May, June and July

Hello again! It's been so long since I've posted that no one probably even looks at this anymore, but if you're reading this then I guess you checked back.

SO much has happened since April! Short recap:
Family Vacation to Tablerock Lake - What a blast hanging out with the fam for 10 days...

Zoo Trip - Interesting this year. The kids were afraid of the bald eagles, the rhino and ostriches. Loved giraffes and lions the most. They each petted a ferret and a snake and loved it!

Forest City parade and Hancock county fair - again interesting. They hate fire/police/emergency vehicles but love the candy! And they love all farm animals - They both rode Shetland ponies. Libby would have stayed on hers (Piglet) forever and Silas was done after one trip around the ring on Tank.

Doctors Visits/Trip to the ER. Silas got an ear infection while on the family vacation (May 26thish) and has been fighting it ever since. We've been through 5 different antibiotics and finally a trip to the ER while we were in Forest City for a 105 fever. Going to the Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor tomorrow and hoping he's over the hump and never gets one again.

Outdoor Fun - We've tried to make a trip to the park at least once a week, swam in the pool in the backyard, walks in the new Joovy stroller. Just all kinds of outdoor fun.

Silas is starting to talk a lot! He says a lot of different words. His signature right now is his "buh-byeee" It's too stinkin' cute :) He is repeating so many words. I love this stage - he's just picking things up so quickly. Soon we will have two babbling toddlers at our house. It's hard enough for anyone to talk with chatty Libby around...it's only going to get harder now.
He's such a boy! He beats on his sister (and his mom). He laughs when I spank him or slap his hand. He has pulled chunks out of Libby's hair and laughs. But then he's also very sensitive and very sweet. He's a great hugger and gives lots of kisses. He cuddles and snuggles any chance he gets. He loves to read books now which I'm so glad about - I wasn't sure he'd ever get interested in them.

Libby is still beyond her years. She knows her colors and shapes and is starting to recognize some letters. She can count (like actually count items) if she wants to. She is goofy and crazy and fun. Nothing is a good idea unless it's her idea and then it's the best idea ever thought of. She puts up with her brother and is really good to him 50% of the time. She tries to include him in her play and she coaches him on how to do things. She remembers everything and will repeat it at random times so don't tell her your secrets! (Remind you of anyone?) She's got an attitude we could all live without at times, but it's all based on her independent nature so I hope it turns out to be more controlled and good for her when she's older!

They're both so much fun and so frustrating at the same time. The fun makes you forget the frustrating...most of the time!

 

 

 

Playing Catch.....Up!

We have had another busy couple of weeks (do I always say that?!)....

We celebrated Silas' 1st Birthday on Easter weekend!!! Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Den were kind enough to host the party at their house on Saturday morning - A big thanks to them!
It was a lot of fun to hang around with everyone and enjoy his big day. There was food and presents and cake and everything a birthday should be :)
Silas wasn't too interested in opening his presents - he mostly wanted to play with the paper that we ripped off, but he's 1, so what do you expect?! He got lots of great things - clothes and a racecar toy and a basketball hoop and stuffed animals and lots of books! He made out pretty well, I would say and he's enjoying everything he got and looking mighty fine in his new gear :)
I can't believe he's already a little one-year old tot. Time goes by so quickly. He's learning so much so fast. He can tell you what a cow says and what a bear says - and it's a very scary bear I must say!
He can find your nose and his socks and his toes. He calls me and Josh by mama and dada. He's starting to love to read and look at books and he's running around all over the place! He pesters and picks on his big sister as often as he can and thinks it's hilarious when she screams and laughs. He follows her around everywhere she goes (at least when he's not following me around). He is such a little lover - hugs and more hugs all the time :) He's always been and I'm glad he is still such a sweet boy! And just a side note for those of you who might babysit: If you take Silas' diaper off, he will poop on your floor EVERY TIME! LOL - It's like he feels free or something. I'm hoping this means he'll be easy to potty train!!!

We also celebrated Easter that weekend, which was a lot of fun as well. We dyed Easter eggs (us adults had more fun with it than Libby did, but she was into it for a few minutes! Remember last year when she found Elmo in her basket and we got that great reaction? That was so fun, right? Well we didn't get much of anything this year...sometimes she reminds me of her Opa - it can be hard to get an animated reaction out of her! But then she does get very excited about things like popsicles or going outside. She's SO INCREDIBLY whiney right now, it's very trying. Josh and I can take about no more of it. It seriously starts when she wakes up and doesn't end until she goes to bed. The worst thing about it is that it's like it's become her regular voice. She can say something like "that car is red" and she will whine while saying it. UGH! We try to remind her to use her big girl voice but it seems it might not exist right now. But she's 2 sow what do you expect?!
Like how I use that for both kids? It's just their ages and their phases I keep telling myself!

