COLBIE IS 18 MONTHS

Colbie, you are so big! These last 18 months have gone so fast. You are so funny, spunky and smart. I love you so much. You are so cute. Everyday I am so happy and excited to hear you in your crib and see you take on the day. You wake up every morning with giggles and smiles! It is my favorite part of the day. You love your ju-ju in the morning and O's. You are getting pretty good at using a spoon and a fork, but you prefer to use your hands if the utensils don't get you food fast enough. You love "ka-ka's" or graham crackers and ask for them every day, more than once a day. You also love "gurt" or yogurt. As far as eating goes, you eat anything and everything and just love food.

You really love snuggling pup in your bed and listen to Violet play sleeping music before you fall asleep. You are a mama's girl still but have really been enjoying daddy these days. You also have been loving on brother more. You say "bruhber" and "sissy" and love them both so much. You like to play with them and do what they do. You love coloring and carrying purses or bags and filling those bags with boys and odds and ends. You are so girly, you love putting on bracelets and trying on clothes and shoes. You also love outside time and carrying around rocks or "gackos" as you call them. You fill buckets with "gackos" and carry the buckets around. You also love riding on toys outside and are starting to get brave with slides and swings. I can't wait for more warm weather when you can really get out and play.

Colbie, I can't believe you are so big. I am sad you aren't my little baby anymore, but so excited to see you grow and change and become a little lady. I love you so much and treasure every moment with you. Xoxoxoxo. Mini photo shoot later today...I will try to post pics tonight.

EASTER PICS

At Easter breakfast before church. I just love Colbie's smile here! She's like a little girl. Sigh. She is so big.

This is at Easter dinner with our family. Back at the church. The kids had a great time playing and chowing on yummy food.

Before church breakfast. Posing for mama.

My sweeties.

My beautiful big girl.

My handsome boy.

How Colbie found her eggs at the church Easter egg hunt!

SILLY POST

We had a photo shoot the other evening for pictures to print for frames in our new master bathroom. Here are a few of my favs. Hopefully soon I will get pics of the bathroom up too! It turned out amazing!!!! The kids are doing well, Colbie is walking everywhere. She is so funny and silly. She loves to eat and is obsessed with graham crackers. She asks for a "cacker" all the time and sometimes wakes up in the morning asking. She also is in swimming lessons learning her survival float. She loves the water and going to swimming. She asks for "bober" the whole time and says "Cinee" for Miss Cindy. It is so cute to see her loving the water. She still cries while she is working hard in the water...but loves it at the same time.

Averie is doing awesome reading. She is getting faster and reading more words and is getting her confidence up. That is the biggest thing she struggles with. She gets a little resistant to read when I ask her to (story books and such. She wants to look at the pictures), but is always willing to do reading time for school. I am trying to encourage her to read for fun. She is reading on her own more and more. I love to hear how many words she can read and sound out. It is so amazing! She loves everything about school. She loves her free "craft" time too. She gets about 45 mins a day to do free art. And it is probably her favorite time of the day. She creates TONS of things from hats, to party favors, games, pictures, books, etc.....

And then there is Baylor. He is so funny. He loves his blanket and "baby." Baby is a small cloth baby doll that was actually Averie's first baby. It is random, but he loves her. Blanket is in about 7 pieces now, there is a main piece he loves still them most. But usually he only has to have one piece and he is fine (and I'm talking about bed/naps). Other than his buddies, he loves his cars and trucks and is beyond ready for spring and warmer weather. He will be excited to go outside and explore and ride bikes. We will have to have many scavenger hunts. Baylor and Averie have also been doing gymnastics since the fall. They go every Friday and have a great time. They love their instructor and love practicing their skills at home too!

MY BABY IS 6

Ohhhhh me, OH my! Averie is 6. Well, that went fast. I love you Averie. You are so special to this family. You are independent, loving, smart and you are a good leader and initiator. You LOVE your sister and brother so much. You are reading well, writing well and doing all of the things a 6 year old should do! Right now, you love characters from Dora, Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. You haven't even seen your first movie, but you love to listen to stories about the characters from these movies. You love to take care of your sister, play with her and you love it when she wants you more than mama. You are a little mother hen. For your brother, you are his big sister. You take care of him and lead him with games and activities and ideas. He adores you...and you are great to him, most of the time! A little tough love is good sometimes, right?! So, for your 6th Bday, we are going to "Bounce," lunch with Gma and Gpa at Max and Ermas and then home to play games and do whatever you want! Saturday we are having family over for pizza and cake. It should be a wonderful, special day. I love you Averie and all that you are. You are very special and super sweet and I hope you always stay that way! XOXO

WINTER FUN

Colbie really enjoy "side" time (outside). She rode around in her little sled and loved it. She also sat in the snow and watched Averie and Baylor run all around.

