1/2 a year old

1/2, 0.5, 6 months!!! Kayla Joy I can hardly believe you've been here for 6 months! So much so that I had to double check the calendar to make sure! We started the 1/2 birthday celebration tradition with Sean so we must continue with Kayla.
    You do quite well in the Bumbo seat, occasionally slumping to one side. You enjoy the activity saucer and will spin the froggy, grab at dangling toys or hit the piano buttons with your elbow ( unintentionally of course). You can sit up unassisted for a few seconds before toppling over. You do very well lying on your back playing with toys dangled over you. You are not as excited about time on your tummy but we practice anyway. You grab at anything within your reach. You most enjoy me holding you!
    At the beginning of December you moved to your room! You still wake during the night a few times but will sleep for a five hour stretch somewhere in there. With that move I transitioned you to a back sleeper. You seem to favor sleeping on your tummy but when you wake up you become frustrated. Sometimes you'll roll yourself over. Just two weeks ago you discovered you could make raspberries with your mouth. We think you saw your baby friend in church doing them and picked up the skill for yourself! (Not with sticking out your tongue but just forcing air through you lips.) Too funny!
    You can squeeze into 3 month clothes but 3-6 or 6 month is a much better fit. You still wear size 2 disposable diapers and I sometimes squish you in the xs fuzzi bunz cloth diapers, but you fill those up fast. I'm not a very good scheduled mama so your nap times are all over the place. I feel like as soon as I figure out what you need you go and change it all. But as soon as the crazy holidays are over we're going to get on a schedule! I look forward to seeing you grow more and more. Such a sweet happy baby!

iphone pics week recap

My dad got this years and years ago. (Just like the one in your 8th grade science class!)

Sean at daycare with his little buddy. They were scream singing, so funny!

Christmas 2011

December 5th

Thomas is in finals week so our nightly Christmas activities are on hold until his finals are over. Which is this Thursday, not a long wait! We hope to go to a drive through light display Thursday night. I think Sean will really enjoy it.
    As for tonight, Sean and I are watching a Thomas the Train episode! This boy really, really likes Thomas the Train. I told my self I wouldn't have a kid who was fixated and obsessed with a character. I'm sure every kid is attracted to a certain character for a time. I really don't mind watching them and I rather enjoy putting tracks together for him. I think he'll be very excited to one day learn his middle name is Thomas, haha.
    And on another note, Kayla is dressed like a elf/fairy.

For to us a child is born,

   to us a son is given;

 and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

   and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

December

I'm so very excited for Sean to experience Christmas this year. He is fully mobile, aware of his surroundings, entertained by observing things, can laugh, talk and do so much more than Xmas last year.
    'Tis the season for going and doing so we have a countdown to Christmas calendar with fun things to do as a family. Now we won't be going big everyday, but there are several activities we want to include. When I started jotting down activities I could only come up with 6! Looks like we will be adding some silly and random things into the mix as well.
    We kicked off December with a local event at our Alma Mater. Baylor's Christmas on 5th Street was conveniently scheduled on the 1st! We have been the past several years and it is loaded with sights and sounds and animals! The lines are always very long for the carriage ride, pony ride and Santa so we skipped those. But we did take Sean into the petting zoo with goats and donkeys, we ran around the quad while listening to a live band, had a family photo, and ran into several friends.
    They had a photographer set up in front of a fireplace and couch for portraits. Oh Baylor, you're so thoughtful! The best part was having a photo of all four of us... in one photo. Those are rare for sure! I hope it turned out decent.
    In addition to the activity countdown calendar I found a printout for an advent chain on Pinterest. Each day has a name of Jesus and a verse reference.

Countdown to Christmas activities:
Friday and Saturday night we strolled our neighborhood to check out the Christmas lights. The weather was not too cold and it was a nice post dinner walk.

Kayla bundled during our walk

Sean taking in the magic

the best houses are the most chaotic

Kayla as Baby Jesus 

 Then Sunday night we went to our church life group for some good fellowship. All the kids participated in the Nativity scene.
I mentioned before we also have a paper advent chain with the names of Jesus. We forgot to read the verses from the first 3 nights. So, we read them tonight.
 December 1st's verse was...

 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 22:13

December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were all this verse...

For to us a child is born,

   to us a son is given;

 and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

   and his name shall be called 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Are you already saying Merry Christmas to people? I am.

December