Celebrating Kaelyn

We have been so blessed by friends and family.  Thank you for the fun showers to celebrate Kaelyn.

We also received this beautiful smocked dress from my great aunt Janie (my Papa's brother's wife- I never met her husband because he died in the war).  She is in her 90s and she made this dress.  She was so excited we were having a girl because she could make another dress. 

Christmas Fun

Can't believe its already December.  I've tried to find fun stuff for us to do this month around Christmas.  It's been alot of fun to watch Jaxon at this age. I wanted to establish some fun traditions.

I had a girls night and we made a felt tree with ornaments for our kiddos to decorate.  I wanted to use it for advent and for him to color some Jesse Tree ornaments.  But we haven't been very successful.  At least he still loves to listen to daddy to a bible story out of the Jesus Storybook.

We walked through a light display near by.  Of course all Jaxon wanted to do was touch everything.  Kaelyn didn't really like it.  Even though she was bundled up she cried most of the time.  I'm trying to use the Ergo more with her so that it frees my hands up to interact with Jaxon.

We decorated the tree together as a family.  We found a monster truck ornament to add to the tree. He loves to play with our mini nativity set.  He will load them up on his tractor.  I guess he's taking them to Bethlehem.  Who needs a donkey when you've got a tractor.

We cut out and painted some ornaments.  We also made a decorated some cookies.  He loved using the cookie cutters.

Our sweet boy

Jaxon was 2 1/2 years old when Kaelyn was born.  He continues to make us laugh with the things that he says or does.  He is growing like crazy.  He loves to ride in the shopping carts at the store or he will help me push Kaelyn's stroller.  He is very independent and will redo something if I do it for him (ie picking him up to get out of the bed or putting him in the carseat).  He wears size 24 months-2T clothes and size 7 shoe.  He loves the Christmas lights.  He can be OCD on some things which I think he takes after me (making sure the drawers are closed in the kitchen or pushing his chair up to his table when he is finished)  He likes to help me clean and he makes sure his toys are put away if its naptime or bedtime.  That could be his way of stalling or he may really enjoy putting his toys away.  I find it hard to be upset with him when its time for bed and he wants to help clean up.  He still loves to play outside which has been hard to do since its been cold outside.  He locked himself in the pantry the other night and couldn't get out.  Brian video taped him.  Poor thing he said, "Daddy help me get out."  Its amazing how he is putting so many words together now.
He loves eating his meals at his little kid table.  We are having problems getting him to stay in his seat.  He loves to eat clementine oranges.  If we wants a snack after nap he will ask for oranges.  He loves yogurt with blueberries or oatmeal for breakfast.  He loves to watch mighty machines or anything involving trucks.  I even found monster truck youtube videos that he likes to watch.  We ordered several old movies involving cars for him to watch on amazon.  He has enjoyed watching the Herbie movies and chitty chitty bang bang.  We haven't really tried potty training yet but hope to when Brian is home for Christmas.  He does go potty before bath.  He will tell me if he needs his diaper changed when he has done a poopy.  He goes to bed between 8-9.  Daddy gets to do bath and bedtime which he loves.  They read a bible story, pray, and they sing a song.  Jaxon knows his routine.  He loves to sing the B-I-B-L-E and this little light of mine.  He knows alot of the words and can sing by himself.  I will listen to him sing on his monitor or he will sometimes talk to himself after waking up.  He also loves to sing in the car.  He is waking up most mornings around 7-7:30.  If he goes to bed later the night before sometimes he will sleep in later.  I was afraid after Kaelyn was born that his nap schedule would change.  I am so thankful he is a good napper.  He tends to nap 3-4 hours after lunch.  He loves to play with his trucks, tractors, trains and cars. He also loves to paint and color. Sometimes we even find him sitting in his chair reading to himself. We love our sweet boy.

Celebrating 5 years

Its our 5 year anniversary this year.  It was kind of hard to celebrate on our anniversary this year with a newborn.  We decided to celebrate early over the summer and spent 9 days together child free thanks to my parents.  We went to Colorado and had a wonderful time.  This year we went out to dinner and Kaelyn joined us but you would never know she was with us because she slept the whole time.  Our wonderful friends watched Jaxon for us.

Its hard to believe we said "I do" and kissed each other for the very first time 5 years ago.  I am so blessed to have Brian for a husband and father to our children.  God knew exactly what I needed and knew the right time to have Brian appear in my life.  I look forward to many more years together. 

1 month

I can't believe Kaelyn is 1 month already.  She is growing so fast already.  She has been gaining about a pound every 2 weeks.  Must be something in my milk.  She is a really good eater.  She nurses every 3 hours, sometimes 1.5- 2hours.  Sometimes nursing is a comfort thing that will help put her to sleep and she tends to like to cluster feed some.  She has been giving me long stretches of sleep at night.  I am so thankful for that and I hope it lasts.  Jaxon was the same way.  I think swaddling her helps.  We usually put her down around 10-11 and she has been waking up anywhere between 5-7pm.  I will nurse her and then she will sleep for a morning nap.  While she is sleeping in the morning thats usually when I have my one on one time with Jaxon.  We usually have something planned in the morning whether we go out or stay inside.  Then I look forward to lunch time and naptime because we all are tired and need a break.  It doesn't always happen but I try and put both kids down at the same time after lunch for their nap.  Naptime happens too quick that I never get my to do list accomplished.  I have learned to be ok with that.  I can never catch up.   Laundry usually gets washed but never put away.  Right now most of it gets piled in Kaelyn's crib until I can get to it. I dont' know where it will go once to moves into her crib.  I am still enjoying being at home even with our challenging days when things don't go like I had envisioned it.  Especially during the Christmas season since Jaxon understands more and is at fun age.  Jaxon continues to be a great big brother and always wants to help.  He even has been talking to Kaelyn and telling her all about his tractor and cars.  He likes to kiss her forehead and hold her. He always has to know where she is.

She is in size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes although the clothes are a little big.  She wears alot of sleepers while we are around the house to keep her warm or even on a cold day if we go out.  She is starting to smile a little.  She snores at night and is starting to make other noises while she is awake.   She will sleep in the pack and play if we are downstairs or in the swing.  She does pretty good in the carseat or the ergo and doesn't mind the noise if she is asleep.  She doesn't seem to mind noise if she is trying to eat either.  She usually nurses for about 10 minutes total for each feeding.  I think she is getting enough if she keeps gaining weight.  The doctors aren't concerned.

Kaelyn's latest measurements

birth 7lbs 6 oz
leaving hospital 6lbs

November 12- 7lbs 8 oz

November 25- 8lbs 11oz

1 month check up 9lbs 10.5oz

Can't believe she is 1 month already