Two Beauties

Ari (top row) and Ashlyn at 7 months
(click collage to view larger)

Happy Birthday Dadda!!

We looooove you!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Ashlyn 7 Months

Ashlyn is seven months! More than half a year has passed already? Cannot imagine what our life was like without her... quieter maybe! She's so sweet, and has such a different personality than Ari. Still opinionated though and quite vocal but more sensitive and observant of her surroundings. She's also more easily appeased and sleeps better.

She weighs in around 17.5 pounds (75 percentile) and is 28 inches tall (97 percentile). Ashlyn is eating solid foods twice a day. Usually an oatmeal mix with fruit and then a broth-based blend of a veggie like carrot, sweet potato or butternut squash. She likes to eat solids but still is nursing numerous times a day and sometimes once at night. She slept through the night a few times this month but we're heading into cutting teeth stage and inconsistency remains the only consistent thing.
Ashlyn is a roller and a sitter. She is not crawling (which is fine by me) but still manages to get across the room rather quickly by rolling and scooting. She loves chewing on anything she can get her hands on and is constantly moving or using her hands and feet to play and move. She talks alot but squeals more. If she's feeling left out, she'll shout and demand for whatever she wants (not unlike any human-Ha).

Ashlyn is growing too fast. That's one truth.

She's also voting Republican this fall, anyone else?

Just one pic please

Not to be ungrateful with what a blessing a digital camera is... but I CANNOT get a single picture of Ari and Ashlyn where they generally look cute, happy or are both looking at the camera.

What is happening here? (Ashlyn has a bow in her 'hair')

Seriously... Ari looks like she's holding back aggression and is armed with wooden weapons.

Blurry and Blurry. I can't imagine being in the 'old days' (ie- Civil War time) when people would have to be still for like 1-2 minutes for each photograph!

They look like stoners here... too much rock music I guess.

And this one still makes me laugh a little every time!

An Afternoon Lesson in Sharing...

Ari and Ashlyn,

Mommy knows that with sisters, sharing is tough. First, it is plastic cars and hair-ties but soon it will be shoes and jeans. I'm so not ready for slamming doors and screaming about who borrowed what. For now, I'll enjoy Thursday's lesson in sharing and being kind. Here's a photo-journal account of what happened:

First, Ari has the car and fuzzis. Casually playing on a random box in the hallway.

Somehow, Ashlyn gets a hold of the car, probably while Ari is putting the fuzzis on her eyes.

Ashlyn realizes quickly that Ari has taken the car back to its 'rightful' owner. (So quickly and violently, I cannot photograph it)

The look of shocking disappointment.

Mommy steps in and tells Ari to run to retrieve a toy for Ashlyn to play with instead of the car in dispute.

Ari runs to get the bird rattle. She is such a good listener.

"Here you go Ash."

Happy happy Girls!

Thanks Dadda!

(Ari and Ashlyn told me today that they wanted to say a special thanks to their Dadda)

You are our favorite boy and we love when you make us laugh. Thank YOU for working so hard so that we can eat num nums, cheese, turkey, chicken, mustard, grapes and oatmeal (oahmoot). We missed you while you were gone in St. Louis on a 'twip'. Though we were asleep when you arrived, we had sweet dreams about you.

We know you are super busy but we thank you for taking time to play and chase us around in our jammies. We loooove to play with you and we are very excited when you come home for dinnertime.

Kisses, hugs and big smiles.

-Ari & Ashlyn

Caption CONTEST

Ari was playing 'dress up' one afternoon after we got back from our trip. She found a few things she wanted to use...

Please add your comments and captions and we'll crown a winner this weekend

Ari turns 2!

Our Ari Taylor turned two yesterday! We can't believe how quickly time has flown since that cold December night when she wanted to wait till 2010 to be born (while at the same time, prolonging our tax incentive an extra year). We have had hearts full of love ever since. We celebrate her two years every single day when we laugh at her personality, are amazed by her intelligence and are shocked at her ability to disobey! (ha, in all fairness though, she's very well-behaved).

ELMO CAKE was the motto of the weekend. As most toddlers her age, she absolutely adores that furry red monster with a positive attitude and sweet voice. Ari overheard me mention to Aunt Bex that I wanted to make her an Elmo cake and she's been asking for one ever since! I delivered... with some trepidation for my cooking/cake decorating skills.

For her birthday dinner, I made cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries. Ari's favorites (and some other goodies for the adults). Thank you to Grammy Claire for making her birthday Tutu!

Ari was in love with all the attention and was a pickle at the dinner table, making us all laugh out loud at her sayings and excitement with the people. She had a great birthday and we thank all those who made it and we missed all those who couldn't. Ari is well-loved and we are well-blessed!!

More pics/stats to come!