Jeff, Alison, Austin, Ella & Reese

Monday, January 1, 2018

Christmas 2017

The kids had begged for another dog....a friend for Sandy they begged...and after much debate we agreed and Christmas brought little Bailey underneath the tree! The girls were thrilled and surprised...Austin had already suspected and responded in a classic teenager fashion, but he too couldn't resist the cuteness of this sweet girl after long and jumped in.

Slime, slime and more slime this Christmas!

We had lunch at Jeff's sister's house and then dinner over at my parents. We were all a little beat by then, so I unfortunately didn't get any pictures there, but they gifted us with a family trip to Michigan to visit Courtney and Jacob in the summer. It was a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Eve

We mixed it up a bit this year and went to church and then joined friends for dinner at Paesanos...it was delicious!

Our 17th wedding anniversary and kicking off Christmas break!

17 wonderful, amazing years...so blessed for this man, our life and our marriage!

We escaped to dinner that night, but the day was spent at a basketball tournament, a birthday party, and then the girls baking and having fun!

Austin went with me to get donuts on Sunday and he picked out some holiday themed treats.

The kids spent the first few days of the break with Andrea and Reese got invited to her first sleepover...she had a blast!

Jeff was on a secret mission on Friday night, so the girls and I joined their cousins for a Christmas play.

Breakfast with Santa

We are so blessed to have sweet friends who organize us for our annual breakfast with Santa!

Ella went right up with her list! She included the total for him! :)

Reese didn't want to go at first, but changed her mind at the end. She later wrote down her list, but for this venture, just told him what she wanted.

Austin, understandably so, didn't go talk to Santa, but was happy to give us a list.

These four cuties sure are growing up! (2013 and now in 2017)

Christmas Card 2017

Quick photo shoot in front of the tree...they weren't too happy about it, but it turned out pretty cute!

Soccer, braces, snow and DC

Early December brought the black and blue tournament for both girls...we celebrated with wings after a long day of soccer on Saturday.

Austin and Jeff went to hitting practice on Sunday night while the girls and I went to the annual drive thru nativity at Concordia.

I had to go up to DC for a conference upon which poor Reese got strep again...and Austin had to pop over and have his braces fixed...we are learning that we are there often for broken springs, rubber bands, you name it. My dad picked him up and took him and was supposed to take him straight back to school...but they made a frozen yogurt detour. Austin also got to ride in the convertible, so he has asked if Papa can take him to ever appt now!

I had a few hours to spare in DC so played tourist...pretty amazing!

And while it was cool, but not freezing in DC, they had snow on Thursday night in San Antonio, the most they had seen in 30 years! Austin and Jeff were at a basketball game in San Marcos and the girls were home with my mom.

