So Long Swaddle

I fully believe in the benefits of swaddling a baby.  We swaddled both our kids.  Joshua outgrew it sooner than Kayla did but both enjoyed it.

I tried to swaddle Kayla with her arms out few a times when she was younger but she wouldn't fall asleep. I figured since she liked sucking on her hands so much that she would rather have access to them to self sooth but all that hand sucking just kept her awake. I waited a few more weeks and tried again and the same thing happened so we decided to continue swaddling her a little longer.  She really seemed to like being swaddled. If she was fussing as I was getting her ready for a nap or bedtime she would almost always settle down as soon as I pinned down her arms. 

Kayla's swaddle journey...

One of her first swaddles in the hospital.

 

We got to a point where she seemed to not like the swaddle and would get mad when we swaddled her but she wouldn't sleep without it.  So a few weeks after trying the hands out I decided to try to swaddle her with her legs out since she loves to kick.  This really seemed to work well for her and she was back to enjoying her swaddle. 

 

Here is what a feet out swaddle looks like. 

 

 

Soon, this is what it turned into...

She started busting her arms out.

 

Then it turned into this...

 

The swaddle cape!

 

After about a week of swaddling her with her legs out and finding her with both arms out and the swaddle around her neck like a cape we knew it was time for the swaddle to go. 

 

We did a few days of swaddling with one arm out then both then a few days of the swaddle just around her waist. 

 

"I'm free!"

 

Look at that cute, chunky thigh. 

 

 Now we are swaddle free and thankfully she transitioned just fine. 

 

                                    

Now that she has more freedom to move I often find her sleeping on her side or her tummy. 

 

As much as I love the swaddle I am so not sad to see it go.  It was great while it lasted but happy its time has come to an end.  Saying goodbye to the swaddle is not forever though as I am sure there will be more babies to swaddle in our future :)

 



Joshua's First Dental Cleaning

 

We were a little unsure how Joshua's dental cleaning was going to since he has had two traumatic experiences at the dentist not too long ago.  We wanted to get him in now to try and show him that going to the dentist is not always unpleasant.  We talked a lot about what goes on at the dentist, watched a few cartoons about going to the dentist and did a ton of role playing.  

 He walked right in and didn't seem nervous at all. 

Daddy kept telling him that he had to open his mouth real big.  So right when he climbed in the chair this is what he did...he opened his mouth real big and sat there. 

He did so well!  We didn't have any issues at all. 



Both the hygienist and dentist commented on how he was the best two year old they have seen.  

 

When the dentist was counting his teeth he started counting along with her.  Such a funny boy!

 

On the way out he started asking for a ball.  He remember that when he came back in March to watch Daddy get his teeth cleaned he got a ball a.  What a good memory.  Thankful that all went well!  

Friends

Jacob and Cadence are neighborhood kids that are two of Joshua's favorite people.  He absolutely adores these two.  They used to live right across the street from us but recently moved. So sad!  Before they moved Joshua would stand at the end of the drive way and shout across the street, "Hi Jacob! Hi Cadence!"  When they were playing outside he would always ask to go see them. 

Several months ago Joshua enjoyed some red peppers while at their house for a play date.   To this day every time he has a red pepper he says, "Like at Jacob and Cadence's house." 

Another time we went over to say hi and Cadence was eating her smoothie with a spoon. Now when I make him smoothies he always asks for a spoon.  When I give him a spoon he tells me, "Like Cadence." 

We are so sad they moved away.  They were such a great family.  He seriously loves these two kids and they are great with him.  They are so kind to him and play so well with him.  They also have amazing patience with him and his toddler ways...if you know what I mean :)  Cadence is so sweet and loves to help him.  Jacob is so good about sharing his toys with Joshua and Joshua just loves to watch him play and run around. 

They also love Kayla.  They are expecting a new sibling soon so they were very interested in Kayla.  After Kayla got up from her nap one day Jacob said, "She's so gorgeous!"  They loved her tiny fingers and got a kick out of holding her. 

I explained the best I could to Joshua that they now live in another house.  Of course I don't think he quite gets it.  He still points to their house and says, "Jacob and Cadence's house." 

Here are some pictures of a play date they had right before they moved. 

Trying to keep up with the big kids. 

Such a sweet bunch!

 

This picture totally sums up his relationship with Cadence.  She is so nurturing to him.  (Joshua isn't sleeping, I just caught him in mid blink.)

 

 

Looking forward to paying them a visit someday soon!

