9 Months

Lauren is 9 months!  Our little lady is not so little anymore!  Her weight is 21 lb 7 oz which is 91%.  Following suit with her sibs.  A little shorter at 27.8 inches putting her at 60%.  Her head is still smaller at 40%.  But I will always call her my little peanut since I did get to enjoy a petite baby for a few months!

At 8 months Lauren started working on crawling.  Trying out her knees and doing planks.  Going from laying down to sitting on her own.  About a week before 9 months, she just took off.  She is all over the place!  A little scavenge,r trying to find any piece of anything to put in her mouth.  We are back to using the baby gates.  Though I have to keep my eye on her more, she is entertained for much longer periods of time now that she can explore.

This girl likes to eat just like her brother!  She is self feeding entirely.  She will sit in her high chair for a good 30 minutes just eating away.  Some of her favs are peas, sweet potatoes, avocado and bluberries.  She also eats proteins now like chicken, beef, salmon and eggs.  Pretty much anything we make that is safe for her to eat I give it to her.  I can't think of anything she doesn't like!

I am so excited to see the personality come out of this girl as she grows.  She already knows she has to scream to be heard over everyone else.  I have seen her adorably tugging on Whitney's nightgown and she belly laughs at Colin's goofiness.  She also isn't afraid to pull some hair or climb on top of them either.  I think she is going to stir up the pot a little bit with some feistiness!

We are so happy that Lauren is part of our family!

Exploring

Yay, I can crawl!

Double Trouble

I think I am such a big girl.

Her little alone time with me every day.

Don't worry Mom, I have these two under control!

Lauren's Baptism

On September 21, 2014, Lauren was baptized.  She looked beautiful in her gown and loved being in church watching all the people.  She had no issues about the water being put on her head and enjoyed being serenaded to Jesus Loves Me.

We were so lucky to be surrounded by so many family members that day.  We are also thrilled that Kristi and Mike are her godparents.

Colin and Whitney had a blast playing with Cole, Haley and Joey, but by Sunday morning they were pretty worn out and woke up with stuffy noses.  This resulted in many tears.  During the ceremony Colin cried the whole time, concluding by saying "No Amen"!  after the ministers prayer.  Luckily, and much to my surprise Colin went to the nursery so we could enjoy the rest of the service.  Then as we tried to get family pictures afterwards Whitney cried because Colin got goldfish while in the nursery.  Well folks, that's life around here these days!

We are truly blessed beyond words!

A struggle to get everyone looking!

Two and a Half

Colin is 2 1/2!   I always say that these 6 month milestones are huge.  There always seems to be some kind of shift and big strides in becoming a big kid that takes place. It is all so bittersweet!

Colin continues to be a super sweet and funny little guy.  He is full of hugs, kisses and snuggles for everyone in the family.  Though sometimes he still turns the hug with his sisters, into a tackle to the ground!  He is a very a passionate boy and he can really charm your socks off!

Everywhere we go Colin gets attention.  Whether it's his cute grin, adorable laugh or stylin' sunglasses and a hat, he always grabs the attentions of strangers that just ooh and ahh over him.  He is happy to wave or say hello, but if anyone gets too close he gives me this look of, " Mom, please, they are invading my space".

He continues to impress us when a few months ago he just started pointing out all the numbers and letters he knew.  He has also taken an interest in puzzles like Whitney.  He is very happy to sit down and work through several 24 piece puzzles with you.  At the same time he needs to get outside and burn off all of his crazy energy.

He is still faithful to a 2 1/2 hour nap and a good 11-12 hours at night.  He is our champion of sleepers!

 He has also officially topped the charts at weighing in at 35 lbs.  Most three year old boys I know don't even weigh this yet!

He loves anything, trains, planes or cars.  He enjoys a ride on his trike and could spend hours in the swing.  Many times during the day you will hear him singing Veggie Tales or Chuggington.  He and Whitney also sing Frozen songs together.  We also have many dance parties and he loves to attempt somersaults.

