A Birthday in Michigan

I guess this would be my first birthday in Michigan,at least living here that is. The day started and continues to be nice. The "kids" left me presents in the car, and then I was off to get my hair done in Adrian. My two best friends (Sally and Carrie) gave me a wonderful surprise. See- I talked to both of them, and they had "plans" for the day. I showed up to my hair place and they JUMP out from behind the wall to surprise me. I was so SHOCKED! Almost speechless. They brought me my favorite coffee (eggnog latte), a parfait, and a birthday present to get a pedicure. They stayed the whole time while I got my hair done. We chatted and just relaxed. THANK you Sally and Carrie!! That sure was a huge surprise and it would never happened had I lived in a different state. Just another perk to living in Michigan. I wanted to put up a birthday picture but I don't have one. The one I took of us at the hair salon wouldn't come up on my computer. Tonight when Adeyiza gets home- if it's not too late, we will have cake. Grace will get to blow the candles out .... of course!!!

"Hold It"

Grace still asks to "Hold It". It's like she only calls him John when he's being "naughty". You know... chewing on her, pulling her hair, or taking her toys. THen she uses his name. Kind of funny!! I look back at when she used to hold him. WOW now he really fills her lap. They are both sleeping now. It took longer than usual tonight. One kept waking up- then the other- then both.... so I just have to keep rotating until they both pass out. I will have to give John a night time bottle in a half hour then he should be good at least until his restless night begins. Usually around 12-1 he's just moving around and really doesn't settle until morning. I can't figure it out. I change his position and keep him swaddled. If he's not swaddled he scratches his face and/or moves his hands all around. Oh well, I am hoping as he grows he will settle down more.

Big Boy

John is getting so good at sitting up. I think in a couple weeks he should be able to do it alone. We'll keep working on it!!

Just Playing Around!!!

Grace LOVES to "play Play Dough". That's exactly how she will say it. "Mamma (or daddy) play play dough?" It's so funny. She is doing great still at school. They said she has finally "came out of her shell". See- at home she is none stop talking about everything and anything. As soon as she gets around people (even sometimes people she knows) she will not say a word. At her first school conference that was one thing her teacher told us - was that she doesn't talk that much. I wasn't a bit concerned b/c I knew she could- she just chooses not to until she feels comfortable. So.... I picked her up the other day last week and the teacher was like WOW- Grace can SUUUURRREE talk!! LOL I said oh good. You are now in the "comfort" zone. We laughed. But overall she is doing good. Actually her Sunday school teacher said the same thing this past week at church. I guess she is feeling more comfortable there too. GREAT!!!! Potty training went so good. 2 days and it was done. OK with a couple minor accidents- but overall that's all it took. I know girls are easier to train than boys. So I won't expect John to have it down in 2 days. Hmmm or maybe I should! Set high expectations right?!?! John is turning into my happy baby!!! Besides feeding times (he is still a stinker with bottles and baby food) he is just a good happy boy. He is even better in the car. Today he was actually laughing... at what? I don't know- but who cares as long as he's not crying. We will have a busy December still ahead. We are traveling to Canada this year for Christmas. We will leave the 23rd and return the 1st. I hope they are ready for us!!!!

Stockings!!!

I love our stockings!! My Grandma made All of these! My sisters and parents have one by her too. I love opening my stocking on Christmas morning. That was always my favorite part. Hey- maybe Santa will fill mine this year since it's out!! You never know....!

Thank you Grandma for your talent once again! I will cherish these stockings forever!!

Santa Claus Today

Well I couldn't get them to smile at the same time, but I took a couple pics with them at least smiling alone!! Oh well. We had a fun day today. I took them to see Santa. I really didn't want to fight all the crowds on the weekends, so I decided to go today. Good thing.... no line... no waiting == Equals no fussy kids!! Grace was a little hesitant at first, but then got right on Santa's lap. JOhn didn't care!! He's pretty easy going with other people. After the pictures we went to the play area. Grace loves to play on the toys and with other kids. She takes off and finds something to do. I love how independent she is. That's Montessori for you!!! ha ha. Anyway- after playing at the mall we all went to Walmart. I didn't want to go out in the rain again- but I was running out of important things. HOWEVER- Grace loves to go to Walmart to see the Christmas Tree. It's huge! After shopping a bit we went home, ate lunch, and then naps!! The day always go so fast when we keep busy!!

