Still in the Beco;) Wearing a Toddler:)

Believe it or not, but during our recent museum and aquarium trips, Nate was on my back:)

I'm soo thankful that he's at such a fun stage but still small enough to be comfortably worn:) My oldest is 50+ pounds, so it's nice to have a couple more days with my 20+ pounder in the Beco!

I love that he's close and once he's settled into the carrier, I think he actually LIKES being at our eye level to see everything;)

That is until he falls asleep:)

Sweet!

I love my Beco:)

Lydia's Big Chop

Ever since her first (and last) trim, my little Lydia has been asking to get her hair cut "to my ears".

Why?... you may ask! Because she is tired of having to brush it.... LOL!! Obviously, I have attempted to begin to teach her some personal hygiene and hair care... but caring for super long hair lands on Mommie when you are only 4:)

Lydia was serious about getting her hair cut:) As we loaded into the van - Lydia, myself and my sister, Aunt Jac - Lydia was sure to mention that she wanted to be the first to get her haircut (I would have to wait for her!!).

So here is Lydia's BIG chop;)

The BEFORE : (unbrushed and just out of a bun!)

my {pretty} little girl... inside and out:) Brushed or unbrushed;)

ponytail donation cut

Getting her hair washed... a little nervous!!

 {funny} b/c I kept thinking about  her bathing with googles

Soo still and patient for the trimming;)

 

from the back;)

The After:

{happy} to be finished and with her hair

Smiling with the donation  {real}

That last picture is actually before {real}!! As we were heading out of the salon, the hair started coming out of the band.... we had a mess of hair all over the floor :(

We scooped up and shook out what we could... but I need to look into whether any hair donation place will take her locks... even if I try to straighten them??? Learn from us and secure that hair tight if you want your child to hold it :/

Anyway, it's super adorable!! The little girl bob, looks soo cute on her;) And best of all she likes it;)

It was definitely fun to have an afternoon out and about with Lydia and Aunt Jac;) I got some pampering, too! And then we headed over to Trader Joe's... what a treat to bring home soy ice cream sandwiches for the kids:)

Anna also had a "big chop" a few years ago when she was 5 and was able to donate it;) If you wanted to make a comparison... here is Anna's BIG snip from Aug 2009!!

Linking up to Wordful Wednesday @ and then, she snapped.

More Wordless Wednesday at  NapTime MomTog, 5 Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go,Mama to 4 Blessings, 

and any other linkys I find !!!

Stay tuned.... Haircut for Lydia coming Soon

Lydia has been asking for her hair to be cut SHORT, really SHORT;)

I asked her why she wanted it short and she responded that she doesn't like brushing her long hair;) LOL!!

Sounds to me like it's time to cut it... short;)

I'll try to post some pictures as soon as I can:)

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Chris: I want to live in our "new house" ** when Mommy and Daddy get too old to live there.... They are getting older and they will soon be my kids Grandma and Grandaddy.

Lydia: Chris, that means you will be a grown up, it takes a long time to be a grown up. We are just kids, we have a LONG wait until we can be grown ups.

Chris: Well, that is where I want to live when I am a grown up:)

** He is referring to the house we are hoping to move into when it's approved and done... sigh.... we've already started calling it "our new house"... but alas, it isn't that yet.... yet... sigh...

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On a recent bike ride, we were deciding whether to ride down to the river. It's a really pretty view and a really steep hill to peddle back up.

Anna offered her opinion,"It would be breathtaking..."

I realized she was talking about the steep hill that she would have to get back up... not the view :)

Then Chris pipes up,"Well then, I'll take it!!"... meaning he was ready for the adventure;)


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Our girls' hair is WAY too long. Lydia's is thin and seems to be easier to care for. But Anna has super thick hair that is getting harder and harder to brush through.

In frustration, while brushing out twigs and leaves from jumping on the trampoline, I told Brian we needed to cut off about a "foot" of hair.

Lydia was walking by. She overheard the converation and exclaimed, "What! You need to cut off her foot!!"

From the picture you can see that her hair is WAY long and definitely needs a trim (or something)!!!


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 I love this picture:)
She looks soo grown to me...

it's such a reminder that I will soon have a pre-teen on my hands! Oh, how quickly my "little" girl is growing up! And how many more moments I need to take to encourage her heart and pour love out on her... she's got such a beautiful little, sensitive heart!! And she's a super big help to me and so giving to her younger siblings!

Loving 18 Months:)

I took pictures to post for Nate's BIG 18 month milestone.... but in the busyness of life, the actual post got set aside :/

This month I realize why I love this age sooo much!!
I mean they are soo sweet and cuddly at the newborn stage!! And pretty easy to keep safe before they are moving!! And all the fun 1st milestones between 9 - 13 months!!

But for me... I love 18+ months!! When they are soo crazy curious about EVERYTHING!!

Sure, there are challenges! Times when I'm ready for nap/bedtime to come a little earlier;) But there are also plenty of times I just try to excuse the extra toys that are getting left around the house and enjoy this very fun stage;)

The Stats:

• Weight:
• Height:
•  Sometimes still gets a morning nap, but ALWAYS an afternoon one;)
• Size 24 month/2T tops and 18/24 month pants
• Size 6 shoes/boots :)
• Tons of teeth... just waiting for another set or two of molars

Favorite & New Foods:

•  Bagels is still a favorite
• Grapes
• Raw carrots
• Just discovered Green Pepper... loves them:)
• A Candy-holic... this is disappointing to me, since with my others I really held off on candy, but he's determined to eat what his siblings eat

New Tricks: 

• Climbing over the gate at the bottom of the stairs... now it just slows him down :)
• Dancing with his fits in the air... this kid has rhythm;)
• Following one direction at a time
• Taking us by the hand to lead us to where he wants to go
• He's not saying a lot new words, he'll "bark" when you ask him what a dog says;) or say "ouch" if he bumps a body part or falls on his bottom
• And "me", "my", "mine" are over used!
• He throws balls 
• He is trying to "jump"... soo cute to see him hop up but not have both feet leave the ground;)
  

Bad Habits:

• He's a taster... he will try to taste anything... ONCE

• He begs like a puppy...especially for snacks during meal prep or to be taken upstairs to the playroom
• He's loud;)
• He does a pout face when he doesn't get his way... he still usually doesn't get what he wants but it's such a funny little face
• He still hates having his teeth brushed, he does better when I make up a silly teeth song:)
  

Momma's Thoughts
Again, I just love this stage!

We're having to correct more... he's quite the rascal about getting onto the table, although now he's very destructive:) So that can be very challenging and keeps me on my toes:)

While he asks for stuff and will fuss, I've noticed that he's not very strong-willed. He'll be stubborn and try to pitch a fit, but it doesn't last long.... for which I am very thankful. I'm hoping some if it is his personality and possibly me "holding my own" !

He is The Entertainer!!! We have seen this side of him every time he has warmed up to visitors in our home or is trying to get his siblings attention!! He'll dance and dance!! Side across the floor backwards on his belly!! Anything that causes people to giggle at him... aka an audience!

My first shot is for Paper Momma's Fall Challenge.

And linking up to I Should be Folding Laundry: Fall:)