the carlson family

Pulling Up

2012-02-15T20:17:00.000-06:00

I was sitting at the dining room table yesterday, and Caroline crawled right under and started pulling up on the chairs. Kate never liked crawling under things, so I was kinda shocked!

Here she's pulling up on my legs. She likes to stick out her tongue these days.

This girl's gettin' strong!

Europe by Instagram

2012-02-13T13:54:00.000-06:00

We're home from our vacation to France and Italy! I'll tell you more about it in a post with "real" pictures, but until then, you can check out these phone pics...

iPhone | Instagram (username sarcar04)

baby callie @ one month old

2012-02-01T09:28:00.000-06:00

Our LifeGroup is made up of 11 families now, and we recently hit a baby boom of four new babies all born within a month of each other. They brought our kid-count for the group to 22 (all four years and under, by the way). Meet Callie, one of these new additions!

Typically newborn photos are best taken when the baby is less than 10 days old. Callie was born right before Christmas, though, and things were a little busy during that window! I finally made it over there when she was one month old. It took a little patience, but with the sound machine going and a space heater nearby, she drifted off and let me position her for the shots. Because she wasn't in a super-deep sleep, I hesitated to do move her too much or mess with wrapping her or pulling headbands on and off. She was a champ, though, and I was able to get several sweet shots. Here are the few I've finished so far!

Caroline is 8 months old

2012-01-31T20:43:00.000-06:00

*I have abandoned the foot picture header for your monthly posts. You're just way too squirmy now! I could barely get you to stay on the chair for your monkey picture. You dove over the arm and I barely caught you. I'm going to need an assistant from now on. Also, you usually wear a white onesie with the month sticker, but I couldn't find the 8!

Dear Caroline,
You are 8 months old today, precious girl! You're supposed to be the baby, but you're getting really big, really fast. We are shocked with each new milestone you master because we still see you as our bitty baby. SLOW DOWN, okay?? Here's what you're up to...

* When we're eating, you watch every bite. It's clear you wish you had what we're having!

* You started feeding yourself puffs, and you like them A LOT.

* Although you were already on the move, you are officially crawling on all fours. You're not super speedy yet, so that's nice! You crawl straight for the fireplace screen, Kirby, Kate's toys, and computer cords. You get redirected about a million times a day.

* I couldn't believe this when it first happened, but you're already waving. I started waving to you when you were in your high chair, and you started waving right back. At first I thought it might be a fluke, but you kept doing it.

* Another shocker was when you played peekaboo with me. I was showing you how to hide your face with a blanket, and pretty soon we were taking turns peekabooing!

* You REALLY want to be standing and walking. You try to push up off the ground to a standing position. Of course it doesn't work, but you try so hard!

* You're pulling up, and your legs are getting stronger each time you do it. We had to lower your crib mattress since you can now stand in your crib. Aren't you too young for this??

* I love how when I walk you upstairs, you know you're about to take a nap, so you start sucking your thumb or finger. You are usually a great napper (as long as we keep to your schedule).

* You're always moving. Even in your highchair you're kicking a leg or flailing your arms. Like your sister, you're not turning out to be much of a cuddler; you won't be still for 2 seconds together. Too much to see and explore right now, I guess!

* We're still having bottle issues. Big time. You typically drink about 15ish ounces per day, and you're supposed to be in the 24-32 ounce range. I took you to see your doctor today just for peace of mind that you don't have ear infections or any other physical reason you're not eating. You don't. You just think you're a big girl already, and you're feeling very done with bottles. (I have to literally pin you down to try and get you to drink anything.) I have no idea how you're as big as you are. It's a huge mystery to me!

I'm leaving soon to meet Daddy in France for a European getaway. Your grandparents are going to take good care of you, I know, but I'm still sad to leave you and Kate. At the rate you're going, you'll be walking by the time I get home. You're going to change so much in a week!

Love,
Mama and Daddy

Stats:

weight: 20 pounds, 12 ounces (official)

length: oops; will add later

clothes: 6-12 months

diaper size: size 4

sleep: 7pm-7am

naps: 8:30am-10, 12pm-2, and sometimes 4-5

feedings: 7am, 11, 3pm, 6:30 (very inconsistent on how much you'll take per bottle); 2-3 solid food feedings

friday phone dump 1.27.12

2012-01-28T22:35:00.000-06:00

I know I'm posting this a day late, but I'm going to date it for yesterday anyways.

Okay... this one's just so cool, I need to show it bigger...

iPhone | Instagram

Missing Caroline?

2012-01-21T16:30:00.001-06:00

A certain sister has been hogging the blog lately with all her birthday business! Caroline deserves a little blog time, too, so I snapped some pictures of her to share. She's changing so fast these days. I go to get her from a nap, and I feel like she looks different just from when I put her down!

And although she's been mobile for a while now (rolling, sliding, scootching, slithering), Caroline is now crawling on all fours. She was going for Kate's necklaces, and Kate said, "Oh, no! Caroline's crawling!" That about sums it up. :)

During the little photo shoot, Kate asked to get on the bed too, and Caroline just died laughing at her big sister and kept lunging for her. Kate quickly wanted down again.

friday phone dump 1.20.12

2012-01-20T21:15:00.000-06:00

Kate's Farm-themed 2nd Birthday Party (Part 2: The Party Girl)

2012-01-17T19:07:00.005-06:00

Link to Part 1 (decorations)

Kate sure enjoyed being the center of attention during her farm birthday party! She played with the balloons and with the new stick pony she named "Pony Max." She kept pointing at the colorful "cupkates," but due to her allergy, she had her own vegan chocolate cake. She didn't mind one bit. (Helps that she's never had the real thing, I guess.) She did mind when Caroline kept trying to grab for it, though!

