Easter Dresses

This Sunday is Easter Sunday and General Conference, so this last Sunday I had the girls wear their Easter dresses to church. We tried to capture a few shots before church but it was pretty difficult to get Brooklynn to cooperate and not hold something in her hand! Little stinker! And obviously it is hard to get Maylee to look at the camera. These were the best we could do, but I'll take them.

My mom just left this morning after spending 5 days with us. We are already missing her terribly! We had so much fun though and glad the girls got a picture with Grandma in their Easter dresses too.

Maylee Kate- 3 months!

I am sure I will say this with each monthly update, but I cannot believe that Maylee is already 3 months old (I know I am a little late with this update)! It seems like just yesterday it was Christmas BUT it's already April! Maylee is really starting to get a personality and has begun to engage with us more and more each day. A few things to document about her at 3 months old:

* She has found her voice and will "coo" with us...love that noise!
* She has dropped her late night feeding and is sleeping 9-10 hours at night!
* Depending on our schedule for the day she eats 4-5 times a day.
* She still sleeps amazingly snuggled up in her "Maylee Burrito" swaddle blanket.
* She still loves her swing but will stay content elsewhere now too.
* She loves to watch whatever sister is watching on the TV.
* She smiles ALL the time.
* I love the noise she makes when she feels wind on her face and holds her breath!
* She has a little bald spot on the back of her head now from laying on her back and moving her head side to side.
* She has favored laying on her right side, so she has a little flattening on that side of her head, but we know with extra tummy time it will correct itself...it did with Brooklynn!
* She loves to be a little spanked on her bum when fussy, and bouncing at the same time.
* She does tummy time 3 times a day for 20 minutes each. Sometimes she does fine and other times she screams, and has even fallen asleep at times during it as well.
* She will take a binki but she doesn't HAVE to have it.
* She is solely breastfed.
* She loves to take baths.
* She still does creepy thing with her eyes when she is sleeping. I have to close her eyelids for her all the time!
* She has rolled to her side a few times while on tummy time but not completely over yet.
* I think her reflux has gotten worse! Seriously sometimes a cup full of milk and more will come back up after feedings. She has medicine now to help with the pain when it does come up, but unfortunately it doesn't lessen the amount of spit up.
* She still has those blue eyes.
* Mommy is still her favorite.
* Her dimple is the most adorable thing ever! I absolutely love it!
* She now has the cutest little rolls on her legs. I like to pinch those chubby legs when I feed her...Paul doesn't think they are chubby but for my little kids IT IS CHUBS!
* She sneezes a lot and just this morning she started making the funniest sound right before the sneeze...so cute!
* She still fits into some newborn size clothes, otherwise is still wearing 0-3 month sizes.
* I tried putting size 1 shoes on her, but they are still too big and fall off SO easily.
* She does look very similar to Brooklynn, just with more of her daddy's genes I think.
* She loves looking at her self in the mirror on her swing.



We gave Miss Maylee Kate a hard time at first that she was a more difficult baby than we remember Brooklynn being, but she is getting better and better now. I think I have finally REALLY adjusted to having 2 kids now and I do love it! I enjoy nursing more this time around...I haven't had any bitter feelings about it and it didn't ever hurt the second time around. Brooklynn is still THE BEST big sister, she really is. She is super helpful and not overbearing with Maylee at all. She loves to introduce Maylee to people as well. I just love having two girls and I feel so blessed that THESE two were sent to us!

Love that you can see her dimples in this one!

Maylee's Check up

We took Maylee to her 2 month check up yesterday, even though she will be 3 months old next week! (Our pediatrician is super popular around here and is so backed up with appointments.)

HER STATS:

Weight- 10 lbs 12 oz. (21st percentile)
Height- 22 3/4 inches (33rd percentile)
Head- 39 1/2 cm (42nd percentile)

**I checked Brooklynn's stats and at her 2 month check up (which really was at 2 months and 3 days), she was 10 lbs 11 oz, 23 inches long with a 39 cm head...so technically they are looking almost the exact same size, except that Maylee's check up was at 2 months and 3 weeks.

We also finally got a prescription for her reflux! Hopefully it helps her poor tummy not hurt as much. The Dr. also mentioned she was showing signs of stranger anxiety and they usually don't show signs of that until 6 months! Um...okay, whatever that means! He told me that when she started to cry as he put that cold stethoscope on her chest! Of course she wouldn't like him for doing that. Then, as I was sweating in their SUPER HOT room, we had another in depth conversation about vaccines. What to do? There is such a strong argument on both sides of the issue. We vaccinated Brooklynn, but have not with Maylee. Am I a loving, caring, concerned, protective mother by vaccinating my kids or by not? That is the question!

Another Brooklynn Moment.

Blowing bubbles outside the other day in the BEAUTIFUL weather...look at us squinting! Hello Sunshine...we love you!

Yesterday at Maylee's Dr.'s appointment, Brooklynn picked up a book in the office and said to Maylee,

"I'm going to read you a story, Okay Maylee?" She opens it up... "Once upon a time." Turns the first page, "Once upon a time." Turns the next page again, "Once upon a time."

I think she likes fairy tales...funny thing though, I have NEVER read one to her! Ha.

Love these moments

This darling little girl of mine said the cutest thing today. These moments happen often and I want to remember them.
After finishing feeding Brooklynn her lunch (yes, I still opt to feed food to her when I am in no mood to clean up a HUGE mess she inevitably makes every time she feeds herself)...she said,
"Thanks mommy, you are so sweet!"
I could eat her, I love her that much!

