Claire - One Month

Claire is already a month old (technically 5 1/2 weeks as I write this, oops)! She has grown so much already and I can't believe we have a 28 month old and a 1 month old. Life is certainly crazy now but we are adjusting to being parents of two. It's so weird to say "the kids." Claire is such an easy going baby and a great sleeper. At 5 weeks she did her first 8 hour stretch from 8:30pm to 5:00am and has done that twice now. Yay Claire!

8lbs 12ozs
21.5 inches
0-3 month clothes

"Sleep" date with Berkley

Proud of her Cyclones

Loving the tubby

Great Grandma Marilyn's Visit

My mom picked up Great Grandma Marilyn from Waverly and brought her to Ankeny to meet Claire and see Elliott. We had such a good time just sitting around and talking. I think Grandma Marilyn really enjoyed herself.

My Cousin Hannah

Great Grandma Marilyn 

(Hannah's little boy, Isaiah)
Grandma Linda: Elliott, what are you guys doing?
Elliott: We are having a party. 

High School Friends

I heard that one of my best friends from high school was pregnant and due just days apart from me when I was 4 months pregnant. Although we haven't stayed very close since high school I was still very excited for her. Once I found out that we were moving back to Iowa I was even more excited because that meant I was going to have a friend to spend maternity leave with! Our baby girls ended up arriving just 3 days apart! We've gotten together a lot and although our conversations have changed from what boys we are dating to the color of our baby's diapers, I am so excited to pick up our friendship where we left it 10 years ago. 

Claire (July 23rd) and Berklee (July 26th) 

Coffee date 

Mommy's and their baby girls 

Lunch date 

Elliott - 28 Months

Elliott had a big month getting to meet his baby sister, Claire. He absolutely adores her and asks to hold her a lot. He is really starting to carry on full fledged conversations with us...sometimes he talks too much for Mom and Dad's liking. His favorite thing to do right now is ride his balance bike. He is really good at it, almost too good as he often times will ride pretty fast and get too far away from us on our walks. He also still really loves his cars. Monique sends a new car every Friday and he very much looks forward to it.

Some of our conversations:
Mom: How come you were up so early this morning, Elliott?
Elliott: Because I missed Daddy, and Mommy and Baby Claire.

In the car on the way home...
Elliott: Mommy, what are you doing?
Mom: I'm driving. What are you doing?
Elliott: Looking at cars parked in the grass.
Mom: What are they doing in the grass?
Elliott: They are broken down.
Mom: They aren't broken. They are just parked.
Elliott: Oh yeah. Just parked.

On our way home from school...
Elliott: Mommy, where are we going?
Mom: Going home.
Elliott: Are we done at school?
Mom: Yes, we are done at school.
Elliott: Why?
Mom: Because Mommy is done working so I picked you up.
Elliott: I happy Mommy picked me up from school!
Mom: Guess what is waiting for us at home?
Elliott: What, Mommy?
Mom: A package from Monique.
Elliott: Oh yeah. A new car from Monique!!
Mom: You can open it when we get home.
Elliott: Oh great!

Iowa State Fair

Iowa State Fair

August 9th, 2014

We decided to do our first real outing as a family of 4 at the Iowa State Fair. Whew, it was kind of crazy but somehow we survived it! Elliott loved sitting in all the tractors and seeing the animals. Claire slept...the whole time! To top off a great first family outing, we also conquered the first whole house nap when we got home. Successful day! 

"Look at me Mommy, I'm d'iving." 

"Don't touch Mommy...I do it"

Didn't quite make it home

Addison's 4th Birthday Party

Addison had her backyard all decked out with a bouncy house and a big pool for her party. 

Elliott loves his cousin and had such a great time! 

Happy Birthday, Addison!

Claire - 2 Weeks Old

I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since we were blessed with Claire. She's already lost her newborn look and is really starting to fill out. She's such a happy baby and sleeps much more than her brother did at this age. :) She's already somewhat in a routine. Her last feeding is around 8:00pm and then eats again at 1:00ish, 4:30ish, and 6:30ish. She's usually up for about 45 minutes to an hour and then I have to swaddle her and put her in the swing with a pacifier and she's out within 15 minutes. I then have to wake her about 50% of the time to eat at 9, 12, 3, and 6 during the day.

Claire weighed in at 8lbs 4ozs at 2 weeks. She gained 10ozs in just 7 days!

She loves to just lay on the floor and stretch out every once and a while 

Big Brother E putting the paci back in...Mom loves to see him help

Watching Frozen as a family of 4

So sleepy

Coming home from the first doctor apt...Elliott was outside with Grandma Laurie and Uncle David and saw our car down the street and said "Oh, Baby Claire"

We love our pacifier 

Cuddle time with Mom

Big Eyes!

She's really starting to fill out