usual, and I think he enjoyed looking at the fish too!

 Feeding the fish in the big aquarium!  No touching for this little guy, but he did like throwing the food!

Hanging out with Nana and Grandpa

Blake always looks slightly confused in pictures...I've gotten a couple smiles out of him, but he always seems to have these faces in most of them!

 

Landon has started doing the cheesiest smiles when we ask him to smile for the camera!  Makes me laugh every time at his attempts!

Mesmerized by the jellyfish and very disappointed when he realized we weren't allowed to "pop" them!

Watching the puffins play with sticks in the water

Tried to take some Little Mermaid pictures...not the most photogenic pictures of either boys!

Landon thought it was pretty fun finding the fish that looked like Nemo...although, even Nemo wasn't safe enough to touch or feed!

Nana offered to buy him a souvenir when we were leaving, but he was happy with M&M's instead!

Later in the week we went to the pumpkin patch and had a great time, pictures to come soon!

4 Months Old

Last week we had Blake's 4 month check up.  He is doing excellent and was such a brave boy when he got his shots.  He definitely is not as big as Landon was and dropped a little in the percentile range for weight and height.  The doctor wasn't worried and said that we can start solids with him whenever we are ready.  It was crazy to me that he is already old enough to have solids!

This little man is such a sweetie!  He has such a laid back personality and is so easy going most of the time.  He definitely can get worked up (especially when tired), but overall he just goes with the flow (whether that be laying on the floor, sitting in his chair, getting malled by his brother or playing).  

A true treasure and such a great addition to our family!

Here are the details I want to remember:

*  We seem to have fallen into an amazing sleeping situation, you typically go to bed between 7:30-8:00 and will sleep until 5 or 6 am and then go back to sleep for another 2-3 hours after eating (after your vaccinations, we had about 3 really rough nights, but last night you went back to your normal schedule...not sure if you weren't feeling well, teething or if the vaccinations took it out of you)

* Your naps are also pretty predictable:  morning nap after about 2 hours awake (usually 45-60 minutes), long afternoon nap starting around 1:00, quick cat nap in the evening about 30-45 minutes, then bed about 1 1/2 later



*  You are a great eater and still like to eat often about every 2 1/2-3 hours

*  When you take a bottle you are eating about 4-6 oz.

*  You are enjoying tummy time much more now that you are strong enough to hold yourself up

* You can do mini push up on your forearms and control you head movement at midline, looking anywhere you want (you really love it when one of us lays down with you and you can look at us and smile, laugh and coo)

* You like to be in a standing position and can lock your knees to stay that way when we hold you

* You are getting stronger sitting up and when propped can hold your body upright

*  You LOVE looking at yourself and mommy in the mirror, you can't help but smile every time

*  You are starting to really giggle (in a normal way) and can get quite tickled when we play nursery rhymes and games with you

*  You are putting your hands in your mouth constantly and will suck on your fingers when they get in there

*  You found your feet the other night and it was so funny watching you play with them

*  You aren't an expert roller by any means but have figured out how to flip from your tummy to your back.  For awhile you were doing this immediately when we laid you down, but now that you like your tummy more, you haven't been rolling over as much.

* You are starting to grasp things more and are getting more control when you grab onto things

*  You love going on walks and being cuddly in the front pack on mommy's chest or sitting up like a big boy in the stroller

*  You are definitely more observant and like to keep on eye on us and watch what we are doing (which means you still don't like being left along in a room)

*  You always have big smiles for us in the morning and a lot of times Landon is the first one to get to you as he loves saying good morning and informing us that "Bwake open his eyes".  You seem to love your brother too as you watch, smile and coo at him when he gets close enough

*  You may be cutting your two bottom teeth as drool has increased quite a bit and I think I can feel something beginning to poke through (not entirely sure yet though)

*  Like your brother you seem to be quite vocal at times and prefer the high pitch screams and squeals!  You are beginning to get good at talking back and forth to us and at times have a lot to say!

*  You are very tolerant of all that Landon does (even when he is rolling you from tummy to back and vice versa as you are playing)

* You are still in size 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers

* You weighed 14lb 3 oz (30th percentile) and were 24 3/4 inches (30th percentile)

(although our scale at home said 15 lbs...just as reference for future months)

* Eye color is still a mystery as some days they look blue, brown or hazel

Here's my other monkey...just to give you a continuing glimpse into his joyful, goofy personality!

Playing "Bump"

I ran across this video on my phone the other day and every time we watch it (Landon included) we can't help but crack up!  

My favorite thing is the doubled over laughter!

In fact after watching it Landon will ask Jared to "bump" and still thinks it is the funniest thing he has ever seen!

