New Videos: Kyle 11 Months, Lily 3

Sweet smiles after his 11 month photo shoot


I love that laugh!


This one is long, but I think it's worth it.  This is their favorite game to play.  Lily lines up all her princesses and Kyle knocks them down.  I can't believe he waits this long before knocking them.  It's like he understands that she's not ready yet.  Then at the end you can see his new game where he plays ball by himself.  So cute!

Kyle is 11 Months

Here's your 11 Month photo shoot Kyle.  So many happy ones... how do I choose the best?

Kyle and Lily were much too squirmy in their pictures 

So what's new with Kyle....
- Still a happy, growing boy.  Wearing 18 month clothes but can also wear 24 months.  Diaper is still size 4.
- Eats mostly what we eat (and what Lily refuses).  Baby food pouches are great on-the-go.  We've pretty much stopped jar baby food.
- Naps have been unpredictable, but I think it's probably my fault.  Lily is busy with activities and friends, so he's not always home for a morning nap.  He doesn't like to sleep on-the-go unless it's in the car.  And sometimes when he gets a morning nap he won't take an afternoon nap.  Remarkably, he's never fussy when he skips a nap.  He has been waking up a lot at night, which is not fun for me.  It can usually be fixed with a found paci or a quick diaper change and then he's back to bed.
- He loves playing with his sister.  He's having more fun now that he's more mobile.  But if she's doing her own thing, he can play on his own too.  The other day I watched him throw a ball and then crawl to catch it.  He kept doing that across the room.  He also loves doors (real ones and doors on toys).  He can open and close them forever!
- He's still sliding on his tummy and doing a weird "worm crawl".  But it gets him where he wants to be... and fast!
- Kyle knows his name and will look at you when you call him.
- Shortly after turning 11 months, his first tooth started poking through.  One of the bottom middle teeth and the pointy one next to it are coming in at the same time.  He's been fussier than normal, but that's still not too bad.  I feel bad because I know that has to hurt!

Mom's Day at Preschool

Yesterday, Lily's school had a Mother's Day celebration.  There was a little fashion show and the kids performed a song.  It was a really fun morning.  

Here is our Mother-Daughter ensemble.  All the clothes were supplied by two local consignment shops.  I went to the store first to pick out my outfit and then I went to the kid's store and they found coordinating items.  I even had a personal shopper help me!  It was fun feeling like a "model" for a little bit.  I was glad Lily had fun with it and wasn't too shy to get up in front of everyone.

Taylor, Lily, and Ava are showing off their adorable outfits.  Lily was missing shoes here but eventually got a pair before the show.  Somebody wore hers the day before and accidentally wore them home instead of leaving them for our show.

Here are the girls practicing before the show

This was the kids' performance for the Moms.  Lily is in the middle of the front row.  She actually sang and did the motions this time!  Wa-hoo!  A big improvement from the Christmas performance.

April Catch Up

The month started out with Kyle celebrating Cubs opening day.  His shirt says "Don't change me until the game is over."

While Matt was busy finishing tax season, the kids and I visited some friends in Chicago: Cassie, Mindy, Kim & her son Jack.  We had a nice brunch and then walked at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Jack and Kyle were glad for sunshine and no rain, but it was still windy and a little chilly.

Lily had excellent zoo tour guides.  It's always more fun to be with the big girls instead of the babies.

This photo was a random dinner night.  I can't remember what was so funny, but they both had a big case of the giggles that night.

This month Lily started taking gymnastics lessons.  And she does it with her BF, Taylor, so it's even more fun!  She goes by herself while Mom and Kyle wait in the lobby and watch through the glass.  

So far she has tried everything they've asked her to do.  I'm so proud of how brave and independent she's getting.  Her favorite seems to be the balance beam.  

There were several bad storms this month.  Lots of rain and flooding in some areas.  Thankfully our basement stayed dry.  We did lose power one afternoon.  So we went over the Taylor's house and the girls got to watch a movie and rest under a cool living room fort/tent. 

April Road Trip

In early April, Corey and I made a road trip from Chicago to Atlanta for Jamie's wedding.  Corey, Jamie, and I were best buds when we worked at Disney together.  They were both bridesmaids in my wedding and I've been happy to attend both of their weddings.  Matt was still in the heart of tax season and had to stay home.  I wanted to be "Amy" at the wedding and not "Mommy" so I left the kids in Indiana with Grandma and Papa.  It was a win-win for everyone. :)

We made a stop in Chattanooga along the way to visit a couple of my Zeta friends, Cara & Jen.  It was awesome weekend to catch up with so many old friends.  Too bad it was such a quick trip.  Cara has a beautiful home on top of a mountain.  This is the view from the back of her house! 

 Cheers to a great get-away!  After the kids were put to bed it was time to have fun like we used to.  We drank wine and played a board game.  Man, we are crazy! ;)

Jen, Cara, and I all had babies last May.  So Timmy, Addy, and Kyle are all a few weeks apart.  Too bad Kyle wasn't there, but he can meet his Birthday friends another time.  I can't believe they are all about to turn 1!!

After staying at Cara's, we finished the drive and got to our hotel.  The wedding was outside Athens, GA, which is where UGA's campus is.  We took a little campus tour before getting ready for the wedding. 

Here we are dressed up in front of our Red Mustang.  Road trips are more fun when you ride in style :)

As expected, Jamie was a beautiful bride.  Here she is walking down the aisle.

Marrying her wonderful husband, Kilby.

The ceremony and reception was outside by this old Southern house.

Bride and Groom pictures after the ceremony

The cake

View of the reception from the house balcony.  We were too shy to get closer to the edge cause we probably weren't supposed to be up there. 

First dance

Her dress was beautiful, as was she

Best wishes to the happy couple!

Easter 2013

Once again, very far behind and trying to catch up...

We had a fun Easter this year with family at our house.  Lily was excited that the Easter bunny came.  She did a good job finding all her eggs.

Papa and Kyle (they coordinated their outfits)

Lily (and Ducky) and Daddy 

The best group shot we could get

Mommy, Lily, Papa, Kyle, Grandma

Lily, Nana, Grandpa, and Kyle 

Kyle and Grandpa

Kyle learned how to play "peek-a-boo" with his hands

Boo!

Aunt Laura and Bunny Kyle

Gio and Bunny Kyle

Lily Bunny

Baby's First Pizza

If you ever see a Father/Son Pizza eating competition, let me know.  I think we're ready to enter.  Kyle inherited  Daddy's love of pizza. 

We made home-made pizza the other night.  "Picky Eater" Lily wouldn't eat hers so "Finish the Leftovers" Kyle got to try some. :)

He can tell you all about how much he liked it!


Lily wanted a turn on camera.  It's easy to feel like a super star when you have such an attentive audience.  She's singing "Do you want to decorate the house with me?"  It's a Lily-original that she created and has been singing since Halloween.

In other table news... Kyle can drink from a real cup.

  I just randomly tried it and he really liked it and did a great job.  He does really well sucking down the baby food pouches, so I'm guessing he'd do fine with a straw too.  I just need to remember to try it.  Nice to know we have a few drinking options besides just sippy cups.