january 2015 goals

Just like last year, I took a break from making an “official” goals list in December. I like taking the time to do a lot of holiday-oriented family activities. I think we really did a lot and had a great time!

Now I’m ready to jump back on the bandwagon and make some serious goals for January (and I’m posting this a few days late, so I’m proud to say that I’ve already started working on several of these!):january2015goals1. Deep clean the refrigerator.

2. Switch outgrown baby clothes for the next size/organize drawers/organize stored clothing.

3. Donate unused/unwanted items (I already have two bags of things ready to go… and I’m not done yet)!

4. Do a “double backup” of all photos from 2013.

5. Ab work 2-3 times a week.

6. Do one craft project.

7. Read one book.

back to reality/weekend

We enjoyed an entire week and a half of Daddy being off work and staying home with us over the holidays, but today he went back to work, so we’re back to normal daily life! Kaya had a hard time watching him gather his things to go this morning, but she did help him pack up his backpack (which was heartrendingly adorable) and wave to him at the door. We miss him for sure, but it is nice to start getting these little girls back into their normal routine.

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We had such a low-key week that we barely even left home, except for running! I have been loving the GPS watch Michael gave me for Christmas, and it’s had a lot of good use so far. One of the best perks of Michael being off work is that I could exercise whenever I wanted, for however long I wished. Having the watch makes it even more fun because I can change up my routes!
Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetWe had Jeff and Lelia over to play some games Friday night (and I didn’t take any pictures)! We also switched back to the afternoon schedule for church on Sunday (we swap mornings & afternoons with the neighboring town every year, since we share a chapel), which went pretty well, especially considering it was right during these girls’ nap times! It is still going to take some adjusting, though!
Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetHappy Monday from my (still toothless) little baby!

kaelyn: 6 months

(written December 31st)_MG_5975

Height: 27.25 inches (93%)
Weight:
14 pounds 4 ounces (16%)
Head Circumference: 16.25 inches (17%)
Clothing size: All 3-6 month clothing (except her Christmas pjs, which were 9 month size with room to grow). I think I’m about to switch her wardrobe out for her 6-9 month stuff really soon, though.
Eyecolor:
Steel blue.
Nursing:
Still every 2.5 hours or so. We haven’t started solids, and I’m not in any hurry to. Her pediatrician said she’s doing great, so we can take our time and start whenever we’d like!
Favorite things: Playing airplane, laughing at Kaya’s craziness, when Daddy pretends to “eat her up”, warm baths, snuggles, nuzzling noses, being swaddled, getting tickled, and yelling as loud as she can.
Dislikes:
Going to the doctor, apparently, because she screamed louder than I’ve ever heard her scream and went into complete hysterics before she even had her shots done! She also doesn’t like noisy environments with people she doesn’t really know… and getting her dressed/having her shirt put over her head. Other than that, she is an extremely happy baby!
Sleep: It felt like we (finally) hit a major milestone as far as sleep goes this month! She started sleeping from about 8 pm usually until anywhere between 4 and 6 am! Before we traveled for the holidays, she even had a few days in a row that she took a long (2 hour) nap in the crib. I haven’t gotten her to do that again, but we aren’t back to our normal daily routine yet, so there’s still hope. I used to always nurse Kaya before naps, lay her down, and she’d stay asleep. I nurse this little girl, and usually she wakes up as soon as I get up out of the rocking chair._MG_5613

Also, she is finally sleeping in the crib! We had to change Kaya’s routine a little (and put the baby gate in front of their room, since she still likes to get out of bed and sleep on the floor). The transition went a lot more smoothly than I anticipated. Kaelyn actually started sleeping better before we even moved her over to the crib, so it was just good timing. Sometimes I still put her back to bed in her bassinet after she eats in the early morning hours so I don’t have to disturb Kaya again._MG_5777

We also still swaddle her. I know that 6 months is a little old for this, but it works for now. She smiles so big when we wrap her up like a little baby burrito!Processed with VSCOcam with a10 preset Nicknames: Baba, Booboo, Little Elf, and KaeCake (which is how Kaya says “Kaelyn”!)
Milestones, etc.: -Finally, she ROLLED OVER! Yay. She is pretty much a pro now.
-She can almost sit up on her own. She’ll last a few seconds before toppling over! If she has the boppy pillow or someone supporting her just a little, she tries so hard to stay up on her own and does a pretty good job. I’m proud of my strong little baby!
-I’m amazed that she is now even taller than Kaya was at this age! Future volleyball or basketball player?
-All the baby milestone websites say that she should be babbling… she doesn’t babble so much as she YELLS at the top of her lungs! This girl can get loud! Sometimes she and Kaya take turns squealing at each other and giggling. Melt my heart!
-Besides the yelling, the rest of her language skills consist of “blowing raspberries” and making farting noises. She’s so good at it that sometimes I have to double check it’s really coming from her mouth!
-She’s started to suck her thumb!
-She discovered her tongue and loves to stick it out all. the. time!Processed with VSCOcam with a8 preset

Dear Kaelyn,

You are beautiful. I love everything about your sweet smile, round cheeks, and beaming personality. You spread sunshine everywhere you go, and I’m not exaggerating- no one can look at you without smiling._MG_5568 I always get the best, biggest smile out of you first thing in the morning. You’ll barely catch a glimpse of me out of the corner of your eye, and you just start beaming!_MG_5670I feel so blessed to be your mommy. Every single day with you is a gift.Processed with VSCOcam with a6 preset Happy Half Birthday, Sweetie!kaelynmonth6collage

happy 2015!

Happy New Year! I can honestly say that 2014 was one of the fastest years of my life… and also one of the very best. I’m almost a little sad to see the year end, because I can’t imagine how this next one can be any better.

I probably say something similar every year, but it really does just keep getting more and more fun.

Some of my favorite moments from 2014:

… announcing last January we’d be adding a second sweet baby to our family!_MG_1081… finding out on my birthday that we were having a baby GIRL!_MG_1363… our trip to Myrtle Beach (day 1, day 2, day 3, days 4 & 5)!_MG_2588… celebrating our 5-year wedding anniversary! 🙂_MG_2610

… meeting our tiny princess, Kaelyn Grace! (and having the amazing natural birth I hoped for: part one; part two)wpid-wp-1403926565011.jpeg

… Michael becoming an early-morning (very early-morning) seminary teacher!_MG_3684… watching my first baby blossom into a sweet, spunky two-year old!_MG_4346… dressing up as 101 Dalmatians for Halloween!2014-10-28_214317-2 - Copy… and celebrating our first Christmas as a family of 4!_MG_5890

Here’s to a great 2015!