Twas 2 weeks before Christmas

And my house was a disaster with frosting and sprinkles ALL over the place. But, James had fun! :)

The pictures you never saw

This week we're working on two things:

 1. Potty training with James and 2. Getting EL to sleep longer than a 4 hour stretch at night.

 Yesterday, James (on his own accord) told us he had to go pee pee and poo poo in the toilet the entire day and only had 1 accident! Go James!

 Today, James told us he had to use the bathroom ONCE. 

 (Look out J's future wife. You're a lucky woman.)

After I got fed up Tuesday night from nursing EL and putting her down at 7:30 only to have her get back up at 10 to nurse again, we are now successfully down to 1 feeding a night. 

 My students had a mission bazaar today where they presented all their homemade goodies in hopes that someone would buy them. James picked out the most expensive dang cookie that cost $1. A WHOLE DOLLAR FOR A TINY QUARTER SIZED COOKIE. rip off

 Emmie Lyn got scolded today at daycare for (repeatedly) pinching the puney kid beside her.

 Our washing machine broke for the second time yesterday. One of EL's bibs and a baby sock were pulled out of the drain this time. 

 How many ornaments has James broken this year?

A) 3

B) 5

C) 8

D) 0 -because he's a perfect toddler that listens 100% of the time.

(Excuse me while I go poo in my pants)

Choice C. 

Some spooning action

With Toots and EL. (And some other sleeping pictures)

10 months

Emmie Lyn, you are 10 months old! (A week late)

Remember this? I was big and angry and super pregnant and you were inside just-a-waiting to make your big entrance into this world. Little did I know, I had been calling you Rhett your entire pregnancy. Boy oh boy was I in for a surprise.

 This months theme: Sickness, lack of sleep, and orneriness"

 You're really a very sweet, cuddly, and happy baby but this month has been hard. 2 stomach bugs, 2 ear infections, and 3 new teeth, all packed into 4-5 weeks. This means that Momma hasn't been sleeping very well little girl. I'm exhausted kiddo. I still think back to month 8 and how amazing you were to give me 3-4 weeks of sleeping 12 straight hours at night. Having woken up so much due to illness and teething, you're again waking up every 3-4 hours wanting to nurse. A good night involves only getting up twice. Then again, you're not gaining weight as quickly as the doctor wants you to so my momma guilt kicks in and I nurse you every single time. 

 You now lovingly go to your Daddy and shout his name "DA-DA" when you're eating, in the car, or when you want to be rescued from your crib. You get super excited when he comes home and you kick your legs like you're trying to fly. He loves it!

 At your 9 month appt, your iron was low so we've been feeding you mainly beef, beans, broccoli, and egg yolks this month. That means sweet girl that you've got the rankest nastiest farts ever. Your day care teacher even emailed me one day saying that you were making her gag. 

 You can crawl with lightening speed, stand all by yourself, and you can walk while holding onto tables. (Your brother had been walking for 2 weeks at this point in his life.) I try to stand you up and let you hold my hands while we practice walking around the room. You'll literally give me 1-2 steps before you collapse in exhaustion/defeat. 

 You got popped (lightly) on the hand for the first time a few weeks ago. You were eating cheerios for breakfast when you picked one up and dropped it on the floor. I pointed at you and said (fiercely) "NO!" You then smiled, picked up another cheerio, and threw it on the floor. You're sassy girlfriend. 

 You're still in size 2 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. You've got 4 teeth total (the top two are big whompers). You love to splash in the tub and chase the cats around. You think it's hilarious when I ask what the cow says and then moo. You love to nurse (and bite). Those people that say, "flick them on the chin the first time they bite and they'll never do it again" are filthy liars. I got bitten 3 times alone yesterday. YESTERDAY. Keep this up EL and I'll quit nursing you. Your brother adores you even though he hates to share. We love you even though you won't let me sleep. :)

Happy 10 months!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours 

This year we're thankful for:

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Sweet babies that are happy and healthy

4. Our bigger house

Goats

5. Jesus, always and forever. I don't know how I would have gotten through some of the moments of this year without my Savior. I'm thankful to be His beloved daughter.

Tiny but Mighty

Little Miss weighed in at 15lbs 1oz (28%) at 6 months and for her 9 month checkup today, she weighed in at 15lbs 5oz (7%) and was in the 9th percentile in height.

Poor girl and all her stomach viruses. Dang daycare. 

On the plus(?)side, I was told when I picked her up today that she was the class bully. Apparently she enjoys pulling everyone's hair (what babe doesn't) and she steals everyone's toys. Ha!

Happy Halloween!

It wouldn't be Halloween without a few (ha! Who am I kidding?) toddler tantrums, some puke from EL, and dead neighborhood. Happy Halloween!

Then and Now: Pumpkin Edition

He loved it.

 She hated it.

9 months

Emmie Lou, you are 9 months old!

 You're a snuggly lump of sugar that still mostly wears 6 month clothes. Your attachment to me has grown tremendously. You rarely will let anyone else hold you, even Daddy! If I leave the room, you immediately start following me. You love scooting around and pulling up. You are starting to stand for 2-3 seconds on your own.

 For 3 weeks dear girl, you slept 12 straight hours at night. I rejoiced and celebrated. Now, you're up again 1, sometimes 2, times a night wanting to nurse. That's ok. You've had a rough week (stomach bug and an ear infection - see pic below) and you haven't nursed all that well during the day. I think you're playing catch up.  

You kick your legs like you're swimming when you get super excited. You've started crying like Chewbacca when you're angry. Your brother adores you and watches everything you do to make sure you stay safe ("No Emmie! You can't have that! You'll choke!") You love wagon rides, eating anything and everything, chewing on frozen teethers, Toots, and Momma. You bring us so much joy and we love you!

Fall photoshoot

God's beauty

A girl and her goats

Rub a Dub Dub

2 babies in the tub!

This girl!

Has had a BIG week!

She started sleeping 12 hours STRAIGHT Sunday night (Praise the Good Lord.)

Her first tooth broke through this morning!

Go Emmie Lyn!!

It's Monday.

And we're all feeling it