9 Months for Molly!

Hard to believe 9 months has come and gone!  This past month was full of milestones for little miss Molly!  Girl finally got some teeth!  She decided to do two at a time like her brother liked to do too, so now she's got her two bottom front teeth.  No more yet, but there's still plenty of chewing on toys and waking up in the middle of the night to make me think more are coming very soon.  I thought since Molly started pulling up and standing sooner that she might beat her brother in the walking department, but looks like they'll be pretty close to about the same time.  Molly did take 2 steps on her own though!  This little girl loves to stand on her toes, so I think that is why the walking hasn't happened sooner.
   Turning 9 months meant a visit to the pediatrician for a well check!  Normally, this is a shot-free visit, but unfortunate for my winter babies that were born during flu season, it means a flu shot!  Girlfriend was not a fan, and unfortunately has to go back at the end of this month to get her second dose (should be loads of fun since her brother is getting one too!)  She did great at her appointment and we are so thankful to God for a healthy and happy baby!  Here are Molly's stats, which are pretty close to her big brother's at this age:
Height: 28.25 in. (52%)   Caden was 28.5 in. (58%)
Weight: 18 lbs. 10.4 oz. (57%)   Caden was 19 lbs. (38%)
Head Circumference: 18 in. (91%) Caden was 18.11 in. (79%)
   Sweet girl is still a super happy, easy going baby! I love that she smiles so much and so often for pretty much anyone. She takes 2-3 naps depending on the day and what's going on. She's started waking up during the night, but once those first 2 teeth came through, it made more sense as to why.  Hopefully, we'll get back to no interruptions, but sleeping all night was nice while it lasted!

Aggie game day ready!

Playing with the baby in the mirror at the doctor

Big brother teaching little sister about Noah's ark

Wearing Daddy's pajamas when he was her age, priceless!

Got to try a cupcake at a friend's birthday party
and girl was a fan of the icing!

Trip to the eye doctor to get those pretty peepers checked

Playing with her Great Uncle Kenny at his 80th Birthday

Sleeping in this awkward position

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."  2 Thessalonians 3:5

Molly @ 8 months

How we are here at 8 months already is crazy, but here we are!  To think that in 4 short months you will be a year old makes me sad because it's gone so fast, but then I feel like you've always been with our family, so how can you only be 8 months old?  This month you actually stopped army crawling and started what people would say is "typical" crawling.  I was firmly convinced you were going to army crawl forever, but you surprised me.  She also successfully climbed up our set of stairs all by herself, which is both impressive and alarming at the same time.
   No teeth yet still, which would make Molly later on her teeth arrival than her brother, but that's okay!  Girl has her own timing!  Still having middle of the night wake ups and wanting to start our day in the 5 o'clock hour, so I'm pretty certain those teeth are going to make an appearance soon.  At least, I hope they are, so maybe I can get some sleep:)  Eating food is going pretty well.  I'm only giving her baby food since she doesn't have any teeth, but girl seems to like most things.  Main issue is for her Momma to remember to feed her the food!  Poor baby #2!
  Your sweet smile is contagious and I feel like you show it more freely and easily than your brother did at this stage of life (and even now too!)  Still really easy, go with the flow, and don't care if your brother takes away your toys (though I'm certain you'll start having an opinion of disapproval soon and we are working with your brother on not taking things away from you).  Love you so much sweet girl!

These kiddos love their Daddy!

The beginning of pulling up and getting into trouble

Bath time with brother

Sweet girl went up all the stairs all by herself!  Yikes!

Quality time with Grandpa

Gane day ready!

Love my babies!

