Nice and Tidy

Kayda has always been our little cleaner. Ever since she was little she would take a wipe and start wiping everything off. If her clothes get dirty she wants to change, if she spills something she gets upset. She decided to add to her normal "cleaning" behaviors yesterday when we were at Grandma and Grandpa G's house having dinner. Grandma was loading the dishes and left for a minute to deal with something else. When Grandma came back suddenly the dishwasher was fuller than she remembered it being. Kayda had loaded her play dishes into the dishwasher. Here she is unloading them!

More important info! Kayda can officially count to FIVE!!! After five she'll throw around eight and nine. Pretty impressive. She is trying to say more words everyday. Yesterday she and I were reading "Go Dog Go."  We went through it once together then she started telling me the story. She would go through and tell me what color the dogs were, if they were big or small, what they were doing (up/down, in/out, driving cars) without ANY prompting from me. In case you haven't read it recently there are four parts in the book where a dog asks another dog if he likes her hat. Each time they say hello and goodbye. Kayda knew these pages and would say "hello, hat, bye".

Dillon is trying to talk as well, he has sounds that are almost words for: fish, dog, dad, mama, drink, that. He also makes some sound effects. He is trying to jump now, it's really just one foot that "jumps" but he tries.

Daddy and I joined a gym and have been bringing the kids in to the play area. Kayda has a hard time warming up to it at first but once she gets going she's fine. On the otherhand Dillon runs to the door, opens it himself and takes off chasing the other kids. It's funny to see the difference in their personalities.

Saturday Night Movie

Last night we decided to be a little lenient on bed time...granted it only differed by about half an hour. We were letting them finish watching Kung Fu Panda. Kayda thinks that movie is hilarious and she gets really into it. Dillon was mesmerized by it. I thought it was cute that they both wanted to snuggle with Daddy so here they are. All snuggled together in the big round chair that has been hidden back in the den up until about two weeks ago. They definitely love their Daddy! 

Meant to be Siblings

They say that you choose your family before you come to earth and receive a body. Watching my two little ones I believe every word of it. I like to think that we ended up having Dillon earlier than planned because he couldn't bear to be without Kayda any longer. They are so wonderful together and Brian and I live our lives entirely for them. These are just the most recent pictures of them sitting together I have many others. They are constantly playing together, sitting together, sometimes snuggling. Kayda will give him hugs and kisses, Dillon will follow her everywhere. They are so much fun to watch as their relationship continues to develop. What can I say? We love our babies and fortunately they love eachother.

Playdough!

I made playdough a LONG time ago (yeah I know I could have bought it but we get more this way). I kept it in the fridge and remembered I had it today, so I pulled out one of the colors for Kayda to play with. She entertained herself for an HOUR with the playdough, a plastic knife and a cookie cutter. I attempted to keep Dillon occupied for her but eventually he managed to make his way over anyway. The recipe I used was super easy and works really well, it doesn't dry out at all (I put it at the end of this so if anyone wants it they can keep going, if they don't they don't have to read it!) We had the fire going so it was nice and toasty so here are my diaper babies!

I thought these pictures were cute so I had to share. Kadya was sitting on the couch getting ready to watch "Kung Fu Panda" (movies are my way of getting her to take a nap) and Dillon wanted up so I put him up there. Kadya decided she wanted to sit next to him and snuggled right in next to him. Dillon was acting hungry so I got him some crackers, I thought this picture of it was funny because Kayda was trying to put his water back where he could reach it and ended up leaning on his arm, well obviously when she did that it moved the cracker further away from his mouth so he's kind of going "come here cracker" with his eyes and his mouth. I thought it was a funny expression.

PLAYDOUGH!!!

Flour 3cups

Salt 1 1/2 cups

Water 3 cups

Vegetable Oil 2TB.

Cream of tartar 1TB.

Food coloring few drops or unsweetened "Kool-Aid" 1pkg.

Mix ALL of the ingredients in a large saucepan.Cook over medium low heat, until the dough comes away from the edges of the pan and it becomes difficult to move the spoon. Remove from heat. Cool until it can be handled.Place on counter or wax paper knead 3-4 times.Store in an air tight container.

They get big so fast!

Kayda has been a little bit interested in her potty over the last week or so. She'll have me take off her diaper and let her sit on the potty. The other day she had me do that and she kept sitting there so I shut the door and went to make Dillon a bottle. Well... apparently she actually needed to go potty because she got off the potty and peed all over the floor... I guess she kind of got the idea after that. Today at Grandma G's, Kayda told her "pa pa" for potty so Grandma brought her in and took off her diaper. Kadya sat on her potty and Grandma waited a while. She asked Kayda if she was done. Kayda said "no" so Grandma left to take care of Dillon. Grandma came back a few times to ask her if she was done and each time she said "no". Eventually Grandma came back and Kayda was standing up pulling her pants up. She had peed IN THE POTTY!!! She used toilet paper and everything. Hurray for the fact that she is such a quick learner. It didn't end up on the floor again!!! Hopefully she'll keep doing it!

