Saturday, September 28, 2013

Sip N Doodle

For my birthday, Mike and I went to one of those painting studio sessions at Sip-N-Doodle in Plano.  It was hard to believe we'd actually be able to paint anything that looked decent enough to hang in our house, but their process was fantastic and a lot of fun.  Mike painted the New York skyline, and I painted a peacock.

Before:


During:








After:

  

At the end, our instructor took our picture holding our paintings, but for some reason it didn't come through our email, even though I watched it go and verified the address.  Since I thought they'd been sent, we didn't take any on our phones.  Oh well, I guess we'll just have to go back and do it again.  We had a great time.

Good News, Bad News

Several weeks ago, Aunt Amy read Mikaela a story called, Good News, Bad News. It is a great story to teach children to look for the positive (good news) in the midst of a disappointment (bad news).  Since then, we (mostly Aunt Amy) have taken situations in Mikaela's life to do this "Good News, Bad News" idea.  On Wednesday, the idea seemed to stick.  As a "treat" for finishing her dinner, she was going to have some popcorn.  Daddy was making it while Mommy bathed the kids.  Unfortunately, for some reason, the popcorn didn't cook right and was therefore ruined.  It was the last bag of popcorn we had.  However, since my birthday was the next day, Daddy had also gone to get cupcakes so we had one of those too for her.  When Daddy told her about the popcorn, and then the cupcake, this was Mikaela's response to me.

"Mom, the bad news is the popcorn is all brown and yucky, and we can't eat it.  The good news is Daddy got me a cupcake!!!"

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Strike a Pose

"Take my picture" is a common phrase heard around our house these days.  The poses she strikes are all her own.  

because Cocoa needed her picture taken and couldn't be in it alone

She wanted some pictures in front of the cows in Plano.

requested after church one day


wearing her new headphones

before dance class

just because


Musically Minded



6 months old


On Wednesday 9/18, Nicholas turned 6 months old.  I wanted to wait until after his doctor's appointment to post so I'd have his stats, and then he was fussy for 6 month pictures until today.

Stats:
Weight 15 lbs, 3 oz (15%)
Length - 26.5 (50%)
Head - 17.25 (50%)

Eating: His weight growth has slowed significantly since his 4 month appointment.  About 2-3 weeks ago, his reflux started to come back with a vengeance.  He couldn't nurse longer than 2-3 minutes (normally nursing 7-8) and could only take 2-3 ounces from his bottle at Mariel's before stopping to gag/cry, often times spitting everything up.  He had been on a half-dose of medicine, but after advice from the doctor, we put him back the full dose.  It is helping as he seems to be taking his full bottles again and nursing 6-7 minutes now.  We will try to give a little formula, but he hasn't ever been a fan of formula so that may not go over well.

He's been eating rice for about a month, but he doesn't really like it and gags a lot.  That may also be a reflux thing.  We have started sweet potatoes and he isn't super excited about it yet, but we try every day.  He seems very interested every time we are eating, so I think he wants to eat, just doesn't quite get it.

Sleeping:  He goes down between 7:30 and 8 and sleeps till 6 am with one wake-up.  The wake-up time varies.  It's usually about 10pm, but sometimes it's midnight or 4.  He takes 3-4 naps a day.  He naps twice with Mariel during the day for about 1.5 hrs each.  Then he naps on the way home in the car and occasionaly in the morning on the way.

He has one bottom tooth and I think another bottom and two top are close behind.

He is almost a crawler.  He definitely has figured out a way to move forward, but it isn't crawling.  He has gotten up on his knees, and pushed up on his hands, but never at the same time, so no rocking motion yet.  His feet tend to be the instrument of propulsion.  He rolls a lot, too, as his mode of transportation.

He says a lot of baba, mmmm, and uubb.  I'm sure that means, I love you, or Go Rangers or Gig 'em or something.

He still likes his bouncy/vibrating seat & jumper, but seems to like the activity mat best, though he never stays on it.  He's pretty good at picking up toys and chewing on them.

He can sit up for a few moments when placed in a sitting position.

He smiles and laughs a lot.  He also cocks his head to the side a lot.  It is adorable!

He's a really easy going baby, even when  he doesn't feel good due to reflux or teething.   We are enjoying all he's learning to do.

And now what you really want to see:








the classic rear in the air sleeping position




sitting up all by himself


cute cocked head



Sunday, September 15, 2013

Fun with Mariel

While Mom and Dad work, Nicholas and Mikaela learn lots of things and have a great time with Mariel.  She is such an incredibly blessing to our family.  We are so thankful for her!



Making cake balls