7 Months!

Molly I can't believe you are already 7 months and how much has happened in that time!  Your birth is becoming a lot more blurry than I expected so I'm glad writing this stuff down because there is no way I can remember it all.  I feel like this month the mobility bug has gotten you because you are not content as much just sitting still.  Those legs always want to be bouncing and jumping around even if you haven't fully figured out how they work.  Molly has become quite the army crawler and really good at rocking back and forth, so full blown crawling is very, very near.  She'll crawl with one leg for a step, but usually resorts to army crawling after that.
   No teeth to report yet,but you like chewing on your toys so maybe we're not too far off.  We've had a few middle of the night wake ups, which is unusual for her, so I'm thinking those teeth are working their way to poking out.  Big brother starting getting his at 8 months, so we'll see if you follow his lead or wait a little longer.  Sleeping is overall still fantastic!  Definitely better than your brother was at this point for sure.  We are still taking around 3 naps a day, but sometimes we can skip the evening one, which is usually just like a 30 minute cat nap.  Most of the time you are a tummy sleeper, but occasionally I see you on your side or back.  You have begun "talking" rather than just squealing.  Since Caden started swim lessons this summer, we have gone to the pool more often and you love the water too!  Your legs just kick and kick.  You don't seem to mind a quick dunk under water either!

Sweet girl!

Molly's 1st VBS!

Caden picked out her bow!  Some battles are not
worth fighting with a strong willed 2 yr old!

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

6 Month Recap for Miss Molly

So sure Molly is almost 10 months old, but free time to blog is hard to come by.  Nap times don't overlap for very long and at the end of the day, I usually opt for sleep (selfish I know!)  Molly is doing fantastic! At her 6 month check up:
Weight: 15 lbs. 11.2 oz., 41%  (Caden was16 lbs, 3.2 oz., 21% )
Height: 26.5 in., 74%  (Caden was 26.5 in. too!, 36%)
Head Circumference: 17.05 in. , 79% (Caden was 17.24 in., 59% )

At 5 months Molly started with oatmeal, so at 6 months we started with baby food!  Oatmeal definitely improved with practice and when Mommy remembered to give it to her (poor second baby!)  Just like Caden, we started with sweet potatoes.  At first was a little uncertain, but definitely a big fan after a few bites.  This girl just wanted some flavor!  Seeing how well she did with that, I stopped the oatmeal since the main point of it is to help them eat food.  Hasn't really hated anything, but green beans are probably the least favorite and sweet girl loves all the fruit she's tried.
   Of course a few days after your check up, you started sitting up on our own!  (I just hate saying no to the doctor when they asked if they're reaching various milestones, feels like I'm being graded or something's wrong with my babies).  This has made bath time and grocery shopping much easier!  You are so happy most of the time, which is wonderful!!

Pre-shot picture at our 6 month check-up

Yummy sweet potatoes!

No teeth yet and I can't feel any either, but you'll have a mouth full in no time!  You're full of smiles most of the time.  We love you so much sweet girl!

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

School Is Out For Summer!

Even though summer is almost over, I still wanted to write about Caden's first year of preschool!  Our little guy learned so much this year!  God blessed us with the perfect teachers who helped him get through the challenges of being 2, going from an only child to a big brother, and helping encourage me as a Mom as we tried to raise our sweet boy.  It's crazy to see how much he changed (both inside and out) in just one year!  When looking at his first and last day of school pics, I can see so much difference, but at the same time I still see him as his his first day pic (actually even younger if we're being honest).  His school ended the year with a sweet program and it was great to see how he just stood still in November and then in May was singing and clapping. I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED the scrapbook of pictures from all the fun he had throughout the year.

    Thank you Little Champs MDO and Champions Church of Christ for such a wonderful school! Our family loved having being a part of this school this year and we look forward to another great year this fall!

First and Last Day Comparisons!   Such a handsome little guy!

Yellow Day at school!

Show and Tell!

Fire Truck Day

Batman for Halloween Party!

Not a fan of Santa!

Muffins with Mom!

Easter Egg hunt fun!

