Seven Months Old

A few special facts about our sweet girl:

She is rarely ever still, she twirls her feet in tiny circles up until the moment she falls asleep

If you grunt at her she will grunt right back

She fell down 3/4 of a flight of stairs before Daddy caught her

She opens and closes her hands repetitively when she wants something
She has really quick reflexes and will grab things the second they are within arms reach

She is boycotting purees and no longer wants to be spoon fed
I turned my back for a second and caught her splashing around in the toilet, ever since then if she sees the bathroom door open she will hightail it over there
She is very impatient, she will continuously smack the back of her head against her high chair until we feed her another bite
She has her two bottom teeth
She stands at her baby gate shaking the railings and screaming until we release her from baby jail
She doesn't care much for strangers
If she's climbing the stairs and sees us coming she will try and quicken her pace before we can catch her
She likes scratching her fingers over different textures
She never stays mad very long, she can be in the middle of a tantrum and we can get her smiling within seconds
and
She is literally the most wonderful girl in the world. We count ourselves blessed just to be her parents.








 

 

Christmas 2013 in a Chestnutshell

Based upon the date, its safe to say I have been putting off this post. Once Christmas was over we were ready to wash our hands of it. Any and all proof that Christmas ever happened was thrown up in the attic a day after the celebration. One single day.

No lie.

Everything needed to go. We even had the little green remnants of the fake tree vacuumed up before Harlyn had a chance to down a few.

That is a lie.

I did spot one little faux pine needle in her dirty diaper just yesterday. Right when I thought we had successfully moved on from this holiday there it was, in all its poo glory, taunting me.

The only things really left lingering about are the Christmas cards taped to the fridge, and that's only because I have a hard time tossing the faces of our friends and family into the trash bin. If only we had a paper shredder.

We just never got into Christmas 2013. Brad and I tried to make the best of it for the kids but sadly it just wouldn't stick. There was too much going on in the month of December to really focus on the joy that the holiday brings, and it has totally become centered around gifts instead of what's really important. It all just takes away from the magic and the moments being spent together as a family. And to think this was Harlyn's first Christmas. That poor girl got bamboozled. Thank goodness she's not too bright.

You didn't let me finish.

I was going to say, thank goodness she's not too bright just yet. We haven't given up on her completely.

Even our elf on the shelf got swindled of fun. He made an appearance a few times before he was permanently perched on the tree like a confounded tree topper. I even baked cookies in an attempt to force the spirit of the season into this home, surprise surprise three dozen consumed cookies isn't exactly the recipe for joy. Just a good old fashioned need for bigger pants.

We failed this year and we know it. But I am here to say next year will be great. At least it better be or else we will relocate ourselves to Mount Crumpit. That's a How the Grinch Stole Christmas reference.

 

 

Merry & Bright? Look whose being ironically clever. Nicely played Christmas card. Nicely played. 

Knock Knock Who's There?

If you were to stop by my house unannounced you will probably see this

 

Yes, Khage will be there wearing an assortment of cute faces but it is the costume to which I am referring. On most days he can be found wearing it. Sometimes I will wash it and nicely lay it out for him knowing that will make him happy. And other days I bury it underneath a pile of dirty clothes and hope to neverland that he doesn't ask for it... usually he's on to me and by the middle of the day he will come strutting into the room wearing it with pride. Because I created this monster, the boy and the costume, I am solely to blame. I remember when I first made it how cute it was to see him wearing it... and now its taken on a life of its own. Khage has had numerous meltdowns over this costume. He pleads to wear it every morning when he gets dressed- whether it be clean or dirty and we fight just about every time that I ask him to take it off for bath time or to venture out in public. It even has an alter ego, sometimes when he's wearing it he isn't Peter Pan at all. No, he also goes by the name of Robin Hood. Maybe you have heard of him. Well just be sure if you do drop by you prepare yourself because, be it Peter Pan or Robin Hood, one of them is bound to answer the door.

Personally I think were making headway, at least he's fully clothed throughout the day.

And that's progress that I'm mighty proud of.

Our Little Beauty Pageant Reject

Good thing I am not the kind of mother who dreams of the day they can sign their daughter up for one of those baby beauty pageants. Thank goodness that falls into the category of: something I have absolutely no desire to do... ever. I have no inclination to parade my baby around asking for people to judge her purely on her physicality's. Don't get me wrong if that's what your about then parade away, in fact my Mom did. If  you knew what I looked like as a baby, then you would know that it wasn't I who she entered into such a contest. Which thinking about it now, maybe that is why I have such hostility toward this whole affair... AND the reason my self esteem is lacking. Thanks Mom.

Anyway. It's really quite a blessing because now I'm not disappointed in the fact that Harlyn wouldn't walk away with the grand prize. I'm not even sure she would be allowed to compete because it all starts with that entry photograph... and that isn't exactly Harlyn's specialty.

Let me just stop here for a moment and defend my baby. She is adorable. Cutest girl in the world.

Now that that is clear you must know this: While she IS adorable, majority of her photographs are not. This girl photographs bad. How bad you ask? You tell me.

 

 

Awww my poor Baby Love just can't keep it together when the camera comes out. Weird scary things suddenly happen to her sweet little face.

But then there is that rare occasion when the planets align, and we will snap a picture and she will look just as adorable on camera as she does in person.

 

And we can't help but love this beauty pageant reject. She will always be as perfect as ever to us... scary baby face and all.

Half a year old.