Next she opened presents and excitedly exclaimed, "A BOX!" after ripping the paper off each one. :) Kate received a dress up set from her aunt/uncle/cousins which was a huge hit! She was so proud of her pretty princess accessories.

I found the girls' party clothes at Old Navy. I thought Caroline's little red gingham dress perfectly fit our farm themed party, and I was sad they didn't have them large enough for Kate too. The little cherry top with jeans was darling on her, though.

I know I'm going overboard on the pictures, but it's really hard to narrow it down when they're of your own kid! :) My personal fave is the one of Nick blowing out Kate's candles. I love how she's looking up at him!

And if this wasn't enough pictures for you, there are more...

Kate's Farm-themed 2nd Birthday Party (Part 1: Decorations)

2012-01-16T20:58:00.002-06:00

January is a tough month for birthday parties since you usually have to stay indoors. Last year we had lots of friends and family over, and while it was fun, it felt tight in the house. So we decided to keep things simple this year and just have family over. It ended up being a very small crowd - just the four of us, our parents, and my grandmother. As for decorations, I still wanted to prepare a party table, but I didn't want to go overboard. Kate LOVES farm things, so I knew the theme would be a hit.

the goods...
Paper straws - Etsy (The Party Fairy)

Invitation and Party Printables - Etsy (Stockberry Studio)
Decorative hay bale - Michaels
Bushel baskets - Hobby Lobby

The invitation (address line removed)...

And way too many photos...

Here's the full Flickr set...

Stay tuned for part 2 (pics of our party girl) at her farm birthday party!

friday phone dump 1.13.12

2012-01-13T23:59:00.000-06:00

Kate's 2 Year Portraits

2012-01-13T21:58:00.002-06:00

This didn't go very smoothly. Let's just say there was lots of mud involved. I managed to get a few cute ones, though!

These plus a few more on Flickr...

Kate is 2 years old

2012-01-13T20:46:00.002-06:00

Dear Kate,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, precious one! You are TWO years old today. In the car a few days ago I told you it would soon be your birthday and you asked, "Presents?" How did you know that?? Yes, there will be some presents for you, but I just want you to know what a gift you are to us!

You've been doing and saying some pretty darn cute things lately, and I need to list them out for you...

* We read together every night before bed, and Gingerbread Baby (by Jan Brett) was a December favorite. While we read one night, I decided to stop mid-sentence to see if you could supply the correct word. You could. I stopped again and again, and you knew the missing words. Incredible!

* You are starting to sing!! I've been waiting forever for you to try! You learned the tune of "The Blue Danube" waltz from Little Einsteins (your new favorite show, by the way), and you get it stuck in your head a lot! You pound out its rhythm on your drum and even sing it in-tune sometimes. Just yesterday you started singing "B-I-N-G-O" for Gram. You only sing the letters part and clap like crazy, but it's a start!

* Sometimes when you laugh (or start to pretend cry), you cover your mouth. (See pics below!)

* You've been your happy self again lately. I wonder if it has something to do with your language development. You're not frustrated with that barrier all the time. And while you're still in a mommy-phase, you haven't been so clingy lately.

* You're repeating everything we say now. I love it when I pray with you, and you repeat me.

* Your new favorite TV show is Little Einsteins. While you're not completely over Barney, we have had a nice break from him! We were in the car with Gram the other day, and I asked you, "Which kid plays the instruments?" You said, "Quincy!" Gram then asked, "What instruments does he play?" I thought you probably wouldn't understand the question, but you replied, "Horn, trumpet, drum, violin." I shouldn't underestimate you!

* You still hate to "perform." When I ask you to sing or dance or do some other cute Kate-thing, I get rejected. You shut down when I start trying to video you doing something cute. I'm going to have to hide the video camera so that we can document your fun personality!

* The other day I asked you, "Kate, what swallowed Jonah?" You said, "Jesus!" We'll work on it. :)

* We went to the allergist a couple of days ago. No answers yet. We have to do a blood draw on Monday followed by a skin test and "food challenge" appointment in a couple of weeks. I really hope it comes back negative. I want you to be able to have normal food!

* "DRUUUUUMstick, where ARRRRE you?" is your favorite phrase (except insert whatever item you want). You started this when we were at Nana and Pops' house for Christmas and we lost the Joseph piece to the nativity. You hunted high and low and with a sing-songy voice called out to him, "JOOOOseph, where ARRRRE you?" Now it's your phrase for any toy or misplaced item. I hear it a bajillion times a day, but it never gets old. It's so cute to hear you say it in your sweet toddler voice.

This is the last of your "monthly" posts and elephant pictures. I plan on just sharing the cute things as they happen now, and I'll give another formal update when you're 2 1/2!

Kate, you are a blessing to us and those around you. You are a remarkable TWO year old!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Official Stats
Weight: 29 lb, 3 oz (75th%)
Height: 34.8 inches (75-90th%)
Head: 18.8 inches (75th%)
Clothes: 2T (and some 3T pants)
Diaper Size: 5
Sleep: 7pm-7:30am
Nap: 12-2pm
Teeth: 16

Caroline & Daddy

2012-01-08T22:28:00.000-06:00

After my daily postings, a whole week of blog silence has made me feel strangely guilty! I have a large picture share to make us all feel right again, though!

I actually took this little series a week ago, on January 1st. Only today did I pull them off my camera card! A little camera break has been good for me.

This was such a sweet moment between daddy and daughter. I had a hard time culling it down any more than this, so just scroll through quickly. :)

Project 365: all 12 monthly mosaics

2011-12-31T23:59:00.003-06:00

Project 365: December Mosaic

2011-12-31T23:59:00.001-06:00

365/365: self-portrait

2011-12-31T22:00:00.000-06:00

{self-portrait}
I used my remote today to get IN the picture. Should do this more often.
In a few minutes, Nick and I are going to bust out our cheap-o champagne and toast to a job well DONE on this amazing photo journey.

