kaelyn: 7 months

Posted on January 31, 2015 by tara

(written January 28th)

Height: 26 inches (according to our measuring, which doesn’t make any sense compared to her last two recorded heights… but that’s what we got, so I’m going with it.)
Weight: 15 pounds exactly!
Clothing size: All 6-9 month stuff! Although I can still squeeze her into 3-6 month onesies and pants if needed (aka when she has a leaky diaper and that’s all that’s in the diaper bag…)
Eyecolor: Deep steel blue. I read an article that claims you can tell if a baby’s eyes will change color by looking at them from the side (which allows you to see the color without a reflection from the back of the iris). If the iris looks blue under this method, they’re likely to remain blue. Well… I tried it on Kaelyn a few times, and hers are crystal clear, which would mean that there’s little or no melanin present… but like all things, only time will tell. It’s just fun to guess, and I thought that random fact was fun to include!Nursing: It sure feels like she goes a lot longer between feedings… I’d guess it’s still about 2.5-3 hours. We also gave her just a taste of peanut butter (per our pediatrician’s recommendation to help prevent an allergy later in life), but she didn’t even acknowledge it- no lip smacking, no grossed-out face… nothing! Other than that, she hasn’t had any solid food yet.
Favorite things: Playing airplane, kicking her feet in the bath, laughing at Kaya, and crumpling up paper! Favorite toys are her Valentine puppy and duck teething ring.Dislikes: Getting buckled into the car seat and getting her shirt slipped over her head.
Sleep: She goes to bed around 7:30, and usually wakes up to eat between 2-3 am. I wake her up around 6:30 to feed her again before I go run. Sometimes she stays awake after that, other times, she goes back to bed. I’d also like to note that we stopped swaddling her, and she did just fine.She has even started taking real naps! For the first part of the month, she’d take one around 10 am, for about 1.5 to 2 hours. I don’t know what changed, but now, she gets tired, passes out nursing, and wakes up as soon as I lay her down. So much for a morning nap, but I’m not complaining, because by 1 pm, she is more than ready to go down at the same time Kaya does. I set up the pack-n-play in my room for her to nap in, and I added some padding (the mat it comes with is hard as a rock, and I think it might’ve been why she wouldn’t nap long in it before). I put her sleep sack on, nurse her, and give her her favorite blanket, and the past few days, she’s been napping for about 2 hours. She apparently just needs to be tucked in really well!

Nicknames: Baba, Angelbaby, Fuzzy, Princess, Monkey, Kaecake.Milestones, etc.: -She’s sitting up for (very) short periods of time. She still topples over a lot, so I put the boppy pillow around her to help her.
-She easily transfers objects between each hand.
-She is a wiggler! She can wiggle and “throw” her body toward whatever she’s trying to see or grab. I still seem to think she’s my tiny, helpless baby, so these crazy moves catch me off guard every time! -She understands peekaboo and LOVES it!
-She still doesn’t have true “stranger anxiety”. I can hand her over to anyone and she’s all smiles!
-She’s hardcore and can do a sit-up all by herself!
-She loves looking at herself in the mirror (I almost always let her see herself right after we get jammies and her sleep sack on)!
-We have “squealing” conversations. She’ll say “ahhhhhh!” and I’ll say it back. We keep going like that for a few minutes, and she smiles from ear to ear the whole time.

Dear Kaelyn,

You are the light of my world! I love how much you love to snuggle and be held, and I’m secretly wishing you’ll always be a mama’s girl.

Everyone comments on how calm and relaxed you always are. I definitely brag about your easy-going nature- you’ve made this mommy-of-two gig pretty easy for me, and for that, I am SO grateful.

I say it every time, but I really mean it now- this has been the fastest month yet! In a way, I wish I could freeze time and keep you exactly as you are- giggly with all those adorable baby rolls all over your body. I also love the way you crinkle up your nose when you smile real big. _MG_6258

Most people still say you look like your mama. I think you got the shape of my eyes and my dimples, but other than that, I think you actually resemble your daddy! Either way, you are truly beautiful.

Happy 7 months Baby Girl!

five on friday! (01/30)

Posted on January 30, 2015 by tara

ONE. Our biggest news of the week has to be that little Miss Kaya is officially undergoing potty training… and it was all self-initiated! She just started asking to go sit on the potty… and keeps having success! She’s still currently wearing her diaper, but hey, we’re making progress, albeit slowly. I am so proud of my big girl! She gets a sticker on her paper every time she goes.

