Halloween 2016

What a fun year it was for trick-or-treating!  Vivian had the best time and Joanna just took it all in.  Oh, to be a kid again! I guess that's a great thing about having children yourself, to bring back your memories as a child.  Sweet sweet times.

Over the course of the weekend, we did a couple of trunk-or-treating, one being at our church for the fall carnival and the other being in Hampstead at one of their churches we went to for our first time trunk-or-treating.  Everybody was in 'awe' of Joanna being a dalmatian puppy which was Vivian's costume around the same age.  Vivian was Princess Sofia from Disney's Sofia the First for trunk-or-treating and Princess Anna from Frozen for actual Halloween.  She stained her dress at the carnival.  She looked beautiful both times.  Love those sweet girls! 

We of course had to dress Mr. Brody in one of his old costumes.  Halloween is his least favorite year and this may be his last Halloween with us.  Poor bub may have bone cancer, nothing we can do for him.  We love that sweet boy as well!

Halloween fell on a Monday this year and we were able to go in our neighborhood for 'actual' trick-or-treating.  What a sweet, sweet memory that was created.  Vivian was soooo excited and loved every single minute!  Our neighborhood has two other families and the rest of the neighbors, their kids are either living outside the home, grown or they are retired. They were so sweet to let us know they would be handing out candy.  Plus side, we didn't have to go to an unknown neighborhood for trick-or-treating.  The girls scored some good candy as well!  They even got a couple of goody bags, a new tooth brush and full size candy bars.  We have enough candy to last an entire year HA!  

I know the girls won't remember their first time to go house-to-house, but we will never forget.  Happy Halloween!!

 

17 Months Old

Stats:  19.2 pounds.  Clothes size: 6-12 months in dresses and onesies, 12 months in bottoms and 18 months in tops.  Still wearing size 3 diapers.

Sleep: Waking up between 6:30/7am, I don't get you out of your crib until 7am, nap 12:30 - 2:30/3:15, bedtime 7-8 pm depending on what time you wake from your nap.  Our current wake time, 5.5 hours in the morning, 5 hours in the afternoon.

Eat: You have developed a little bit of a sweet tooth, but overall a good eater. You do prefer snacking over eating an actual sit-down meal. You love pancakes, multi-grain cheerios, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, smoothies, chicken nuggets, pasta, hard boiled eggs, Annie's chicken and noodle soup, Annie's cheddar bunnies, cucumber, yogurt tubes (only way you will eat yogurt), corn-on-the-cob, green beans, ice cream cones and popsicles.  You weaned yourself from nursing the morning you turned 16 months.  You are drinking some cows milk, drinking more at this age than Vivian did.  You also love orange juice.  Not a huge water lover, but will drink it since I try to offer that most often.

Milestones:  Weaned from nursing at 16 months and you have mastered going down the stairs by yourself.

Speech:  You aren't saying any words other than "mama", "bah" for ball, "dah" for dog, "bah-woon" for balloon, "sssss" (like a hissing sound) for cheese.  You do understand everything I say.  You shake your head "yes" and "no" when I ask you a question and will follow directions.  

Favorites:  Riding in your red car around the neighborhood, being outside, all animals...especially dogs, playing chase, baths (but absolutely hates being washed), books, you have recently started attempting to jump/walk-off steps or anything uneven and will do it over and over again, picking flowers, playing dress-up, giving hugs and kisses on your own.

Dislikes: Rear-facing in your car seat, riding in the shopping cart and having to face me, sitting in a high chair.  You pretty much hate being restrained, HA!  You hate being told "no".  You will pinch or hit me when things aren't going your way.  Diaper changes, unless daddy is changing your diaper.  You will sit so calmly for him.  I don't get it?!!

My Favorite Moments:  At bedtime when I sing your songs before you go into your crib, you wrap your arms around my neck as tight as you can and bury your face into my face.  It is the sweetest!  When daddy comes home from work, you start squealing so loud running to him.  Love it!!  I love watching you give Vivian the biggest hugs and slobbery kisses.  Vivian has to tell you that's enough hugs all the time.  You love love LOVE your big sister!!!

We love you oh so much!!!!  XXOO!   

17 Months Old

Sweet girl, you are a month away from being a 1.5 year old.  I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!  I remember this time last year you were a itty bitty thing.

Looking forward to you having your first Thanksgiving meal.

You have certainly grown since last year.  You finally hit 19 lbs! 19.2 to be exact.  Someone is close to being forward facing.

Your bedtime is 7 pm, but there have many nights lately where you play in your crib for about 15-20 minutes before falling asleep.  You talk to your animals.  So cute!  We are now getting up at 7 am, thank heavens!  Well, I started leaving you in the crib until I go into your room at 7.  You seem to be content just hanging out until I get you.  Who knows what time you actually wake up.

We nap around 12:30 pm everyday and you'll nap anywhere from 1-2.5 hours.  Depends on the day. Lately, you usually wake around 2 pm.  You still nap on the couch with mommy. I'm trying to get as much cuddles as possible before your little sister or brother arrives.

Your favorite foods and snacks are: Fruit...especially blueberries and strawberries...veggie straws, snapea crisps (dried green beans), Annie's white cheddar bunnies, fried fish, french fries, broccoli, sweet potatoes, soups, black beans, Whole Foods meatloaf, cereal (like your mommy). You'll have regular cows milk in your cereal, but won't drink it on its own.  However, you love vanilla milk.  We have an Organic Valley milk box every night before bath.

Foods you dislike: Not a big fan of sandwiches. You'll just pick the turkey and toss the rest.  But you'll only take a few bites of the turkey.  Sometimes you will eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  Rice.  

You are OBSESSED with books!  Constantly looking at them, want me to read to you, stacking them.  I have to hide them if we've already read them a gazillion times.  

    

 Your favorite books right now are What Makes A Rainbow?

Maisy Drives the Bus.

Still not saying a ton of words, but our new one is "car" and "ock" for sock.  No telling how many words you understand.

You love organization and order.  Constantly lining things up.  Amazing to watch.  You also like putting things away.

You just discovered your belly button.  Always checking it out and then want to look at mommy and daddy's.  So adorable.

You love bracelets and necklaces.  You will put all of my pony tail holders on your wrists and my head bands around you neck.  You will even put all of my bra's around your neck.  

You can now climb on and off the couch, but only by using a cushion on the floor.  We are making progress.  Your not scared to climb into the dryer, however.

 You are scared to slide down the slide by yourself.  I have to give you a little push to get you to go.

You are still obsessed with balls and animals.

You have gone on lots of travels thus far.  Our last trip was to New Orleans.

Your not a fan of the highchair in restaurants.  We now skip the highchair and let you hangout with us in the booth.  You're more content.

You love Elmo and Chica.  Right now this is your favorite video

right now.  So cute watching you.  You'll put your hands on the top of your head when Carly makes her dorsal fin with her hands.  You also like when you freeze like a starfish.  Melt my heart!

You LOVE to give kisses, especially when you are telling someone bye or goodnight.  You stretch out your little neck and tuck your top lip under your bottom lip and it's sugar time.  You also love giving hugs.  You'll run to me at random times to give me your biggest hug.  You are the SWEETEST!

We have loved watching you grow sweet girl and cannot wait to see you grow each and every day.  We are also looking forward to seeing you as a big sister.  I know you are going to be a great little helper.  You will always be my "best" girl!!

We love you sweet darling.  XXOO!!!!