Dillon's latest, though not as huge as Kayda's, is still exciting! He is starting to stand up without holding on to things more and more. He's even starting to try to take steps to get where he wants to go. He is definitely interested in walking! It's so exciting but at the same time I wish I had a pause button! Both babies are in such a fun phase that I'm not ready for them to move on. I guess that's something all moms and dads have to go through.

Anyways, on to the pictures! A few days ago Kayda decided that Dillon needed to go where she wanted him to. Well, he's pretty independent now, just like she is, and wanted to go play with the little kitchen. The entire way there Kayda was holding onto his onesie trying to drag him another direction saying "no". It was hilarious. I didn't get pictures until they were already at the kitchen but even then she was trying to get him to go somewhere else!

Last thing I promise! Yesterday morning Kayda was sitting on the couch watching her morning cartoons (this is the routine while Daddy gets ready for work). She wanted to hold Dillon so he was sitting in her lap for a little while. When Daddy HAD to go take a shower he moved Dillon next to Kayda and Kayda decided to share her blankie with Dillon. She spread it out over both of their legs and they sat like that, all cozied up together watching TV! They are such loving siblings!

So Incredible...

Yesterday Kayda, Dillon and Daddy were sitting on the couch. Kayda was sitting on one end on her own while Dillon was sitting next to Daddy. She decided, for reasons unknown to us, that she wanted Dillon to sit by her. She also decided that she was going to do it herself. Poor little Dillon was dragged across the couch by his big sister. Of course he thought it was hilarious. Good thing they love each other so much!

I have been swaddling Kayda's baby doll for her the last few days before we lay it in its "bassinet". Kayda decided today that she wanted to be swaddled too. At first she was trying to have me do it with her favorite baby blanket but of course she has grown considerably and it just isn't sufficient for the job any longer. So I got a big purple blanket we have and swaddled her. Once she was swaddled she decided that she wanted to hold her baby, of course her arms are tucked in so that meant the her baby got tucked in as well. She didn't want to be held by either Daddy or Mommy and she didn't want to lay on the floor or in the bean bag chair so I set her in her Dora chair. Well, being the determined little girl that she is she decided that she didn't want to be there any more so she got on the floor and actually managed to stand up and "walk" around in her blanket! I think she is going to be a professional potato sack racer!

Kayda has developed a fake smile. It cracks me up because it is most definitely NOTHING like her real smiles!

Dillon is becoming more and more independent. He is still very attached to me but he's starting to crawl around after things and explore. I was down on the floor trying to take pictures of him crawling and he decided he was interested in the camera so I got a VERY close one but I think it's cute. He's getting really FAST now it's amazing! Today we were going to have a barbecue/cake thing for Daddy's birthday but he wasn't feeling well. He's got a cold that knocked him out for an extra couple of hours this morning and left him feeling dizzy whenever he stood up the rest of the day. I got this shirt for Dillon and thought it was appropriate for "celebrating" Daddy. It says "If you think I'm cool you should see my dad". Notice Dillon is standing up with the assistance of Kayda's push car. Well, I let him keep holding on to it and he started walking around it. He ended up tipping it over. Just before this he was "superman" on the side of the car, I thought he was going to be stuck but he managed to get up. Like I said he's getting REALLY mobile and is crawling everywhere and pulling himself to standing on anything he can get a hold of.

Good night, sleep tight...

Tonight Dillon had a couple of firsts! He was having a hard time settling down so I left him in his crib with the lights off. I went back in when he got upset and he was just sitting up in his crib... I'm not sure if he got to sitting from laying down or if he used the crib railings. I laid him down and he was still squirmy so I left again. I went back in to check on him and he was STANDING UP in the crib!!! YAY Dillon! I laid him down again, patted him, he was still wiggling like crazy so I left again and guess what he did! He PUT HIMSELF TO SLEEP!!! I wasn't even in the room!!! Hurray Dillon! Now if he could repeat that it would be fantastic!

Kayda is doing pretty well going to sleep again. She was getting pretty dependent on us coming in and calming her down again but we're breaking that habit. She has added a new thing she likes to do before she goes to bed. It's not every night but it's pretty consistent. First a little background. On Monday we got together with her cousins (Ella, Peyton, Mikey, Jarret and Chase). Ella had a highchair for her doll which Kayda LOVED. So when we got home I turned an extra basket I had into a little "bassinet" for her baby doll. Well she is very attached now and likes to tuck the baby in at night and then wants the baby in the basket, in her bed with her. It was very cute!

Behold the sibling bond!

Apparently this morning while daddy was getting ready for work he set Dillon down on the floor with some toys and turned on the cartoons. Kayda immediately walked over and sat down behind him and watched cartoons all snuggled up with her little brother. It's so fun to have them close in age like this. I hope that they stay good friends as they get older!

