Happy 3 months Bristol

Rockin' the mohawk
"Say WHAT? I'm already 3 months old!"

Bristol is officially 3 months old today. Here are some things about you my angel:

- You have a wonderful temperament. You are so easy going and calm. You just roll with the chaos of our household.

- You don't mind the lack of schedule. In fact, I think you thrive on it.

- You nap in your crib located in our bedroom. This takes place while your sister watches cartoons, jumps on the bed, screams, laughs and makes as much noise as possible.

- You only eat one bottle during the day while I'm at work. (This makes things easy for me since I only have to pump once.)

- You eat constantly when I get home. On and off, on and off, until we go to sleep.

- You love movement. You giggle when I rock you back and forth quickly.

- Your sister tells us to "shake you" when you are crying in your car seat. She actually means for us to rock your car seat. It doesn't sound so good out in public.

- You just found your feet and think they're really funny.

- You can roll over and prefer to be on your belly. That's the way you sleep unless you're in bed with me and snuggled up RIGHT next to my side.

We love you bunches and can't imagine life without you. It's hard to believe that the love of the parent really does stretch across multiple siblings.

Fun at Ann Marie's house

Peyton spends her Thursdays with her best friend Ann Marie (and let's not forget her husband Steve.) Ann Marie is AWESOME with kids and does some great things with Peyton. Here is an example of the activities they do - glueing items to paper on her nice dining room table. What? Before now Peyton didn't even know what glue was.

We love you Ann Marie (and Steeeeeve - as Peyton says it)

Happy Halloween 2009

What a great day! We were very busy, but managed to squeeze in a 4 hour nap. The morning started off with our 2nd Disney on Ice show. We went with Peyton's pal Lauren, Bristol's pal Kaitlyn and my friend Shelley. Lots of fun. I think Peyton might have enjoyed the popcorn more than the show. She really liked sharing that big box with Lauren.

We got home around 1:30 p.m. and everyone crashed. I guess watching ice skaters really takes it out of you!

Woke up just in time to get ready and head over to Janet's house for some trick or treating. Peyton definitely got the hang of it this year. She really enjoyed going up to each house and getting candy. It doesn't get any better than that!

Happy Halloween to everyone else. I can't wait to see pictures of what the kids all dressed up as. I'm sure there are some really funny one out there!

Trick or Treat Gang (Peyton, JR and Molly)

Ready to go in my very, very hot Pumpkin outfit. It was 80 out this year. Who would have thought! She got a work out.

Precious little Minnie Mouse

Minnie Mouse and her Girls! Will the REAL Minnie Mouse please stand up?

Little Pumpkin Stem

Zoolander Face

Disney on Ice (kids never look at you at the same time!!!!)

Awesome Weekend!!!

We had a fantastic weekend full of fun. Papa, Peyton, Bristol and I headed over to Charlotte for the weekend. We took off Friday night and didn't stop. The highlights are noted in the photos, but here's the breakdown:

Friday night - left house at 10ish and arrived in Charlotte around 1ish. Peyton fell asleep the last hour in the car so she was FIRED up to be in a hotel. We didn't go to sleep until 3 a.m. because someone was jumping on the bed and wouldn't lay down. I can't blame her. It was going to be a fun weekend.

Saturday morning - woke up at 8 a.m. (yes, that means 5 hours of sleep for everyone minus Bristol.) Headed over to Lowe's Motor Speedway for Papa's portion of the day. Papa got to drive 8 laps in a NASCAR car on the actual track. He also did a ride-a-long with a professional driver. Papa averaged 138 miles during his 8 laps. That's pretty stinkin' fast. Funniest part of the day was watching him get in and out of the car window that was only 15 inches wide. You do the math. I do have video. He said it was like being born again. LOL!!!! We were at the raceway until 1p.m.