***Leave me some comment love if you've been following the blog! I would love to hear from you.***

A couple more to share...

Caroline is 7 months old

2011-12-31T13:20:00.000-06:00

Dear Caroline,
Every time Daddy and I look at you, we wonder where our little baby went. You sit in the highchair, move all over the place, and "talk" up a storm. For some reason, as the second child we seem to think you will stay little bitty! It's always a surprise to see you acting like the older baby you are. Here are some of the ways you've changed over the month:

* You're pretty much crawling. I won't say you're an official crawler until you're on your knees, but you are fully able to get anywhere you want. You get on your knees and wiggle forward. It won't be long before you figure it all out and get the coordination down. Between the semi-crawling and the rolling everywhere, you never stay where we put you.

* Everything you touch goes straight to your mouth. Your bottom two teeth broke through many weeks ago, but I'm wondering if another one might be on its way.

* You're eating solids very well. I stopped trying to give you that yucky rice cereal and just gave you the straight puree, and that was the ticket. You only stuck your nose up at the stage one meat puree I tried to give you. I don't blame you, it looked disgusting. You quickly went through all the stage ones, and you've been eating the stage two mixtures for a few weeks. You eat at least twice a day, sometimes three times if you don't drink a bottle well. You LOVE solid foods.

* You still don't love your bottles, though. I made it six months pumping exclusively for you, and we have a LARGE stash of frozen milk for you (both freezers are full!). We're giving you formula for your first bottle of the day since we can get that ready a whole lot faster. I feel sometimes like you're making progress with the bottles, but then something sets you back, like the cold you've had for almost two weeks now. Being congested really throws off your eating.

* You have really found your voice! You shriek and gurgle all the time. You try to blow raspberries, but you can't quite do it yet. You're not making consonant sounds yet.

* I know I've said it before, but you adore your sister. You're smilier when Kate's around, and you always want to see what she's doing. You light up when she's near.

* You still hold the title for world's easiest baby. You sleep when you're supposed to, and you fuss only when you're hungry or sleepy. Full-on crying is very rare with you.

* You're very aware of your surroundings. You want to see what's going on and be around the group. You're usually good at entertaining yourself for a few minutes, too, though.

* You love your exersaucer. You jump like crazy and you love to chew on all the toys on it. You have also started playing with "older" toys that have more cause and effect, buttons, music, lights, and talking. I need to pull out the LeapFrog table because I'm sure you'll be pulling up in no time. Crazy.

* When I sing to you, you stare up at me and grab my mouth. It kind of hurts, but it's so sweet, that I just let you do it.

* You went on your first road trip to Nana and Pops' house for Christmas, and you were an angel! You did great in the car, and you stayed on-schedule and happy the whole time.

We love you, Caroline Grace. It's hard to remember life without you now...
Love,
Mama and Daddy

Unofficial Stats:

weight: between 19 and 20 pounds

length: will add later

clothes: 6-12 months, 9 months

diaper size: size 4 (These are SO much easier to get on you!)

sleep: 7pm-7am

naps: 8:30am-10, 12pm-2, 4-5

feedings: 7am, 11, 3pm, 6:30 (very inconsistent on how much you'll take per bottle); 2-3 solid food feedings

Monthly monkey pics...
I took the "7 month" sticker off your onesie because you just kept eating it. :)

friday phone dump 12.30.11

2011-12-30T23:59:00.001-06:00

364/365: running around

2011-12-30T23:58:00.001-06:00

{running around}
We had a busy day. We put away all the Christmas decorations, cleaned out the under-the-stairs closet, made a mall run, and Nick and I went out on a date. Not much time for picking up the camera, so my phone had to do.
We were on our way back to the car from our mall errands, and Nick (wise daddy that he is) knew that Kate needed a little running around time instead of just putting her straight from the stroller to the car seat. We just had a small patch of grass, but that was all she needed to burn off a little steam!

iPhone | Instagram

363/365: "hop me!"

2011-12-29T20:56:00.000-06:00

{"hop me!"}
You know how Kate loves to hop? Well, Nick gives her hopping boosts (pretty much a throw). She loves this, and it's the first thing she asks for when he walks in the door every evening. With Nick off work this week, she's been getting lots of hops! We sure have enjoyed our extra Daddy time!

362/365: new kitchen

2011-12-28T20:49:00.000-06:00

{new kitchen}
We made it home today, and Nick spent the afternoon putting together Kate's new kitchen. She was so excited about it that she started playing with it as Nick continued to screw the pieces together!

361/365: meeting lucy

2011-12-27T23:59:00.014-06:00

{meeting lucy}
Joey and Beth were the best man and matron of honor in our wedding. Needless to say we were super excited to get to spend time with their sweet family while we've been in Austin. We finally got to meet baby Lucy, who is just a couple days younger than Caroline. Isn't she a doll? We spent some time together this afternoon getting some updated shots of them as a family of FIVE now!

360/365: happy girl

2011-12-26T23:50:00.000-06:00

{happy girl}

359/365: Christmas morning

2011-12-25T23:27:00.000-06:00

{Christmas morning}

358/365: Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T23:21:00.000-06:00

{Christmas Eve}

If there was any debate about which of us Kate favors, let the record show...

Christmas miscellany

2011-12-24T07:52:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas Eve! I have a few random Christmassy things to share...

1. Our card. A big thank you to Jennifer for chasing us Kate when she was nearly nine months pregnant to get us a few family photos! Go see a few more from our little session on Jennifer's blog!