Yay Dillon! Yay Kayda!

Sorry no pictures this time but there's some exciting news!

Dillon FINALLY decided to roll over, ON PURPOSE! He did it this evening. He was playing on the floor and after pushing himself around in a circle he decided he wanted to look around and slowly but surely pushed himself right over (tummy to back). It's so exciting! I've been waiting at LEAST a month for him to decide to do it on purpose! He's done it a few times on accident but I consider this his official "first" since he meant to do it. Of course after we (Daddy and I) got so excited about it he didn't have the opportunity again, Kayda kept deciding she would help him so that he'd get cheers again. Every time he started pushing himself up and twisting a little she'd run over and try to push his side to help him flip over. Cute that she wanted to help but frustrating when we wanted him to keep doing it on his own.

Sweet little Kayda... She is slowly but surely deciding that she is interested in talking. She is starting to work at saying the words now. Granted she tends to get as far as the first, maybe second syllable. She's saying "mama" very well (she used to go mamamamamamama etc) and she is saying "baby" again. She started saying it just after Dillon was born and then stopped a couple months later. She has a LOT of things she has sounds for that kind of resemble the actual word but she is actually trying now!

She has been cracking me up in the morning. She has several things that she does with Dillon. She whispers "hi", pats his back, tries to help him roll over, tries to hold him, grabs his hands and dances with him, and the newest addition... she tries to tickle him. She does "crab hands" on his belly and says "ahhhhh". She's imitating the way we tickle him of course but that doesn't mean it's any less adorable.

So Sweet

Well, not a whole lot has been happening. The kids are keeping me on my toes, they aren't lining up their naps anymore and they are both getting over colds, hence the lack of posts. Kayda and Dillon have developed a new level to their relationship. The morning routine has been altered drastically. As soon as Kayda gets up in the morning she comes into Mommy and Daddy's room where she knows her little brother will be (I gave up on getting him out of here until after camping). Once she's there she'll get up on the bed and whisper "hi" to Dillon while she rubs his head or gives him kisses. Once he's decided to wake up she'll pull the clock radio off the dresser, turn on the music, grab Dillon's hands and try to dance with him. I thought they had a good relationship before but they are definitely bonding even more! Kayda is constantly going over to him and he watches her EVERY move.
She was trying to feed him her milk the other day and she ALWAYS wants to hold him. It's fun trying to help her hold him. Your arms get sore trying to keep him in a decent position for her.

Last Tuesday I discovered that Dillon now has his second tooth (his bottom left). I have yet to get a picture where you can see either of them, I'll keep trying though. He hasn't decided that he wants to roll over yet. He has all of the pieces but just can't decide to do them at the same time. It's actually pretty entertaining. He'll push his legs so that he twists at his hips. His stomach will still be flat on the ground but his little bum will be sideways. Or he'll push himself up on his arms and twist his little body around to look at everything but his legs won't have moved at all. If he would twist everything at the same time he'd have it but I'm starting to think he'll crawl before he rolls over. He is constantly pulling his legs underneath him and he can move himself around pretty good, slowly but he does move. He's a total sweetheart, he just sits and looks at you until you look at him or talk to him and then he'll just smile forever.

I thought this picture was cute, Kayda has decided that she likes her tooth brush. She can't brush her teeth on her own but she's obviously picking it up from her nightly brushing that I do for her. She was playing with the water and chewing on her toothbrush. She looks all grown up and responsible standing on the chair looking like she's brushing her teeth.

Totally different topic. My sister is now on a modified bed rest, meaning she can start to do a little more as long as she doesn't start having contractions. We're happy our unborn nephew will be able to stay in a little longer. Sarah (my sister in law) is also expecting around the same time, her little guy hasn't given us any scares though. I thought it was funny that Kirsten and Sarah had their last babies within two weeks of each other and are now both having boys due once again within two weeks of each other.

For all the skeptics...

Brian and I always talk about how much Kayda adores her little brother and we know there have got to be people that don't really believe it so here's some proof. This is what I see when Dillon wakes up from a nap and we hear him crying over the monitor.

What an amazing sibling combo!

Kayda discovered a mirror we had sitting around. It's one of the fake kind that don't break so I laid it on the floor for her. She had a great time with it. She wanted everyone else to think it was cool as she did so she kept pulling either mommy or daddy down to sit with her while she played with it. It's funny what will entertain kids.

Dillon just hung out the whole time, looking around with those big blue eyes.

These two make life with two babies under 1.5 years as easy as any babies possibly could. Kayda absolutely adores her little brother, she is starting to want to lay down next to him and hold him. She gives him kisses and rubs his head. This morning when she woke up she came in looking for him. He was already awake and was getting his diaper changed. She sat next to him and he just started grinning at her. I'm excited for when he's big enough for them to start to play together. Kayda already thinks he's so great, it will be interesting to see what she thinks when he can respond to her better. We couldn't have asked for better kids.