 

A few facts about our sweet girl:

After more then a month of getting up on all fours she graduated to crawling

In less then a week from learning to crawl she was climbing the stairs
She can also pull herself into the standing position

She loves loves loves to eat food, so much that she has yet to turn any food away even if you can tell she doesn't like it

She will stand up in her crib, lean her arms over the side and eventually drift off to sleep... then wake up a few minutes later, we can only assume from almost falling over
She is extremely fidgety; always bouncing or kicking her legs and flailing her arms around
Randomly throughout the day she will flash this creepy devilish grin for no apparent reason
She watches her hands open and close in amazement

She is our tough little cookie crumb, rarely crying when she falls down, and when she does cry it is only for a few seconds before she has moved on
She hums while she sucks on her fingers to sooth herself to sleep

She has finally started showing her Daddy the love that he deserves

9 times out of 10 she photographs horribly... pictures just don't do her adorableness justice

She gets the biggest kick out of strumming on our lips while we hum
She got her first tooth the day before she turned seven months old
and
We cant help but love and adore her sweet little self and I can only hope that she feels the abundance of that love everyday.

 

 

 



Khage is THREE

Hey Khagey boy, how old are you dude?

Nope. Not anymore. Guess again.

 

 

Ya right, turd. You wish.

 

YOU ARE THREE.

And we still can barely believe it.

 

A few facts about our little dude:

You are no longer able to be hushed. You ask questions all the time, including ones that leave Mommy & Daddy in quite the predicaments. Including: why are those people so fat? Why does that lady talk weird (she had a Chinese accent)? Why does that guy not have any teeth? & forget it if someone doesn't smile at you because you will demand to know why they have mean eyes and not nice ones.

You are such a good brother. As far as you are concerned Harlyn is yours and you love her so much... but you cannot wait until she is of wrestling age.

You love to be around your family (grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles), and love to meet new kids and will instantly refer to them as your best friends.

You hate going to sleep. You will lay in your bed forever before falling asleep or until you manage to convince us to let you up.

You are such an early riser, but I have brainwashed you into believing that the day doesn't start until the sun is up.

If we want an instant smile out of you all it takes is a mimicked fart noise.

You are so dramatic with your emotions. The world just about ends for you at least once a day.

You are very particular about your clothing. You will refuse to wear shirts with pockets one day and the next day your boycotting long pants, often times I catch you trying to change your outfit mid day and you will try to match Daddy any and every chance you get.

and

With such a big personality comes a lot of ups and downs but no matter what, one thing is for sure, you keep life interesting. You bring so many smiles to our faces and a coziness to our hearts, you are our world and one of the best parts of this life.

 



The show World's Strongest Man called...

and they want Harlyn to compete in the car pull.

 



 

Although I think her form may need a little work, forehead to ground isn't doing her any favors.

Were gonna harness her up to the Power Wheels and have her pull Khage around the yard.

That outta whip her into shape.

Five Months Old

 

A few special facts about our sweet baby girl:

She got her first fever on Halloween

We can hear her kicking the sides of her crib from all the way downstairs

She always grabs her thighs to look over her shoulder in a very hey boys like manner

She taps her right foot repeatedly when she's falling asleep or engrossed in playing with toys 

She has started eating baby food

Her first food was avocados
I find little dry shriveled up booger flakes in her bed just about everyday
She has figured out how to make a clicking sound with her tongue

She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth like she wants to crawl but never does

She likes to stand up on her hands and feet, with her butt high in the air, and her forehead on the ground
When she cries her nose and eyes turn red

She tugs on her hair when she's tired just like Khage does

She likes to touch my face and softly grab my lips and it is just about the sweetest thing ever

She has finally started sitting up

Sometimes she scratches and pinches the backs of my arms while she's nursing and it instantly ticks me off

She has already gotten a second hair cut because only the top of her hair insists on growing

I love when she rubs her little eyes after she wakes up

and

She makes loving her so easy with her silly grins and baby girl sweetness.

I don't think we couldn't adore her even if we tried.

 

 

 

Khage's Halloween Costume 2013

 Our little Peter Pan

 

 We had known for months that Khagey wanted to be Pan for Halloween and the costume was simple enough that this Mama was hook'ed. Not to mention its a character that suits him all too well. A rambunctious boy who prefers to live in the woods and avoids parental guidance at all costs? fits him better then a snug pair of tights.

And it wasn't a fight to wrangle him into the costume either, in fact it has become apart of his weekly dress up play. And nothing makes this Mommy happier then to see my kids enjoying the things I make them. And double doubloons when they look so darn cute doing it.

 Khage was as happy as could be on Halloween night. He was lucky enough to get in two rounds of trick or treating and would randomly yell off to Neverland as he ran up driveways to beg for his candy.

Because his costume wasn't bulky and awkward he was ready at all times to fight off pesky pirates, fly about with the help of a happy thought and play in the woods with the lost boys. You know, all the things that require a pair of green tights, pointy toed shoes and a little red feather.

 

Here's to hoping that this Peter Pan never grows. 

 

Harlyn's First Costume...

She was an owl.

 

 

And isn't she a doll?

No, she wasn't a doll. She was an owl. No, not an owl dressed as a doll.

 I think I may have lost a few of you with that one.

Let me clarify: she was an owl, but is a doll. Got it?

Moving on.

 

 There really is no significance to her being an owl for her first costume. I chose it simply because no little girl of mine was going to be a princess or something else equally glittery and covered in tulle. But it actually worked out quite well considering Khage was a chicken for his first Halloween.

Its a bird thing. Don't over think it.

 

With all the designing, cutting, sewing and gluing I probably spent well over 8 hours making this costume... and she probably wore it for less then a single hour on Halloween. On account of her getting her first fever she wasn't too interested in the idea of knocking down doors for candy, especially since she was fully aware that any and all candy was going to bypass her lips completely and go straight to Daddy's.

 

So on Halloween she actually looked like this. Sick, sad and down right miserable.

 

But she was happy as can be to wear it a second time on picture day.

 

 

 

 

Fly fly my sweet owl baby.