Crazy Kids

It is kind of a nut house around here as of late. Presley is a mess. Now that she is walking she is IN TO EVERYTHING. I remember this stage with Brady, but Presley is much more curious than Brady ever was. She takes "no" as a challenge, while Brady took that as something he just wasn't supposed to do.  

 

Brady is a talker and talks all the time. I mean you wouldn't believe how much he can talk.

 

Caleb and I look at each other with our "this is our life" look nearly every day. Extra special days we give that look to each other multiple times throughout.

I thought I would share some highlights of our beautiful, crazy life...

 

Conversation with Brady while washing some dishes...
Brady: Mom, we need to get some CLR.
Me: CLR, what, why?
Brady: because you see how the water comes out all crazy from the faucet, it would fix that.

 

I walked in Brady's room the other day to find this...

This was while Brady was "cleaning" his room. Obviously he is super efficient in cleaning. She was dancing up there, by the way. Oh my...

 

In the car today Brady was singing a song we sing at church and functions some called Jesus is Lord. The men lead and the women echo. Well, Brady was singing and he turned to look at Presley and said, "Presley, you are supposed to sing exactly what I sing right after me."

 

Presley decided to feed Rylan(the baby I keep) a goldfish cracker the other day. Fortunately, I realized what happened and was able to remove it from his mouth before he chocked on it.

 

Presley did this while I was feeding Rylan his bottle one day...

She loves pushing buttons on the tv.

 

Presley keeps sneaking into our bathroom, opening the top drawer, pulling out Caleb's toothbrush, and brushing her teeth, her hair, or both.

 

Presley pulled some bread and ranch dressing out of the trash and continued to dip her bread and suck off the ranch. So gross. (I immediately stopped this and washed her.)

 

Presley has dumped an entire bag of goldfish, the complete contents of Brady's bathroom drawer, and pretty much any thing else she touches.

 

I was watching Full House while eating my lunch one day and Presley was rebelling against nap time. She apparently really likes Full House.

 

I promise I watch them. I can go to the bathroom and come back to mayhem.

Our lives are kind of crazy, but it is an oh so good crazy. I wouldn't give anything in the world for it. 

Presley's Birthday Day.

Caleb took off work on Tuesday for Presley's birthday.

 

We had thought about taking her somewhere fun and exciting, but decided to just have a family day.

 

I made everyone custom waffles to kick start her special day.

 

Presley took a nap while Caleb and I worked around the house a little.

 

We all loaded up and headed out for a late lunch at Old Chicago. Presley really enjoyed the birthday pizza. Girl is an eater!!!

 

We took a little trip over to Toys R Us to get Presley a water table. She had no idea what was going on, but Brady was very excited. We explained to him that it was Presley's birthday so she gets something and he isn't going to get anything. He did wonderful with this news. As tempting as it was to go ahead and let him pick something small because he never threw a fit, I decided against it. I want them each to learn that you don't always get what everyone else gets and to be happy when others get something. It is a hard life lesson that I would prefer they learn now instead of the hard way later on. They may still have to learn it the hard way, but at least they might have sweet little loving hearts.
 

 

 

We also ran by stride-rite to measure Presley and pick out some walking shoes.

 

We made a quick stop by the local bakery and picked up a sweet little birthday cake.

 

We came home and everyone took a short nap, not really planned.

 

 

We went out and put the water table together and let the kids play with it for a while.

 

 

 

 

We decided to have cake for supper since we weren't really hungry after our late, big lunch. She isn't really shy about jumping into her cake.

While we were eating, Caleb's parents called to sing Happy Birthday to her. She danced and ate her cake while they sang. Silly girl!

 

 

 

It was an easy, low key day, but it was absolutely perfect.

 



12 Months

Life has been a little bit of a whirlwind around here the past few weeks. A good whirlwind, but a little crazy to say the least. We are busy enjoying a great summer. The kids are at such fun stages right now. Hopefully, there is more to come on our crazy happenings.

But first we have had a BIG birthday in our house!

 

Presley is 12 months old!!!

 

As of  last Tuesday, we no longer have a baby in the house. We have a toddler.

 

It is one of those crazy things were the last year has gone super fast, but it is so hard to remember life without Presley.

Not only have we welcomed a new member to our family, but Brady has gone from the only child and having all the attention to a big brother. He has welcomed his new role wonderfully. I am so proud of him and how well he has handled this past year. He is a special little boy and I am so thankful to be his mommy. I am also so thankful Presley has him as a brother. They have a sweet little relationship. He is so loving and nurturing, most of the time anyway.