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

Potty Training Thoughts

At the start of last month, we began the process of attempting potty training with Caden!  I'm a little nervous since I've never done this and want to make this easy as possible for everyone.  Here are some thoughts that have come to my mind:

Showing off his Ninja Turtles underwear he picked out

• Potty training is not for the weak.  It's hard work.
• 3 Day Potty training is a lie. (Now I won't say we didn't have some improvement after 3 days and I didn't do everything they say to do like wake the child up in the night, but we were far from being trained after 3 days)
• I felt like we'll be going to the bathroom every 20 minutes forever.
• This is probably the only time I've wished my kids went to day care so they would train him for me.  
• A plus of potty training is that it really does help you not fall behind on your laundry.
• Best advice I've received on potty training came from the kid's pediatrician who told me just to go at his pace.  Seriously helped in me not getting discouraged when not much has changed after 3 days.  In my opinion too this is the only way you will get true success.
• Thank you Lord for M&M's!  (A great incentive for the little guy indeed, but I could tell after a few days he needed a little more of something to help increase the motivation, so since he loves watching YouTube videos on my phone I would only let him watch them for 4 minutes every time we had success going to the potty)

Yay for M&M's!

• Going naked really does work.  I did the first 3 days putting him in underwear, but for Caden he didn't really see much difference between that and a diaper, so he just went when he needed to and wasn't grossed out enough by peeing and pooping in his underwear to stop.  After several days with not much improvement (we were peeing no problem when we'd go every 20 minutes, but that was about it), I decided to try the naked route and I'm not sure if Caden was actually catching on to potty training or if the no clothes was the trick we needed to help him figure it out.  Probably both, but I honestly think the going naked route helped us make a huge amount of progress to becoming fully potty trained.
• You think you've perhaps mastered one area only to have accidents the next day.
• Just because there are accidents doesn't mean he's not getting it.
• You still have to make him go even if you ask and he says no.  (Finding the balance between making them go and waiting for them to realize it before an accident is a hard one)
• Don't overload their little minds with too many instructions at once.  Once I felt Caden was somewhat getting it and we started back on underwear/pull ups, he would just start pulling off his pants wherever he was and run off naked to the bathroom.  Not ideal, I know.  My thought process was let's focus on going in the potty not our pants and then we'll get to not taking your clothes off until you're in the bathroom.
• I've seen a lot of kids get some big present when they've become potty trained, but my personal opinion is that the parents deserve a nice dinner not the kid. (We'll probably do something for the little guy, but seriously Momma deserves the big gift here!)

Graduated to underwear, but when you don't have much notice
on when you need to go, minimum amount of clothing is best!

After almost 2 months of potty training, we are doing pretty good.  Nap time/Nights I put him in a pull up and about half the time he stays dry, but I think that is just luck.  My personal thought is if we haven't fully mastered day time when we're awake how can I expect it when you're asleep?  Maybe that's wrong, but like I said this is my first go around.  When we go to church or out for a bit, I will usually put him in one then too just in case there's an accident, but he's been doing well staying dry then.  At home he does great and I don't have worry too much, so we are getting there!  I'm hoping by the time school starts in September, we will have a good hold on it.  Not sure when I will feel like he truly gets it and accidents are a rarity, but I look forward to that day and I know we will get there!

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

5 Months

                        
How this sweet girl is already 5 months old is beyond me!  Time just keeps flying and this little one is growing up so fast!  This past month you figured out how to roll from your back onto your tummy. You don't do this super often, usually when I've left the room.  You also tried oatmeal for the first time as well.  While there wasn't a dislike, you weren't quite sure of what to think.  More I think dribbled out of your mouth than was swallowed, but we'll get there.  No longer do you stay in the same place!  You are either rolling or pushing off somewhere!  Perhaps crawling is not as far off as we think!  Your brother absolutely adores you and must go with me to get you out of your crib in the morning.  If I don't let him run up the stairs and into your room first to peak over your bed to say "Hi Molly!"  there is an epic meltdown.  He always wants to know where you're at if he doesn't see you!  Glad to see he's taken his big brother role seriously, but we knew he would!  Still an easy, go with the flow baby (thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!) who sleeps all night and smiles at everyone.  Not sure about your height or weight since we didn't go to the doctor, but already started putting you in some 6 month clothes, so we are definitely growing.  Love you sweet girl!!