On a side note...
In this picture does she not look 2, going on 16?
Oh my, I think Paul and I are in for it.


Another moment tonight.
Brooklynn is obsessed with her sippy cups. The girl drinks ALL day long (part of the reason why potty training right now is a little out of the picture).
I somewhat think now that after taking her binki away, Brooklynn
started to use the sippy cup as her form of comfort.
Anyways, we have about 6 different cups and she walks around the house with them and will set it somewhere and then forget where she left it.
We will both go looking for it, sometimes with success and sometimes we just get another one.
So tonight, she wanted her "blue princess one"...
We both looked everywhere with no luck.
But then as I was carrying the laundry from the laundry room to my bedroom,
I saw it on the bookcase.
Me to Brooklynn..."Oh look what I found!"
Brooklynn to me..." Oh mom! Good job! Good job mom!"
Too cute.

A few more to remember...
Standing in front of the pantry looking for a snack...
"Hmmm. let's see".

After bringing daddy one of her little chairs to put his feet on while watching Idol on the couch,
she comes to me and says,
"You're welcome...That was so nice of me!"

Quick Trip to California

CAUTION!!!! Picture overload....

We were fortunate enough to take a little trip down to California this last week to visit our family and introduce Miss Maylee Kate to some of her Great-Grandparents. I enjoyed every moment I had to spend with family. And I know that they devoured every moment with my two girls! They are so loved and we are really blessed. We took lots of pictures to send to Uncle Skyler on his mission so that he doesn't miss out on these moments (only 5 more months until he comes home!)

My brother Ryan is THEE BEST uncle...Brooklynn adores him!

Grandma snuggles! The best!

Grandpa enjoying breakfast with Brooklynn...he is in the middle of his busiest time (tax season) so morning breakfast was his time with the B.

Being the cheese ball that she is.

A Brooklynn-May design...yes I made this onesie and I love it!

Out to dinner with Great-Grammy Lynn (she is the reason why we spell Brooklynn's name with 2 "n"s). It was a great night for Grammy and we were glad we got to see her.

More Grandma snuggles...think my mom can get enough...? NO...NEVER!

Meeting Great Grammy Lynn for the first time.

Playing and sharing her carebear with cousin Violet.
The server here was so intrigued with Josh and Paul being twins that he kept asking questions....are they (referring to B and V) cousins? Are you guys brothers or twins? Yes, it's true...the boys are kind of a freak of nature when out in public together.

Uncle Joshie is such a great uncle too. B was a little shy at first (as she always is) when seeing 2 daddies. She always knows who is who, but she has this strange draw to Joshie and he soaks it up. Thanks for adoring Brooklynn Joshie...the feeling is mutual!

Love her smile...she does it all the time now! She loves to have all eyes on her with lots of attention...keeps her smiling and happy! In this shot, Uncle Ryan was making her grin from ear to ear!

Loving her daddy...

Paul will hate that I posted this picture, but I think he looks sexy...profile and all! And besides look at Maylee just gazing into her daddy's eyes.

Hanging out at Grandpa's office, saying goodbye! :'(

Grandpa loved that B just came right into his office (while he was with some clients) and sat on his lap....get her to work early!

Smiling at Grandpa....my dad loves babies...it is so cute!

Meeting Great Grandma and Grandpa Giddings for the first time!

Playing trucks at Great Grandma and Grandpa Giddings'

Searching for the Kitty Cat...

Yes, she loves wearing my shoes...heels don't' scare her. She is such a girl!

Love my beautiful sister!

Hanging out together Sunday evening...wish we could do that more often. Cody enjoyed jamming with Paul on the guitar!

We were able to see my cousin Tera and her two boys, Dane and Jack...it had been years since we had! Once Dane warmed up to us all the kids had fun playing together.

I was so excited to see all these girls! We all went to high school together and it has been years since we have seen each other AT THE SAME TIME! Way before we were all married and had kids. It was a great lunch....so nice to catch up and get a few pictures. While I was eating my lunch I realized all the girls had their babies on their laps while eating, so I had to sneek a pic. My Maylee was sleeping in the swing and Brooklynn was so distracted watching Mickey Mouse in the TV that I was the only one with two free hands at that moment.

My two girls...grrr...Brooklynn always has her hands in her mouth!

All of our kiddos together...can you guess who goes to who?

Group shot...treasured moment! Love you all! Thanks for making the time to get together while I was there...we will have to do it again!

Poor Uncle Cody always has the pictures with a crying baby...I'm sorry bud.

Uncle Ryan loving his niece.

Smiling for Uncle Ryan...again. I'm telling you, my girls just LOVE my brother...he will be a great dad...Someday!

Coloring with Grandma after FINALLY eating her dinner....thanks to Grandma for pulling out all the stops to get Brooklynn to eat those meat and potatoes! MMMmm...yummy in the tummy!

Once again...he is just the best. So helpful and at any opportunity he had, he was holding Maylee or playing with Brooklynn.

Love my older brother, Ryan!

XOXXOOX to all the family. Thanks for the great visit...Can't wait until the next one!

Romantic Gestures

"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth."

Old School...Us in Memphis when we were dating. This was on my 21st birthday! We had known each other for only a few weeks and already knew we would spend eternity together. To this day, we still are committed to spending ETERNITY together! I love you Paul.