 

This will be the last monthly post and we used our last monthly sticker. It is a bittersweet. I am so happy she is growing, thriving, and here to celebrate her first birthday, but it is a little sad we are leaving behind baby, baby land and moving more toward toddler land.

 

At 12 months Presley is...

 

 

• eating table foods, ALL. THE. TIME. She has the biggest appetite and eats constantly.
• not drinking whole milk. I have offered her whole milk for about 4 weeks and she will not drink it. I have bought different brands, added chocolate syrup, switched up the cup, and tried Organic milk. She isn't having it. I even tried a little almond milk, but Caleb ended up drinking it because she spit it out. She drinks water! She will drink juice, if I give it to her. She eats cheese and yogurt, so I am not too concerned. We will keep offering it and see what happens.
• not walking. She is still pulling up and cruising. She can stand alone. She is just so scared to take that first step. She has taken some pretty good falls, so I get it. She will take off when she is ready. I would be more concerned if she wasn't pulling up and cruising, but she is. For now we are enjoying not having to chase her everywhere.
• in size 3 diapers.
• in size 12 or 12-18(although they are a little big) months clothing. We have a few 9 month things still hanging around.
• a mommy's girl through and through.
• singing, dancing, shaking her head yes and no, mimicking motions and sounds, patty cake, blowing kisses, and much more.
• has just started throwing a few tantrums. Not too bad yet, but I am not looking forward to that part of being one.
• has four teeth and two poking through the gums in the back.
• saying Mama, dada, bubba, no, baby, and a few other things occasionally.
• loving her brother. He is pretty crazy about her too, unless she is stealing his toy or breaking something of his.





She is a crazy, silly, strong willed, fun, sweet, girlie girl.

We look forward to many more years of life and birthdays with this sweet one.

I love this little girl so very much. She is for sure a Momma's girl. She is such a mess and silly and crazy and fun. She has bonded our family in ways I didn't know possible. 

 

Happy Happy first year baby girl!

11 Months

11 Months

 

Wow! Presley is 11 months old. She turned 11 months on Sunday.  

 

What an 11 months it has been. Presley is a mess! She came into our family demanding her place and that hasn't really changed. Ha!  Girl wants things done her way and she doesn't have much patience if it doesn't happen.

 

At 11 months Presley is...

 

• wearing size 3 diapers.
• wearing size 9 or 12 month clothes. Most of her summer clothes are 12 months or she would be mostly in 9 month stuff.
• eating table foods mostly. She has pureed food on occasion just for convenience if she will eat it.
• nursing about 3- 4 (short) times a day. I am planning on slowly introducing cows milk this month. She is over the breast milk, bottle, and nursing thing. She really is only interested right when she wakes up. I will continue that as long as need, which I don't think will be that long.
• pulling up and cruising on and around everything. She can stand alone, but has taken many a fall, so she is a bit timid. She can walk while pushing a standing toy or riding toy. She is so very close to walking, she just hasn't gotten the courage to let go yet. I am not really rushing it.
• saying mama, dada, bubba, dog, baby, up, no no, hi, and a couple other things here and there. She babbles and says the same sounds repeatedly in the same situation, but we don't know what she is saying. She also repeats a lot of sounds back to you.
• clapping, pointing, dancing, waving hi and bye(they are different), playing peek a boo, blowing kisses(if you are lucky), and rolling hands/arms for patty cake.
• singing. It is super sweet even if I have no idea what she is singing. She mostly does it in the car or when she thinks no one is listening.  The singing might be my favorite thing she does.
•  blowing kisses like it is her job.
• sleeping from 8-6:30 most nights.
• has two bottom teeth and two top teeth barely past the gums.
• loves her brother.

She has changed so much. She is so little, but acts so big. I honestly have trouble remembering life without her, but it seems like we just brought her home.

Birthday party planning is in full swing. We have a lengthy to do list around here before the party.

Brady is so crazy about his sister. He constantly wants to check on her, play with her, talk with her, or know what she is doing. He is such a great big brother.

It has been a great 11 months and I can't imagine life without her. 1 more month until birthday party time!  Aaaaahhhh!

Happy 11 months Presley!

10 Months

Presley is 10 months old today!

  

She has nudged her way right into our family and I honestly have trouble remembering life without her.

