Week 24

We had a couple of fun things going on this week so I wanted to share it here. 

On Wednesday we spent the morning at Callie’s house. Right behind her house is her in-laws dairy farm that her husband works on. We spent the morning hanging out with a few friends from Mommy’s work. We had a great time Callie showed us around a little so that we could see what goes on. There were 5 cows that were about to have their calf's. The kids were able to pet the babies that were no more that 24 hours old. Katelynn loved that and loved being able to check out everything that she could climb on and touch. We saw their little chicken coop and Katelynn thought that was pretty cool too and so were he eggs that were there that the chickens had laid. Mark just chilled in the stroller checking everything out and was content enough with that. A friend was able to grab some pictures of the three of us and I love that you can see the impish little thing that Katelynn is when she doesn’t want to do something and is being a bum. I love her always. Mark was pretty happy just roaming around the lawn playing in the sand box. Callie set up a craft table for the kids. Katelynn did  little painting to pass the time,but most of the time was spent playing with others and having a really good time together. I had a really good time getting together with the other mothers and seeing that they have many of the same struggles that I do as a mom. It always is reassuring to know that many other people have a difficult time raising kids and just keeping up with chores, family, and working.

As we were loading up to go home from the great time that we had at Callie’s  she was told by her husband Kyle that one of the Mama Cows was going to deliver and we could head over to check it out. if we had time. We all stayed and watched the calf be born. From what Kyle told us afterwards was that they will watch the cows 24/7 for when they are pushing, When they start to push and the calf isn’t coming after about 30-45 minutes they will pull it out. Which is what he had to do with this one or else the calf would have died. Katelynn was right on up in there checking it out and seeing what was going on. She probably would have started pulling on the chain if there wasn’t that fence in her way. I the third picture she was asking, “What Doing?”

For Tara’s 11th birthday she had a Pool Party at her neighbor’s pool. It was 104 degrees that day so everyone was pretty happy to be in the pool. Katelynn was no different from last year except this year she wore her floaty for most of the time she was in the pool. Everyone was wondering what our little dare devil would be doing this year but she surprised them all with her mad swimming skills. Katelynn had a great time swimming and following Brynne around. Katelynn is Brynne’s little shadow and I don't think that Brynne really likes that idea. Katelynn jumped in to the water multiple times with and without her floaty on. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ekZtIBdI4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvNXie4g-Ks

Mark loved the water too. He just chilled. He loved watching everything that was going on and as soon as 5 o’clock came around he was ready to get out of the pool and eat dinner. Porter made it out to the pool after dinner and soaked up half the pool with his diaper! Uncle Caleb and family made it up for the weekend and had some fun with us too. Katelynn is pretty funny about cake and ice cream she loves to talk about it and look at it but doesn’t really eat it.

Right before Ben and I go to bed we get Mark up to feed him to have him sleep for the rest of the night. He will either be pretty sleepy or a smiley happy boy. Ben always likes to get him smiling and grinning after I finish giving him his bottle. Ben decided to get some pictures of this cute time and I love that he did. These are such precious pictures of a time that won’t last long. I love you my sweet and happy baby boy!

We spent the week doing what we normally do, or at least trying. There was painting, swimming, playing outside watching movies, and going to grandma and grandpa’s house.

Katelynn loves to take pictures with mommy’s camera sometimes I let her take some pictures and sometimes I don’t. Wednesday when we were outside I let her use the camera and she took some pictures of me and the dogs and the ground. I may get a kids camera for Christmas so that she doesn’t break mine.

Grandpa e-mailed me on Thursday looking for some-company from a couple of little people that usually come by once a week. Grandma said he was wanting to see how fast Mark was getting and they were missing their entertainment from Katelynn. So, Friday we headed over and spent the afternoon with them. Mark found Grandpa’s feet and used them to help him stand up. 

Katelynn was playing with her doll house and I was in the kitchen when I came to look in on her she had lined up her dolls so they could watch TV. Too bad only the dolls in front could see what was showing. 

Mark is Nine Months

9 MONTHS! WOW! You are such a big boy now!

You are exclusively crawling. Army crawling was a very short phase and you soon realized that you could get somewhere so much faster if you could get off of your belly. You have figured out how to crawl up and down the step in the living room. You do kind of just tumble back down, but you know how to catch yourself so, that you know what to expect. You can go from sitting to standing on almost every piece of furniture. You haven't learned how to stand up by the couch though, it is too soft for you to grab on to. That does frustrate you sometimes. Your favorite thing to stand next to is Katelynn's easel. You know that there is something for you to grab and play with. You have fallen over with the easel a few times too, but it has surprised you more than anything else. 

I feed you almost exclusively from my plate. When I try and give you soft baby food you usually end up just spitting it at me after a few bites. You are eating 30-35 ounces of formula a day, along with the three meals. You usually will want to have your bottles before you go to sleep. You usually don't fall asleep with the bottle you just like the full belly feeling to sleep. More and more of your 12 month clothes are getting too snug or too short. But your 18 month shorts are a little bit too big in the waist. I do like the 18 month clothes better on you so that your knees are covered while you are crawling everywhere. You have three teeth that are trying to make their appearance but they just don’t want to cut through. I know that it will happen any day now.

