5.5 months and soooo close to 2 years

Our little man Jace...what can I say??  He is just such a cute little guy.  He's really alert and loves watching Brenna.  He's starting to want to participate a little and reaches for her to grab on.  He's still trying to sit up and even can do a little supported standing!

He is so interested in exploring his little world.  Of course, there is still a fair amount of drool and spit up on all the toys.  Brenna is so concerned with things being 'slimey' and if Jace has 'bubbles' or is 'drooly' she wants him cleaned up immediately.  Or she'll do it herself!

 She enjoyed joining him in some tummy time and tried to encourage him to enjoy himself as well. 

 

She enjoys trying out whatever Jace is doing and surprisingly she hasn't thrown too many fits if he gets to do something and she can't at that exact same time (sit in the bumbo or play with a toy).

 

Brenna is talking and singing all day now.  Last night she even sang a little 'under the sea' after watching Little Mermaid.  It is such a sweet sound.  We really try to encourage her to sing and while Nick and I are pretty self aware of our singing capabilities, we do sing with her a lot.  Just to balance it out, so she can get the tune as well as the words, I show her you tube videos of whatever song we are singing.  She's still really into Christmas songs, yesterday was Jingle Bells.  I'm not sure where she came up with it, but it was really cute!

Brenna does not like when I leave for school, but she has learned what bye bye means.  She slung her purse on and ran around the house saying 'bye bye' to me.

 

She loves to do whatever Nick is doing.  Nick was lifting weights, so Brenna had to participate as well.  She is learning to count and seems to even understand up to 3.  She is getting up to about 6 now.  It is mind blowing to watch her learn.  Amazing! 

Random pictures from this last week

Here is a picture of us skyping. 

 

Our afternoon at the foodtruck park.  Kinda disappointing and VERY warm.  Dang I have a cute family ;)

 

Jace is very proud of his new roll over skill.  Doesn't use it all the time, but when he does, he'll give you a killer smile :)

 

Playtime with my best buddies...my feet!!

I mean, who doesn't like a good gum massage?

 

(I don't know what that black thing is on his eye.  It's not in the original photo.  Weird)

chatterbox

 Brenna's vocabulary has really taken off.  In just a couple short months, she went from just a couple words to partial sentences!   She is still a little compulsive about keeping things clean and tidy and really likes to let us know if there is a mess.  I got her a little dust pan and broom and she spent the day 'keen the mess' all over the house.  She also can't stand an open door.  'Shut......da door' is heard until every single door is closed.  And then she'll tell you how she 'shut....da door'  We get a good laugh every day by something she says.  It is amazing to hear her try to say things we didn't even know she knew the name for.  She is very good as saying 'thank you,' 'please,' and 'you're welcome.' 

She loves to sing the Christmas song 'up on the housetop' and I'm thinking it's a possibility that we'll be singing it all year. 

She likes to play with Jace's toys, by either using them herself (she can get herself in and out of the bumbo seat faster than I can get Jace out) or having her babies use them.  She loves to put her little dolls in the swing or in the bumbo seat.

 

She has become a lovey-dovey little snuggler.  She loves at night before going to bed, watching movies with daddy with her pink blanket and camo pillow.  Of course daddy needs to be nearby at all times, too.

 

Oh how she loves pretty accessories.   Yesterday we had our first clothes related tantrum.  She wanted to wear her pretty dress shoes from Christmas.  She had thick socks on so I knew the strap would be too tight on her chubby little feet.  I tried to entice her with other, similar (more sensible) shoes.  Oh she was mad.  She couldn't figure out how to take them off her self so she cried 'off off' over and over until I took them off.  We finally agreed on another pair (and I hid the pretty ones).  Whew.  We were getting ready to go out and I asked her to get a hat.  This is how she ended up.  So stinking cute.

 

She still loves to read and is starting to 'read' books back to us.  Especially the 'pigs' book.  She loves those ninja pigs!

 

Since Jace has taken over the high chair, Brenna has moved on to a booster seat.  We are thinking of storing the vacuum right next to her.  Bella now has to go in her cage at meal times as she had yet another expensive trip to the vet for GI issues.  She is now on probiotics.  Seriously.

Morning roomies!