As Reese Grows

Nov 2012 - when going to bed, we read two books, go potty, rock, get in her crib, say the letters on the wall and that they spell Reese, she asks to rock again (Yes, I oblige), then back in crib, puts all of her things where they go and then lays down for me to cover her
Election Day -11/6/12: Reese told us it was Voting Day and said "we talked about it at school today".
Early Oct 2012, 2.5 yrs - told me I am the best mommy ever! Says Jesus is in her heart. Says she loves all of here friends. LOVES ranch! Wants to do everything Ella does.
Aug 28, 2012 (almost 2.5 yrs) - Reese stays dry in her panties all day!!!
Reese 2 years: 25 lbs 4oz (31%) , 34.25" tall (60%), head still 90%, now wants to sit next to me when we rock before naps or bed, loves watching Dora the Explorer, taking care of her babies, loves fruit, oatmeal, ice cream, reading her nemo and dora books, impersonating animals, especiially tigers and rabbits
Reese 22 months - talking a ton! said, "I like yogurt Daddy", also entering the terrible twos. Has become quite grumpy when waking up from naps and randomly any othe rtime. Adding more babies to her sleeping companions, and occasionally a plastic nemo. Still loves Mickey Mouse clubouse, likes to dance and show you her moves.
Reese 21 months - tries to verbalize everyhing she feels and thinks. So many new words and sentences that I can't keep up - tickle, burp, I do it. Starting to identify colors on her own - red and brown, constantly saying "santa lap or santa, santa, ho, ho ho"
Reese 18 months - now says c/mon (as she waves you towards her) trying almond milk and no dairy as a digestive alternative, is making a huge difference, 9/28/11 - asked on her own to go potty, went #1 and #2, must have lovey and baby with her at all times, gets excited and does her devilish laugh
Reese 17 months - 2 word phrases, Rhett bite, bye mama, my bAbeeee, also has added "yeah", can climb up on the couch by herself, is terribly afraid of kinko
Reese 16months - wants to do everything Ella and Austin do like brush her teeth, back to going down for nap or bed with barely a snuggle or book and then not a peep, so much fun! loves making animal sounds
Reese 15 mths bottle is gone, eats everything except eggs like Ella, 14 months - so good about signing more and please and milk, shakes her head for yes or no, tries to say book, ball, milk, night-night, bye (while waving), still prefers bottle, but will tolerate cup
Reese almost 13 months - signs eat, please, more...climbs anywhere she can - on top of the kid table, slide, gives her brother and sister a big-open mouth kiss
Reese 12 months - walking like a pro, eats whatever we will give her, still prefers a bottle to the cup, but loves whole milk, waves bye and hi, gives great kisses and hugs, loves Ella and Austin, shouts da da when he comes home, in bed by 7pm, up by 7am, one nap a day, has moved into the 12 mth room at school with no problems, scared of dogs other than kinko, moving winnie the poo and moving iron man
Reese 2011:15 mths teeth #5 and 6, upper lateral incisors 6/13/11, 3/16/11 - got her 1st tooth!, almost 12 months - played peeka boo for the 1st time, walks around pointing at things saying "daaa...daaaa", 11 months, walking on her own, still shaky,but taking off! Sometimes 2 naps, other times just one long nap, in bed b/w6:30-7pm, up 6-6:30am,. says ma ma, dada, hiii, baayy baay (bye bye)
Reese Talking: 16 mths - hello, mii(means milk), all done, dog, meow, Austin, duck, 15 mths ball, book, no, Ella, waa (means walk) moow (means more), 10 mths - says da da, ma ma, baye, baye, blows kisses, waves bye,8.5 mths - will sometimes say what sounds like bye bye, 8 mths - says ma ma ma, da da da; 7 mths -says ba ba ba ba
Reese 6mth check-up, 9-8-10, 15lbs 9ozs, 26.5" long, does great with vaccines, hernia much better, dr says she should be able to wear a bikini
8-2-10: Reese starts daycare at Concordia. Teachers- Ms. Linda, Lorena, Margarita, Maria. Takes 4 cat naps a day, cereal in the morning, 2 bottles, seems happy:)
7-27-10, Reese 20 wks - 1st fever and cold, weighs 14lbs, dr says just a virus