One Year Ago Today

 

One year ago today I found out that this precious face was growing inside of me and we were absolutely thrilled!  Right when I saw the positive pregnancy test I immediately started crying tears of joy and prayed for protection over the life that was growing in side of me.  I remember telling Joshua when he got up from a nap that he was going to be a big brother though he had no idea what I was telling him.  I always knew he would be a great big brother but never could I have imagined just how great he was going to be and how much he was going to love and protect her.

I had no idea then just how much this little girl was going to capture our hearts. 

We love you so much sweet Kayla Grace!

I hope you enjoy the video as much as Joshua did.  He kept putting his arms up to the computer screen trying to cradle Kayla's pictures. 

 

 

Water Baptism

We drove up to Colorado Springs to watch my sister Brooke and Step Dad Eric get baptized.  Before the baptism the pastor said that if you didn't sign up but felt led to you could go up and be baptized.  I was "sprinkled" a long time ago in the Catholic Church but never had a water baptism.  It was something that I wanted to do for years but the timing just never felt right.  I wanted to make sure that I had a right understanding of what it meant and I didn't want it to be legalistic.  When the pastor said that I felt like this was my time.  And how special it was for me to be baptized with my little sister! 

Kayla Girl hanging out with Brooke during Church service.

As Brooke made her way into the tub I was flooded with memories from when she was younger.  I was so proud that the little girl I remember her to be was standing before fellow believers confessing her devotion to the Christ. I felt honored to not only witness this moment in her life but to also share in it with her. 

 

A few weeks after the baptism I was thinking how awesome it is that God knows everything!  He knew all about this day long before I did.  All the times I thought about getting baptized he knew just how it would all work out and how special it was going to be.  What an awesome God!

Grandparents

Grandparents are great aren't they?  Joshua and Kayla especially have some pretty great ones.  Their Omah and Papa love on them,  play all kinds of games with them, babysit anytime for free, and they spoil this Mama.  They often offer to take Joshua for a whole entire day to give me a much needed break.  They would take Kayla too but I am not ready to let her miss that many nursing sessions just yet.   But still, having just one child is a piece.of.cake. 

I love these breaks.  It allows me to get some much needed chores done that otherwise would take me 5 times as long to accomplish,.  It also allows me to relax a bit which makes me a better, more patient Mom.  It is amazing how fast I can be at running errands with just one child in tow.  I also love seeing Joshua after spending hours away from him.  I end up missing him a lot!

Joshua has a blast at Omah and Papa's house.  He has special toys there, gets to drink all the peach water he wants, and Papa takes him to the swimming pool. 

Here are some pictures of the other fun things Joshua gets to do at Omah and Papa's house.

He gets to play in the water hose.

He gets his full serving of fruits and veggies with the yummy green smoothies Omah makes for him.  He LOVES these drinks.

He gets "healthy" homemade ice cream. 

 

Taste testing the smoothie. 

He gets to read books that were Daddy's when he was little.

 

He gets to have all the fun he wants with play dough. 

He eats his favorite meal...mac and cheese with green stuff mixed in.  And yes he really does like the green stuff.

 

See, I told you Joshua and Kayla have the best Omah and Papa in the world!  We are so blessed to live so close to them and that our kids are able to grow up spending such precious time with them.  It is a win win for all of us.  

 

 

Summer Fun...Joshua Style

Summer is in full swing and I am loving every minute of it.  Here is how we have been keeping cool around here.

We do lots of water play.  And I mean a lot.  We spend just about every single morning outside playing with water. 

A sponge and pitcher of water. How simple is that?

 

 

Noodle wall...thank you Pintrest for this awesome idea!

 

 

We sit on the patio and pretend to pour and drink peach water and blueberry juice. 

 

Painting the house with water.

 

Painting Mama's car.

 

Watering the grass.

Washing his car. 



 

Pool hopping...

Rec Center Pool

Getting as close as he can to the water without actually touching it during a safety break.  Not sure who the 15 minutes was longest for; me or him.

Butterfield Pool

 

 

The Grange Pool

 

And of course there have been many, many hours playing in the pool in the backyard!   

 

 

 

We love spray parks!  They are perfect for a Mom with a toddler and a small baby. 

 

 Play dates!

I think they need more toys in the pool.  What do you think?

 

Playing in the sprinkler.

 

And what would summer be without cold treats?

 

As you can see from both pictures, it makes your treat taste so much better when you eat it while wearing your shirt like a sash.

 

Yep, these are the days!