TWO. I have finally figured out how to get Kaelyn to nap in the afternoon! I tuck her in all cozy and warm, and she sleeps for about two hours. It is so strange having a couple hours all to myself… but it’s great, and everyone is happier when the baby is well-rested! 🙂 THREE. In my attempt to stop eating cookie dough in the middle of the afternoon, I’ve started having yogurts. These cookies-n-creme yogurts might not be much healthier than ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies… but hey, they taste amazing (and who could pass up a 35-cent snack?)! FOUR. I’ve been wishing for a bigger crockpot for ages now, and I saw a deal on one last weekend on Amazon. I got excited, but like always, I hesitated to order it, because I truly don’t like spending money (especially for something I want). Michael went ahead and just ordered it for me, and it came this week. I married a pretty great guy… and I can’t wait to use this for making homemade “rotisserie” chicken! (also, is there anything cuter than a baby in a box?) FIVE. Love these little buddies. They are best friends, and I’m grateful for their company in the kitchen while I cook. (and yes, Jax is always lurking in the background… haha!)Happy weekend to you all!

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

playing zoo

Posted on January 28, 2015 by tara

Something I still haven’t really mastered since having a second baby is carving out some one-on-one time with each of them. It’s so easy to get caught up in all that needs to be done, driving all over town, and completing chores, that more often than I would like to admit, the day ends and I’m left wondering if we had any good quality time together.

When a few quiet moments present themselves, I’m more than eager to get down on the floor and play.
Yesterday, Kaya and I built a mini “zoo” out of blocks. She was so excited and started putting her animals inside the fence right away! She’s growing up so fast and the way she plays is changing, too- she actually pretended the animals were climbing the walls, running, eating, and drinking!
Just a few minutes with her mommy all to herself meant the world to this girl. The best part is… it meant a whole lot to me, too.

weekend highlights

Posted on January 26, 2015 by tara

By the time the weekend gets here, we’re usually too wiped out to do much of anything… so we lounge around at home and just enjoy getting some much-needed rest! This weekend was no exception… but I did squeeze in a nice run (through wind and snow flurries)! It always feels amazing to do a little more than my standard 4-miler.Our girls took great naps on Saturday afternoon (a miracle, truly!), and the rest of the time was just spent laughing and playing with them. I love days like those.

Usually, we pick up the lady down the street on the way to church on Sunday. Our car seats 5 people, so that means I get to squeeze in the back. These goobers love when mommy rides with them!
Afternoon church is still hard because of how it affects nap time… but we keep pushing on, and somehow, we all make it to the end of the day! We have a 10-minute drive home, and this is what I saw when I parked the car… poor tired babies!A family from church invited us (and Jeff and Lelia, too!) over for dinner last night. We had some delicious enchiladas, and Kaya even ate, which doesn’t always happen when we eat somewhere other than at home. I brought my favorite chocolate chip cookies, and we had a great time.

Happy Monday everyone!

a whole lot of lately

Posted on January 22, 2015 by tara

We haven’t been up to anything too crazy lately, other than trying to survive these dog days of winter. We’ve been making the most of our small family activities, which helps the dreary days go by a little more smoothly! I keep daydreaming about spring, taking walks, and playing on the playground… but we still have a little while before then!

Last week, we had a family date to Dairy Queen… one of our favorite places for sure! We tried the new Birthday Cake Oreo blizzard, and I’m telling you, it tasted just like eating a can of frosting. A delicious, amazing, dreamy can of frosting. #yesIjustreferredtofrostingasdreamy We’ve made more whole wheat waffles (with a cup of chocolate chips added to the batter) in the past two weeks than we probably have in the past two years. I have to give Michael credit for making a few batches (and adding sprinkles or M&Ms to make these even more fun)! Kaelyn has been blowing “raspberries” at us nonstop lately…And the rest of the time, we’ve just been super sleepyheads. Last Wednesday, both girls took a very long morning nap… which is so out of the ordinary, especially for Kaya! My only guess is that there may be some growth spurts going on. Nevertheless, it was nice to have a few quiet morning hours!Michael came home on Wednesday night and passed out on the floor. Kaya tucked him in with her Olaf blanket, and then proceeded to lay down on top of him!We ended the week with this incredible Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread I made for seminary breakfast on Friday! It was just like a coffee cake, but so much easier! I doubled it and baked it in a 9×13 pan.What’s your favorite thing to bake in winter?

she is my joy

Posted on January 21, 2015 by tara

The morning is new, the sun barely risen. She stretches, opening her eyes barely a sliver before catching sight of me. The world’s biggest grin dances across her lips. She’s been with me throughout various hours of the night, but seeing each other for the first time at each new dawn never loses its magic, for either of us. I live for moments like that.

She quietly nurses. Her dimpled hands grab at my shirt, and when she finishes, she lays her head up against my chest. There is no closeness like this one.

She wants nothing more than her mama. I am her source of comfort, peace, and nurture. She is my source of joy.

kevin and tori come to town

Posted on January 20, 2015 by tara

Kevin and Tori flew in from Utah last week! They spent the first half of their visit on the east coast, but they came to town on Thursday afternoon to spend a few days with us. We had a fantastic long weekend filled with family time, good food, and even a little sleeping in!