Reese Eating: 8 mths: bottle and baby food same, now also eats cheerios and puffs- mastered her pincher grasp, 7mths: eats three meals a day, fruit and cereal for breakfast, bottle before nap, lunch, bottle before afternoon nap, dinner, bottle before bed, 9-27-10: tried Apples and chicken for the 1st time, loved it. Eats Yo-baby, bananas, bread, avacado, mid Sept: stopped nursing:(, 9-12-10: has now tried carrots, prunes, and apples. only nursing when she wakes and when she goes to bed, taking bottle like a champ!, 8-20-10: taking cereal twice a day, added squash to evening cereal, likes it. Changes formula to less lactose, nurses when she gets up, 10:30 ot 12, 1 or 2, 5pm, 7 pm, off and on throughout night (probably my fault, but miss her during day) 7-9-10: 1st took rice cereal, doing pretty well, at almost 5mths takes a little in the morning and evening!
Reese 4mth check-up: 13 lbs 12 ozs, 24.125 inch long, doctor declares her eyes BLUE. Left out pertusis vaccine, did much better. Dr says let her cry to go down to sleep. Can let her cry it out in the middle of the night when she is taking 2 solid meals of cereal a day, should be full after 5oz bottle, but usually only drinks 3 ozs. Still prefers breast milk, but reluctantly taking a mix with 1oz formula added. Can get feet to her mouth, has started spitting (rasberries), gives great belly laughs, rolled from her stomach to back a few weeks ago,but hates tummy time. Loves the excersaucer.
Reese 14 weeks, June 14th - Decided she was ready and took the bottle! Hooray!!! Ironically, the one she finally took was the Playtex nurser, same one Ella took that I was hoping not to deal with since it requires liners, but I will take what I can get.
Reese 3mths - 12lbs 7 ozs, refusing BOTTLE!
Reese 2mth check-up: 11lbs, 23 inches, eyes might stay blue!
Reese's Firsts! - Late December - Reese lets go and stands by herself, starting to try and walk, will walk holding your hands, 12/15/10 - Reese pulls herself up to standing..and then lets go, 11/18/10 - 37 wks starts army crawling, 10/20/10, 7.5 mths - (32wks) - 1st accidently rolls onto tummy while sleeping, wakes up not happy about it, 9/30/10, almost 7 mths - claps for 1st time!, 6 mths (27wks) sitting on her own!, stays on tummy a little longer before rolling over, has just started going to sleep without miracle blanket, 14 wks, June 13 rolled from back to right side onto stomach. couldn't get back over:), 12 wks, May 30 - Reese found her left foot, keeps pulling on it now and can't get enough of her hands in her mouth. 10wks old, May 15: rolled to the right side completely and found her hands!, 4 weeks old, April 2nd 1st smile, April 6th - started smiling at Daddy. April 5th rolled to right side
Reese's Sleeping: 8.5 mths, 38 wks consistently sleeps through the night, mostly on her tummy, 8 mths - 10/31 to 11/5 slept through night, next few nights up once a night, goes down by 7pm and up between 5:45 to 6:45pm; 6.5 mths - goes down about 6:45pm, just lay her down in crib!! stays asleep till almost 5am, bottle then back up about 6:30am, 6mths (27wks) - going down very well at about 6:45pm, unwrapped with hot pink lovey and john mayer, usually sleeps till 10, takes a bottle, some nights stays down till 6:30am, othertimes up at 2am, but just hold her for a munute and put her back down, will go back to sleep., 22 wks: usually up at 7am, usually 3 45- 1 hr naps a day, start going down for the night at 6:45, still gets up 1 or 2 times a night, sometimes staying awake, starting to let her cry it out to nap; 14 wks, now back at work she is waking up at 2 and 5 usually, willl sometimes go back to sleep and sometimes is stubborn and takes a while, 11 wks - May 23 1st official sleeping through the night, fed at 11:30,. didn't wake up till 7am!!!, 10wks - May 14: ate at 10pm, didn't wake up till 5:15!, 8 wks - usually goes down by 9pm, wake her up to eat at 10pm, goes till 3 or 4 on a good night, then another 2 or 3 hrs!, 6wks - April 19th --finally slept in her mini-crib in her room, HOORAY! Ate at 9:30pm, asleep by 10:30, ate 1:45am, ate 5am, up at 7isham:) Coming home till 6wks--sleeping in the vibrating chair, in the bathroom, with the bathroom fan on.
Reese 6mth check-up, 9-8-10, 15lbs 9ozs, 26.5" long, does great with vaccines, hernia much better, dr says she should be able to wear a bikini

