Halloween

Our Halloween festivities began with spooky decorations.

Pumpkin carving the week of Halloween.

Cleaning off the pumpkins

Daddy and Connor's Zombie Pumpkin

Bella and Mommy's Kitty Pumpkin

Connor liked nothing better then helping
 to light the pumpkins up each night.

Trunk-or-treat with our ward, and a scary movie night watching Casper!

The kids insisted on picking old costumes

And of course Friday night we loved TRICK-OR-TREATING, with COUSINS!
(We loved having our visitors over to share in our Halloween night.)

Spiderman

Snow White

Princess Rapunzel

5/6 Months

UPDATE

Sydney is enjoying life and is just over 6 months, and now for an update on her this past month ...
She sits up for about a minute unsteadily, and then topples. She gets up on all fours now and rocks back and forth or lunges forward to get where she is going she is a master at the roll either way. And loves her new found movement capacities. She has tried cereal just once and other than not quite getting what to do with the food once it was in her mouth, she liked it. She has started this squawk when she is getting frustrated or hungry. We kind of love it. She is taking more of interest in Mommy and Daddy's whereabouts. And the squawking sometimes comes out when she can't see us. She sleeps at night relatively well, but wakes now earlier to eat around 4-6 AM and not falling asleep until 9 or 10. But attribute it, to all the adjusting we've been doing and with the move our routines are still cArazy! Hopefully soon she will be sleeping in her new crib, and going to bed regularly and earlier. (Hopefully everyone will ;) She likes to be swaddled at night still but we've started leaving her arms out of her swaddler. Which may also be whats causing her change in sleep patterns. Right now Syndey is wearing 3-6 mon clothing and still in size 1 diapers, but just barely. In terms of eating habits she gets about two 8 oz bottles a day, and is breastfed in between. Unfortunately she is proving to keep her reigning crown of spit up queen, which hopefully solids will help as well.

10/27/2014 - 6 Month Visit

She went in for belated doctors visit and considering we unintentionally skipped her 4 month check up it was past due. She got 4 vaccines and it was not fun. But after some sweet Daddy time she perked right back up.

Weight
11 lbs 11 oz (0.43 %)
Height
25.25 in (24%)
Head Circumference
41 cm (18%)

Due to her low weight she was put in the "Failure to Thrive" group, which is anything below 5% of the norm. To be honest I wasn't all that surprised or worried really. She is a good eater, and yes spits up a lot but she is a healthy girl just quite a small girl. The doctor wasn't too worried either and admitted that she looked healthy just sized around 4 months of age instead of barely 6. She urged us to introduce solids in hopes that it would increase her weight a little.






LIKES
Her new thumb discovery.
Mornings.
Sitting up in her stroller, like a big girl.
Going on walks.
She's fascinated by real food!

DISLIKES
She isn't a fan when Connor gets frustrated and growls at her.
Car seat.
Not a huge fan of rain on her toes.
She HATES when she sees Daddy wrestling with Bella (and Connor), Syd gets so worried and she goes crazy! Literally trying to jump from our arms to rescue them.

FAVORITES
Daddy loves when she sticks out her fat pouty lip, when shes sad. And he loves playing their game together: He lays down with her on his chest and her hands on his face and blows raspberries on them till she moves them and then she puts them back on his face and giggles for more.
Mommy loves when she rests her head on my shoulder and snuggles in. And I love her smiles while she eats, even if its because brother or sister is distracting her. And above all I love watching her accomplish something new and get that "I DID IT" face!

SIBLINGS

Connor loves squeezing her cheeks together and making her "talk". As Sydney gets older and a little more vocal he gets a little rougher and a little more frustrated. He loves patting her belly and singing to her still but sometimes his lullabies are shouts and are followed with "Please Mom Sydney's CRYING!" with hands over his ears as he shouts it. And since Sydney can get up on all fours now he loves running up to her and sitting on her like a horse, until I shout "OFF OFF OF HER NOW" in an extremely kind and motherly way of course. But that being said most mornings he enjoys giving her her morning bottle as he smiles at her. Mornings are her and his happiest of times.
Bella and Sydney have really bonded this month. Bella has started to show more of an interest and enjoys playing with her a little more and LOVES making her laugh. No one can get full belly laughs out of our Syd like Bella can. Syd adores her sister. Bella is SO gentle with her sister and enjoys holding her and rubbing her head. She brings her sister toys and makes sure Sydney knows she loves her, "pretty girl, love you".

