The new toy

Charlie is kinda high maintenance. He is happy as a clam...as long as he is being held. Put that kid down for a second and he'll break your heart with the saddest cry you've ever heard. Normally it's not too much of a problem but it was causing some problems during the intensive potty training days. Solution:

Not a perfect solution but it did buy me a few extra minutes of peace each time I had to haul a peeing Lily to the potty.

Potty Training (aka: the worst parenting phase ever!)

We did it...we finally did it! After a few false starts we finally got our hands on a 3 day potty training program (thanks again Telisa!) that worked like a charm!

(Throwing away all the diapers)

(Drinking lots of juice)

The first day was rough, maybe only 3 or 4 successes, wet nap, wet night. Day two was much better, wet nap but dry night. And by day three she had it down! Best potty training moment: she ran into the bathroom by herself (cause I was feeding Charlie) and apparently peed successfully because she came running back in to me exclaiming, "I did it! I'm so proud of you mom!"

A visit from the Blakes

The Blakes made a little visit to our fine city! Even though it was a short stay it was great to have them here!

4 months old

The Stats:

Length: 25 in. (50th percentile)

Weight: 14 lb. 2 oz. (25th percentile)

Head: 17 in. (50th percentile)

Charlie was actually 4 months at the beginning of the month but our new doctor couldn't get us in until now when he's almost 5 months.  But the little man did great at his appointment...only a little squeal with his shots.  Charlie is definitely different than his sister, even at this young age.  He's calmer than Lily was...as long as he's being held--a total cuddler, which she wasn't. He's entering the more interactive stage: smiling, laughing, gooing. Lily loves that. She wants to be with him at all times! He's the first thing she asks for in the morning and the first one she kisses at night. We feel incredibly blessed with our awesome kiddos. Couldn't love 'em more!

Cuddling

Lily LOVES Charlie. She especially loves cuddle time in bed! Can you see the pure joy?! Charlie on the other hand....is a little wary of all the love. Sometimes he gets a little smothered!

2 months young

The Stats:

Length: 23 in. (50-75th percentile)

Weight: 11 lb. 2 oz. (50th percentile)

Head: 15.5 in. (50-75th percentile)

Blessing Day

We blessed Charlie on Sunday. It was certainly a day to remember.  First, apparently I gave my entire extended family the wrong address for the church. (We moved buildings a few months ago and the church website must not have changed yet.)  So everyone missed it. Then, Lily threw up all over a few minutes before we were supposed to be at the church so we were late and almost missed it too!  And Lily spent the rest of the day throwing up.

BUT Dave gave a beautiful blessing, Charlie was a doll, my family were all really good sports about missing the blessing and we had a blast at the luncheon. So we'll go ahead and count the day a success!

Fathers' Day

Here are just a couple pictures of the two best looking guys I know! Dave is such a good sport to let me dress them up in matching outfits for Fathers' Day!  haha

I am constantly floored by how great a father Dave is. Anyone who has ever seen him with his kids can attest to the fact that he actually totally likes them--and they're pretty smitten with him, too! I'm pretty sure he would say that the best part of his day is the time he gets to spend playing and being an absolute goof with them!  I am so grateful to have such an incredible parenting companion...it really makes all the difference in our family. We have been blessed with such great fathers in our lives!

Documentation

This is documentation of probably the only time I've been asleep in the last 6 weeks! (At least that's what it feels like--check out those bags under my eyes!!) But who could ask for a better snuggle partner!

The terrible/terrific TWO!!

Lily, my first born child (yes, I now have two--ack!), turned two years old. What the?!  So, as is customary, we had a little get together to celebrate her birth.  Girl couldn't be more in love with Elmo...thus the party's theme:

Gifts:

Fancy Lily

New Bike

Elmo PJs

We couldn't ask for a better kiddo. She brings an unimaginable amount of joy to our lives.

Museums

Lil and I have been hitting up a few of the local museums lately.

The Bean museum where Lily got to touch some slimy animals!

BYU's Paleontology museum.

Thanksgiving Point Dino museum

Hunting for Easter Eggs!

Between Conference sessions on Saturday we went over to my mom's house and had a little Easter Egg hunt for Lil. A blast!

Her haul...including some new bows that she didn't want to wait to wear!

Mmmm...candy!

For your viewing pleasure...(or maybe just mine!)

Getting our Easter eggs ready!

It's been quite a few years since I've decorated Easter eggs.  I'm so glad Lily is getting old enough to use her as an excuse to do these fun things!

All our hard work...

'Rina tutus

The other day the PG library had a preview concert of a local ballet company's production of Labyrinth for the kids.  They told all the little girls to dress up in their tutus and they did a mini ballet class for them afterwards.  Super fun!  Lily LOVED getting dressed up in her 'rina (ballerina) tutu. Could she BE any cuter?!

Fancy Lily

Sunday dinners at the Blakes. I'm not even sure where this outfit came from....

Biker Babe

I've been biking quite a bit these days...ever since my dad was out here and hooked me up for my bday. Lily has always loved the bike rides we take with the trailer and it looks like she's just about ready for a bike of her own!

PJ Party

One of the many nights that Dave has been out of town recently Lily and I had a PJ party. Lily created this pillow fort for herself and her baby. We cuddled up, ordered some pizza and watched a movie (or about a half hour of it that Lily would sit through before bedtime).