Friends

FRIENDS

While living in Kansas City I had the opportunity to meet the best group of girls and form friendships with each one of them that I know will last a lifetime. We laughed together, cried together, played volleyball together, and most importantly watched The Bachelor/ette together! We all became friends in a very weird way. Each of us knew two other girls through either work, school, or a boyfriend. We are all very different from each other, but I think that is what draws us all together. 

Laura and I had to wreck our group of 5 when we both moved away from Kansas City last year. But we haven't let distance keep us apart. Thank goodness for technology and group texting! We still stay in touch with each other almost weekly and turn to each other when we need to laugh, cry, or ask for advice. Although it's over phone, text, or email; somehow, it still works for us!  

I love and miss you girls so much! 

Me, Leigh Wagner, Laura Bentsen, Jamie Heath, Megan Hill (soon to be Pederson) 

Claire - 8 Months

Claire - 8 Months 

Highlights

- Two teeth!

- Not crawling yet but she wants to so bad. She's starting to get frustrated when she can't reach something.

- LOVES to talk. So much so that she sometimes likes to wake up at 5:30am and just talk to herself in her crib...for 45 minutes. 

- Starting to say dadada but I don't think she know's what it means. 

- LOVES her brother. She squeals with delight when he walks in the room. 

- My morning sleeper has moved her wake time from 7:30am to closer to 6am. Bummer! It was fun while it lasted. 

Schedule

6-6:30am - awake and 5 ozs

8:00am - breakfast

9:00 - 3 ozs

9:30 - 10:30ish - nap

11:30 - 6 ozs

12:00 - lunch

1:30 - 3ish - nap

3:30 - 6 ozs

6:15 - 7 ozs and down for the night 

Elliott - 35 Months

35 Months

I keep asking myself when I'm going to stop with the monthly updates for Elliott. For some reason I can't bring myself to do it. I love going through pictures of the last month and recalling the time he did or said (fill in the blank). If I stop the updates I think that will force me to come to the realization that he's no longer my little baby boy!

Fun conversations (this boy is full of 'em)

Mom - I think you should put your helmet on in if you are going to ride fast on your bike.
Elliott - Oh, that would be a good choice.

Elliott sitting on the potty while Aunt Abby waits outside for him to finish...
Elliott - Oh, come on poopy.
Elliott - Ok. You can come in now.
Elliott - No, don't flush it.
Abby - Why?
Elliott - Because I went a lot and I want to see it.

While showing a new babysitter around the house we walk into his room, he leans on his bed and says "Sooo, this is where I sleep."

Elliott - Where is Daddy?
Mom - He's in the other room studying.
Elliott - Oh yeah, he's building bridges so people don't fall in the water.
(I am convinced Mark taught him to say this to make his job sound more heroic :)

He has his Mom's taste. He found the most expensive thing in the mall...literally! 

Random February Pictures

I took a vacation day so I could have a shopping day with my friend, Heidi. She brought Berklee over to play with Claire for the afternoon. Elaine's comment when we got home "Berklee did great! Claire was pretty aggressive." Apparently Claire was stealing the wipes from Berklee all day. 

Elliott playing the role of big brother 

Elliott likes to do arts and crafts during Claire's morning nap

Running the skywalks in downtown Des Moines on a frigid Sunday afternoon 

Addison wait for me! 

Claire - 7 Months

Claire has grown up so much. She sits by herself and reaches for toys and plays with them. She loves to jabber and be a part of our conversations at the dinner table. She got her first tooth on February 19th. She uses a sippy cup...sort of. So many grown up things! But best of all...no more reflux! Yay! 

Chewing on everything she can get her hands on

Look at that gorgeous smile! 

And....we're done 

Loving her sippy cup 

Why Winter is No Fun

Winter is rough. We can't go to the park. Can't shoot hoops outside. Can't go on walks. We can't run an errand without spending 10 minutes bundling the kids up in their coats, hats, gloves, etc. But the thing I hate the most about winter...sick kids. I am convinced that kids have some sort of illness from the beginning of October through the end of February. Runny nose. Nasty cough. Ear infection. Fever. Stomach bug. It's true that kids are just a walking pool of germs. 

Claire and Elliott both woke up with runny noses last Friday morning and I instantly dreaded the next few nights to come. Why is it that a kid can go all day without coughing and as soon as they lay down to go to bed the coughing attacks start? The first night Elliott woke up coughing twice and Claire woke up in between his coughing fits, which equals hardly any sleep for Mom and Dad. Thankfully Pops and Mimi saved the day the next night and Pops slept in the recliner with Claire for half the night to minimize the coughing attacks. Thanks Pops and Mimi! 

Claire's Baptism

Claire was baptized on February 15th at Ankeny First United Methodist Church. She was surrounded by tons of love and we could not have asked for a better day! We had all our family back to the house for lunch and cake and Claire slept through the whole party. I guess she was worn out from all the attention.