The Ma Family

Peacock, has it been four months already?  Boy is the time just flying by for me!  (And look at me posting this only a day late this month.)  That’s a sure sign that there have been some changes.

Yes, you now have the nickname of Peacock.  This is due to the tuft of hair that you have at the back of your head that stands straight up.  We never try to make it lay down because it’s part of you right now and we think it’s great!  Rylee has taken to calling you Bee-dop - her version of Peacock.  It’s really cute and I have feeling you may be stuck with that one for a long time. 

The biggest change for you in the past month has been that Momma has gone back to work.  I have a new job and that means that you made the transition to daycare.  You handled it like a champ.  In fact, you have a great time with the ladies in the nursery and I know that you make them laugh all day. 

It has been tough month regarding your feeding schedule.  You have been resistant to bottles for a week at a time.  You can go long periods of time between bottles and that makes your parents quite nervous at times.  Your longest streak is 16 hours.  The pediatrician says not to worry that you’re thriving.  You gained some weight recently and he said that’s a good sign because around three months is when the weight gain tends to slow down. 

Although you’re gaining weight you are still noticably smaller than Rylee was at this age.  However, you look just like she did at this age.  It’s amazing how similar the two of you are sometimes.

The past month has been a lot of fun because your personality is really developing.  You have a laugh that makes the three of us crack up every time we hear it.  I love it when we’re in the car and it’s quiet then suddenly you let out a big laugh for, what appears to us, no reason.  Rylee always looks over at you to see what you find so funny and she can’t figure it out.  But she giggles along with you anyway. 

You have also become a big source of bubbles.  Holy cow do you like to blow bubbles.  And when you aren’t soaking your bib that way you just take the bib and shove it into your mouth.  I guess you figure it’s a quicker way to totally soak it. 

And if that isn’t enough to make your bibs drip you have decided that, despite our best efforts, you like to suck your fingers.  The more you can shove in the better.  You prefer to suck the index and middle fingers of your left hand, but in a pinch any combination on either hand works for you.  You will take a binky for a while, but it is always spit out so you can get those fingers in there.

You are now big enough to have lots of fun in your exersaucer too.  We’ll put you in there and if Rylee is around she likes to help you with all the toys on it.  Especially the really noisy one that spins.  If she isn’t there you are able to figure out how to make some noise on your own.  We were surprised to find that you are already spinning around in it too.  What a big girl! 

We have started feeding you rice cereal in the last week and boy are you a fan! As with most babies, you weren’t sure what to make of it at first, but now you can’t get enough.  You get mad if we don’t feed you fast enough or if we run out and you want more.  In a few months we’ll introduce you to the wonderful world of veggies and fruits.  I can’t wait to see your reaction to them!  The best part of this is that you are now sitting in your highchair with us for meals.  You sit there and play with the toy on the tray while we eat.  When we’re done you know it’s your turn to grub. 

We have been having fun taking family walks in the evening.  However, with the recently rainy days/weeks we haven’t been able to take many.  But when we can get out you just love the fresh air and sun.  You really enjoyed being outside all day at Knoebel’s too.  You had a great time being nosy and watching all the people.  I’m sure that next year you will be out running around with your cousins and riding the rides with them. 

I’m looking forward to so many more ‘firsts’ with you in the coming months.

Love,

Momma

On Monday we spent the day at Knoebel’s Grove.  My parents like to take their grandchildren there each summer for a day of fun.  It is something my grandparents did for us when we were kids.  I love that my parents have chosen to continue such a fun tradition.

I didn’t know how much Rylee would like the kiddie rides, turns out I had nothing to worry about.  She had an absolute blast!  Her favorite ride of the day was the Whip.  Her first time on she sat with Evan.  They two of them were a complete gigglefest at each turn.  They were even brave enough to put their hands in the air just before the turn.  There is nothing better than hearing your child give an all out big laugh.  Take this times two and Bill & I laughed the entire time they were on the ride.  So did my dad and anyone else who watched them with us. 

I think her second favorite thing to do was to play in the ball pit.  Now, I don’t think I’d let her play in one at a restaurant, but here it’s very well protected.  Rylee had a great time diving backwards into the balls.  Both her and Evan would do this and their little bellies would pop out of their shirts.  It had all of us giggling while watching and taking photos. 

The weather was somewhat cooperative.  The temp wasn’t too high, but the humidity was.  So we traded a cloudy day for humidity.  At least we didn’t have any sunburn as a result.  With this and no nap I have to say that Rylee was wonderful.  She didn’t get cranky till we were waiting for dinner to be served.  Not bad for a two year old at all.

We finished our day at the park with everyone riding the train and the carousel.  This is a tradition that my parents kept from when my grandparents took us.  It’s a fun time as these days we take up almost the entire train.

This was Brynn’s first trip and we realized that Rylee was also three months old when she had her first trip to Knoebel’s.  Brynn rode the same two rides as Rylee did two years ago: the train and carousel.  We have to start them out on a mild ride.  They get to choose how wild things get at a future visit.

Thanks Bobbie & Papa for a wonderful day of family fun!

You can see all the photos from the day here.

Well Brynn, I’m on a roll.  I’m posting this late again.  It seems that these days it’s hard for me to find time to do the things I really want to do.  The stuff I have to do comes first and then there isn’t much time left.  How different life is with a baby in the house again.  It’s a great thing and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

In the last month you have really changed.  You are ‘talking’ now and best of all you have a really great laugh.  It is a very funny sound and you do it often.  All three of us love to hear it and always laugh along with you.