2. Santa picture. I caved and did it, even though I was 95% sure this would be the outcome...

3. Christmas 1984. I'm a little over 2 and wearing the candy cane dress you saw on Kate the other day.

4. Kate says, "Merry Christmas!"

See you later for a 365 pic!

friday phone dump 12.23.11

2011-12-23T22:08:00.000-06:00

357/365: sharing

2011-12-23T21:48:00.000-06:00

{sharing}
Kate did pretty well in the car today! She was so cute as she shared snack with her puppy.

iPhone | Instagram

thoughts on project 365

2011-12-22T19:17:00.001-06:00

I'm almost there. Days away from completing my Project 365.

Never cheating, posting late to the blog only a handful of times.

It may be called "Project 365," but you should also know that I took waaaaay more photos than that. Since I got my new camera in mid-January, I have taken over 43,000 pictures. Forty-three thousand.

19/365 {JANUARY}

ADVICE & REFLECTION...

If you're thinking about doing a Project 365, you really need to assess your stage in life and your personality type first. For instance, if you're having a baby (and you already have a baby), and you're a perfectionist who can't just crank out a finished photo in no time flat, you may want to reconsider. But then again, every year will have its big events, foreseen and not, that threaten to derail you. Shoot through it all! And if all else fails, post a pic you take with your phone. It totally counts.

57/365 {FEBRUARY}

67/365 {MARCH}

108/365 {APRIL}

151/365 {MAY}

My friend, Jen, from my Lens Baby group was my unofficial 365 partner. Seeing her blog posts daily pop into my Google Reader was a real motivator for me. Not to mention the number of times I realized I made mistakes on the days' numbers in my blog titles after seeing Jen's posts. Like when I suddenly started titling my photos in the 200s again after I was already in the 300s. (It's been a long year.) All this to say, if you're going for it, find a partner to help get you through it. Someone with whom to commiserate when the project gets tough. Someone to help spark new ideas for your pictures.

Sometimes a new outfit or prop, location, or activity would be the inspiration for the day's shot. But more than these things, it's all about capturing life as it happens.

172/365 {JUNE}

193/365 {JULY}

239/365 {AUGUST}

I feel the need to lay it all out with a little pro/con list, Rory Gilmore style...

PROS:
* I have an entire year of our life documented. What a treasure these pictures are to us, our family, and one day, to our girls.
* I love this photographic journal to aid my not-so-great memory.
* This has created an "everyday" shooter out of me. It has helped me to recognize the beauty and sweetness of our everyday moments, no matter how simple.
* I know my camera pretty well now.
* I've had practice, practice, practice.
* It's a neat timeline of how my photography has improved.
* I honored my commitment, and I feel so proud!

CONS:
* This late in the game, I feel burned out. I've had many days lately when I feel negative about "having" to pick up my camera and take pictures. I don't like feeling that way.
* I hate posting pictures I'm not proud of. I've had to let that go quite a number of times in order to stay faithful to the project.
* TIME. This is the biggie. It takes me forever to edit every night. I'm a perfectionist and also still pretty new at all of this, so I still try to figure things out as I go. You may think, "It's just one picture, how hard could it be?" Just remember that you don't just snap one picture. On an average day I snap at least 100 (usually way more than that). Then I have to look through all of those and pick my favorites and try to cull it down to one. Many times I can't pick just one! Next, I have to edit it (them). I'm such a perfectionist that I can sit there and play with one photo for hours. It's very hard for me to finally say "I'm done" and post it.

Time spent doing this means that other sacrifices were made:
-Quality evening time with my husband who deserved more of my attention.
-Time to actually learn more about photography through classes and forums. Practice is good, but only when you're learning new things to practice!!
-Time to edit other pictures.
-Time to rebuild my blog after I lost every.single.picture on here this summer.
-Time to just be completely lazy at night.

But looking back, it all feels like it was worth it to have this incredible timeline.

268/365 {SEPTEMBER}

278/365 {OCTOBER}

334/365 {NOVEMBER}

So... will I do this again in 2012? Absolutely not. I need a break. My plan for 2012 is to take lots of pictures and share lots of pictures. Take days off. Learn like crazy. Spend time on what's right.

But I do hope there is a next time. Here are a few reminders for myself:
* Create a "favorite" label on the blog for my best shots.
* Remember to shoot for me and my photography growth. (Take pictures of things other than my girls.)
* Participate in photography challenges and projects to push myself along the way.
* Use a tripod and a timer or remote to get IN more of the pictures.
* Start using captions with the number in the blog title from the get-go. It is helpful when I'm trying to locate a certain picture.

My next project? Making a book of these 365 photos!

*********Here's the full 365 collection on Flickr. December will be up very soon!*********

356/365: trying

2011-12-22T17:39:00.000-06:00

{trying}

355/365: afternoon snack

2011-12-21T23:01:00.000-06:00

{afternoon snack}
This girl loves her Oreos. Doesn't she look like she's scared I'm about to take them??

354/365: "a leaf!"

2011-12-20T19:35:00.000-06:00

{"a leaf!"}

353/365: grocery shopping

2011-12-19T20:21:00.002-06:00

{grocery shopping}
Okay, big milestone here... This was Caroline's first time to sit in the cart! She was in safe hands; Kate was at the wheel! I love how Caroline looks like she's waving "hi!"
Oh, and yes, Caroline is wearing PJs. It was cold out this morning!

iPhone | Instagram

352/365: Christmas came early

2011-12-18T23:37:00.001-06:00

{352/365: Christmas came early}
Since we'll be with Nick's family for Christmas this year, we celebrated with my family today. We watched a little White Christmas, exchanged gifts, and ate a wonderful meal. It was so fun to watch Kate excitedly open her gifts. Caroline just wanted to eat hers. ;)

PS- Kate is wearing MY candy cane dress from when I was 2. My nana sewed it, and my mom did the smocking.

Here are the rest on Flickr...

351/365: sleeping sweetly

2011-12-17T21:25:00.000-06:00

{sleeping sweetly}

350/365: oh.my.word.

