I like you hair cut

That's quite the compliment. You see, Jay knows exactly one compliment. He pats your head and looks you dead in the eye and says "I like your hair cut" or more accurately, "I like-a you hair cut. I like-a your hair cut, Mommy." Then he will go around the room to everyone and do the same thing. Including Lizzy, who obviously has never had a hair cut.

Perhaps the funniest thing about it is the way he uses it to change the subject. For instance, if it's time to go to bed and we say, "Okay, Jay, let's get blank-blank and get ready for bed." we're met with these compliments before we can finish the sentence. Too funny.

On a related note fella got a (much needed) hair cut today and did a really good job sitting (mostly) still and doing what Mrs. Brandi asked him to do. :)

Here are the before and afters--

 

Fantastic 4 {lizzy}

Here we are at 4 months!

We had a great checkup and are in the 95th percentile across the board. Translation: we make whoppers.

Height: 25 3/4
Weight: 17 pounds 5 ounces
Clothes: Mostly 9 month, but there are some 6 month dresses and 12 month dresses we are wearing as well, but pjs and things with snaps are 9 months.
Diaper: Moved to size 3 just a few days after the 4 month mark

{as a comparison Jay was 26" and 17 pounds 12 ounces at his 4 month}

She is still very smiley, just rolled over all the way today, and not wild about the car.
A drool machine these days and the pacifier is less-than-pacifying. Its sort of a joke to see how fast she can chew on it or send it shooting across the room or car. She is "chewing" on her hands but not (yet) sucking on them the way Jay does. I keep a paci with us anyway in the hope that it might work in a pinch if I need it.

She got a few shots at her checkup and was definitely a different baby for 3-4 days. It was rough, but we all made it through. She's back to her giggly, jiggly self now.

I've seen a little bit of "anxiety" in her when I am not in her sight. It is so funny because really when I am around she never very very rarely cries at all. I have handed her off a few times to friends or Dede in the last week or two and if she can't see me she loses it. To the point that you think something has hurt her or that she may never stop, then as soon as she sees me, its history. I just think its a tad early to see that, so I hope it is over soon, I want her to enjoy everyone's love and attention, not just mine. 

We're starting the exersaucer tomorrow because someone was very fussy this evening when laying down but a bucket of sunshine when sitting up, so I think its time.

We've started veggies and so far her preference seems to be sweet potatoes, peas, squash then green beans. She's eating a veggie and rice cereal twice a day and we will work through the veggies and fruits and up to three meals a day over the next 6 weeks. She really likes eating from a spoon and I think we will get the third meal in sooner rather than later. 

Her days look like this-

7-7:30 wakes, sweetly and smiley
8 meal in high chair
8:15 playtime in pack n play with toys
9:30 5-6 oz bottle(some days she only wants half), burp, awake
10 nap
11:30-12 awake {we're usually out running errands or in the car at this time of day, if not she plays in the pack n play
12:30-1 7 ounce bottle, burp
1:30 napping (she usually falls asleep while I am getting Jay to sleep)
3:15 wakes, plays, watches Jay eat snack
3:30 7 ounce bottle, plays in whatever room Jay is in
5:00 naps again, probably fell asleep in the pack n play while I put her down to do something with/for Jay
6:30 up, high chair meal while we all have dinner then play with Daddy or pack n play while we clean up, bathe Jay
8:00 bath, play
8:20 5 or 6 ounce bottle, burp, bed for the night

That's 2 meals and 4 bottles and 3 naps. I suspect by the 5 month post we will be 3 meals and 3 bottles, 3 naps.

House Progress this weekend

Here's the house this week! 

 That's a ROOF people!! The roof that was roofed in a day! Yipee!  The trim has been painted (black) and they will finish the windows tomorrow and paint the exterior. Insulation begins this week followed by drywall. Cabinets are being constructed. Tubs are in. Rough estimations have us moving in 6 weeksish. 

I took the kids to the Zoo this morning. Lizzy napped in the stroller and Jay and I saw some animals we rarely see. We went the opposite direction we usually go and I sort of let Jay direct us. There were about 20 people there when we got there and maybe 100 by the time we left. It was awesome. 

The rest of our plans for ending "birthday week" include opening his presents that he opened at his party yesterday and chilling at home. 

2 Infinity and Beyond!!

Jay turned 2 today!

I really just can't believe he's TWO YEARS OLD. He actually seemed older today, it was the weirdest thing. He played with some duplo blocks for over an hour, was really pretending a lot more today and ate dinner (at our favorite Mexican place) like a big boy, using a big spoon, cleaned his plate and part of mine. He didn't need our help at all. (well, not much anyway)

We tried for a family photo.
Oh well, it's a good snapshot of this phase of life.
Especially my drooly shoulder. 

We had a really fun day. Just played around the house, then to dinner with Dede and Papa and back home for cake and presents. 

Remember this? Its a birthday cake.
It was simple and good-just like our moms used to make.
I loved the simplicity of this day and I think Jay did too. 

He LOVED blowing out the candles and we let him do it about 6-8 times. Then we told him he could do it again tomorrow at his party. He cried the only tears he shed all day when we told him the candles were burnt out. 

Dede and Papa gave him this chainsaw and Bullseye from Toy Story.