Hopefully, it gives you a good giggle too :)

Tummy Time

Blake is tolerating tummy time much better nowadays and actually seems to enjoy it most of the time.  

I think it's because he's strong enough to hold his head up, so he isn't constantly smashing his face into the ground (not sure I would be a fan of that either!)  

He has also started flipping from his belly to his back...such a big boy!

He was so cute this morning I couldn't resist snapping a few pics!

Definitely a keeper...so C.U.T.E!

Looking at all the bright animals

Deep in thought

Flash might have been a little bright!

Preschool

Seems hard to believe that my little man went to his first day of preschool this past week!

Granted it is only one day/week for 2 1/2 hours, but still seems crazy!

I am so excited for him to be in preschool.  

It worked out absolutely perfect.  

He is in a 2-year old class and the preschool is at a Lutheran church.  

He goes on Wednesday mornings, which again works out perfect because I am working Wednesdays so my mother-in-law only has to watch Blake in the morning and then have both boys in the afternoon.

We went an met his teacher before school started and she is so sweet!  

Landon seemed very comfortable in the classroom and was SUPER excited about starting school.

They have a schedule they follow every week which includes circle time, crafts, snack, free play, recess, phonics and alphabets, academic (shapes, colors, numbers, etc.) and Bible story.  There is also a field trip every month where we are going to the zoo, pumpkin patch, watershed, Albertsons, and Great Harvest Bread Company.  Field trips are on Thursdays, which again is perfect because that means I can go!  They do holiday parties and also have chapel every other week!

I just think it is the perfect outlet for him to get out of the house once a week to play and learn!

(The theme of this post seems to be perfect!)

Since I work on Wednesdays, Jared will be dropping him off at school.  

I was sad to miss taking him his first day but Jared took pictures for me to see.  He said it was a bit crazy trying to get out of the house and then dropping him off but he did manage to get some pics!

Walking out the door with his big boy backpack on!

Jared said that 2 or 3 kids were crying when they got to class but Landon walked right in and started playing and didn't mind at all when Jared left.  What a big boy (makes this mama get a little choked up  thinking about it).

Playing in Mrs. McConnell's class

I am really praying that he LOVES school and has a great year.  

He loves going to Sunday school at church, so hopefully he will feel the same about preschool!

We love our little man so much and are very proud of him!

3 Months Old

Guess who's 3 months old?!?!?  Yep, Blake!

As I seem to say every month, it is so hard to believe!

I started back at work this Wednesday and all in all it was a good week.  

Here is what our little man is up to these days:

* You are slightly inconsistent still when sleeping at night :(

You have gone anywhere from 5 hour stretches to 9 hour stretches.

After the first long stretch you usually go about another 3 hours at a time

*  You continue to eat every 2-2 1/2 hours during the day

(unless you are taking a long nap and then you stretch it out a bit longer)

*  You are a good nurser and good about taking a bottle

*  You eat very fast (which I'm thankful for at 4:00 in the morning!)

*  You can hold your head up by yourself and with body support can sit up

*  Your legs are getting stronger and you can "stand up" if we are holding you

*  You still have the same schedule during the day of a shorter nap in the morning and evening and a longer afternoon nap

*  You are always ready to go to bed for the night between 8:00-9:00 and usually wake up around 8:00 in the morning

*  You still sleep best in your chair for naps and on your side cuddled up

*  You love to have your pacifier when going to sleep

*  When someone is giving you attention you are a big smiler and are cooing a TON

*  You are fairly stoic most of the time but really light up with 1:1 attention

*  You can tell when you are by yourself and do not like to be left alone

*  You love to be talked to and played with and will attempt to carry on conversations

*  No laughs yet, but we are anxiously awaiting the day when you figure out your giggles

* You aren't a huge fan of tummy time, but like to be on your tummy if we hold you on our chests

* You are a mover when awake, constantly waving your arms and kicking your legs

*  You like to track faces better than objects (if you have a choice you will look at mommy or daddy rather than toys)

*  You are able to roll from your side to your back and can sometimes from your back to your side

*  You LOVE your fingers and are quite amazed by them when they "appear" in front of your face...you attempt to put them in your mouth quite a bit too

*  You still startle easily and continue to get the BIGGEST eyes when something scares you

*  You are wearing size 3 month to size 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diaper

*  Your hair is still brown and your eyes are a mystery 

Sometimes they look blue, brown or green 

(I personally think they will eventually turn brown)

*  According to our home weighing system you weigh 13lb 7 oz.

*  Overall you are just a real sweetheart

Very content, loving, cuddly, cute and so fun to have around!