We are so blessed to have this little boy in our lives and he knows his way right into our hearts!

What, I thought you said I could paint?

He played with play dough one day for a good hour and 45 minutes.

Sisters sunglasses, over his sunglasses.

Asleep, and Bert and Ernie in hand.

"Cheese"!

Cool Guy

We love you big boy!!

Kindergarten

Wow!  Whitney is in Kindergarten!  Going to orientation was sort of surreal.  Being in an elementary school again.  Crazy!  But so exciting.

Whitney was so ready to start school.  A few weeks before school started I asked her what she was most excited about Kindergarten.  Her reply, "I don't know, I haven't been there yet".  My dear you are so right.  What a smart little girl.

Whitney jumped both feet in and road the bus the first day.  She is in afternoon Kindergarten, so it was a little comforting that there were only 5 year old's on the bus. Whitney already has her bus buddies, Caelyn and Elsie. Caelyn was in the other class at preschool, so we reconnected the girls so they would have a familiar face.

  School starts at 11:35am and lets out at 2:35pm.  Getting home around 3pm.  (Yay, mom gets some time alone while others nap!)  They get the Kindergartner's on first and have them sit in the front rows, then load up the big kids.  Whitney has also made friends with an older girl (she thinks 3rd grade) who is named Whitne(no "y").  Since all of this has gone so smoothly it has definitely made it easier on me.  I had to dry my eyes the first morning but otherwise, it has been great.

Side note: Colin was a mess that whole first week.  He was so sad to see his best buddy go away.  We have had a lot of crying and not the best behavior.  But to be expected.  He has had to deal with a lot of changes in the last 7 months!  He is always so excited when Whitney returns home.  Little does he know he is sleeping for 2 1/2 hours while she is gone!

A few questions for Whitney as she starts Kindergarten.

What is your favorite color? Pink
What is your favorite food? Green Beans and Almonds (I pat myself on the back)
What is your favorite activity? Coloring and Painting and getting messy when I paint
What do you want to be when you grow up? Pilot because I want to fly a plane (Like her Papa)

First day of school gift taped to bathroom mirror.

Confidently walking to the bus!

The big send off!

Anxiously awaiting big Sis's arrival.  Ok, how much do they look alike in this photo!

Lauren is 6 months!

Ok, well 6 and a half months!  So hard to find the time to blog these days!  But to give myself some credit, she didn't have her doctors appointment till yesterday!  Her stats are 18. 2 lbs (79%) and 26 1/2" (54%) and still at tiny head at 33%.   She is definitely filling out and getting chubby but still nothing compared to her siblings!

Lauren is rolling all over the place.  Usually off of her play mat and reaching for a big kid toy.  She is pushing her self way up now that her arms are straight (like upward facing dog yoga pose) and testing the waters with bending her knees.  About a week before she turned 6 months she could sit on her own for a very short period of time and is getting better and better.  I still stay close by as she topples over easily!  She loves being in the door way jumper and is a jumping bean just like Whitney.  She loves being eye level with the big kids and usually hangs out here while I cook dinner or while we eat.

Most nights she sleeps 12 straight hours, though trips this summer made for some bumpy nights.  Or like getting shots yesterday, but overall can't complain about that.  She takes a 2 hour morning nap and a so so afternoon nap.  Hopefully, that will get consistently longer soon.  She is so happy all the time and just wants to be part of the action.

She has also started saying, mamamamamama, though not directed at me, it is music to my ears.  We love having Lauren in our family and the kids continue to shower her with love and affection.  Though I think one day she is going to yell, "ok, enough kissing me, I get it already!"

Wants to be with the big kids!

Lauren's Photo Shoot

We are so lucky to have a close friend as a photographer.  You have heard me say this before and we knew we had to book her for newborn photos!  I am certain Kelly puts all of her clients at ease, but being close friends makes it that much easier.  And the kids are comfortable with her too!  She caught some amazing moments.  I just need a slideshow running constantly of these photos they are so good!  Here are so many of them, I just can't pick...