Mommy, Daddy and Lizzy gave him Woody and Buzz. He played and played until we had to convince him to go to sleep so we could have his party in the morning! It should be a BLAST!

Just some pics

Hey there, Blue Eyes!

And, I tried again to get some photos together. Mainly because Jay has decided that he doesn't want Lizzy getting any solo attention, but he also doesn't really want his photo taken. He just wants to be there...and prove he is the biggest. 

We get it. 

We've had a fun and busy week getting ready for Jay's birthday next week. We're having it at the Children's Hands-On Museum, so it should be a blast and pretty simple.

Lizzy turns 4 months on Monday which means BABY FOOD! (and shots. boo.)

House Progress

Here we have it--

just a pic from my phone, from the car today, but here's how we're coming along. The exterior paint should start by the weekend. Electricians, HVAC, and plumbers are working inside; bricklayers and paint prep on the outside. I couldn't get out to take any more photos since there were so many workers and I usually have a toddler and a tiny tot with me.

Yankee and Doodle

Happy Independence Day 2012 from Jay and Lizzy!

And now some less happy (but still worth keeping) July 4th outtakes...

Someone also used the holiday as an excuse to "independently" get the swing....

and someone else was playing and "independently" drifted off to sleep...

The photo that almost wasn't...

Here's Mimi holding Lizzy while I chased after Jay while we were in Nashville. We had a great visit. If you're aware of what we've been through with my mom's health over the past several months, then you know we prayed for these two to meet one another. Now, here's a 3 month old Lizzy out and about with Mimi able to hold her. Thank you for praying for us and with us. Thank you for continuing to pray for Mimi.

Summer Fun {part II}, Nashville Trip and changes

Make yourself comfy this one's gonna be a doozie. I'll try to keep it short and it will certainly be random.

The kids and I had a BLAST in Nashville!! Thank you to Lisa, Marilyn, Karla, Kelsey, CJ, Charles. Bubbies, Mimi, Nancy, Nanny, Anna Marie, Brendan, Wendy, Gran, Cathy, Kev, Cate, Zane, Lesley--and anyone I might have accidentally left off of the list- for helping us to have an awesome trip. Thank you for the visits, meals, hugs, smiles and cuddles with my kiddos. We had a great week of family and friend time and Jay did GREAT at Swim School!

Let's start there- we did 4 days of swim lessons- Jay cried, as predicted, but persevered. Day 1 he was less than cooperative. By day 4 he went down to the bottom of the deep end and got a ring and went off of the diving board without any tears. He rolled over and rested, then screamed. Which was INCREDIBLE. I took a video on my phone and in the chaos of cheering him on, deleted it. Boooo. 

 

Kar and Lizzy enjoying swim school

Here's a video of Charles taking Jay for his 1st ring dive!!

We visited with Mimi everyday. Jay loves her SO MUCH. Lizzy loves her already. She laughs and coos at Mimi A LOT.

We did Opry Mills and KarKar, Kelsey and CJ took Jay to his very first movie! Scooby-Doo. They lasted 24 minutes. Hey, it's a start! The kids had a great time and Mimi really enjoyed spending the day with them. 

Where are his shoes??

We jumped at Pump-it-Up. Jay really just ran around saying "Ruuuunnnnn!" Played at every playground we saw and went to Cheekwood to check out the Treehouse exhibit. It was AWESOME. Cate, Zane, Cathy and Kev live very nearby so we checked out their new house and ate some yummy burgers before taking on Cheekwood. Here's the info on the exhibit, I can tell you it was fun with all of the kiddos. I cannot tell you many details as I was on the "run ahead with the kids crew" instead of the "take a moment to read the sign crew". Jay literally climbed everything in sight.

"climb, climb, climb"

All of the cousins..Sorry, Lizzy! The stroller handle was blocking your sweet face and I didn't notice ! I think I was making sure Jay didn't make it over that rail into the water below!

Friday we kept it low-key with a lunch date at Chick-fil-a, Swim Lessons and dinner at Mimi's before hitting the road. 

I asked Jay to sit by sister to take a pic and this is what happened!

We got back to town and have been pretty busy since! We spent most of the weekend at New House and running errands. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were Jay's last days of Pre-School for the summer (and only his 5th and 6th day of Pre-School ever) Lizzy and I made the most of it by window shopping for Jay's birthday presents, shopping for things for New House and a family lunch out to celebrate Nanny (West's) 83rd birthday. 

Thursday we braved the oncoming heat wave to check out the zoo with the Chavers family. It was super-duper hot and perhaps our last visit there until the fall! Sheesh!

Saturday, again, we ran several errands related to New House (I'm starting to sense a theme here...). and Sunday we attended Asher Oswalt's 1st birthday party and Carter Weeks' 3rd birthday party. Jay is SO fun and SO busy at these parties lately! It makes me excited and just a teeny bit nervous about his party coming up. 

The kids at Carter's party

Enjoying our to-go cupcakes from Asher's party!

We've also moved Jay from his highchair to a booster at the table. He looks like such a big guy! (with and without the chocolate goatee) It's going okay so far, but it is easier for him to feed the dogs this way, so we have some lessons to learn there for sure. 

Lizzy is getting ready to make the move into the highchair. I hope this will make her enjoy eating from a spoon. So far she is really not a fan, I do hope she comes around soon. We start actual baby food two weeks from today!