Saturday afternoon - headed to lunch on no nap for anyone at this point. Then checked in to Great Wolf Lodge. I suggest this to anyone. It was a fabulous location and so much to do for the family. We will definitely be going back when Daddy gets home. So we spent the afternoon at the waterpark. We went back up to our room around 6ish. I took a shower with Peyton and when we got out she curled up on the floor in her towel because she was so tired. Of course, being a good parent, I couldn't let her fall asleep just yet. Bristol on the other hand passed out at this time. Peyton and I headed down to the lobby for a scavenger hunt with candy as the prize. She loved it. Got back to the room around 7ish and she was out by 7:30 p.m. I know what you Moms are thinking - they both are going to wake up at 3 a.m. and be rarin' to go since they would have gotten so much sleep. NOPE! Bristol woke up at 4:30 and ate like a champ and went back to bed until 9:30 when I woke her to head to breakfast. Peyton slept the whole night and woke up at 8 a.m. Everyone slept well.

Sunday - headed to breakfast, waterpark, friend's house and back home at 7 p.m. Long day, but a ton of fun.

We have a busy week ahead of us too. Two Disney on Ice shows (one free and one purchased.) Then Halloween festivities. I think I'm going to take Peyton on-post to Tolson for trick-or-treating. It's all done inside with military families and there is no door knocking. Although if we stay here maybe I could make nice with some neighbors! Nah - I'll just wait for Rachel to move back.

Happy 2 1/2 months Bristol

Bristol had her 2 1/2 month check-up yesterday. She's very healthy and is weighing in at 13 1/2 pounds and 24 inches. Her sister had her by 3/4 of an inch when she was this age. Bristol is growing like a weed. Tonight she had on a 9 month old PJ outfit. The arms are a little long, but everything else fits.

Here are some things she's up to:
- laughing out loud
- talking (or cooing) all the time
- rolling over
- enjoying face time with anyone
- sleeping a good amount of time (she slept through the night last night - went to bed at 10:30 a.m. and woke up at 7 a.m. for breakfast. Total fluke, but worth noting.)

She is such a joy. A great baby! Barely cries (seriously) and loves to just hang out.

On big sister news, Peyton is doing great. She does have an ear infection. It's so nice that she can talk. She told us the other night that her ear hurt. She had no other symptoms so I didn't really pay much attention to it. But, we were headed to the doctor for Bristol so I figured we could just look in Peyton's ear. And, viola! Fluid on the ears. So that screwed our flu shot plans. We go back Tuesday for Peyton's flu shot. I get mine tomorrow. Never had it before so we'll see how that goes.

I hope everyone is going well.

October 09 - DC trip and B's 2 months old

This is one of my favorite shots of Rob and Peyton. Dad's definitely do things differently. She loves experiencing life through her Daddy's eyes.
A father's love!

Bristol has now starting to smile. She is such a wonderful baby. She's sleeping at night for about 5 hours at a time. WHAT? I know. It's fantastic. She's also in her own bed. Still in our room, but in her own crib. Parenting #2 is so different.

Chunky Cheeks!!! Smiles pretty!

"Mom - why so close?"

Senorita!!!! She was playing dress up with her Ga-Moo (my Aunt Karen.)

Reading time with Ga-Moo.

Preppy Pants!

Quality time with Papa. We went to a pumpkin patch in Easton, MD and Peyton had a blast. This was a cute display - instead of a sand box they had corn.

Sleepy head who woke up at 6:45 a.m. Ugh! Still had a cute smile on her face. It's hard to be upset when that face comes around the corner saying "Mommy - where are you?"

2009 Halloween outfit.

Decorated pumpkin. This was the first time Peyton has decorated a pumpkin. She had a blast.

I'm 3 feet tall.

"Oh no - that big ass ball is going to get me."

I know - you want to just reach through the computer and grab these two little pumpkins because they are so precious. Did I take the words right out of your mouth?

2009 Pumpkin Patch

The fun as just begun! Looks like we're going to enjoy dress up time.

Miss Hollywood!!!

Farmer Jane

I look good.

Proud Daddy!

Bristol's first bottle with Daddy.

"What up Homey?"

No words can express how cute she is!

Hollywood Prep

First Stage Performance

Peyton had her first stage performance at the 2009 Cumberland County Fair. Check out the video below. I felt like a "stage Mom" trying to video and get her to participate and smile and follow directions. Her buddy Lauren is the one playing the drums - go Lauren. I think she might have a career as a rockstar in her future.