The kids are now sleeping in the same room at night.  It took us a while to finally just do this, but we figured out a plan.  First we put Brenna down in her bed then whenever Jace falls asleep we put him in the pack and play in our room.  Then, if Brenna has been asleep for about an hour, we (very quietly, like ninja parents) take Jace in and lay him down.  Done.  We have not had to get up once during the night.  I've heard Jace moving around and talking some nights, but apparently it doesn't bug Brenna.  Thank God!!  It's wonderful not having to tip toe around our room at night and he always seemed to wake up when Nick got ready for work.  Now, I have peaceful mornings as they sleep in their room :)

 

 

Of course nap time is a different story and Jace still sleeps in the pack and play in our room.  Brenna doesn't seem to mind at all the new roomie situation :)

5 months old!!

As unbelievable as it sounds, little man Jace is 5 months old!  He is such a handsome little guy, with such a huge smile.  It is impossible not to smile back at him.  He had a (delayed due to our Christmas trip) doctors appointment and weighed in at 16.8 lbs and is 26 inches long!  Both are pretty close to 50th % for a 5 month old.  He just seems so tall!  and heavy!  He is still a loud squawker and will let you know if he's ready for a change.  He very much likes his alone time to play as well as his snuggle time when he likes to be held. 

 

He loves his 'me time' kicking back in his hot tub :)

 

 

Catching up on some shows with Daddy. 

 

He LOVES his playtime with daddy, all smiles and drool.

 

We had a couple firsts this month, he started some rice cereal. He loves it and within a couple days is starting to coordinate opening his mouth when he wants more.  He also grabs my hand to try to get the spoon in faster.  I gave him some potatoes and he wasn't quite as excited about those.  In fact, he wouldn't even open his mouth for them after a couple bites.  I know they aren't the most flavorful, but they make a nice vessel to get other things in him.  I'm going to try carrots in a couple days. 

 

And....he finally rolled over.  I think he was a little surprised!  Nick and I were both here and Nick had just walked past him when I saw Jace go for the big push to roll. 

We are getting pretty close to sitting on our own.  He's also got two little teeth trying to push through on the bottom.  He loves having his gums rubbed and actually fell asleep while I was rubbing them last night.  Poor little guy.  He was pretty fussy last week about them, and took a couple doses of Tylenol, but this week he seems a little happier.  Feels like they take FOREVER to come in though.

Brenna and Addy's Conversation

Brenna was talking to Nick's cousin Alison's daughter, Addy.  She is about 6 months older than Brenna.  Soooo cute!!

 

Christmas Extras

Brenna and Jace met Emerson :)  Such a sweet little thing.  Wish we lived closer, there would be some epic play dates!!

 

 

I love babies meeting :)  Proud daddies. 

 

Jace looking adoringly at Brenna.  Brenna is so sweet with him and pretty gentle.  For the most part.

 

Our first tea party.  Tu-tu, necklace and all.  So cute!!

Brenna's Second Christmas

Here are some of my favorites from Brenna's Second Christmas:

 

Pretty sure I asked her to smile and she said "no" 

 

She was so cute with Addy.  I have a video of them talking...I'll try to post it.  It is just too cute.

 

For some reason she LOVED the dog bed.  Had a hard time getting her out of it this first day!

 

So, I feel a little guilty about this one.  She was so upset.  For the rest of the vacation, all we heard was the story "ho-ho, sheeet, tears tears, car"  translation: "I sat on santa's lap and I cried.  Then he drove away in a car." 

 

 

Thankfully she was high-fiving and fist-bumping him soon after.

 

Watching the snow fall with Mimi S 

 

 

 Saying Hi to Mimi

My little Christmas peach

 



 

Her first romp in the snow.  She really did enjoy it!

 

Playing with Papa and dancing to the Christmas music :)

 

Showing Mimi Dollar how to wash bottles. 

 

This was our trip back from the airport.  She loved her hat and mittens :)

Jace's first Christmas

Here are some of my favorites from Jace's first Christmas!

 

Big Papa 'baby fishing' (this one still makes me giggle)

His cheeks are catching up to his sisters!

 

Loving tummy time on Mimi S.

 

Hanging with Aunt Di (looks like she is telling Jace secrets about people)

 

He looks sooooo not impressed.

 

Such a cutie!

 

Mimi R givin him some lovin

 

Papa R creating a baby monster!

 

Jace and Uncle Mikey, they look like they're singing a little duet!

 

Big man heading home.  He looks pretty comfy in that seat all by himself.  He actually slept through the entire 1 hour delay and 3+ hour flight.  Awesome.

 

This was our first morning in Michigan.  He had a rough night and just wanted his mama.  Not sure if that will ever get old.