Bella's HALF year update

February 18th was Bella's half birthday and I wanted to share a little update about our sweet girl.  I love looking back on my monthly updates of the kids when they were babies, but let's be real I do not have time to sit down every month and write 3 updates.  Instead, my goal is to write an update on the kids every 6(ish) or so months.

Oh Bella, I don't even know where to begin.  I'm not sure when it happened. but all of a sudden you are a kid.  You are growing by leaps and bounds (maybe not physically, yes you are still our little peanut) but growing in every other way possible.  Here's a little about our Bella bean at 2 1/2 years old..

-You are 34 inches tall and weigh only 25 pounds.  You are a petite little thing, but so cute.  Your baby brother already weighs about 22 pounds and will probably pass you up in no time :) 
-Addie is your best friend.  Yes, you fight like sisters at times but you would be lost without each other.  You look up to her and want to do everything just like her.  You are her shadow and follow her around and mimic everything she is doing.  The 2 of you love to practice ballet, play princesses, and play hide and seek.  The 2 of you are so lucky to have each other and I am lucky to be along for the ride.
-Your vocabulary is multiplying by the minute.  All of a sudden you are a little chatter box and you amaze me every day with the things that you say.  When sitting on the potty the other day you asked me to "Give you your space" and any time it's time to leave you request to "leave it right here (your toys) until we get back."
-We are toward the end of your first year of 2 year old preschool and it's been amazing.  You are so happy when you are there and that makes me happy.  I love watching you play with kids your own age and I could not be more impressed with how it's really helped you come out of your shell.  My quiet and shy little girl is becoming more confident and willing to try new things, which is huge!  Miss Janelle and Miss Katie are your teachers and you are obsessed with them.  You talk about them on a daily basis and get very upset when it is time to leave school.  I hope that you always love school as much as you do right now!
-I love how every day I ask you what you did at school and you say "I danced, Mommy" while you put your arms up and dance.  Miss Janelle and Miss Katie also seem to love your dance moves, so continue to dance your little heart out, sweet girl.
-You finally call Noah by his name and it's probably my favorite word that you say.  You've shown a lot of interest in him lately and take your "big sister" duties very seriously, especially if Addie isn't around for whatever reason.  You love to get him his paci, find him a toy, or sing him songs.  Noah is very lucky to have not only a mom, but 2 little mini-moms constantly caring for him.
-Your favorite color is red, your favorite show is Mickey Mouse, you loves shoes, and you hate socks.  You are drawn to the villains in most Disney movies - the beast, the evil stepsisters, etc. and it's so funny because you are so little, sweet, and innocent.  Your favorite book is "Five Little Monkeys" and your favorite song is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  Donuts, pizza, bananas, and pouches are your favorite foods and you would dip everything in ranch if we let you.
-You remind me every day that, "You love all of your paci's" Yes, you still have about 5 pacifiers that you are only allowed to have when you are sleeping in your pack and play.  Yes, you sleep in a pack and play in the office that you now claim as your room every single night.  Yes, we will be working on these 2 things very soon.  You will be getting a big girl bed in the new house in your very own room, without any pacifiers allowed.  #middlechildproblems
-We moved your car seat to the back of the mini van with Addie and you think it's the best thing ever!  You request to change your clothes and diaper "by myself" and although it may take a little longer, I like the independence that you have all of a sudden.  We haven't potty trained you yet, but you have recently shown a huge interest.  You've peed and pooped on the potty several times and I'm hoping since your the second child potty training is a breeze.  Big girl status all around...what happened to my toddler?!?
-You continue to remind us of your mom-mom (Eric's mom), not only do your looks favor her, but also your habits.  You are the sweetest little thing with such a big heart, but also can be feisty, just like your mom-mom.  You are more reserved and shy at times, just like your mom-mom.  You are the slowest eater ever, just like your mom-mom.  You not only share her name (your middle name is Sherry) but also so much of her spirit and her personality and it makes us so happy.

Happy 1/2 birthday Bella bean, we love you to the moon and back :)

Be Our Guest!

Be our Guest to the most enchanting "Beauty and the Beast" themed birthday party for our sweet Addie girl.  All of her princess dreams came true and it was magical!  We brought one of her favorite movies to life from the floating rose in our homemade cloche to the most amazing Belle cake and cupcakes to a special appearance from Belle.

This is the first year that Addie had REAL excitement for her birthday.  We started down the countdown weeks before and Addie was included in all of the party prep.  She wanted to have a Belle party and we did just that!  And it was amazing1

We kicked off her birthday weekend with cupcakes at school.  She wore her "Birthday Girl" shirt and proudly put on her birthday crown when she walked in the door.  Daddy surprised her with delivering the cupcakes and she was beyond excited, she is 100% a Daddy's girl!  The next morning, Grandma, Pap, and cousin Bryan came into town and we spent the morning at one of Addie's favorite places, the trampoline park.  We had the entire place completely to ourselves, it was so much fun!  Late that evening Kristen got here and Brian and Carla made it the next morning just in time for the party. 

