Weekend Wrap-Up: the Sayonara Spring Break Edition

Oh dear.  This week went so fast and the weekend feels like a blur. It was so fun to be home with my girls...it is going to be tough on us all when we are back to the frantic rush out the door in the mornings. But we will get used to it again.

We had a fun weekend.  On Saturday morning the girls and I headed downtown for some playtime with Boom and Bops.  And Callie, Bops and I went to see his new office.

Before bed that night, we played in Maya's room...I'll be really glad when we can pack away the flannel footie jammies for good.

This morning was bath time, and we put the girls together without really having to worry about Maya falling over.  It was SO funny.

Then the girls were being ridiculously sweet.

I mean, SERIOUSLY.

While Chris and Callie went to Sunday School, Maya napped and then we headed out for some grocery shopping and, of course, a stop at Starbucks.

The best thing about today was that it finally felt like SPRING (let's not talk about the impending snow coming in a couple days).   We hung out for a little bit down the block with our neighbors that have kids, and Callie and Maya hung out with G-ma and G-pa (and went on a walk) while Chris and I went to a movie.

And then we went to our first BBQ of the season- with Boom, Bops, Auntie Mari, Auntie Yoda, Craig, and Craig's parents. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  Let's bring on April!

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday: Updated with Video!

I posted this around 5:30pm, but have since added a video at the end...and it is a cute one, so don't miss it!

I can't believe how fast this week went by!  All of a sudden it is Friday and I seriously don't know how that happened, because Monday seems like yesterday.

As you'll see, this break was a lot about Miss Maya.  Callie went to preschool all day on Monday and Wednesday, so I had like 16 whole hours to just take pictures of the baby.  And then I was pretty much in bed all day on Tuesday with some sort of bug.  At one point yesterday I thought that maybe I should try and take more pictures of Callie, but then I remembered that she usually either gives me a crabby face or moves so fast that I can't get a good picture of her anyway.

I managed to get a few sister pictures and activity pictures, but the ones with just Cal?  They show her being her goofy-silly-crazy self.

As for Maya, she has slept 12 straight hours a few different times this week!  Hooray!  When she does that, though, her naps are usually shorter the next day.  But that's ok.  I'll take the solid night time sleep over long naps any day. 

On to the pictures...

Favorite Thing #1: Play time with this girl

Favorite Thing #2: Attached at the hip

Favorite Thing #3: #inspiredbymahem
There is an awesome blog and instagram poster that makes AMAZING paper
dresses with her 4-year-old (who she calls Mayhem).
Callie and I tried a couple with wrapping paper, ribbon, and plastic tablecloths.
It's nothing compared to what Mayhem and her mom create, but I think it was
a good first couple attempts.

Favorite Thing #4: Sleep success!
The side pictures are solid nap pictures.
The middle picture was waking up after 12 solid hours of night sleep.
Amazing.

Favorite Thing #5: Testing out glasses...
Still looking, obviously.

Favorite Thing #6: Crazy Callie
In the picture on the left, she is not wearing clothes, but IS wearing one of my
tester glasses.  In the pictures on the right, she is running around our playroom
upstairs with a huge spool of ribbon and "decorating".

Favorite Thing #7: More Maya and Mommy playtime

Favorite Thing #8: Sister playtime

Favorite Thing #9: A walk in the cold March air

Yesterday we met Kylie, Calvin and Sylvie at a museum not too far from our house.  We hadn't ever been there, and it was pretty fun!

Favorite Thing #10: The age-alikes together

Favorite Thing #11: Fun with funny mirrors

Favorite Thing #12: Lots to play and see

Favorite Thing #13: End of the week
*Maya and Kona bonding
*Contemplating the weather
*Cuddling
*Playing, lunch and shopping with Amanda and Elise

Favorite Thing #14: This Video: She is supposed to be sleepy and ready for bed (which she clearly is since she only took two 40-minute naps today!), but decided to charm us (albeit crabbily) with her tricks and cuteness instead.


IMG 1448 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

TBT

I'll start with a Spring Break TBT.  Notice the difference in baby apparel??

Then we have a couple more.  First up, one with me.  Wow, I looked a lot younger 4 years ago.  Maybe more...well slept.

And then funny wet baby hair: a mowhawk, and what I call "The Donald Trump".

Maya's Rules for Sleeping, Part II

Note From Mommy: I have been brainstorming a part 2 to this post (Maya's 5W Rules for Sleeping) for a few days now.  I was planning to post it today or tomorrow.  And then something crazy happened.

SHE SLEPT 12 HOURS STRAIGHT LAST NIGHT.

So, she threw me off my game, and I realized she really only has ONE rule.  I'll let her explain.

Hey Everybody!  Maya here.

Remember when I was two months old and had my super special sleeping rules?

Well, now that I'm eight months old, there really is only one rule that must be followed:

Because it doesn't matter what you do at night when you look THIS cute in the morning.

Peace out, Friends.  Gotta go catch some daytime ZZZZZZs. 

(But don't let Mommy know that napping is my plan, I will most likely put up a fight so she has stand up and sway while simultaneously bouncing me, and then when I'm mostly asleep I will allow her to sit and rock me in the chair for a little while before I will then let her put me in my bed.  There you go- a bonus rule, just for nap time.  Enjoy!)

Weekend Wrap-Up: The 8-Months-Old Edition!!!