I really do think this is the hardest it's been with the two of them. Our house is kind of insane most of the time. But it's a lot of fun sometimes, too. They can be so ornery and then so sweet and funny in a matter of minutes. If only we could give them everything they want whenever they want it our house would be at peace!

Pictures to come!!!

Angel Face

Just another cute, quick story.

Libby was feeding Silas his yogurt yesterday morning, which they both LOVE! He smiles and laughs and signs "more, more, more" to her. They make a complete mess out of it, but it's totally sweet.
Anyway - yesterday Siley's face was a disaster and Libby says, "Mom - look at that face!"
I replied, "yes - that is one messy face!!" to which she said, "No, mom. That's an angel face."

These moments when they love each other and laugh together and bond are special. Not only to me and Josh, but to them...they just don't know it yet.

What's a Sin

I just thought this was too cute and I never want to forget it so I hope you enjoy it, too.

During bedtime prayers I always begin with, "Dear Jesus, thank You for a great day. Please forgive all our sins and take them away." Tonight was no different.I said the beginning as usual and then it went like this:
Libby: Mom, does Jesus take our sins away??
Mom: Yes he does when we ask him to and are sorry
Libby: Mom, are you a sin?
Mom: No. I'm not a sin but I do sin and I have sins
Libby: Are they in your hair, mom??

How cute is that? Trying to understand sins at two years old. It's a hard thing to explain. I told her that sins are things we do that are naughty or hurt other people. Not sure if it sunk in, but we'll keep trying :)

Walking Talking Dancing and Being Cute!

I don't think I talk about it quite as much as I did with Olivia. For one - I don't post as often and for two - my mom told me I need to be a bit more modest about my kids! But let me tell ya - we've got some little smarties on our hands :) Sorry mom - Silas will one day feel bad because I talked about how awesome his sister was so I've gotta give him a little time!

Silas is now 10-1/2 months old and he is walking EVERYWHERE! He is even standing up in the middle of the room  without anything to hold on to -and then just walking wherever he pleases -  pretty awesome, right?! And not only is he walking, but he dances all the time and it's so hilariously cute!  He will dance to anything - even his mommy's singing :) He also started using sign language this past weekend. He squeezes his little hands to say "milk" and he waves his hands in the air when he's "all done." He's trying to tap his fingers together to say "more" but he's not quite got it yet - close, though!

He's such a fun little boy to be around. He's pretty much always happy and loves to give kisses and hugs. He's busy all the time and really really noisy! He was screaming (just for fun) the other day and Libby says, "Dad. What's wrong with Siley-Boy?" Dad says "I'm don't know Libby." She responds, "He's just crazy I guess!!" It seriously is a little insane - his screaming. He doesn't do it because he's mad. He just does it and it's so loud and so piercing! I guess he just wants to be heard and maybe he thinks he has to scream over his chatter-box sister?!

We had family pictures this weekend and they went really really well. I'm excited to see them! Libby didn't want to smile too much. Most likely because we were asking her to and the only good ideas are her ideas....but I think we still got some really good ones of her. And Silas was totally hamming it up (especially when I sang "itsy bitsy spider" to him - he loves that song :)).

Libb is a little chatterbox! She never stops talking as long as she's awake :) We've been working with Silas on animal sounds and different things but everytime we ask him what a cow says, Libby pipes in and says, "moooooo". No wonder 2nd and beyond kids don't talk as early - their older siblings do it for them! She is mostly super funny (without trying to be) but also in a  very defiant and, I love you Libby, but mouthy and ornery stage....This too shall pass, right?! She sings all the time too. Last weekend in church during the prayers of the church she sat in the pew and sang, almost at the top of her lungs, Jesus Loves Me! We decided that if she was going to be noisy during quiet time at church at least she was singing that and not Little Bunny Foo Foo or one of the other 25 songs she knows! Seriously. She knows so many songs and nursery rhymes it's crazy! I would name them but it would get quite long. So hopefully she'll just sing them for you some day :)

PICS AND VIDEOS BELOW!

Decorating the tree 2012

Libby's Princess Castle:)

Still waking up

Big Boy Bellyin' Up

Mom and Libby's First SnowBABY

Accessorized by Big Sis!

 

Morg and Si