Oh Christmas Tree.....

Here is our Christmas Tree this year!! It's small and skinny.......... just big enough for this year. We decided to go with a real one this year. I wouldn't mind a big beautiful fake one next year WITH lights already on it!! Adeyiza was a good sport. He did all the lighting. It looks pretty good. I 'll post an after picture. I do have to admit- after all the decorations.... it reminds me of our trees growing up. Some of my favorite memories come from us all going out together as a family to hunt and cut down the PERFECT tree. Needless to say they were always "Charlie Brown" looking. BUT beautiful!! I loved how my mom decorates her trees. Kind of like my grandma too. Nice and FULL of interesting ornaments. My tree is by far full, but it will be soon I'm sure!!

Feeding Time

Clearly John rather eat Grace's shirt instead of his squash!!! It's so funny- every time I feed John Grace has to sit right next to him. She will even ask for a bite. Hey- whatever works right?!?! He is doing better though over all. He is much more happier and content. Few!!! He is starting to develop a little personality too. He is talking so much more, grabbing any and everything, pulling on things (and Grace), and playing with all sorts of toys. I love this age!! It only gets better here on out. It's so funny -Grace is really "using her words" when it comes to John. Just some back ground knowledge- at Grace's school conference, her teacher told us a boy was pulling her hair occasionally. (Poor Grace- we've had issues with this in public too. Some strangers kid pulled her hair at a restaurant- anyway long story, but I feel bad for her sometimes.) SO the teacher said they are telling her to say, "Don't pull my hair- or no pulling hair (something like that). The teacher said she sometimes says it, but is very quiet. WELL- again here at home where she is NOT quiet she tells John how it is. Here are her exact words to John on a daily basis.

"Don't pull the hair John!"

"No touching the shirt John!"

"No eat the shirt!" She said this one in the picture shown.

"No pushing our friends John!"

"No spitting John!" - LOVE this one!! It's when he is talking and sprays her.

Ok that's just a few that I can remember. She really says it just like that. I can tell she uses the "friends" one when referring to her school friends. But she usually will say John and not Friends when talking to John. He will try to get her, eat her clothes/hands, and he will grab her hair when she's close. Boy oh boy will they have fun!!! At least she "uses her words" here at home. I am glad she understands that she has to tell it how it is!!

Big Boy

We've been pretty busy this past weekend. Let's see... we had Thanksgiving at my parents on Thursday.... OH and the first one in 6 years at home. I usually never come home for Thanksgiving, so it was really nice to be with family this year. Friday we had my cousins wedding to go to in Detroit. Saturday my parents were here so we went to a movie. Sunday we went to see my grandma. (She is doing good!!) Now back to a regular week. It's suppose to snow by the end of this week. YAH!! I love snow. Well at least until it makes you home bound!!! :)

OH John in this picture- isn't he just too cute?? Getting big as ever. He doesn't like to eat anything yet- I've tried banana's, squash, applesauce, and of course cereal. NOTHING he has taken down good. He spits it all out. OH well... I'll keep trying!!!

Gingerbread House

Yesterday afternoon we all made a gingerbread house!! Grace LOVED it!! She loved putting it together and then decorating it. Her favoite part was eating the white frosting and candy. Boy oh boy does she have a sweet tooth!! John was good the whole time. He just watched and tried to reach for it. I soon had to fill his hands with a chew toy. He was watering at the mouth!!!

Ooops ...... Yesterday I was 5 months old!!

Once again I am late!! Poor John- with Grace I didn't miss a day. I guess it's true.... the more kids you have, the busier you get!!! He was 5 months on the 16th. I look at these pictures and realize I am just not a photographer. My pictures always look like I've just quickly snapped something with no thought. I wish I could just have a photographer on hand at all times!! That way they can shoot and I can blog!! :) Also- I looked at these pictures and compared him to his other monthly pictures. He is really filling out this chair. I try to keep it consistant at least with the chair- so that I can tell how big he is getting!! Go back if you have time and look at the older posts. It's obvious how big he's getting!!