2011-12-16T23:50:00.008-06:00

{oh.my.word.}
Normally Kate has a cow if Caroline barely touches her, but Nick was a miracle worker! He not only got Kate to sit still for 2 seconds, but also to HUG her sister and smile for the camera???? Huge props to Daddy! This photo is so precious and will be one we treasure always.

And a few more...

friday phone dump 12.16.11

2011-12-16T23:24:00.000-06:00

349/365: pinch hitter

2011-12-15T21:06:00.000-06:00

{pinch hitter}
Kate wouldn't wear the Rudolph headband, so Kirby posed with Caroline instead. Doesn't she look humiliated??

iPhone | Instagram app

348/365: "rainy day"

2011-12-14T16:50:00.000-06:00

{"rainy day"}
Kate said "rainy day" about a million times today. We're both ready to see some sunshine!

holga film

2011-12-14T10:29:00.000-06:00

I finished my first roll of 120 film in my Holga camera a couple of months ago, but I took forever to finally send it in. There are only a few that turned out even okay, but with a toy camera & medium format, they're really not supposed to be perfect. I could definitely use some practice, though! I'm asking Santa for more film in my stocking. :)

Ilford Delta Pro 100 Black & White Film

120processing.com

Kate is 23 months old

2011-12-13T22:32:00.002-06:00

Dear Kate,
You're getting so close to TWO now! Here are some of the things you've been saying and doing this month...

* You started calling me "Mommy" instead of "Mama." It was so out of the blue and very strange to hear!

* You suddenly started saying "Happy Birthday" all the time. I'm not really sure where it came from, but it's really funny. You say whose birthday it is, and I then sing the Happy Birthday song with their name.

* You love your Little Einsteins book about Farmer Annie growing tomatoes. On one page she sings "La La La" because she is so proud of her crop. Now throughout the day you like to yell "LA LA LA... ANNIE" and laugh and laugh.

* You're putting multiple words together to convey more complete thoughts.

* You're getting better at saying "yes" and minding us, even when it's not something you really want to do or when you're disappointed. Of course, it's not all the time, but we've noticed an improvement!

* You love your Little People Nativity set. You get most excited about the animals, but you know baby Jesus and Mary, too.

* "Hop me" is a request you make a lot. You like to hop around, and you like it even better when we hold you under your arms and "hop you" high. We've turned it into a Daddy game, though, so that it's something special just with him. So as soon as Daddy walks in the door every day, you say, "Hop me!"

* I'm always amazed at how I can say something just once in passing, and you remember even days later. You're very curious and observant.

* Oreos are your favorite these days. I bought the mini kind when I saw they don't have dairy in them (go figure). You get them for dessert and for snack sometimes. You used to always break them apart and eat one side at a time, but now you gobble them down fast and come asking for more.

* We've been reading Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett every night before bed. I have been meaning to look into buying a gingerbread house kit. I think you'd get a kick out of that. You love wearing your gingerbread girl shirt, too.

* You're doing a pretty good job of sharing toys with Caroline. (Really, you are the one playing with her toys a lot!) I often ask you to find a toy for Caroline, and you're pretty good at getting one for her.

* Don't want to get too graphic here, but just tonight you asked to go potty and you did it! I guess I need to read up on potty training now!

* You know "Santa," but anyone wearing a Santa hat is Santa to you... the little boy in the grocery store, the blow-up polar bear next door, etc. We tried to set you on Santa's lap when we were in downtown McKinney for Dickens of a Christmas, but you had just fallen and busted your face for the second time that afternoon. You screamed bloody murder and clutched onto me for dear life when I tried to set you on his lap. It was the kind of crying that made you choke and gag. Not sure if I want to try again this year!

I can't believe that your next (and final monthly post) is just one month away!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Unofficial Stats
Weight: 28.6 lb
Height: 34.5 inches
Clothes: 24 months & 2T
Diaper Size: 5s now (We are using your leftover 4s on Caroline already!)
Sleep: 7pm-7:30am
Nap: 12-2pm
Teeth: 16

347/365: MDO Christmas Party

2011-12-13T20:37:00.000-06:00

{MDO Christmas Party}
We were supposed to make a craft of baby Jesus in the manger. But SOMEONE kept taking the sticks off the paper to tap out a drum beat. :)

*Photo credit to the dad sitting at our table.*

346/365: this little piggy drank some milk

2011-12-12T20:28:00.001-06:00

{this little piggy drank some milk}
Kate had cookies and milk for her snack today, and apparently she thought her foot (and then her hand) might be thirsty too. Hope they like soy!

the Yangs

2011-12-11T21:43:00.000-06:00

Had another photo shoot today with a friend. Here's a sneak peek...

345/365: kate & daddy

2011-12-11T21:36:00.000-06:00

{kate & daddy}

344/365: soon to crawl?

2011-12-10T23:53:00.001-06:00

{soon to crawl?}
Caroline is very mobile. She rolls and scootches all over the place to get where she wants, which is usually right by Kate or to get to Kate's toys. :) There were several times today when Nick and I looked at each other with big eyes because Caroline was getting her booty up in the air and her legs underneath her like she was just ready to crawl off. She might be ready, but I'm sure not!!

And I had to include this one of her rolls...

friday phone dump 12.9.11

2011-12-09T23:02:00.001-06:00

343/365: exersaucering double-take

2011-12-09T21:12:00.000-06:00

{exersaucering double-take}
Keep scrolling down to see pics of Kate exersaucering when she was only 2 days older than Caroline.
People keep telling me that Caroline looks like Kate, but other than the eye color and chubby cheeks, I don't see it. What do you think?

