Ashlyn- the "threenager"

My beautiful baby... you are turning into such a fun little girl! I can't believe you are 3 years old! We had a fun birthday party for you at Nibbles Play Cafe. You love Nibbles. It's right next to Gram Gram's house. We have a 10 visit punch pass so you can go all winter. You love to play dress up, with the trains, in the kitchen... and you love to play with your "friends" as you call any little kid around your age. Your party was Dora themed. You wore a beautiful red dress just like Dora wears in the Christmas special. One of your gifts was a purple Dora cape like in the movie. You were adorable wearing it at your party. It was fun because you told me exactly which friends from school you wanted to invite. You had so many friends there. 5 of your friends from school came as well as friends from church and other friends like Sean and Evan. You all played so nicely and had so much fun. I was excited that it was your first party with your own friends! After the party we went to lunch with your friend Lila's family (they are from the FSU Alumni club) at Chili's and then to the Brookfield Zoo for the Christmas lights. It was such a fun but long day.

Let me tell you a little about you at 3...

-You talk in sentences... all the time... non-stop... unless you need to go potty and then you just shout "potty!" and go!

-You love your sister tremendously... You tell everyone to "be careful her a baby" and like to play with your dolls just how mommy takes care of your sister. You make up nicknames for her like calling her "my little hummingbird bella". If she cries in the car you make up your own songs for her with lyrics like "No cry Kinsey... we'll be home soon... Ashie is here with you!"

-Anytime you see Daddy and Mommy kiss or hug you say "Awww two-chothers" and run over to get kisses too.

-You love to be just like Mommy. If Mommy wears stripes, you wear stripes.... If Mommy eats an English Muffin you eat an English Muffin. Not only that but we have to do it bite for bite. Its hilarious to watch you watch me eat because if I put mine down you rush to put yours down. If I grab my drink you rush to grab yours. The whole time exclaiming how we are eating "Two-chothers" which of course is your combination of "together" and "with each other" I love that word so very much!

-You also like to be like your friends. You insist you need two pony tails like your friend Emily Rose every morning. You needed a pink hat because Lilia has a pink hat. You are learning social cues and graces and get very upset if a child you are playing with doesn't say thank you or good bye... unfortunately many times you think you are playing with a child and they are just parallel playing so you get your feelings hurt.

-You have the cutest little words... "eye ceam" for ice cream, and "twaberry" for strawberry.

- You count to 18 in English occassionally missing a number or two... You also count with one to one correspondence at least to 12 but sometimes higher... You can also count pretty high in spanish thanks to Dora.

-You know all your letters and can tell me several things that start with each letter. You can spell your name outloud.

-You love to get your big stool and help with laundry, get snacks out of the pantry, help me cook (we bake everything two-chother), brush your teeth and basically just be a big girl!

-You remember things we did a long time ago but everything thats in the past happened "last weekend" to you.

-You love to push the limits. Most things are a battle even if they lead up to things you want to do. Sometimes time out works but usually it doesn't. You will do almost anything to get to go to "my session" in "Targie" We spend alot of time in the toy aisle (your "session"/section). You are really good about leaving without buying something most of the time.

Daddy and Mommy were just mentioning how grown-up you look all of a sudden. You look like a kid now. You act like a kid now. Everyone else has been mentioning it too. You are turning into such a beautiful kind but questioning little girl. All we have ever wanted for you is for you to be kind, happy, and inquisitive and at 3 that is exactly who you are. We love you sweet girl!

Kinsey is 2 mo!

At this point she is a little past 2 months but I will tell you what was going on a couple of weeks ago. The colic is getting better. We are having more and more good nights with less crying. At 2 months she has amazing head control and loves to stand on your lap. She is starting to smile which is adorable! She isn't much of a napper and is still waking about 1,3,5 am. She likes to take a nap in the morning but her sister likes to wake her up so it's a constant battle to keep her asleep.
Her doctor check up went great. She is in the 50th percentile for weight and height. She weighs 11 lbs 5 oz. and is 23 inches long!