Two Months: Ashlyn

Ashlyn is two months old! It is hard to believe that two months have literally flown by ('they' always say that). She is so big and filling out. She's super sweet and adorable with her blue (!!) eyes and dark 'old man' hair mullet (balding in the front, long in the back). She makes some cute little faces and sticks her tongue out.

She weighs in at: 12 pounds 2 ounces

She is 22 inches tall

She is 100% beautiful and has a birthmark on the top of her head.

Ashlyn is smiling, cooing, jiving to music and waving her arms in excitement. She makes great eye contact and listens to her sister squeal and play (and smiles at her!). Ashlyn is sleeping and eating great too. Taking a big nap from 9pm-4am and then going right back to sleep from 4:30-7:30. We've had some very nice lazy mornings with Dan home. So blessed with his help.

Ashlyn sucks her thumb and hand and doesn't really love her paci unless I hold it in for her. Once she's asleep, its out and she doesn't want it. Ari on the other hand... we're working on breaking her before her second birthday (currently, she only takes it for nap/night time)

The girls

Sisters

Growing up with two older sisters, I knew what it meant to be 'cared for'.... Meaning, they helped me pack my lunch the day I decided to run away. I was blamed for making jello-fight messes and usually had to clean the bathrooms. (Ha! I love you Bex and Rasch.) Ari and Ashlyn are beginning to share moments of 'caring' too.

[above] Rocking Ashlyn to sleep

Helping change Ashlyn's poopy diapers and bring them to the 'rash'.

Ari helping Ashlyn find her 'noosh'.

Story time in the green chair.

Ari giving Ashlyn her paci (while baby is still very very asleep)

And lastly, framing her sister for stealing the remote, dirty laundry and camera lens cap. Ari is on her way to being a fantastic big sister!

Visitors in the Heat! (but bring cooler temps!)

The Hallers came to visit us this past weekend! Katie even came to visit us despite her school priorities. That means we got to take some pictures of Ari and Ashlyn with a nicer camera and a very talented photographer!

We shucked and ate Ohio corn (fresh picked!)

We played with the new baby and chased the toddler around.

We read lots of books and played with new [old] toys from the Haller baby years!

Baba loved cuddling with a sleepy and sweet Ashlyn. She also was extremely helpful with Ari and entertained her outside with a 'redneck' swimming pool from a cooler. So fun!

And Popsy was here and he played with Ari and read her books.

Thanks for watching Ari so we could go out on a date and thanks for having fun with the girls!

19 months

(ten days late)

19 months!

I'm in denial about the whole TWO years coming up here around the bend. She's still my little baby... even though I have a new 'baby' in my life. Ari can't possibly be ready to be TWO YEARS old in a few short months.

We are loving this age. Ari is so smart and loves to read books. We say that a lot but seriously... she'd rather read books than play with any toy in house (except the hose... which caused her first huge tantrum... oh dear!). Sometimes, I'll be busy in another room and I'll look for her. If its quiet you'd think she was misbehaving. Nope, she's just sitting in a chair, reading a book. She also has figured out some of the 'older' baby toys we have like doing puzzles, stacking blocks, pushing buttons and using knobs that seemed to confuse her earlier. Oh, and she locks herself in rooms and hides in closets often. So funny!

Our favorite recent words: walrus (wallwash), home, Thank you ('NeeNee' with the sign language), zebra, goat, giraffe, raisins (ray-ray), nose (noosh), mouse... and so many more. We're trying to write them all down but there are too many. She knows a number of animal noises and growls a lot!

Ari is doing great with Ashlyn. She is very sweet and patient and even tries to get Ashlyn to drink her (Ari's) milk, even eat her raisins and say 'Thank you' in sign language. She is rarely jealous and seems to be adjusting fairly well.

I have noticed a lot of frustration in Ari when a) she can't do something b) she doesn't get her way c) you take something away from her and d) when me/Dan aren't paying enough attention to her. Typical Toddler behavior from what I've heard/experienced/read. She's a stubborn Belgian like her mom. :)

Results and Caption #2

Caption Contest # 1---- THE WINNER IS....

[Uncle] Dave Haller:

Ashlyn: When I was born, we had to drive all the way to South Carolina.

Ari: Child, please! We were in labor for like 48 hours.

Caption Contest #2 begins today.

Same rules, same prize. One week to participate. Unlimited entries.

Picture 2:

Caption Contest #1

We are having a contest on our blog and we're calling it the CAPTION CONTEST.

Rules: post a comment with what you think the caption should be on the below photo. Please put your name or initials and when I announce the winner, I will ask you to email me to receive your prize.

Prize: a framed photo of one or both of our girls

Photo 1:

(it can be a phrase, what they are saying to one another or a thought in general--be creative!)