Pics of Kate... taken when I was still on "auto!" :)

342/365: playing with kirby

2011-12-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

{playing with kirby}

341/365: paci & blankie

2011-12-07T23:48:00.000-06:00

{paci & blankie}
We played upstairs this afternoon, and Kate thought she was big stuff when she came waltzing out of her room with her paci and blankie she had snagged from her crib.

340/365: merry & bright

2011-12-06T21:45:00.001-06:00

{merry & bright}

339/365: advent ornaments

2011-12-05T20:59:00.000-06:00

{advent ornaments}

A few weeks ago, I participated in an advent ornament exchange with my LifeGroup friends. We got an advent devotional and an ornament for each of the 24 days (corresponding to the topic). Kate's too young to "get it," but we read the Bible verses and talk about the ornaments as she squirms in my lap. Amazingly, she is able to point to the right ornaments as we ask her about them.

The tree is a small, 4 foot one I had in my classroom one year. You could tell Kate was so excited to have a tree just her size!

I'll try to post more about the ornament exchange soon so that you can have the information if you're interested.

338/365: pretty eyes

2011-12-04T21:52:00.000-06:00

{pretty eyes}
And just as blue as her sister's!

337/365: trucks!

2011-12-03T13:43:00.002-06:00

{trucks!}
I love lazy Saturday mornings that spill over into lazy Saturday afternoons. (Well, as lazy as you can get with a six month old and an almost two year old.)
Kate asked Daddy to look at trucks on the computer. This is a frequent request; we do a Google image search, and she's entertained for a whole two minutes before moving on. She still loves to look at her trucks book before bed every night, and "The Wheels on the ~~Bus~~ Truck" is her song request before she goes to sleep.

friday phone dump 12.2.11

2011-12-02T22:13:00.000-06:00

iPhone | Instagram & Hipstamatic

336/365: the library

2011-12-02T20:50:00.000-06:00

{the library}

lens baby: in the leaves

2011-12-01T22:34:00.001-06:00

Kate and I joined our Lens Baby friends for a play date featuring the fall leaves. But, as with most shoots with toddlers, the grand vision of a giggling Kate throwing leaves from a big pile fell flat, and we ended up at the playground. Hey, when life hands you lemons (or uncooperative toddlers)...

335/365: sweet potatoes

2011-12-01T20:03:00.000-06:00

{sweet potatoes}
Caroline downed almost a whole jar of sweet potatoes today. I guess that ~~rice~~ cardboard cereal was the problem.

iPhone | Instagram

Project 365: November Mosaic

2011-11-30T22:11:00.000-06:00

334/365: reflection

2011-11-30T21:02:00.000-06:00

{reflection}
When we were shooting her monthly monkey pose, Caroline noticed her reflection in the armoire mirror, and she put on quite a show for me!

You're lucky I narrowed it down to just four. It's so hard to cull photos when they're of your own cute kid. :)

Caroline is 6 months old

2011-11-30T20:44:00.000-06:00

So... these monthly foot pictures are getting a little hard, and might soon be discontinued. Somebody's getting too wiggly. :)

Dear Caroline,

You are SIX MONTHS OLD. How did that happen? I remember when Kate turned 6 months old I was thinking how old she seemed, but with you, I realize I still consider you my tiny baby. Although, let's face it, tiny you are not. In fact, we went to the doctor today, and you're exactly 10 pounds heavier than the day you were born. You have more than doubled in size! Here are other ways you've grown and changed this month:

* You became a very steady sitter a month ago. You usually fall over only if you want to get somewhere. Then you roll and scootch until you get there. It's not uncommon to sit you down in one place to find that in two minutes you've made it clear across the room to something you had your eye on.

* I'm nervous. A few days ago you were working on getting your booty up in the air and your legs under you. You are NOT allowed to crawl yet, okay missy??

* You are a tummy sleeper all the way. You scootch your way to a corner of your crib and sleep with your booty in the air. It's adorable.

* You've been teething this month, and now we have proof! Your bottom right tooth is poking through, and the one next to it looks like it may come soon.

* Meals are all still liquid for now. I keep trying solids with you, but you just make faces and spit it out. You'll get the hang of it. No worries! You take 4-5 bottles per day and you fluctuate between 5 and 8 ounces per bottle. You're still pretty hard to feed, and we sometimes have to work on your bottles for quite a while. We take lots of breaks and multiple attempts at your feedings. I really don't know how you weigh so much. It's the only difficult thing about you.

* You adore your sister. You keep your eyes on her when she's around, and if she's close enough, you always want to grab at her. She's not a fan of that, though. You seem to smile more for her than anyone else, and she's not even paying attention to you! You sure watch her closely, though, and you are so interested in her toys!

* When your hands aren't in your mouth, you're flapping your arms. It's a new thing you do.

* Naps have been going great this month. You still take three a day, and you've been very consistent on the times and duration. I hope I didn't just jinx us. :) I put you down in your crib, you roll right over, find your thumb, and go to sleep. Love it.

* You're in a grabby phase. You grab anything that's near you, and you especially love to grab our mouths and noses.

Caroline, you are the most content baby ever. You are happy to play by yourself or be carted around and thrown off schedule. You never really cry, and you only fuss if you're really tired or hungry. I'm so thankful for this because my hands are pretty full! I can't believe you're already 6 months old.

We love our little Monkey!

Mama and Daddy

Official Stats:

weight: 18 lb, 11 ounces (90-95th%)

length: 25.8 inches (50-75th%)

head: 16.3 inches (25-50th%)

clothes: a few large 3-6 things, 6 months, some 9 months

diaper size: size 3

sleep: 7pm-7am

naps: 8:30am-10, 12pm-2, 4-5

feedings: We aim for 4 bottles now... 7am, 11, 3pm, 6:30

Previous monthly posts: Caroline is 1 month old | Caroline is 2 months old | Caroline is 3 months old | Caroline is 4 months old | Caroline is 5 months old

Here's how you're sizing up next to your monkey...

