Plans Change Quickly...

I had hoped to have pictures to post from a weekend full of fun fall events...but on Friday afternoon when Cade threw up all over he and I and the couch...our plans changed quickly. No MNU Homecoming events, Trunk or Treat, or Parents as Teachers "Blockfest" event for us. Our calendar cleared quite quickly...much faster than the puke smell did from the couch. He was feeling better and his fever was gone by Saturday morning but we decided to just lay low and snuggle and watch far too much TV instead.

So some recap pics from this past week will have to do...

Modeling their Halloween pjs from G-Mom...until Cade started putting the moves on Reese.

Last Sunday we spent the afternoon at DeAnna Rose while Matt had meetings. It was beautiful weather and we just had the best time seeing our favorite animals and putting on a dance party on the stage area.

Reese sat in the stroller "big girl style" so she could actually see everything instead of being confined to looking up at the sky in her car seat in the back of the double stroller. She's been upgraded to the front now and Cade enjoys being able to use the "sit and stand" bench in the back now so he can get on and off of the stroller easily.

Reese missed Cade during his quarantine (sickness). She loves to seek him out and do whatever he's doing. He's usually very good with her but here he was less than amused.

So maybe it was better to have to cancel plans to just stay home and hang out...but I could've done without the throwing up part...

7 Big Ones

Whoosh...time is flying by. Days turn into weeks, which turn to months--and the last seven months have been filled with sweet Reesie smiles. She continues to be such a happy girl and has hit that stage where she all of the sudden is a big girl. A baby no more.

This is how you know the pictures must stop.

She wears size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. Her top right tooth just broke through this week bringing the total to 3 chompers. She sleeps extremely well and rarely cries. If this is the difference between girls and boys then sign me up for 5 more girls. (No offense, Cade. And 5 more, yeah right.)
We continue to introduce new foods and I reluctantly went back to making the baby food. This was an epic fail when I attempted to make Cade's baby food leading me to pretty much skip baby food altogether for him. It was so much easier to just continue our nursing routine. But not for Miss Reese. We WILL NOT miss the window of opportunity. She WILL love food...not just milk. Fool me once...

Our current routine:
-Nurse at 6AM when I get up--she is asleep but I just pick her up and feed her and then she'll sleep for another 2 hours for Matt.
-Matt feeds her ground oats with breast milk (sounds yummy, huh) before taking her to the sitter
-She has two 5-6 oz bottles throughout the day at the sitter while I pump once at school (franctically over my 22-minute lunch period at 10:50)
-Nurse between 4:30-5:30 when we get home and settled from the sitter pick-up. This feeding is a little hectic with Cade be-bopping in and out at this point.
-Feed her vegetable baby food at dinner (so far peas = yea and carrots = ney)
-Nurse her at about 8pm before she goes to bed

Repeat.

She's very mobile and prefers to stand and cruise around holding onto chairs, the couch, the cabinets, anything she can pull herself up on. With her increased speed and mobility, the gate has made a reappearance. Much to Cade's dismay. He hates being contained.

It's like she's saying to him, "Dude, quit crying and get us out of here."

I'm still trying to figure this whole "two kids" thing out as basketball season gears up and we spend many of our evenings without Matt. It's difficult splitting time with the kids, nursing Reese, getting meals on and cleaned up and everyone bathed. Such is life. My dad always said, that's the thing about life...it's just so daily. But I'm learning a lot and trying to enjoy this time while they're little and have no real evening activities that they have to run off to. I've found the dishes must wait so there's time to play...and in fact...the dishes are still waiting now...

Bonding in The Bend

News to me...so I've been blogging mostly from my phone and using pics from my phone for the last couple months. I don't even look at blogs on our laptop anymore. I do everything on my phone in Google Reader. Therefore, it was brand new information that my posts have been going up in a strange order and some of my pictures are cropped off on the right side. Like my most recent post about Reesie. So I don't know what to tell you other than (again for the hundredth time) I'm telling you to use Google Reader to read all your favorite blogs. Because my blog updates in order and looks normal there.

Ok, on with the recap!

Last weekend we made a quick trip back to The Bend to spend some time with our families. The trip was mostly planned around the busy schedule of "Date Party Barbie" (MaKenzie) as we had to wait until she had a free weekend. But it worked out perfectly for us to all get together and for us to welcome the newest Keeley cousin, Lawson.
He's so tiny!

Grandma Jan and Grandpa Mike with all their grandkids (even though none of them are looking at the camera and for some reason when you're NOT in Reader Lukas is getting cut off on the right...dang you iPhone!)

Celebrating Date Party Barbie's 20th birthday

Cade loved target practice with his Papa...the whole thing made me a bit nervous

Aunt Gentry had her helper pants on, of course! Sidenote: notice G's beautiful long hair? I love it! Everyone used to think we really looked alike...but now she has her hip long hair and her skinny, skinny body...I'm thinking people will be able to keep us straight now. Dang it.

Once my mom realized we were all home and this may not happen again anytime soon, she took the opportunity to schedule a photo shoot for her Christmas card pic. We're not overly "matchy" since it was a last minute decision (to be photographed standing in the neighbors yard) but they turned out well!

It cracks me up that Reesie is looking up at the tree. She was mesmerized!

As always, a great trip to Great Bend. If only it wasn't a 4 hour trip!

Helper Pants

"Helper Pants" is a phrase used in my family--mostly in the context as to whether a person is wearing their "helper pants" or not. It's used most often by my mother in reference to what my sisters need to do when they come to visit me, "Be sure to wear your helper pants!"

It's always nice to have Peggy pop into town for a visit. She scheduled a trip to see us a long time ago and it just happened to work out perfectly for her to help us out while Matt was gone. She was such a huge help that it makes me a little fearful for weekends alone! She rinsed dishes, folded clothes, entertained children, and pitched in wherever she saw the need.

Thanks, Peg!

We were so happy to also have Aunt Christy stop in to hang out last weekend!

Anyone else want to swing by? As long as you pack your helper pants!

Flood Warning

Bouncing back and forth between the kids during the evening routine sometimes gets a little outta hand...

What Do You Use...

...to measure 2/3 a cup of sugar?

Why, yes Reese, that is correct. The 1/3 cup dry measuring cup twice. That's my girl.

Boys Night Out

A while back Matt's team went to the Royals game and even Cader got to go! They had a great time even though they did not make it through to the post-game fireworks.

I know Matt really enjoys when he can take Cade along somewhere. And I think we all look forward to when Cade can join the team for some away games or sit on the end of the bench. Someday...probably will be here before we know it.

Posing for the Camera, Again

Just a photo dump of Reesie. She's been having cereal every morning and now also sweet peas for lunch. She's also pulling up on everything! Time to lower her mattress down a few notches soon!