Brrrrrrrrrr, but so much fun!!!!

Ice skating at the mall's ice rink. Averie looks like she is about to fall!

She was all dolled up in her tu-tu and halo. Hahaha. The ice was sticky so the kids could skate alone without falling.

Bay posing for the camera.

WINTER PICS

Colbie preparing to walk...or shall I say, take a few steps then lunge. Ha ha.

Colbie LOVES bath time. She went from being terrified a couple of months ago (screaming and crying and trying to jump out). To now, trying to jump in! And telling me "uh-uh" when it's time to go out!

So sweet! Well, Colbie wasn't happy about being in a pic. But you can't really tell.

FABULOUS CHRISTMAS

The stockings...looking stuffed!

Our traditional Christmas Eve Family photo.

The kiddos, ready to tear into the gifts...

So, we had a wonderful Christmas...well, mostly. I was sick, ugh, head cold/sinus thingy. I didn't have an appetite or voice and couldn't sleep. But I am tons better now. Yesterday was my first better day and actually it wasn't until bedtime that I noticed how good I felt. Today, even better yet. So, Christmas was so much fun! The kids loved going to Grandma and Grandpa (B and J) the week before Christmas... we also got to visit with our buds Rece, Carmine, Tierney and Kinsley! We do a book exchange with them and had so much fun. Averie is still talking about how she loved watching Rece play his game and loved talking to him. Every time we are with them it is typically for a gathering, which is too busy and chaotic for any play time. This visit was nice and low key. After that visit we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house and daddy met us there. We celebrated Christmas with them and really enjoyed their gift of roller skates!!! The big kids got to skate all over their basement, which was great practice since they were nervous and had never skated before! Colbie just crawled all over and wanted to climb the stairs and eat everything she could find (off the floor even). After a couple fun days there, we headed home just in time for a visit with Jayde, Jett, Jorie, Delaney and A Shan and A Shawna. They came over to our house and we did our annual craft and dinner. The kids painted ornaments and played! And then the next day was Christmas Eve. We headed to Grandma and Grandpa's (P and A) for dinner (we brought veggie pizzas, Oreo and pb bon bons, Hug pretzels and brownie cookies)! We also had sandwiches and soup and a wonderful time. We went to church and after church we did presents! The kids got tons of fun things. Moon sand, play-doh, paper dolls, Colbie got a small Little People set and some other fun things! After all the excitement we headed home for bed (10:30pm...yawn!)... Then Santa came!!!! What a fun morning! The kids got so many fun things...they are still playing with everything today...Trio, Paper dolls, Play mobil, games, etc. The list goes on. We then went to GG's house for Christmas with my extended family and they got a few more goodies. We also had lunch and spent time with cousins (Averie's buds). They played and we just really felt so blessed and loved with everyone together.

As far as the kids go...Averie is doing wonderful. She is reading very well and we are 3/4 the way through her reading lessons book. She is also enjoying working on a winter book right now for our Christmas break "project." She reads stories well and will even, with a little encouragement, read for other people. I can tell she is still unsure of her reading skill, but she does very well. Math, I would says she is at about a 1st grade level. We have a math book and are working on it little by little, but it is still very basic. She can do 10 pages at a sitting and enjoys them. She would do art and crafts all day if I let her. This is what she chooses to do during "nap" for Baylor and Colbie. She could fill up 10 or 20 papers if I let her (I limit her to 5 a day). Her favorite things right now are still Dora and Alicia (Diego's sister/Dora's cousin). She also likes Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz (she got a dress/basket/Toto/shoes for Christmas from Baylor)...even though we haven't watched the movie. She has watched clips from U-tube. She is also a super helper for me with Colbie and will watch her and play with her when I need her to. She loves being the big sister (and is fabulous at it).

Baylor is still Averie's little sidekick. He really loves garbage trucks and cars and anything of that type. He will play independently but is extremely shy without his big sis. He is active and likes to run around and bounce around and has a lot of energy most of the time. He also always has good ideas and shares them, mostly with his big sister. He is a good listener once you catch his attention first. He still loves his blanket even though it is in about 6 pieces! Sweet Baylor boy. As far as school goes, Baylor has started the reading book and is about 6 lessons in. He does enjoy it, but I can tell he is quite ready for the harder stuff. I know he could do it, but I'm not pushing him to do it. If he asks to do a lesson, I definitely do it. But I don't include it in his typical day. He loves doing dot paints and writing. He writes his name very well!! And could probably write every letter if asked. He is also very smart at math and will probably do very well with it. We still do preschool and he will be working on a winter book over these next couple months too.