Finger Painting

Grace loves to do finger paint. Actually she loves to do all crafts. She rotates painting, coloring (with various utensils), magic noodles (foam things you stick together to create stuff), and IPAD paint (painting with your finger on the IPAD). I now feel like I need to get her something else to explore with. Even though she has fun, she really does rotate these things daily. OR perhaps I'm getting bored and want to see something different. Ha ha. John loves to sit and watch her. He is now grabbing EVERYTHING and puts it in his mouth. He loves to grab and hold markers. It scares me when he tries to put them in his mouth- but I watch him and end up holding it too just to be safe. Anyway- they are still doing great. Grace surprises me everyday. I swear I feel like I'm talking to a 2nd grader sometimes. For example- this is a small bit of our conversation during bath time tonight. Grace- "Momma pink soap please!" Me- "Grace I just gave you some, no more ok!" Grace - "But I said please momma!" Me- "OK Grace, thank you for saying please- here you go!"

Is that cute or what??? She is just so funny. Oh and the pink soap is that foam soap you squirt out. She loves to smear it all over her body. She would use the whole can in one sitting- so i try to spread it out.

NOW- it is 8:25 and both kids are sleeping!!! TIME to play catch up on various projects I have going!!! NIGHT

OOps forgot one.

And of course big sister ALWAYS helps!!!!

Yum Yum...

I started cereal a couple weeks ago. He doesn't really like it, but I keep trying everyday. I love his face on this last picture. That's pretty much what he does each time.

4 Month Check UP / Catch up Time!!

This was John after his 4 month check up. I know he is almost 5 months- but I never posted his 4 month check up picture. In a few days I will post his 5 month. He had shots this day and came home to crash.

So down below I posted a bunch of pictures to catch up with what we've been doing these past few days. I also want to ask everyone who reads my blog to PLEASE say a prayer for my grandma Hackett. She is having surgery on her back the 15th. She is in a lot of pain- so please just pray for the surgery, recovery, and relief of the pain that has been bothering her.

Thank you!! :)

Potty Training

Grace is doing so well with her potty training. I would say she is 98% potty trained. The 2 % is for the accidents she has "getting to the potty". She's tried to hurry a few times and just can't make it. She even does poo poo on the potty with NO problems. So far no accidents in the car or in public places. We went to the mall this weekend and she went in a store. So over all it's been a great experience. I've heard horrible stories about this issue. I am glad this wasn't the case with Grace. She loves to wear her Dora underwear. She also loves to ONLY wear them. HA HA. She is always taking her pants off. (AS you can see!!) I just had to show everyone what she looks like in her underwear. Just too cute!!! OH and that last picture- in the beginning - Grace would take off her pants and underwear- use the potty and then put everything on the potty seat. Now she doesn't do that so much. She will go and then shut the lid on her potty, flush, and then wash her hands. SUCH A big girl. She is doing soooo good with John. She is so motherly now. Few!! What a relief.

I LOVE my feet!!!

John loves to play with his feet. It's so cute to watch. He will do this for a LONG time!

Friday Before Halloween

This was Friday morning before Halloween weekend. I woke Grace up and told her I would bake her some muffins. (She loves muffins- I even sneak in veggies and fiber cereal!) Anyway- she loves to watch them bake. She was soooo tired- as you can tell!!! But she waited, ate her muffin, then off to school.

We're back....................

I know, I know, it's been a while. So, I am just going to put pictures on and tell you about them. That way I can catch up with what's going on.

In this picture- John is currently wearing a 9-12 month outfit. YES- he is getting big. He isn't the chunkiest baby- but boy is he long. At his 4 month apt. he was 26.5 inches long. That's a whole inch longer than Grace at this age (not to compare or anything.) This outfit is a one piece and that's probably why. He is wearing 9mth clothing if it's just pants and shirts alone. Anyway- he is doing MUCH better. Eating better, sleeping better, and even riding in the car better. Of course we still have our days- but BIG improvement. He is talking all the time. He likes tummy time and can roll over from his tummy to back. He's only rolled over from his back to tummy once. OH and I did start cereal- but I will talk about that in my cereal pictures!!!