The day was finally here.  It was party day and Addie was SO excited!  The house was decorated with Beauty and the Beast characters, a princess gold photo booth, and the most adorable Belle cake that was specially made for her by our good friend, Noelle.  Addie's friends started arriving dressed as the cutest little princes and princesses and Addie was literally beaming with excitement.  The kids played and ate some pizza, then it was time for our surprise.  I sat all the kids on the carpet in the family room just in time for Belle to ring our door bell.  The look on Addie's face was priceless, she was in complete shock that her absolute favorite princess of all time came to her birthday party.  For the next hour the kid's sang and twirled with Belle.  They made wishes with fairy dust, read a story, and Addie was treated like an absolute princess on her special day, which is exactly what we wanted.  Right before Belle had to get back to the Beast she helped us sing Happy Birthday and pass out cake and cupcakes.  After Belle left, Addie opened her presents and was so excited about each and every gift opened, but the bike from Grandma and Pap was the highlight!  As the party came to an end, all of Addie's prince and princess friends received their very own "chocolate" rose for "Being our guest."

It was the perfect princess party for our perfect little princess.  Happy Birthday sweet Addie girl, we love you and your twirling self to the moon and back :)

Noah - Month 11

AT ELEVEN MONTHS YOU ARE:
-Happily scooting around on your butt instead of crawling.
-Sporting ONE tooth
-Showing no interest in pulling up, cruising, and/or walking
-Obsessed with throwing anything and everything you can find to the ground, followed by the cutest little "uh oh" (although it's not so cute on long road trips)
-So happy when you are in the water
-Fascinated by animals!  You get excited any time Cooper comes within reach and we went to the zoo for the first time this year and you were so excited every time you spotted an animal. 
-A sports guy, nothing speeds up your butt scoot like chasing a ball.
-Loving all of your music toys or even just a spoon and a pot or pan
-Independently eating pouches and table food, no more baby food jars over here :)
-wearing 12 month clothes and some 18 month tops for spring and size 4 diapers

HEALTH
Another month and another ear infection this month, poor guy!  I think you've inherited my genes and will be following in Addie's footsteps with tubes.  Since you are so happy and easy going, as soon as you start to show signs of being overly fussy I can almost guarantee it's your ears.  Other than that you've been healthy.  We got for your ONE year well check, as well as a check up with the urologist next month.   

EAT
This past month you have mastered pouches, hallelujah!  I've never been a fan of jarred baby foods because let's be honest, no one has time for that!  Being able to 100% eat independently (especially pouches) is a milestone right up there for me with being potty trained.  Life is SO much easier!  Right now you usually have a bottle around 5-6am, breakfast around 8am followed by a snack on the go and lunch and a bottle around 12-1ish before your nap.  You wake up and have another snack, followed by dinner around 6pm.  At dinner, you eat a combination of what your sisters eat and what I make for your dad and I.  Then, you usually have a bottle before bed time around 7pm.  

SLEEP
You're still a pretty good sleeper, this time your ear infection didn't even mess with your sleeping.  It's still hit or miss if you wake up in the middle of the night, but even when you do it's a quick wake up so that's ok.  I think you are almost ready to transition to one nap because you've been skipping your morning cat nap most of the time.  On a typical day, you wake up around 7:30-8, nap around 12 or 1 for 3+ hours usually, and then are ready for bed at 7pm.  

LIKES & DISLIKES
You are still loving balls, music toys, being outside, and bath time.  We went to the beach for the first time this year and you were totally content playing in the sand and watching the big kids run around.  You get excited any time you see a pouch or just food in general.  You are totally fascinated by animals, bubbles, and your crazy sisters.  Sitting still to change your diaper is your least favorite activity.

PERSONALITY

We love your laid back, easy going personality.  You are so content, almost all of the time (unless you have an ear infection!)  You greet any and every one you see with a smile and get attention pretty much anywhere we go.  These days you are much more aware of your surroundings and get excited at the littlest things.  I love watching you take it all in and I wish I could read your mind as you do it.  You are my favorite (almost) ONE year old out there! How is it even possible that you are almost ONE!?! I literally feeling like we were just bringing you home from the hospital yesterday.  But, with your upcoming birthday, not only is that a huge milestone in itself, but it also means your Dad and I kept 3 kids 4 and under alive and happy for almost a whole year.  High fives all around!  We even managed to keep our sanity (most of the time.)  In all honestly, we've got a good thing going these days and even though it's completely crazy at times, I've learned to love the crazy.  Life is too short and goes by way too fast to do anything but embrace the crazy and we couldn't imagine our crazy without you in it!  We love you Noah Ryan and as you continue to shed your babiness for all things toddler, we are just so so happy that we get to come along for the ride.  Happy 11 months sweet boy, the countdown to your birthday has officially begun...

FAVORITE MOMENTS
-We celebrated your first St. Patrick's Day this month and had the most fun at a green themed play date with all of our little buddies. 
-It was also your first Easter.  You watched as your sisters participated in several egg hunts and even gave us a smile when you sit on the Easter bunny's lap.  On Easter weekend, your Grandma and Pap, Uncle Brian, and Carla all came to visit and you were spoiled with not just one, but three Easter baskets full of goodies.  
-I've loved spying on you and your sisters playing together.  The 3 of you have picnics, play with legos, roll the ball, and even play princesses (sorry buddy!)
-We've finally gotten some warmer weather and have been able to do some outside activities!  We've been to the botanical gardens, the zoo, Busch Gardens, and the beach for the first time this year and you loved every single one of our outings.  Lots of good people watching and lots of new experiences brought lots of smiles!