8 months (and a few days)

While I was sitting around eating bon bons and watching the Weather channel, I forgot to update Ashlyn's 8 month stats. Woops.

Ashlyn weighs in around 20 pounds... yes, she carries it well. You can hardly tell behind all those rolls. She is fitting into 12 month pajamas and pants. Guess we're skipping the 9 month clothing box of Ari's hand-me-downs.

She's pretty much officially crawling. She gets where she needs to very quickly. She can get from her back/belly to sitting upright rather quickly and rolls all over the place. It is fun to spy on her after her nap and watch her sitting up playing with her bunny.

Besides the two teeth, Ashlyn has a personality that is exuberant one minute and the next, it goes downhill when she doesn't get what she wants. She's vocal. We'll stop there.

She eats anything and everything that is put in front of her. She prefers to feed herself and independently refuses spoons in her face. So, messy meals ensue and we clean the floor four or more times a day. It's a mess, but also freeing because I can just put food in front of her and she uses her two-fists to shovel it in. She still is nursing late at night/early in the morning and is growing and thriving fast.

Ashlyn loves her sister and kicks and squeals when Ari walks in the room. They play well together but Ash grabs/hits/pulls on Ari when she's close by. Sometimes, Ari likes it and sometimes she doesn't. Sharing is tough too because technically, everything is "Ari's" and Ashlyn doesn't understand sharing at all, so many lessons of kindness are taught each day.

Can't believe its been 8 months already. Only 4 left? Are you serious...

Ari's Favorites

Every toddler has his/her preferences or favorites (of the week, day or hour). Ari's favorite lovie is her bunny. Her favorite fruit, grapes. She likes her purple shoes and pushing the shopping cart. She prefers her socks off of her feet and her toes, pink.

Consistently, Ari wants to sing the Buses song. The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round. We got bored pretty quick with the wheels, wipers, driver, horn and baby so we've made up our own versions and visitors on the bus. Ari has too. The same people make the cut when I sing the buses song and when Dan does: Uncle Dave, Aunt Katie and Uncle Todd. I'll start by singing "The ____ on the bus says ____" and she'll fill in the blanks. Sorry to those who don't make it but trust me, you're requested and remembered at different times and for different things ('talk Aunt Shell, Ella-- computer').

Ari's memory is impeccable and she can tell me which baby/child goes with which Aunt/Uncle pair and who is who in all the family pictures. "Aunt Bex with Zachy and Allie." She even surprised me the other day when my computer slide show was on when a photo of her Great Grandma Haller came through. She yelled "GiGi!" I was so surprised. She remembers my Grandma Claire's dog's name too: Biscuit. Crazy! She remembers the name of a dog we saw at the park "Nikki" and says "Bye Bye Nikki" because we had to leave. She remembers that my dad drilled a hole in the table out back for an umbrella. "Grandpa theeeiiis hole." Ari remembers who purchased what gifts for her "Shoes, Baba got" and "Kitchen, Grammy got". I could go on with story after story of her intelligence and memory. She's a smart one.

Teeth!!

Ashlyn's teeth came Noah's Ark style:

in twos!

The Tooth Poem

Taken from a blog post back in August 2010 (that long ago?)

The tooth is cute

But causes much strife.

From the sounds of it,

It's cutting like a knife.

She's handing it well

As any girl should.

By chewing on metal,

Sharp objects and wood.

With her spirited smile

She's still a joy to be around.

We're just hoping this tooth

Doesn't put us in the ground.

Ashlyn, stop growing!

We aren't ready for this.

Your cute little self

We will soon very much miss.

Theme Change?

Lest you think the only two people in the house are Ari and Ashlyn, look, a FAMILY photo!! I was reading old blog (BC: before children) posts and laughed at how much Dan and I posted pictures of ourselves... in a non-selfish way. Blogs allow for that anyway, it is a selfish endeavor to begin with. Hey world, check ME out! Ha... what is wrong with our culture? Anyway, I laugh and digress. I know you guys read to check out our two girls and maybe you care how Dan and I are. I dont know...

We dont take many family photos because they'll turn out like this:

(please zoom in and check out the faces)

The truth is, we do spend time together. Like 6-7 hours of sleep every night. That counts as quality time right? *wink*

Tuesday nights are date night and this week (which happened to be Valentine's-Hallmark-created-fake-comparison-guilt-ridden-Day) we decided to have a 'Teach Your Spouse Something' date night. I taught Dan how to make homemade ravioli, separate eggs for a chocolate pavlova and a few other cooking things...while he explained what a Portfolio is and how as an Advisor, he would sell mutual funds, bonds and the risk/benefits of them for a specific client. We both seemed interested in each other's topics (maybe it was the wine) and had a good time!

Dan's job is going REALLY well. He's working so hard and its paying off. We're staying on task and keeping things as organized as possible. The potential in this job for future success is encouraging and we're very grateful that Dan gets to spend at least one and sometimes all 3 meals with us!

We understand that our marriage is important to have as a priority and we're working on it. Marriage has been a 'job' from the beginning. One must invest time and energy every single day in order for it to last and work. It has not even been 5 years yet and we've gone through a whole lot! We still like each other.

These two are the main focus these days! How can they not be?

Why the happiness?

Ari and Ashlyn are so excited because they found out there's a new Haller cousin! Aunt Jill and Uncle Mark welcomed Lily Jane Haller on Thursday in the wee hours of the morning. Ashlyn even woke up to tell me that she came!!

Oh yeah! We are really looking forward to meeting you.

Potty Training

I can't decide which is more frustrating & difficult: those first 6 weeks of infant nursing/no sleeping/crying/healing from labor

OR

potty training a strong-willed toddler.

Phew.

We've tried most techniques found in books and heard from others. I blocked off the couches and then we'd have accidents in safer areas. We have Elmo big girl panties. We have cookies and cupcakes. We have shown movies and read potty books. We got her a small (low to the ground) potty so she's comfortable. We have a Dora-seat to put on the adult one. There's been talk of Elmo cake and raisins. Basically, its a work in progress and I'm not going to complain. It was our decision to start potty training and we'll keep at it.

The good news: she's adorable in her panties, has peed and pooped on the potty numerous times and tells me when she's going. Time will tell and we're not giving up! This too shall pass right? I'm not wishing her to grow up in any way.

Winter? I dont think so

We've been playing outside most of the last few weeks. The weather has been gorgeous. Breezy, sunny and mild. Ari asks to play 'side often and we walk around the neighborhood or walk out back to the garden to play in the dirt. As someone who left Indiana weather because of the awful winters, I am so thankful for these sunny afternoons.

Making mud pies!

Blowing bubbles!

Dan was able to take Sunday afternoon off away from the desk. We went to a local park and played on the playground.

Ari was devastated when we left the park. Cried the whole way home.