Mother's Day 2016 (Caden inherited his Daddy's love of taking pictures)

The plus to having 2 kids almost 2 years apart exactly is that Timehop let's me
compare their pictures at about the same age.  Caden on the left, Molly on the right.

Big brother didn't want to be left out, so he asked
 to sit next to you with his bib on too!

Visiting Mitt in the hospital where we learned she has Leukemia.
Seeing this sweet girl and her brother definitely brought a smile to her face though!

She makes my heart so happy!  

"Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..." 1 Timothy 6:12

4 Months for Miss Molly!

Another month has come and gone?!  How has it already been 4 months with this sweet girl?!  Miss Molly is still the sweetest little girl!  Very laid back and easy going gal still (THANK YOU!).  Gold stars in the sleep department, though we've had the occasional early wake up call. You're very mch a go with the flow kiddo, which makes this ideal for your big brother!  You cat nap here and there, but I'd say you take at least 3 naps a day.   You absolutely love it when people talk to you!  Sometimes when you're needing some attention, you'll start to get fussy, but once we start talking to you, the fussing stops.  She's been able to roll from her tummy to back for awhile, but doesn't do it all the time.  Girl has to be in the mood to do so.  On her terms, not ours, which is so her brother.
   Turning 4 months meant another trip to see our wonderful pediatrician!  Molly is doing great!  Even though she did gain some good weight, we are going to continue the extra formula in her breast milk/formula that she is drinking for another couple months.
Height: 24.5 in (53%)                    (Caden was 25 in.=34% )
Weight: 13 lbs. 1.9 oz. (27%)        (Caden was 13 lbs. 9.6 oz.=10%)
Head Circum: 16.26 in. (71%)      (Caden was 16.73 in.=71%)

Battle scars from her shots (not a fan!)

Here are some more photos of our sweet girl living and loving life at 4 months:

Rodeo Day at school for Caden, sister had to dress up too!

Wearing the outfit her great grandpa (aka Pawpaw Ben)
 got when we were pregnant with Caden because he thought we were
having a girl.  He knew one day we would though!

First Sunday in Bible class!

A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Easter 2016

Even though it's come and gone, and now seems so long ago I wanted to blog about our Easter fun!  Caden got to do 4 different Easter egg hunts between family, friends, and school!  At the first one, he took more of a leisurely approach walking slowly, looking at each egg before carefully placing it in his basket, and then moving on to repeat the process.  By the last egg hunt, he was racing trying to find as many eggs that he could and throwing them into his basket.  We visited the Easter bunny at the mall, and Caden was TERRIFIED!  Since Molly was here this year, there was no way for the bunny to hold both a tiny baby and a screaming/flailing his body all around toddler.  I pretty much pushed him as close as I could towards the Easter bunny without making it into the picture (because of course I was in jeans and a t-shirt not nice clothes like the kiddos).  We tried dying eggs, which was definitely an experience with a toddler who didn't quite understand why you couldn't just drop the eggs in the dye with all his might. All in all, it was a lovely holiday with our wonderful family!

Easter Egg hunt #1

Dying Easter eggs is definitely interesting with a toddler

Wise move to do this outside and without a shirt

Celebrating Easter at Grandma & Grandma's house

Molly and her cousin Olivia (who's 2.5 wks. younger)

Grandma got the perfect gift for our little singer, a microphone!

Miss Molly at almost 4 months

Our big boy Caden at 2 yrs. old

The only year our little girl will
actually fit in her Easter basket

Color coordinating Easter Sunday outfits!  

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 15:56-57