Cool Jazz-y Sea Life

I've been plotting and planning for a change in Evie's room for a few months. She has had the same nursery decor since she was born and it was cute and just fine. But I found this print by Katie Daisy and absolutely love her style!

(source) 

So this is the theme or inspiration of her room, if you will. And it makes it easier because every color is in this print! I am filling the room with color!! It's seriously so much fun. 

All but touch ups are left on the paint on the walls. Then on to the fun part of all the details.

I picked Cool Jazz and Sea Life (pictured) in Behr paint for her walls.

When Nana takes the littles to the park...

When Nana takes the littles to the park, then our van will magically turn into an ice cream train.

And when the van turns into an ice cream train, then the littles will wan to name it sprinkles.

So it's only natural that Nana would have to take the littles to get an ice cream cone!

And now back to your regularly scheduled program...

So that {ahem} 3 month blogging break was not intended. But boy did it feel good!! I just didn't feel like blogging for a long while and I knew if I made my self do it I would be doing for an audience and not for myself. Not that I don't love you lovely readers, I just want this blog to be real and genuine!

We had a lot of goings on, like everyone else I'm sure, {like moving my mom from her state to our state, and Brandon going a big trip, etc.} and I'm not sure if I could or if I even want to back up and fill it in. So I think we will just be moving along...

My mom is living with us for awhile to get her feet on the ground here and to help me with the littles and because we, plain and simple, like having her around! Especially 3 very specific littles {aka, Nana's Biggest Fan Club}.

This last week has been busy with getting back into a routine after being at my mom's house for nearly 3 weeks, packing and selling and donating LOTS of stuff. :) Since the weather has been A-mazing the last few days we have gotten out of the house a few times to soak it up before winter actually decides to show up... anytime now, just 15 days until Thanksgiving, you know!

Eli {6 months}

Eli, baby, you are half way to a year old!!

I'm how old, mama?!

You are 6 months old, Eli!!

Right now you are....

• still nursing exclusively and won't have a thing to do with a bottle or pacifier. You must be determined to be different from your brother and sister any way you can. I gave you your first try of food {peas and bananas with avocado} and you didn't mind it. You spit most of it out but you would lung at the spoon when I put it in front of your mouth. After about 7 'bites' though you just wanted to play with the bowl.
• still sleeping in our room but now you are sleeping in a rocker beside our bed, 90% of the time. And at nap time. I'm nervous about making the switch to your shared room with Caleb. And I'll admit, it's a little too much closure since you are our last baby! You can stay in our room a little bit longer. ; )
• rolling all over the place. If I lay you on the floor you will be all over the room in about 5 seconds. You are not a fan of staying still. At all. 
• pushing your self up on your knees for about 2 seconds. And you make sounds of determination when you are pushing up. And just last night you got up on your hands and feet, like you were doing a push up!! You held yourself up for about 5 seconds. Daddy and I just looked at you in shock!
• sitting on your own for only a few seconds before you fall over. It seems to be longer each time we try. My goal is to get you sitting up on your own before we have family pictures taken in September. I'm not worried. :)
• smiling all the time, still. Everyone you meet comments on how smiley you are! You just love people and anyone who will pay attention to you.
• loving your exceriser. It's one that has a seat that spins around the outside of the activity table and you are already walking yourself around the whole thing. Don't let those rollie pollie legs fool anyone, you have some strong gams!!
• done with the swing. You don't want anything to do with laying down while you are awake, unless you can roll. You are almost done with the bumbo too! You are pretty close to getting yourself out of it. You love sitting in the high chair with us at meal time.
• loving bath time and you can't wait to be able to join sissy and bubba in the tub to play! At bath time you just laugh and get so excited watching them play. When I dip you in the tub for a quick scrub down, it's difficult to wash you because you are so focused and determined to grab at the toys in the water. I'm excited to have 3 little fish in the tub!
• a determined little one. When you see something you want, you are focused and try to reach for it or grab it and get frustrated after trying and trying. 
• wearing a size 4 diaper and are out growing the 6-12 month size clothes you have. Good thing your brother hand-me-downs are right in line for the seasons! You will be in 12 month size before the seasons change. :)

Love you so much, little Eli! Happy 6 months!!

First haircut.

Caleb got his first haircut this week!

It was long over due, but I was having a hard time letting go of his sweet little curls. 

The good news is that even after his hair cut, he seems to have a pretty good wave and... his hair seems to be thicker, too! We were hoping at least one of the kids would get my thicker, curlier hair. :)

Before:

After: 

He looks like such a big boy now! 

Evie's 3rd birthday.

We celebrated our oldest's special day 2 weeks ago, family style!

• First she woke up to a decorated house and a living room full of balloons!!

• And daddy surprised her with a mylar princess balloon and donuts for breakfast! She had her own princess plate to eat on all day.

• And she got to open a couple presents.

• We did a lot of playing the rest of the morning!

• After lunch and nap, we did one of the birthday girl's favorite things to do...swimming!! {Sorry, no pictures} 

• For dinner we had Chick-fil-a {the birthday girl's favorite!} and ...

• Then, cupcakes!! With strawberry 'pink' frosting and sprinkles. :) 

• Everyone sang to the birthday girl and we all enjoyed a cupcake...

...almost all of us. Just six more months buddy!!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!! These last 3 years have flown by but the have been a blast. Mommy and daddy enjoy you so much and we love you with all our hearts!

Caleb {21 Months}

Happy 21 months... 16 days late!

• Your favorite book / song right now is "Baby Beluga" and it's my favorite to hear you randomly start singing the song {check out the video below to see for yourself!}
• You LOVE avocado!! Daddy and I have to have a code word for it because if you hear us say it you are begging us to give you some! You have been known to eat a half all by yourself. 
• You had your first Parent and Tot swim lesson last week several weeks ago and you really enjoyed being in the water with Daddy. I hope you grow to love the water like your sister does. 
• You are mostly using 5-6 word sentences, sometimes even longer! An example of a sentence you would say is: "Can I have my truck back, please"and it's crystal clear! I forget sometimes that you aren't even 2 yet!

• Some things you can be heard saying these days: "That's what happens," "Want hug," "Use big girl words, Evie" 
• We are working on talking and acting 'loving' to one another. {Our next memory verse is going to have to do with this too!} And you can be heard saying things like "It's NOT funny, Evie!" in a very upset voice. When I remind you to talk loving you will say "Please, not funny, Evie" in the sweetest voice that you can manage. 
• You are still our sensitive and emotional one. We were at a play group and another little girl started going through our diaper bag and you burst in to tears and said, "That's mommy's bag!" over and over again. You will do that if anyone out side our family touches anything that belongs to someone in our family.

• You get very emotional at the drop of a hat. It's quite challenging for me and daddy these days. But we are working on keeping our emotions under control. As much as a one year old can do.
• We are going to start potty training you in the next week or two! You tell us that you have to go potty and when you have a dirty diaper. In fact you have even started crying when you poop and want to be changed right away.
• You love trucks, animals, sticks, balls and I love watching you do your toddler run or try to jump.

• You want to {and try to} do everything that your big sissy does. She is your best friend and you are sad and lonely when she isn't around.
• You can count to 3 and sing your ABC's, almost anyway.
• You are wearing size 4 diaper, size 18/24 month clothes, and size 5 shoes.

I love your age and how fun you are right now! Watching you grow is so fun and I can't tell you how much joy you bring to our family. We love you, Caleb Brandon.