You have discovered your hands.  The only thing you really do with them right now is suck on them.  This mostly happens when you’re hungry, but you’ve been known to use them when you have already spit out your binkie.  You really know how to work over a binkie too.  There have been quite a few times when we’ve been in the car and I hear you back there sucking on it.  You do the same with your hands, but not as loud.  The noise from the hand sucking comes when you cough because you’ve managed to stuff your hands too far into your mouth that you gag yourself. It doesn’t stop you from stuffing them right back in there though.

You have decided that you are only going to have a few bottles a day.  No matter how often we try to convince to take a bottle you will only take it on your terms.  Sometimes you go up to ten hours between bottles. I was worried at first, but now I know that you will eat when you’re hungry and that’s all there is to it.

You really are enjoying being out in the warm weather.  Actually we all are.  Your reaction to being in the sun is always the same, sneezes. When you first get into the sun you always have to sneeze a few times. It’s pretty cute.  We do keep you in the shade for the most part, but you really do love the sun.

Right now you enjoy laying on your entertainment mat and grabbing at the toys on it.  You also love the flashing lights and songs that come from it.  Another fun thing for you is sitting in your bumbo seat.  It’s easy to see the results too.  You can definitely sit in there longer as time goes by and you are sitting up better each day.  It won’t be long until your core is strong enough that you’ll be sitting on your own with a big pile of toys to play with.  Daddy loves making these piles in front of babies.  He used to put enough in front of your sister that she would be busy for an hour.

Brynn you really are such a love and pleasant baby.  Everyone comments on how easy going you are.  That makes it very easy to be your mom.  I’m looking forward to another month of fun new discoveries for you.

Love, Momma

Rylee,

I am still amazed that this is your two year love letter.  The time has really flown by for me.  And what a ride we’ve had.

The last month has been full of new things.  Your vocabulary has blossomed and it still seems that there is a new word added daily.  Right now you are still enthralled with school buses.  Every day we see some and you always shout “BUS!” or “IT’S A BUS!!”  It cracks us up every time.  You still call big trucks buses, but sometimes “BIG” will come from the back seat too.

Actually “big” is a word you are using more and more which lets me know that you are catching on to the meaning of it.

One thing you do that is hysterical is when someone asks you a question.  You will look up with your eyes and say, “ummmm….” and then give your answer.  It is always funny to watch.

Another fun phrase is “Oh boy!”.  You say this the most when you see a mess.  The day of the A&D incident you said it quite a few times.

For a week or so you were calling Daddy “Bill”, which actually sounded like “Bull”.  I would always correct you and you would say “Dada” as a result.  I know you got it from hearing me say it and it was cute the first time.  After that we nipped it in the bud.

Other than this you just jabber.  Nonstop. I swear you get it from your father.  (HaHaHa!)  Once you add more words to your vocabulary it’s going to be interesting to hear what all you have to say about pretty much everything.

We took you to the beach for the first time and you had fun.  You were very hesitant about walking in the sand for a while.  I had to lay down a towel for you to sit on while you dug in the sand.  Eventually you worked your way off the towel and were standing on the sand having a ball.  When you look at the photos from that day you always yell “Beach!!”.  Tonight when we were looking at them you said “More beach”, I guess that means we’ll need to take you for a weekend this summer.  I need to start looking for a place to go.  I can’t wait to take you back when the water is warm and you can wear your swimsuit and really have a ball.

We also took you into Philadelphia for the first time.  You got to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.  You were even at Gino’s but didn’t have a cheesesteak.  However, you thought the fries and Coke were fabulous.  And at Termini’s bakery you had fun looking at all the wonderful pastries. 

For the past month you have been in full on terrible two’s mode.  You challenge me at every turn and from the reports it’s been happening at daycare as well.  It seems the issues at daycare have been resolved, but at home you love to see how far you can push me on a daily basis.  Things seem to be improving, but with a full year ahead of us, I’m sure it’s only temporary.

In addition to all the new stuff in the last month it’s been a fun year.  We took you to Disney World for the first time and you loved everything about it.  We can’t wait to take you and Brynn this fall. You really ‘got’ the idea of Christmas gifts and had a blast opening them this year.  Last year it was all about the bows for you.

Speaking of Brynn you are such a great sister to her.  When you want to read a book you like to sit on my lap with her and you always make sure she can see the pages.  You try to share your toys with her, but I have to remind you that she’s just not ready to play with them yet.  One thing you love to do is give Brynn her binky if she’s in her swing and she loses it.  I’m happy that you like to do this because it’s very helpful to Mommy.

We are having your party in a few days. It’s a small one this year, just immediate family.  I’ll post some fun photos after the big day.

This is going to be the last monthly letter for you.  Since you’re older there isn’t really a whole lot that is new on a monthly basis.  That said, I will post notes when there is something fun or interesting to tell.  It’s been really fun posting these letters to you for two years. I hope when you’re older that you will read them and smile and feel my overwhelming love for you.

Every day I look at you and thank God for the wonderful gift he gave to me and your Daddy.

I love you.

Momma

On Friday morning when Brynn and I went into Rylee’s room to get her up for the day we walked in to a surprise.  Rylee was shiny and glowing before I even turned on the light.

She had managed to not only get the tub of A&D ointment, she got it open and decided to use it as a facial moisturizer.  She had it on so thick that it was clumped all over her face.

Being nice and neat Rylee she had grabbed ONE tissue to try to clean up the mess that was not only all over her, but all over her bedding as well.  This ONE tissue was completely coated in A&D and was doing nothing but spreading the mess rather than cleaning it.

So what’s a mom to do?  Stand there and laugh and then run downstairs for the camera, that’s what she does.  Well, that’s what she does in our house anyway.  This was too good of a photo op to pass up!

After getting these great shots I put Rylee into the bathtub, a place she had been about twelve hours before.  I have realized it is going to take more than one bath to get it out of her hair.  Until then I’ll have a kid who looks like a grease ball.