Another First...

Tonight's big first?  Baby cereal!  Izzy didn't fuss or turn away from it, but she didn't exactly seem to 'like' it.  But she was very interested in the spoon :)  Now, will the old wives' tale prove true for us and help our little lady return to her solid-night-sleeping ways?!?  Time will tell!!

"Not too sure about this..."

"Okay, I think I could get used to this stuff!"

"Good thing mom picked a pink spoon and pink bowl for me!"

"Grabbing the spoon was the best part... I think I can do this myself pretty soon... check out that grip!"

5 Month Update!

Another month flew by... Izzy is 5 months old!

Growing, and Growing, and Growing...

Still size 2 diapers

Still size 6 month clothing

She almost fits in size two baby shoes!

Her hair is getting thicker up front, but not lightening anymore (boo!)

Eating Well...

5 feedings per day

6 ounces in a bottle

She is really curious when someone is eating near her... I think she's getting ready for solids!

Snoozing...

Very consistent nightly routine-asleep by 8 and up by 6:30

50/50 falling asleep in my arms or still awake when I put her down

Wakes several times a night to have her Nuk replaced

Sleeps with arms out now... and let's just say she's still adjusting ;)

Rolled over in her sleep last night for the first time--FREAKED me out!

Naps are getting more consistent (3-4 per day, with a 2ish-hour nap in there at some point)

Likes...

Jabbering--she's making more distinct sounds now

When Cooper really close to her

To touch faces

Feeling Cooper's hair and holding his hand

Being on the changing table and grabbing her toes

Tummy time

'Sitting' with support-and tries to lift herself up

Chewing on bath rags

Grabbing toys and putting them in her mouth, especially the crunchy ones

Watching the action--kids playing, mom or dad cooking, big brother goofing around

Her nuk

Songs and rhymes, especially ones with actions on her belly

Peek-a-boo

Other Stuff...

Found her toes this month!

She's been examining her hands

Loves sitting upright in the high chair

Rolls from back to belly like a machine

Loves being in the bathtub with her big brother
Had her first experience in the snow this month

Goes through 3-4 bibs per day

Developed a troublesome rash under her chin and on the top of her chest from drooling

Is getting more cautious with her smiles... she seems to recognize when it's a stranger

Loves to have something in her hands at all times--a toy, a blanket, a bib, mom's hair or necklace... 

She jabbers a lot, still smiley all the time, but we still have to work pretty hard for giggles

We looooove you Cheekers!  You brighten every day!!

Your usual spot for breakfast with Cooper

Your new spot for supper time--you love sitting up to see us

My Girl :)

Loving bath time

No, you could not be any cuter!

You found your toes this month!

You LOVE the changing table, and we LOVE that huge smile!

I Got Izzy

Izzy was helping motivate me to do a few more planks this afternoon...

Recently, I was complaining to one of my wise sisters... "Ugh!  See what you have to look forward to someday?  This is what you get when you have a second baby..."  (Cue belly slapping, sloshing, and squishing.)

She answered simply, "Yah, but you got Izzy."

Yep, I got Izzy.  What more could I want?!?!  Thanks, Amanda, for the reminder to stop complaining and start being thankful.  Pounds will go (hopefully), and skin will shrink back (hopefully), and in the end, I have the greatest gift of all!!

I got Izzy :)

Cooper Catch-up

The things only a mom and dad could love so much...

Missy was goofing around with Cooper this weekend, trying to get him to say, "Shake your booty."  It eventually came out... as "Shake booby." 

Jeremy was making bacon Sunday morning, and Cooper was perched on a chair watching him.  Jeremy said, "Ok, now we have to lay the bacon down in the pan and cover it up so it can cook."  Cooper said, "It's sleepeen!" 

Nearly every day we have to drive out to the neighborhood farm to see the local horses.  And every day it's the same... "Horses... they funny... and eating hay. And snow. And apples.  And ca-ca's (carrots).  For supper.  Bye bye.  In the barn.  They're sleepeen."

He cannot say "lion" without growling as he says it.  It's the cutest dang thing!

He has been getting really excited to watch movies every now and then, but he gets scared and sad watching Ice Age... He tells us how Manny got a 'owie' on his 'butt' because he fell on the 'ice' and it went 'boom.'  Same goes for Lion King.  He talks about the 'mean lion.'