She sure loves that tongue and we sure love her!

lookie here

look at my new trick
i just figured it out
i can sit up all on my own

and this is just the start

Oops I did it again...

I sure love this boy and feel so oh so lucky to be a part of his WILD life.

But I am thinking his teeth probably feel a little differently.

After a bump about a month or more ago I worried that his tooth might need to get extracted just as his last. But with moving and vacations we've been busy and he hasn't complained at all. 

Well finally I got around to scheduling that dentist, and the day before we go, Connor comes to me complaining of his "hurt tooth". And it is looking bloody and loose. He told me how he had just bit on a piece of candy corn with his "hurt tooth" hard. Well it only took a few more moments before his bloody little mouth popped out tooth number two.

Well so much for the dentist.

Dentist says all is well. 

I'm just hoping permanent teeth stay in a little better, because this boy is ALL BOY!

At least he doesn't miss it. He may be "toothless" but at least he's proud.

One Trip to the Mall

Saturday we had to make a trip to the mall for some new shoes.

Sydney got to ride in her stroller, like a big girl, for the very first time!

Penny wishing was our favorite part. 

Connor held the penny tight against his chest with both fists tightly wound together,

and then wished ... "I wish for video games", "I wish for more video games and a control."

(Side note: Connor has lots of uncles with video games and keeps asking for some and telling me Santa is going to get him them. For some reason I think he is going to be disappointed.) 

Bella enjoyed just plopping her pennies in. 

And the main event was our shoe shopping. 

Both kids were pretty pleased with their new shoes, 

but Connor was anxious to wear his right away!

And for the next few days he was telling EVERYONE about them!

We are still working on the right feet thing...

6 Years

It was 6 years ago and one day that we kneeled across from one another and were sealed for time and all eternity. I loved seeing you nervous and so serious so unlike your teasing self, it was a time of butterflies and elated anticipation. We couldn't stop staring at each other and we couldn't stop smiling; we held on to each other so tight. The whole day is a blur and yet it feels as if time has stopped and we will always be that young couple that has stolen each others hearts for now and for forever.

EST. 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

October 22nd came quickly this year, a midst all our new changes, life has been busy and exhausting. So dinner out and desert in, just us. was a welcome break. Simple, yes, but perfect. 

I loved you then but I LOVE you now!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Rainbow Party!

Bella Turns THREE!

For her birthday celebration we decided on a rainbow party for our rainbow princess who loves to point out rainbows and sing about them daily.

We started off with rainbow cereal (fruit loops), and rainbow donuts. 

While my Mom and I made the cake Auntie Am made the birthday girl and birthday brother crowns for the day. A special rainbow one for BELLS!

We played at the park afterwards and had bubble baths and naps before we headed to meet the Martins at Chick-fil-a for some extra playtime and nourishment.

When it came time for cake and presents we headed home.

And of course by then it was late and Bella got a little pouty.

And goofy.

Connor LOVED "helping" his sister open presents.  

Even if it was a little rough for big brother to not take over ...

Before long it was finnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnally time for the cake!

(Connor had been looking SO forward to the rainbow cake and would ask me everyday for about two weeks if I was going to make the cake and when we were going to eat it.)

So as you can guess he was VERY ready to dig in!

And Bella was obsessed with her presents she loved every one! As you can tell she was spoiled. 

Her new tea set, chapstick, magnetic leapfrog letter set, and puppy are a few of her absolute favorites!

(Connor has enjoyed watching her "birthday movie", Sleeping Beauty, on repeat. He loves it and the first time he reamrked, "She sings just like me." and "If only I lived there so I could have that sword I would always win but not kill dragons only if they're mean girl ones".)

(photo taken mid chap stick primping)

Her birthday was a hit! 

We love this 3 year old, she is such a sweet little princess and lives up to her "princess peaches" nickname from Daddy. Hopefully 3 is a year filled with happiness (and some obedience!) and a whole lot of joy!

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY BELLA!