Holidays and birthdays around the corner

With Thanksgiving approaching quickly, the excitement can be felt throughout the house. The tiny humans are constantly asking to break out the Christmas stuff today, why didn't we do it yesterday?! I almost said yes the other day just so I wouldn't have to be asked again, but another week we will wait. Can't wait to break out the boxes and the tree and fill the house with yummy smells of Christmas. Oh and to finally have overly excited children begging me every single day, multiple times a day :)
Christopher will turn four years old right after Thanksgiving and I am a bit in awe of how quickly time has seemed to pass. I don't even know how he got to preschool, did I sign him up for that?? It is so wonderful to watch my little baby grow into such a handsome young boy. I feel so very blessed to have him in my life.
Daddy is currently working on building a train table for Christopher, as my son is off the height charts and no matter what train table he tests, he is too big. It is coming along great and I am sure it will be a big hit on Christmas morning!
This time of year always seems to pass so quickly. I hope to capture many great moments with the camera including a very incredible present form santa that I know the kids will scream and run in circles about, can't wait!!!
Have a blessed day!
Much love!

Fun filled adventures

We have our most favorite cousins staying with us for a while and we are having the time of our lives! We are taking advantage of being so close every day and loving all the adventures we have together. Pictures seem to speak louder than words so have a looksy.

This missing momma has just been having fun!

Maddy is now coming up on her one year birthday and I am busy planning for that some time in June/July. Christopher is headed towards the 3 and a half mark and I have been busy looking into preschools and finally got him on a waiting list for the school hubby and I picked. Swim lessons and soccer have kept us busy through the last couple months. In June Maddy and I will be road tripping it for a short visit to New Mexico and then back home with my sister in law and kiddos who bring great company and joy. I can't wait!
I have started my garden. Christopher helped me plant some peppers, lettuce and tomatoes. We have plans for carrots, corn and peas but had to hold off because we ran out of space! We are working on clearing an area for more yummy things but running out of time as it is getting hotter! I also have secret plans of a bonfire pit, I know Christopher would love to help play in mud and build with bricks!
We spend our days hiking, playing out doors, painting, drawing and playing various games like puppy and red light/green light. Here are some pictures of random fun-ness! Have a blessed day!

A push, fall, scoot method

Oh my dear Madelyn has turned six months and when I look at her I find myself thinking how did she get so big. We have entered the stage of introducing foods and mobilization. With Christopher I was not ready to introduce foods so we waited and waited and he seemed to be perfectly happy and content. And when Christopher was finally introduced it was a slow, slow process. It's amazing how different the two of them are already. Madelyn has been showing signs of food readiness since she noticed people putting and chewing food in their mouths. I held back. I just couldn't, my little heart was breaking just thinking about introducing a change that would break our bond, again.
You see Madelyn has already had other food. She had to be on formula for a month when I contracted MRSA shortly after her arrival. I was so so very sad. I cried and cried. I was angry, upset, sad, heart-broken, and in disbelief. I wanted the best for my baby and the best was not to expose her to such strong medications. So on formula we went. I prayed and prayed some more. I was scared. I scheduled appointments with lactation consultants and the pediatrician and a follow up with gp. But everything went so smooth. I ended up canceling the lactation appointments because they were not needed. Transitioning back and forth was as if it was completely normal. Wow, how great our God is! As I start to think about this next step, a step that is obviously so essential, I am a bit torn.
She is six months now and we have started the food journey. She loves eating food. She squeals and gets really excited and slurps the food off the spoon and doesn't spit it out ( like her brother did) and she is easy and seems to expect that if I am eating she will be getting her food too. I love that she enjoys this next step, it is so exciting. The fact that Madelyn enjoys bitting me when she breastfeeds makes me feel anxious for that first tooth to appear and much calmer about introducing new foods.
After she eats she loves to go on the floor. She gets on her elbows and pushes up onto her knees. The front of her body falls to the floor and in attempt to straighten herself out she scoots her body all the way forward so she lays flat again. She will continue this pattern until she gets to where she wants to go or gets tired and decides to roll to where she wants. I love getting on the floor with her and watching her push, fall, and scoot her way around. I am a very proud mama.