Anytime a lizard or hippo is mentioned, his face gets this scrunched up look and he says, "Icky!"  The hippos have icky teeth and the lizards have icky tongues.

He loves to tell Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Homer, "No no puppy," when he jumps, "Down, puppy, down," when he comes up to the table, and "Puppy sit."  He gets a real kick out of it when Homer actually listens!

He has been talking on the phone to family members a couple times a week.  We hear a lot of "Uh huh" in lots of different voice inflections.  Gee, I wonder if he's been listening to mom and dad talk on the phone?!?

He looooves helping to get Izzy up in the morning or from her naps... "Izzy's AWAKE! Izzy's AWAKE!" in his cute high voice.

When we tell him we love him, he says, "Wuv."  Every time.

Love this kid!!

Well, That Didn't Take Long!

I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things at work... it really was fun to see my students' eyes light up when they came around the corner to see me that first day.  (Much better than eye-rolling or long sighs, hahah!)
It reminded me that although I can't be with my own children all day long, I am with other people's children all day long, and I owe it to these kids and their parents to be as 'present' as I can every minute I'm with them.  I think about how I would want Izzy and Cooper's teachers to be.  And I would want their teachers to first love their own kids, then love ours almost as much :) 
As for the 'business' of teaching, that's where it's going to take some work on my part.  I forgot how hard a person has to work during the day in order to just get everything done between the hours of 7:30 and 3:30.  I don't take much home, because with bedtimes still a little unpredictable, I can't always get stuff done.  Plus, I'm TIRED.  Cripes, this working full-time thing is tough stuff!!

Dropping the kids off at daycare was better than I expected.  It feels so good that Kris isn't new to us anymore, and we trust her completely to take good care of Cooper and Izzy.  Both kids had a great day--Cooper was super excited to be back with his friends, and Izzy surprisingly slept like a champ and drank both full bottles.  I couldn't disguise my relief and excitement that they both had a great day.  And Izzy's huge smile when I came in the door assured me that she'd be okay :) I know there will be some rough days mixed in here and there, but so far, we're off to a great start!

I got a sweet surprise from Cooper and Izzy that first day back--a beautiful delivery of flowers and a card that must have taken Cooper a looong time to write.  Since Izzy 'kept trying to eat the pen,' he had to write it for them both.  It was super cute.  And, of course, it sent me into a tizzy of tears all over again.

Another awesome surprise I've had since returning to work was a SNOW DAY!  I already posted those pictures.  But today, I'm home again, not for as fun of a reason... Cooper's sick.  He puked yesterday morning just as we were getting ready to put shoes on to head out the door to work and daycare.  Fun.  Anyway, he's been okay today, but we haven't hit the 24-hour mark with no vomit yet... so I'm still holding my breath.  I didn't mind the extra snuggling today on the couch; besides, I've been dying to catch up on my Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Dora the Explorer.  Right.

Jeremy started softball practice yesterday... which means SPRING is right around the corner.  I can't WAIT to get out and go for a walk to the park with the kids!

Cooper talking on the phone to daddy. 

A winter zoo trip... Izzy LOVED facing outward in the Moby wrap--she didn't fuss once. And Cooper LOVED the fishies (especially the 'sharks, whoa!').  

And the turtles (who eat 'lelluce' and cheese).  

And the bears (who were 'hiding').  

And the wolves (who he insisted were puppies).  

And the lizard (with the 'icky tongue').

We love his growing confidence in his vocabulary :)

Snow Day!!

What better treat than to have a snow day with the whole family?!  It's one of the awesome perks we have for both being teachers (at least when our districts agree on the weather conditions!).  I guess I did work pretty hard for two whole days, and needed a rest from school :)

The little marshmallow is ready for her first venture in the snow!

Happy Snow Day!!

Cooper getting buried

Izzy's very first time in the snow!!

A little sled ride for the boys

Izzy wasn't too thrilled about the snowflakes in her face

The little lady much preferred the warmth once we got back inside

See?  She liked getting the snowsuit OFF...

And she really loves minimal clothing! (Check out the fluffy hat hair!!)

Enjoy the snow... it will be so pretty for the next day or so before it turns brown and slushy... Boo!!  (Although I can't WAIT to get the munchkins out in the stroller and head to the park!!)