What Ella is up to

Election day - 11/6/12: Reese was saying she wanted to go to school as Austin left to get on the school bus. Jeff was telling Ella she would be riding the bus next year too, but it would be a few more years for Reese. Ella told her "Reese, it takes a long time to grow up"
Early Oct 2012- 4.5 yrs old - has started having terrible tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants. Hoping it is phase! Loves writing her letters, all her friends names. Loves playing teacher and mom and dad with Reese.
Ella 4 year check-up: Weight – 34lbs, 43%, Height - 40”, 57%
Jan 2012 - While getting ready to go see Beauty and the Beast at the movies, told me"Mommy, I need to wear my ring so I can be beautiful!" Has a positive jar that she gets to put marbles in for positive behavior and can lose marbles for poor behavior (Thanks MP for the idea!) Has made a huge improvement in her behavior, is cleaning up play room on her own and using much kinder words.
Dec 2011 - Getting a little moody and pushing the boundaries. Loves to play with her babies in her room, told me sometimes she likes Reese, but not when she makes her mad. She told me she liked her right now and gave her a big hug, Thinking she just needs a little extra TLC and tyring to give it to her. Loves all jewelry, will wear a plastic ring for days, then is devastated when she looses it.
3 1/2 yrs old (Sept 2011) - still LOVES to play teacher. wants us all to play with her, then puts all her babies in time out, started ballet at school, doing very well learning her letters, so far A,B,C
Aug 2011- Loves to play teacher, grocery shopping, wears heels the whole time she is home and playing. Calls Reese sweetie, likes Austin to read to her, seems to have regressed with meltdowns some, loves to go anywhere with you, gives lots of hugs and kisses!
May 2011- Says "daddy is the best daddy, he carries my bicycle and carries me the whole way"
Ella is 3 years old - Weighs 30lbs and is 37.5 inches tall. After going down the slide, says "Oh my goodness that was so much fun!" After a day at a school and chapel said "Mommy, Jesus spread his arms and then he died." (Almost Easter)
Almost 3 years old - loves to say "I don't care", LOVES her babies, a stroller, a shopping cart, and heels. Favorite show is Caillou. Loves bacon, hates eggs. Has become more of a snuggler, will almost always give you a hug and a kiss. Loves to go anywhere with mom or dad, always up for an errand. Hates to have her hair brushed, says she wants it flappy, which means leave it alone.
11/8/10, 31 months - stayed dry all day at school, yeah PANTIES!!
10/20/10, almost 31 mths: put on panties when we got home from school, stayed dry whole evening!, loves her babies! obsessed with curious george cartoon, over mickey mouse clubhouse, loves going on errands with us or to Austin's baseball practice or games, kisses austin and reesie goodnight every night, playing much more independently by herself
30mths: Bed rail has saved our lives, hasn't gotten out once since we put it up! Very motherly with her dollies. Also likes to carry a purse with her. Always changing her dollies diapers and puttin them to bed.
9-10-10, said "everybody get out of my room", "that was your fault mommy" (it actually was) "nobody else's fault, just yours"
29 mths: out running errands and asks to go to the bathroom (mostly for fun, but went #2 on sat), distinct bedtime routine: lays lovey on pillow, elmo to her left, dolly to right, blanket on top, asks for grandma's song, says "no m & ms", love you, throws a kiss and says sveet dreams, very defiant, visits time out regularly at home, loves her big brother, they kiss good night every night, playing more with Reese, detailed sentences " i need you to stay with me", "i am going to be by myself" (arms folded over her chest), loves oatmeal for breakfast, and CHIPS
8-9-10: Said "I love my Reesie" un-prompted and on her own!
Now 28mths - last week of July staying dry most of the day at school. doesn't really want to go potty at home, but loves having her animals go potty, told us "i pooped in my pants mommy". loves to say "okay, whatever" getting up 2 - 4 times at night out of her big girl bed (b/W 12-6am), playing a lot independenly by herself, putting her babies to bed:) terrible twos have improved now that she can communicate better. puts elmo in time out and says her babies bit her.
Almost 28mths - July 4th weekend moved to her big girl bed with great success. Loves to put elmo, dollly, blanket and lovey to bed. Some days has to kiss them goodbye. Has moved to the 2 year old room, Miss Cissy. Only interested in going on the potty when it is time to go to bed, apparently does this at nap time too. Has started saying "Hold on mommy", "I thiiink so", "Whatever"
27 mths - Terrible twos improving. Has started to love to play dress-up. Puts on my heels and always wants her purse. Jeff got her a pretend pair of heels, purse, etc. It is adorable. Still loves to color. Sentences keep coming! "I don't think so." "Have a great day Mommy"
26 mths - Terrible twos rage on. Favorite thing to do is color, with markers. Wants everything closed, her closet door, dresser drawers. Verbal skills keep improving, putting together more pharses and sentences. "But I want this mommy" Starting to play with her kitchen more. Loves meat! This girl will eat anything meat, and leave the bread:)
25 Mths - Full on terrible twos! Favorite phrase - "No home." "Ella come." "Stop it, stop it!" "Be nice"
24 mths -Favorite new Phrase - What are you doing Mommy?
Ella's 2 year check-up: 25lbs and 34 inches tall. 60% height, 50% weight