 

Birthday party planning is in full swing. She is in to everything and changing so much every day. She has become a little sponge, observing and absorbing everything around her.

 

At 10 months she is...

• wearing 9 and 12 month clothing. A few 6-9 month things are still lingering
• wearing size 3 diapers.
• nursing about 5 times a day.
• eating table food daily along with baby food and infant cereal.
• sleeping from 8- 6 most nights,but waking up crying around 12pm and 3am when teething.
• has 2 teeth, I expect more to pop through any day.
• pulling up on everything!!!
• beginning to walk while holding on to things and beginning to stand on her own.
• getting lots of bumps and bruises due to her new confidence with pulling up.
• waving Hi and Bye(they each have a different wave), clapping, playing peek-a-boo, shaking head no, and pointing.
• saying MaMa, Dada, baby, no no, and bubba.
•  very vocal!
• can pat, give hugs and kisses, love her baby doll, and mimic some movements.

She and Brady have the sweetest relationship. He is her biggest cheerleader and she is his biggest fan. I am loving the brother/sister thing. (I am sure if I had any other combination, I would love it as well. :) ) When she pulls up or does something new, Brady immediately says, "Good girl! Look at you, you're a big girl!" in the sweetest voice ever!

I can not believe Presley is 2 months away from a year old. Although, 1 year olds are one of my favorite, favorite ages. (I have lots of favorites, but only a few favorite, favorites!) They are a little independent, but still a baby. I am also a huge sucker for one year old baby fat and summer clothes. I can still vividly remember kissing a  sweet 18 month old Brady with his summer baby rolls toddling around in smocked rompers. Now he is a lean, hilarious 4 year old. Ahhh, It just goes so fast!

However, I am so so so excited to enjoy the summer with these sweet kiddos, even if they are growing before my eyes! :) We have so much fun stuff planned!

Happy 10 months, Presley girl!

I suspect a walker or very close by the next monthly post. :o

9 Months.

9 Months.

Presley is 9 months old as of Tuesday. I am not sure how it is only 3 months until our baby girl will be 1. She is such a blessing to all three of us.

  

She can be a handful, but she is so cute, girly, and sweet.

My favorite, favorite thing that Presley does right now is she babble sings. She doesn't just babble, it is like singing. It is higher pitch and the noises carry over. It is such a sweet, sweet sound. She does it mostly when she alone, for example, in the car or playing in the floor. It immediately makes us smile and I could listen to her do it forever.

 

At 9 months, Presley is...

 

• nursing about 5 times a day.
• eating cereal, vegetables, fruits, and a few table/finger foods
• wearing size 3 diapers.
• wearing 6-9 months, 9 months, and a few 12 months clothes. Most of the 12 months are still way too big, especially in the length.

• scoot crawling to get around. She can go room to room and basically anywhere she wants scooting. She often gets into the crawling position and makes one move, then just lays down or gets back to scooting.
• clapping, shaking her head no, dancing, and waving on demand.
• feeding herself puffs and a few other finger foods.
• saying Mama, Dada, No No, and Bubba.
• loves bath time.
• watching every single move her brother makes.
• recognizing more family members and even showing excitement when they come into a room. She has done this for me for a while, but now she is doing it to many more.
• reaching for whom or what she wants.
• knows what she wants and is not afraid to let you know. Someone  sitting near us comments on this nearly every church service. It is equally funny and annoying.
• wanting to pull up, but hasn't yet. She is constantly getting in "trouble" for trying to pull up on the end table. She knows not to, but the second no one is watching she makes a bee line for that table. It is a small ceramic/rod iron table and will topple over if she pulls on it. I think I am going to have to temporarily move it.
• getting into anything and everything!!!

 

9 months has gone way too fast, but we are really enjoying this stage. She and Brady are so funny together. He is really enjoying watching her learn and interact with him. He is not enjoying her taking his toys. Ha! Watching your babies grow is so bittersweet. I feel like Brady should be only 9 months old, but he is a big 4 year old with his own ideas and thoughts.

 

Here is the comparison.

 Brady's 9 month post is here.

This is me with Brady at 9 months. I don't feel like I look any older, but sometimes it smacks me in the face that I have actually aged some. This is one of those pictures. However, I have always looked a lot younger than I am, so in this picture I look 18 and now I look 23, right!?! Right! ;)

 

Happy 9 months sweet girl!