I was so super excited for them to meet Kaelyn for the first time! It’s safe to say that this baby just keeps stealing hearts. Grandpa snuck some cuddles in with his “petunia” (as he calls every baby) too! Thursday night, we ordered pizza and played “Blurt!” (which is really more like “YELL!” when I’m playing it… whoops)! Michael and Lelia had to work on Friday, but the rest of us enjoyed Xbox (Kevin and Jeff), a Mario Kart tournament (Dad and me), and just plain old relaxing.Dad and Jax had a couple of really intense wrestling matches. When he wasn’t playing, my lap dog was cuddling up to (and all over) everyone.
Grandma had a lot of great snuggles, but Kaelyn still refused to nap for most of the weekend. Oh well. Friday night, we went to Red Robin to celebrate Kevin’s birthday! Nothing like free dessert on your special day. Saturday was pretty relaxed. Grandma has some serious skills, balancing both babies on her lap while helping Kaya eat her yogurt!The final thing we did before everyone left was take a family picture! The last time we were all together was Thanksgiving of last year, so it was high time for a new one. It was a warm day compared to what we’ve endured lately, and luckily, the wind held off for a few moments. The light could not have been more perfect… and I think we all clean up pretty good! 🙂
Everyone left to go home just before dinner time, and all the festivities (and lack of napping) finally caught up with my babies. Kaya passed out in her seat during dinner!If that’s not a sign of a good time, I don’t know what is. Hopefully we can all do it again real soon!

from moments to memories

Posted on January 16, 2015 by tara

The blog has been pretty quiet this week, mostly because all my allotted computer time has gone toward putting together my 2013 photos for a printed book. I’ve gone through almost all of that year, retouching some and choosing favorites.

As I sift through this conglomeration of moments, I, of course, start feeling a little sentimental. How has so much time passed so quickly? Our everyday life has changed so much in the past two years. What once were ordinary occurrences are now some of my favorite memories.

I’m grateful for all those times those little arms wrap around me. All the late nights nursing a baby back to sleep. The laughs and squeals only a daddy could get out of his little girls.

Life (especially with little ones) seems to go fast and slow all at the same time. It’s easy to focus on the minutes… but here’s to cherishing the moments a little more. In the end, I think that’s what’s going to matter most.

one more christmas post

Posted on January 11, 2015 by tara

I know Christmas was practically eons ago now… but I have one more post to finish up!

The day after celebrating Christmas at home, we headed out to visit with my parents! It was great to spend some time with them, but my brother had already come and gone, so it was strange to do our Christmas festivities without him.

We arrived in time for dinner on Friday night, and then we all opened presents. Kaya got a little Olaf and Sven! I might have been more excited about them than she was! 🙂
Kaelyn gets pretty excited about new socks…
My dad surprised Michael with a new helicopter!
Kaelyn loves my mom and even took a few naps on her. She didn’t sleep very well at night during our visit, so these naps were very necessary. Kaya only napped in Daddy’s arms while we were there… (with her new Olaf blanket!) My mom also made a delicious pot roast dinner for us. Seriously… there is nothing like your mama’s cooking. Mmmmm. My aunts stopped by for a little while, too, and Kaelyn really loved Auntie Carol!It really was a great holiday, and I’m so glad we were able to celebrate (a total of three times!) with all sides of our family!

five on friday: pigtails, a sleepless night, and a polar vortex

Posted on January 9, 2015 by tara

Happy Friday! I haven’t linked up for Five on Friday since October… so I’m excited to jump back into it today!

ONE. Kaya’s hair seems like it’s grown SO much over the past few months, so this week, I decided to try and see if I could actually do something with it. I wasn’t disappointed to find that she now has enough hair to make two adorable, tiny pigtails! We video chatted with Daddy to show him right away. Having her hair pulled back makes her look so much older! We also tried out a side ponytail (and what you can’t see very well in this picture are her fuschia corduroy pants… helloooo ’80’s fashion)! TWO. This little lady seemed to forget what sleep was on Wednesday night. I stayed up too late working on getting my photos backed up, and not 15 minutes after I crawled into bed. She was awake and wouldn’t stop crying until around 6:30 am when I finally brought her into our bed. At least she woke up happy! THREE. I never knew what a polar vortex was until last year, and now it seems like a phenomena destined to repeat itself every winter! We were hit with one this week, so I enjoyed cuddling up inside with my babies. It’s so easy for me to get cabin fever during this winter weather, though. FOUR. I’ve been going through “old” photos to get them backed up/print albums, and this series of my brother from last Christmas had me laughing. I call it “just keep taking pictures until he finally smiles”! He and Kaitlyn came over for dessert and games on Monday night, and we had a good time.FIVE. My birthday is in just under five weeks… and I just keep dreaming up all these different cakes I could have. Right now, a cookie dough cake is ranking high on the list!

Tara Irwin’s pin on Pinterest.