Austin

1-17-12, Austin 7 years, 9 months old, lost his first tooth!
Late Oct 2012, 7.5 yrs old - 1st loose tooth!
Aug 28, 2012: Has started 2nd grade with Mrs. Davis. On the 2nd day he told me they learned about less than or greater than. Loves watching the Animal Planet, current favorite song is Payphone by Maroon 5. He has declared he does not want peanut butter and jelly sandwiches anymore in his lunch (used to be his favorite) All boy, but still has a sensitive heart
May 2012 - 7 Years Old!!! 47.5" tall (40%), 52lbs (54%). When asked what he wants to be when he grows up? "A baseball player".
Dec 2011 (6.5 years old) - reading very well (Level I or level 3), very much a boy, and into his bodily functions, but funny. told me to "wait for it...wait for it..."then did what boys do best. also has termed passing gas as busting a grumpy. Some may think silly to document, but he is all boy and I love him!
Sept 2011- asked that he change his name, says it isn't cool, wants to change it to Josh Hamilton (whom he has decided to be for Halloween), friends at school are Josh, Collin, Dylan, Maurice, says Dylan made a club, the goal is to get the girls to chase the boys, reading level 2 readers very well, writing has improved a lot! LOVES baseball, starting to like football, favorite song is "San Francisco" by Train
July 2011- favorites - color green, peanut butter and jelly, playing DS/Wii/xBox, watching any sports! playing kickball with Jeff
Oct 2010: not playing Nintendo DS as much, playing more imaginatively with super heros, pllaying Wii, likes Emily in his class, asked me to buy her a hair brush like Ella's, plays with Alex, Clayton, Cooper, Peyton at school
9-25-10: Started wearing glasses, loves Micheal Jackson's "Beat It", consistently hitting coach pitches at baseball games!!!
9-10-10, fiished 1st few weeks of kinder, finding pop-up words "the, and, a"
8-22-10: said "ella is exasperated", knows 4-2=2
July 2010 - Has started taking a shower by himself sometimes. We oversee, but it is great to be able to have him wash himself!! Earned his first allowance of $.75 by putting away his clothes. Addicted to his Nintendo DSI, or is that Jeff, or both:) So wonderful with his sisters. Fights like crazy with Ella, but is also such a great helper, distracting her and making her laugh.
June 2010- becoming too cool for mom and dad - takes off to the playground at summer blast before Jeff can tell him bye. Likes his 1st non-kid song--"Hey, Soul Sister" by Train, has started watching big kid cartoons-favorite is Super Hero Squad, Eating ice cream "i got a freeze brain!
Mother's Day 2010 Favorite - Austin told me "It's mother's day, so I'm going to be extra nice to my mother today!"
Just turned 5 - Favorite things to do -play Nintendo DS! Loves anything superheros, batman, superman, hulk. Really liking Tball.
July 2010 - Has started taking a shower by himself sometimes. We oversee, but it is great to be able to have him wash himself!! Earned his first allowance of $.75 by putting away his clothes. Addicted to his Nintendo DSI, or is that Jeff, or both:) So wonderful with his sisters. Fights like crazy with Ella, but is also such a great helper, distracting her and making her laugh.