It was hard to take your monkey picture because all you wanted to do was eat him. :)

333/365: bokeh

2011-11-29T20:44:00.000-06:00

{bokeh}
Let the Christmas light bokeh begin!

Photog friends... What's the best way to correct the hot spot on her face?

And look whose first tooth has popped through? (Look VERY closely!)

332/365: little monkey

2011-11-28T21:55:00.000-06:00

{little monkey}
Gram stopped by today with a hat for the Monkey. Isn't she cute?

And for a good chuckle, here's "Chunky Monkey..."

331/365: putting up the lights

2011-11-27T21:19:00.000-06:00

{putting up the lights}

While Caroline napped, Kate and I joined Daddy outside to put up the Christmas lights.
I was reminded of my day 2 picture, and I'm starting to feel how we've nearly come full circle.

330/365: trimming the tree

2011-11-26T20:52:00.001-06:00

{trimming the tree}
And she only broke one!

p.s. She got the scabby nose from falling yesterday face first into the concrete. Twice. It was a rough afternoon for her!

329/365: brother's fam

2011-11-25T22:01:00.001-06:00

{brother's fam}
It has been so nice to spend the last few days with my brother and his family. We don't get to see them often enough!

328/365: Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T20:06:00.002-06:00

{Thanksgiving}
Hoping to be thankful for an Aggie victory...

iPhone | Instagram

327/365: pals

2011-11-23T19:54:00.001-06:00

{pals}
Caroline is quite the grabby baby now, and she loves to reach out and grab Kirby's fur. Kirby doesn't seem to mind a bit!

iPhone | Instagram

326/365: who's been sitting in my chair?

2011-11-22T22:09:00.001-06:00

{who's been sitting in my chair?}
Caroline's not eating solids well yet, but I know it won't be long. The highchair will soon be hers, so Kate needs to start sitting at the table with a booster seat. It was strange to see her so small in that chair!

325/365: upstairs

2011-11-21T19:46:00.002-06:00

{upstairs}
This miss has been a tad on the whiney side lately, and some time spent upstairs (in different surroundings and with different toys) was just the ticket to a better afternoon.

324/365: in the great green room there was a telephone...

2011-11-20T17:27:00.000-06:00

{in the great green room there was a telephone...}

323/365: the itsy bitsy spider

2011-11-19T21:18:00.000-06:00

{the itsy bitsy spider}

322/365: iphone

2011-11-18T20:17:00.001-06:00

{iphone}
Kate enjoyed the new Super Why! app I downloaded. She spelled Z-A-P as Princess Presto made each letter sound.

321/365: sophie love

2011-11-17T21:29:00.000-06:00

{sophie love}
Kate was never much into her Sophie. It does, after all, seem like an overpriced doggy squeak toy. Caroline sure loves her, though, and Sophie is now a toy I wish I had two of. Wondering if Caroline might be teething...

320/365: on off on off on off on off on off

2011-11-16T18:02:00.000-06:00

{on off on off on off on off on off}

iPhone | Instagram

319/365: time with just caroline

2011-11-15T20:12:00.000-06:00

{time with just caroline}
Tuesdays (MDO for Kate) means more attention for this sweet pea. Can't believe she's closing in on SIX months.

318/365: lens baby holiday scenes

2011-11-14T20:05:00.000-06:00

{lens baby: holiday scenes}
My Lens Baby group met up for a "holiday scenes" shoot today. My friend, Sara, did an amazing job putting it all together. She is so creative! I got a few cute shots, but for now I'll just share Kate enjoying milk and cookies.

the coopers

2011-11-14T13:57:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I met up with another family from our LifeGroup for a photo session over at Chestnut Square near downtown McKinney. We definitely got a lot of "keepers" in the bunch!

Kate is 22 months old

2011-11-13T19:47:00.002-06:00

Dear Kate,
You're now just two months shy of your second birthday. I don't know if I'm okay with that. I feel like turning 2 means that all of the baby is gone and full toddlerhood sets in. I was telling Daddy today that this is such a fun stage, but it can be trying, too. You test your bounds, get frustrated with communication barriers, and can be clingy to me at times.... BUT... you bring us tremendous joy with your spunky personality and your excitement to learn. These are some things you've been up to this past month:

* Jabbering. You had been talking a lot already, but over the past week or so, we've noticed an explosion in your language development. You still aren't saying many full sentences, but you're jabbering away ALL. THE. TIME. Your favorite word is still "no" (which drives me a little crazy), but you are so good at using your manners words without being asked. You have several phrases you say often like, "There he is!" (saying "he" even when it should be "she" or "it"), "What is that?" and "Hi, how are you?"

* You repeat everything we say. "Oh my goodness" and "oh gosh" are a couple of my faves.

* You do not like to be or restrained or restricted. In your highchair, car seat, and even when we're trying to hold you, you say "stuck" in a whiny voice as you try to wriggle free.

* You have always been an amazing sleeper, but I don't think I've ever mentioned how excited you are to to to bed. You ask to go "ni-ni" and start listing all of the items in your crib, especially paci and blankie. You start giggling when I tell you it's nap time. Then when I put you down, you almost always immediately fall asleep. I'm SO thankful for this!

* When I take out the camera now, you say, "CHEESE!" and press your face up right into the lens, close your eyes, and give me a fake smile. I have NEVER told you to say "cheese!" Where did you get this???

* You can actually jump now... two feet off the floor at the same time. Big accomplishment! (And you're SO proud when you do it!)

* You say, "Funny!" when you hear laughter or when you laugh and think something's funny. This is a lot. You also say "funny" when you you're being disobedient. I have to say, "No, Kate, that's not funny; that's sad." And you say, "Funny!" again. Oh boy.

