The Kalal Family: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Interview with Our Five-Year-Old

Finally! Although he was a little silly, he finally agreed to a little interview with mom :)

Here's our big five-year-old, Cooper!

https://youtu.be/fG1gkzioKFw

Izzy loves big words!

So here is Izzy's recent reading from a favorite book, "Moosetache."

I hope you can understand the big words coming from this little girl's mouth!!

https://youtu.be/LIvgnYFPC4w

Double Party!

We celebrated our boys' winter birthdays together this year... Cooper is 5 and Carson is 1!!

It was a fun party, and I think both boys loved the attention :)

The morning started with our traditional balloon party in the bedroom:

Then, on to party time!!

Cooper asked for a shark cake and thought Carson should have a guppie cake. I thought that sounded doable!

Carson ripped into some presents and loved the crunchy paper...

Cooper is a pro at this present thing... And he did a great job being a thankful young man!

Mommy's big guy!

Hanging with a couple aunties...

Our family; Cooper 5, Izzy 3, Carson 1

Our one-year-old!

How is this guy already five!?!?!?

At first, Carson dust really want anything to do wih his cake, but after his nap, he was ready for a taste:

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Musings

Pillow talk with my little blessings... We have our best conversations before nap or bed, or on weekend mornings when they crawl in bed with us for a little bit :)

Izzy said to me while snuggling up yesterday morning in my bed, "Do you remember when you were a bride?"

To which I replied, "Yea, I do, Izzy. That's when me and daddy got married."

She thought for a minute and said, "And dad was your prince!"

-----------------------------

Cooper's been starting to prefer no snuggling before bed and nap time. I get it, he's getting bigger... Which makes the times he does want to snuggle that much better :)

Both big kids like to sleep just in their underwear (they call it sleeping naked), and today when I was enjoying a rare snuggle with Cooper before his nap, he curled up next to me, in his skinny little skin and Ninja Turtle underwear, and said, "Mom, snuggling with you is the best!"

I hugged him a little tighter and tried to soak in his 5-year-old innocence. It made me wonder just when will he decide he's too big to ever snuggle with mom again?!? Hopefully not for a loooong time!!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Our Baby is ONE!

I've been wanting and not wanting to post this update for weeks... I feel like if I keep putting it off, then maybe my baby isn't really growing up as fast as it seems.

But it doesn't work that way, does it...?

Carson is one, and I honestly, sincerely, truly cannot grasp how quickly this year has gone. I look at him some days and start to see a little boy and not a baby. It's exciting and sad at the same time. I feel like he's been ours forever, and then the next second I can remember and almost feel his tiny, brand new newborn body resting on my chest.

We are so thankful for the past year of fun and excitement and happiness... We have a happy and healthy little one year old!

Big boy stats:

He weighs somewhere around 23 pounds, wears 18 mo clothes, size 3 shoes, size 4 diapers, and a wide-mouthed smile!

He is eating us out of house and home... Loves his carbs and his meat even though he still has yet to pop a tooth! He eats pretty much whatever we do, is learning to use a fork and spoon (albeit very messily!!), and is learning to like his sippy cup more and more. He likes to dribble milk more than drink it, but we'll get there :)

His favorites include green beans, all meat, applesauce, spaghetti, cheese, and Oreo cookies.

Carson is learning things so fast!! He likes to crawl with turbo speed when he sees something or someone he wants. Walking with a push-walker or holding onto our fingers is easy for him, and he is starting to get braver with cruising and letting go of what he's holding onto. He'll be walking soon I think :). He waves buh-bye, gives high-fives, gives open-mouthed kisses, likes to turn off light switches, and says mama and dada and ya in the right context. He's starting to like playing with his toothbrush, and he loves to climb under and over things. He also has taken a cue from his brother and sister about emptying an entire bookshelf of books or bin of toys in seconds.

He loves to read books and is quickly deciding which ones are his favorites! I love when he babbles and smacks the pages. Right now, he loves the pages with textures he can feel and those with 'surprises' on the pages. Peek-a-Who and Where's My Puppy are our go-to's right now.

He is finally a great sleeper! He goes down around 7:30 and sleeps about 11 hours. He loves his Nuk and some snuggles to sleep, and takes milk from mommy or a bottle before bed. For the moment, I'm in no hurry to let the morning and night bottles go :)

Lately, the biggest giggles come after bath time when the little munchkin crawls out of the bathroom naked, and keeps looking back to see if I'm coming for him. He giggles like crazy and would be content to be in his birthday suit for hours if we'd let him! Getting his diaper and pjs on is another story... The kid is the master of wiggles!!

Carson,

You complete our family in the most perfect way. Cooper and Izzy adore you, and none of us can get enough of you. I love picking you up after work... You crawl to me with your huge smile and give me one of your famous open-mouthed kisses. I love to squish you and squeeze you. It is so much fun watching you learn something new almost every day. Your hair is long but so sweet and innocent, and I love to ruffle it or sweep it away from your face while you sleep in my arms. You are a Mommy's boy through and through, and I love it. After work/daycare, you are often attached to my hip :). I love you to pieces!!

Love,

Mom