Then there is Miss Colbie. Oh goodness. She is a stinker! She is persistent. She loves crawling everywhere! And picking up little things from the floor to eat...ugh, yea, that's been fun. 100% opposite of the other two. They picked things up and handed them to me. I have to constantly watch Colbie. But that's okay, I don't mind. :o) She is a mama's girl too. And still sucks those fingers. She loves almost all food. Loves pumpkin bread, cheese, veggies, fruit, pasta...really the only things she doesn't like are eggs right now. And a certain cereal bar. Oh yea, and cow's milk! She is standing a little bit now and starting to get confident in the possibility of walking...we will see when she actually walks. I predict by 15 months she will be getting there. She talks too, and understands a lot but listens when she wants to. She says sissy, thank you, balloon, da da, bear bear, bye bye, all done, baby, uh oh, eat, hi there, hi, all done, diaper, ju ju (juice), mmmmmm, and she grunts/clears her throat for nursing time. She signs, more, all done, light, fan, waves hi and bye. She nurses before bed (her favorite) and in the morning (soon to be done). She chows all the time! She loves her stuffed animals, her fav is bear bear and Violet. She also loves peek-a-boo and climbing on everything!!! And she is starting to love bath time again, finally!

Wow, so that update is long past due! I wish you all a HAPPY 2011!!!!!

ONE PIC

Here is one of our new pics from Shawna (Keener Photography). I tried uploading 4 more, but well, my computer didn't want me to. One of these days I will take a few minutes and update on us and the kids...

RANDOMNESS

So, I've been neglecting the blog. Here are two pics. My laptop is acting up so I can only use it for a few minutes at a time.

Colbie devouring her cake!


Halloween - before trick-or-treating!


More to come...

WOW

I am testing this out on my phone.

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COLBIE IS ONE

How can this be? How did I go from trying to get pregnant for 8 months, to having a 1 year old. I am absolutely astonished that she is one. It makes me happy that she is becoming a big girl and is starting to really talk and communicate and be curious...but where is that newborn baby I get to snuggle on the couch after I nurse her? I am happy-sad.

Colbie, you are so big. You are so smart! You are saying "bye bye," "hi there," "uh oh," "all done," "diaper," "sock," "da da," "mmmm," and you copy so many other words and sounds. You sign - light, fan, more, all done and you are picking up new words/signs all the time. As far as getting around - you love to crawl. You get anywhere you want to go and love to crawl up our two stairs. You get so angry at me if I don't let you!! You pull up all the time and have stood independently a handful of times. If we stand you up and try to get you to walk while holding our hands you bend your knees because you don't want to stand. You just want to crawl! It is so silly. I can't wait to see you chow your cake on Saturday. I know you will love it and eat it all up! You are also my tiny girl. You have your 1 year check-up next week, but are so small, yet proportionate. Everyone we meet says how friendly you are (opposite or your sister, she was shy and sober). You are smiley and friendly and outgoing. You are also feisty when it comes to diaper changes and me dressing you, socks and hats. You really want to be on the go! I love you sweet girl and can't believe you are SO big. XOXO sweet girl.

FOUR YEARS OLD!

Baylor, You are 4! I love how big you are. But don't love that you aren't a baby anymore. It feels like you were only a baby for like a week. You are so active. You have gotten more active and "boy" like this year. You constantly bounce off the walls and are moving and jumping and running and it's kind of nuts! You were so calm as a 2 and 3 year old and around 3.5 you started getting more rambunctious. I try not to squelch it, but there is a time and place for it and you are capable of listening when it's time to settle down. You still love blankie and duck. Blankie is now in 2 pieces, but you snuggle one or the other or both. You love duckie too. You sleep in your big boy bed still and share a room with sis. You nap from 2-3:30pm and sleep at night from about 9pm-7am (you go to bed at 8pm and lounge, and in the morning you lounge til 7:45am). You love trucks, cars, airplanes, trains, helicopters, semis, gators and everything and anything with wheels. You ask to play cars constantly. You still love reading books and pick out library books about cars, trucks and tools etc. You love playing outside and digging in dirt. You are also very good at riding your bike. You can run fast, jump and climb very well. You recently started becomming interested in coloring and writing. This is a first for you. You can write your name and all of the letters. They are just a tad big. You draw bikes, flowers and many other things. For your Birthday party we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Your close family was there to celebrate with you. You got make cars, a remote control Gator, Lego's, Trio's and a Go Blue outfit! You were so happy! XOXO, Love you sweet boy.