Somehow, someway two-thirds of a year has passed since becoming a family of 4.  And now we CANNOT imagine our lives without this little Squish.

I can't stand the cuteness of her bath hair.
And her cheeks.
And the fact that she just today started trying to hold the bottle on her own...
sort of. 

I don't know if I want to put this out there, but (shhhhhhhhhhhhh) she has slept through the night the past few nights (til 5am or so).

I'm sure I just jinxed it.  But it has been blissful while it has lasted.

She eats anything I put in her mouth (SO fun!).  She sits up and plays and touches everything (but doesn't like to lay and roll).  She is so stinking funny and cute. 

As for our weekend- we survived without Daddy and managed to have some fun.  But it is nice to have him home.

Yesterday we played at home and Callie went to MOA with Uncle Dan and Hanna.

While they were at MOA I threw a CAbi party with my friend Emily.  It was so fun to have a bunch of great women over and try on fun clothes.

When Callie came home, she had fun looking at the clothes too!

On Saturday night, G-ma and Pa came to babysit so I could go to the MN Orchestra concert with my dad, Bob and Barbara.  It was a great concert- and during the piano concerto, the pianist's music was on an iPad.  It was so cool.  It was also so fun to see the percussionists in action.

Can you see the pianist's ipad?

This morning we played at home and Adrea came over.

Later on, Daddy came home and Callie went to a Timberwolves game with Bops.

Go Wolves!

Lastly, before bed Maya was checking out my March Madness bracket.

My pics for the championship?  Midwestern teams: Iowa State vs. Wisconsin
My pic for the champion?  Wisconsin, of course!
My parents' alma matter.

Now it is SPRING BREAK!  We don't have a lot planned.  Callie still has preschool a couple days and we have some play dates here and there.  I'm looking forward to a relaxed, slow-paced week.

51-Months-Old

It is 11:15pm on the 22nd. I made it with 45 minutes to spare.

This adorable princess is another month older, and I probably have a few extra gray hairs.

But she is totally worth it.

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

Well, Hello!  Happy Friday!

We have gotten to the stage where the baby sleep is so ridiculous we are going to try the cry-it-out method of sleep training.

We didn't really have to do that with Callie.  At least I don't really remember having to do it.  She was always an awesome sleeper.

A few nights this week (or should I say VERY early mornings...like 12:00am-3:30am, for example) Maya screamed and LITERALLY would not let us put her down.  We traded off half hour shifts of trying to get her to sleep enough to transfer her back to her bed and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. she would either wake up right away or wake up within a couple minutes.

It is MIND BOGGLING.

So a few times this week we decided to do cry-it-out.  Thank GOD Callie is a hard sleeper.

You'd think we were putting Maya in some sort of medieval torture chamber instead of, you know, HER BED. 

I am, in fact, listening to her being "tortured" right now!  Have been for half an hour already!

Chris is up north for a ski weekend- he picked a great weekend to get away, as I'm totally gung-ho for sleep training ASAP.  This ridiculousness has got to stop.  And it has already been established throughout many previous blog posts that I'm stubborn, so baby doesn't stand a chance.  I hope.  She seems to have my stubborn streak as well.

As for Callie, she continues to be a snot factory, which is also kind of mind boggling, but pretty entertaining to be around.  Especially when she talks about being late for meetings that she has with her stuffed animals.  But every time I ask what is on the agenda for the meeting, she gives me a look like I'm crazy and walks away.  Fun times with a 4-year-old.

On to the pictures...

Favorite Thing #1: Monday at Boom's house

Favorite Thing #2: St. Patty's Day!
Thanks to Old Navy, Callie matched her friend Sydney at preschool.

Favorite Thing #3: After a cry-it-out session in the early evening (10:00ish),
she slept til 5:45am!!

Favorite Thing #4: This girl LOVES to eat.
And she will eat anything I give her, which is super fun.

Favorite Thing #5: The big birthday day.

Favorite Thing #6: Selfies with the baby

Favorite Thing #7: Thursday with G-ma

Favorite Thing #8: Friday morning downtown

Favorite Thing #9: When the Daddies are away, we have a movie date!
I can't get over how adorable Charlie and Callie are in that picture.
And the little ones are too, of course.

We got to watch FROZEN which is now out on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!  Callie was SO PSYCHED when we got it from Target today.  During the movie, she couldn't help but sing along.  And I couldn't help but take video of her because it was cute.  Enjoy.


Frozen 1 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Wait, what's that sound I hear now?  SILENCE?!?!?  Well, lookie there, after FIFTY MINUTES the baby got tired and gave in.    HAHAHAHA.  Victory!...Right?

TBT

I'm. On. SPRING BREAK.

Hallelujah!!!

This week's throwback starts with a St. Patty's Day TBT.

I was bummed I could not find the greet hat anywhere!

And then we have babies (once again) chewing on toys.

Remember the beach?  And sun?  I can't wait for summer.

And finally, babies in Boom and Bops' stroller.

Maya's face cracks me up every time.

3 More Birthdays!

The crazy birthday month continues big time today...it is Chris', Auntie Yoda's and Uncle Dan's birthday! Happy birthday everyone. We love you!

Happy Birthday Gi-Gi!

The crazy birthday month continues!  It is Gi-Gi's birthday today.  Happy birthday!!!

I also realized that I missed another March birthday- my Grammy!  Her birthday was March 10th.  Happy belated birthday to her!

I'm so lucky to have such wonderful grandmas.