You know exactly what is going on when you hear the bath water. I will put you in the living room turn on the bath and in a minute or two you are peeking your head around the corner to see where it is coming from so that you can get in it. I will get you in the tub and you just start splashing away I get so soaked some nights, especially if both you and Katelynn are splashing!

You are a pretty happy baby you mainly start crying and fussing when you are hungry or tired or if you had fallen over. You are trying to play with Katelynn more but Katelynn doesn't really want you to play with her things. She has started pushing you and and trying to pick you up, both of which are a no-no. We are trying to teach her to be nice. 

You are starting to have a little more conversation skills. Last night you were grunting and I would say, yes, or uh-huh back and we did this for a few minutes. It was pretty cute. I think you liked it too.

Week 19

 I thought that I would share last weeks life. We had Katelynn's Birthday where we had two mini parties for her.

Cake. Since the moment you woke up this morning seeing the balloons and Birthday sign you have been asking to eat cake. So, we made the cake together today and we frosted it and you couldn’t wait to eat it. and you loved that it was pink too. Still when it was almost time for the guests to arrive you were starring at the cake through the dome wanting the cake. We sang Happy birthday and served the cake and ice cream and this is your piece of cake. You ate all the ice cream but didn’t eat the cake. Silly girl!

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOocsdjKlWQ

Grandma can put on a really nice little party. Once I told her that we weren’t planning a party but we would be over on Katelynn’s birthday I knew something was bound to happen more. Which it turned out great. I brought over our decorations and Grandma had some things that she picked up. I think the patio was really cute. Grandma made some cupcakes and found the game “Barrel of Monkeys and put the monkeys on the cupcakes. (You didn’t even eat the cupcakes Grandma made). Sarah came over with Max and Jesse after Kindergarten and had cake and ice cream with us. 

Later in the day when daddy came home you opened the presents that we got for you. I hope that you had a good Birthday and knew that you are loved and thought about by your whole family. 

 Mark I love the faces that you make when you get a hold of something soft. When you grab that Rhino you put it right up to your face and smother it. You are such a cutie. On Sunday you and Porter decided that the stethoscope was a great chew toy. SO you both got one end and chewed away. Porter is just learning to sit so Aunty Beth was helping him to sit.

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=delej-jo2Lw

I put Mark into his high chair for breakfast and gave him his sippy cup. Well, mommy didn't put the cup together right and when I looked back at hi he had all the water from the sippy on hi tray table and he as as happy as a clam. It’s water... he is happy... all is right in the world...

...the love that you have of cooking with me. It really is fun to have you in the kitchen with me, learning and helping. I try to let you do as much as you can like pouring in the measured items or turning on the mixer. When I am measuring things out for you to pour in you always tell me “Katelynn’s turn...Katelynn’s turn” because you don’t want me to pour it in you want to do it. I hope that you always have the love of cooking and creating good things. It is neat to see that I am teaching you things that when you get older you can say, “My Mom taught me...” I love you honey!

Katelynn is 3!!

Oh, my Little Katelynn your aren't so little any more. Three years have went by very fast. You are so amazing to me and such a trial for me. You love to test my patience daily and you usually succeed. You love to climb and play rough with me and I don’t like it and so you end up on time out a lot. Your vocabulary is getting better and better but still a work in progress. There are many things that you can’t or don’t know how to communicate so, that is a frustration for all of us. Some of my favorite things that I love hearing you say are: amazing, mmm... yelishous (delicious), never ever, eat you (thank you), Mommy, Okaaay, sleepy night-night, and baby waking up.
You LOVE to help me cook and I don’t mind the company most of the time. You are able to help and also make a huge mess at the same time. I try and let you do as much as you can so that you can learn but, I don’t want to clean the entire Kitchen after making dinner every night.
You also still have a huge love for water. If I ask you to wash your hands after eating you will go and wash your hands and then end up plugging up the sink so that the sink is full of water and bubbles.
Your best friends are Jesse and Brynne. You always get so excited when you know that they are coming over. I have to tell you a few minutes before they come that they are coming else you will be asking and waiting by the door for them.
I like to do learning activities for you and you have grasped onto some things but it seems that you learn it the correct way and then change it up to something that isn’t right. like your numbers. You know 1-13 but when you say them you say, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 12, 13 and will repeat 12 and 13 until you are ready to move on.
You like to play some of the games on my phone and will ask to play them. If I am using my phone for the Internet or making a phone call you will tell me, “Put down the phone now, mommy, right now.”
Your favorite show to watch is Curious George. You just love that monkey and will ask multiple times during the day to watch it. I try to get you to watch other things and you do, like, the Toy Story Series, The Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, The Princess Frog, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Sword in the Stone, and the Backyardigans.
You are currently potty training and it is getting better. You know how to hold your pee so that you don’t go on the floor but you won’t go on your own to the potty I have to see that you need to go and DRAG you in to the bathroom once you start going you are able to wipe and get dressed but sometimes it can be hard to even get you on to the potty. I know that it will get even better, it is just a work in progress.
I love you so much Honey and I hope that you always know that, I tell you I love you daily and I do mean it. Even if I am frustrated I do honestly love you with all my heart and never want anything bad to happen to you. You are always in my thoughts and prayers, you are the light of my life.

I love you!