11 MONTHS!

Oh my goodness. Colbie, you are 11 months. I can't believe it. You are growing up so fast. You are so cute. You are crawling everywhere. You don't want to sit still, even for a minute. You taunt me during diaper changes by rolling over, or at least pretending to roll over while making squeaky noises... so silly! You say words - "night-night," "all-done," "uh-oh," "da-da," "hi" and I'm sure I am forgetting some... you dance do music and clap too! You eat everything and anything right now. You love beans, fruit, veggies, cottage cheese and cheese. You still eat the veggies I made and froze (and they are nice to have on hand for a quick meal). You love to feed yourself too. You are so in love with our dogs. You pick out dogs in our books too and "bark" at them. You are so much fun and love to play and pull up and be held by mama. You also love playing peek-a-boo with everyone by covering your eyes with a blanket or shirt. You are also very silly making snuffy noses and wrinkling up your nose. I love you sweet girl. Thank you for being so sweet, silly, sassy and so much fun! I can't believe we will be celebrating your ONE year in a month. Unbelievable!

SCHOOL

She was all ready! We went shopping together and she chose her outfit. She had been counting down the days!


Baylor is excited to start preschool.


Sweet girl.


So happy!


At their work area doing an ABC activity.


Far left is the kitchen area. Behind that is a cabinet with quiet activities, pillows and books for a quiet reading area (the tent/house). To the right is a car and block area (you can see the rug) and in the front is the market. Each area of this porch and of the house (I've completely organized all shelves, cabinets and rooms in the house) is labeled with a shape (you can see the red rectangle in the reading area). And by their desks I have a schedule for each of them so they know where to go when. That way I am also planning ahead. They love me "telling" them what "area" to go to next, and I love the structure.


Calendar and Circle time (this starts at 9am). We have an "idea box" we share ideas about the day and talk about the week, do the weather, day, month and year. And we also have a story.


Baylor uses Dot Paints for his lessons. They are cute and fun and short. I used the same book with Averie. They make many different ones but we love the ABC one.


I used a few different Kindergarten websites for Averie's lesson plans. She does work at the table from 9:30am (after circle time) until 10:30am (snack time). This activity was actually an ad from my Parents Magazine I had ripped out and saved.



** So the kids get up at 7:30am, have breakfast and then do simple chores (they put away their laundry, take the recycling to the mud room, straighten up their room, I think of something simple. Then at 8:30am, they check their schedule and do one of the 4 areas on the porch (a different one each day) until 9am (I am feeding Colbie, cleaning up from breakfast, drying/folding laundry etc.). Once 9am rolls around it is circle time. Colbie hangs out with us, or goes in her saucer or play yard. That goes until 9:30am. At 9:30am they head to the table for their planned activities (math, science, abc, writing, art), we usually have time for two (at least I plan for two). At 10:30am we clean up and (I choose a helper for the day during circle time, obviously it rotates) my helper serves snack. By now Colbie is napping (10-12) and we go outside or downstairs (we have a mini enclosed trampoline and toys down there too) to play for 30 minutes. At 11am the have a short activity (they check their schedule). At 11:30am we make lunch (my helper helps!) and eat at 12pm. After lunch it is blanket time (which means they lay a blanket out in the family room and get a few toys out to play with) and play yard time for Colbie. I clean up and at 1pm they do an activity (check schedule). 1:30pm is "book time." They each pick a book and we read (before naps/rest). On the way back to nap/rest we put away the laundry, brush teeth, potty, etc. and at 2pm Baylor naps (2-4) and Averie gets free art time in the craft room (aka the guest room, aka the scrapbooking room) until 2:30, then she rests until 3pm. Colbie naps at 2:15/2:30 until 4:15. At 3pm Averie gets up and we our reading lesson and writing lesson or workbooks until 4pm. And that is considered the end of our day. Baylor wakes up at 4pm and Colbie after that as well. That's our school day! We do this schedule Monday - Thursday. Friday is our field trip, errand, "fun" day. We might do a pottery wheel, go to the library, zoo, etc. So far everything is going great! I hope she loves school 6 weeks from now... :o)


Here are some silly pics from last weekend!


Sweet kids.