* A funny bit you do is say "Stinky... EW!" You hold your nose and wave the air. Then you tell me what's stinky (like "shoe" or "trash" or "stunk" - for skunk).

* Everyone knows you're a Barney girl, but we watched Mickey Mouse a few times this week. You now know all of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters' names including Coco, the monkey. Your favorite is Goofy. You amaze me with how fast you pick up on these things! We should start reading you the encyclopedia...

* You could have a future in meteorology. You like to discuss the weather first thing every morning. You let me know if it's sunny, cloudy, windy, or raining.

* The time changed this past month. Many will find this funny, but because of your 7pm bedtime, you never really saw a dark sky until now. You are in awe when we go out and look at the moon and stars.

* When you're excited to do something, you say "all RIGHT!" I'm trying to teach you a fist pull to go with it. :)

* Not counting colds, you were sick for the first time ever this past month with a sinus infection and ear infection. It took you a few days to get back to your normal self.

* You still aren't too interested in Caroline, and you get really upset when she touches you. There are moments when I see a glimmer of hope, though, like when you try and pick her up (twice ever), when you think I'm not looking and try to stick a bottle in her mouth, and when you tackle her to keep her safe from other babies.

* You're into counting everything. You don't count correctly, but you love to spout off numbers as you "count" things. "One, two, six, nine, ten, eighteen, YAY!" I'm not sure if I've mentioned before that you know a few shapes (triangle, square, and circle), and you know all your basic colors. You are starting to know more and more of the lowercase letters, too.

* You still cry when I drop you off at MDO/church nursery, but they tell me you recover within seconds and do great the rest of the time. I can't believe you're napping so well at school, too. Last week they said you slept an hour and a half! I didn't think they'd stand a chance getting my busy girl to sleep on a nap mat with so much else going on. Glad to be proved wrong! :)

You surprise us daily with something new... something I can't believe you understood or communicated, or something that just made me die laughing. There's always something for me to tell Daddy when he gets home. You're amazing!

We love you, Sunshine!
Mama and Daddy

Unofficial Stats
Weight: 29.2 pounds
Height: 33.5 inches
Clothes: 24 months & 2T
Diaper Size: finishing your 4s, needing 5s
Sleep: 7pm-7:30am
Nap: 12-2pm
Teeth: 16

317/365: bribery

2011-11-13T19:46:00.000-06:00

{bribery}
Kate's monthly elephant pose pictures came out MUCH better than usual with the help of Daddy and a few raisins. Hooray! 22 month post to follow...

316/365: "maw-tuhs"

2011-11-12T21:28:00.000-06:00

{"maw-tuhs"}
Kate asked to color several times today.
"Crayons or markers, Love?"
"Maw-tuhs."

special edition friday phone dump: day in the life 11.11.11

2011-11-11T21:19:00.000-06:00

I'll have to try and do this again on a more exciting day! You can tell after nap time that I started to drop the ball...

315/365: first time in the jumper

2011-11-11T20:58:00.000-06:00

{first time in the jumper}

friday phone dump 11.11.11

2011-11-11T20:53:00.000-06:00

314/365: just slidin'

2011-11-10T20:33:00.000-06:00

{just slidin'}

MY baby!!

2011-11-09T22:23:00.000-06:00

We met up with a friend at the park today. We sat the babies up next to each other to get a picture, and suddenly Kate got... I don't know... jealous?? protective?? Whatever it was, she did NOT like that other baby getting too close to her sister and she felt the need to claim her turf. It was really funny; I've never seen Kate act that way towards Caroline. I just kept snapping, 'cause that's what I do...

313/365: baby in a basket

2011-11-09T22:18:00.000-06:00

{baby in a basket}

And one of Kate...

312/365: precious girl, take two

2011-11-08T21:32:00.000-06:00

{precious girl, take two}
Her big sister's not the only one with pretty, blue eyes!

311/365: precious girl

2011-11-07T16:10:00.000-06:00

{precious girl}

one of sixteen

2011-11-06T21:50:00.000-06:00

We counted up that between the 7 college roommates, we have 16 kids. I got to meet this sweet guy this weekend...

310/365: missed this face

2011-11-06T21:45:00.000-06:00

{missed this face}
I was so glad to get home to my girls today. And my fella. He takes such good care of all his girls.

309/365: roomies' weekend

2011-11-05T21:38:00.000-05:00

{roomies' weekend 2011}
Had a BLAST hanging out with these amazing women this weekend. What a blessing they are to me.

photo credit to Mark today

308/365: haircut

2011-11-04T21:36:00.001-05:00

{haircut}
About time. Hadn't been cut in over five months. Let's see if I ever fix it, though.

iPhone | Instagram

friday phone dump 11.4.11

2011-11-04T14:33:00.000-05:00

iPhone | Hipstamatic

307/365: busy day

2011-11-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

{busy day}
You know it was a busy day when I resort to taking my daily picture just before bedtime and with my phone.

iPhone | Hipstamatic

306/365: feeling lots better

2011-11-02T12:43:00.000-05:00

{feeling lots better}
I stuck Kate in my bed and turned on Barney so I could try and get some things organized. It lasted all of 3 minutes. That's my busy girl!

305/365: sitting pretty

2011-11-01T17:44:00.000-05:00

{sitting pretty}
Caroline sat up and played with toys for a good 5 to 10 minutes without falling over. Maybe she's a better sitter than I give her credit for!

iPhone | Instagram

Project 365: October Mosaic

2011-10-31T23:51:00.001-05:00

happy halloween

2011-10-31T23:34:00.000-05:00

304/365: sick kitty

2011-10-31T23:33:00.001-05:00

{sick kitty}
Kate has a sinus infection & ear infection. This is the first time she's ever been sick (other than common colds).
Hope she responds soon to the antibiotics... it's sad to see her feeling so yucky.