Happy Thanksgiving!!!

So many many things to be thankful for... an amazing husband that works hard and loves his family, an incredibly intelligent and charismatic daughter that brings joy to my life everyday, a healthy, beautiful son who's contagious smile brightens even the sunniest day. Family. Friends. Neighbors. God. Health. Home. Food...The list could literally go on forever. We are so blessed at this time in ours lives and even though Craig had to work today, we still had a wonderful family Thanksgiving dinner with my parents, Melissa, Tim, Undi, Saraa (Matt and Mish are in N.Y.) and Darin (Tabitha and the kids are also traveling).

I'm sorry I have not written more, I think about it every single night and every single night something else takes priority. Craig has also told me that he is officially done, so it is just up to me, which makes it a little bit harder to get motivated, so once again I am sorry. Especially sorry to my wonderful son Cooper, I hope you know that just because we don't write every day, we still love you and you do wonderful exciting things everyday, mommy just doesn't always have time to write about it.

Here are some photos to catch everyone up...

After music class, before story time at the library, Kylie and Mish like to share a little snack at Olive market...cheers!

 Story time outside this last week...Kylie really enjoys singing the songs and listening to the stories, she always participates and know all the words, it is so fun to see her so involved.

 Another new favorite..."fixing"her bike with daddy's tools. She often claims to get a flat tire that needs to be worked on.

 Family dinner with the girls next door. Both Tyler and Craig were gone for the evening, so Rachel and I did dinner with all the kids, it was so fun!

 Kylie got to go on her first date last Saturday. She insisted on getting dressed up, I even curled her hair and put lip gloss on. Auntie Marta and Uncle Tim arrived and gave her some flowers, took her out to dinner at Corner Bakery (Kylie's choice), painting at Color Me Mine and dessert at A La Minute. Kylie had such a great time! Craig and I took the opportunity to have a little date ourselves with Coopie, dinner at Pieology and shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond, fun!

Saturday night Ammy came to visit and on Sunday Thad, Michele and Riley joined us too! It was so wonderful to spend time with everyone, Riley is only 6 days older then Cooper, can you say arranged marriage ;o)

 Super Grandma watching both the little ones while the four of us adults actually enjoyed eating our meal all at the same time. It's the little things in life.

 Last week Kylie and Cooper also got to meet little 6 week old Madelyn. Jon and Kristine were headed home from Palm Springs and stopped by for about 30 minutes. Unfortunately Craig was working, but we really enjoyed the visit and getting to meet this sweet little one.

We set up a little bed for Kylie next to our bed while we had guests sleeping in her bed. One night she woke up (I was not in bed yet), she was half asleep and I asked her if she needed to nurse, she said yes and climbed on to our bed, before I could climb in myself, she had snuggled up next to Coopie. They both slept very well for the next handful of hours, so cute.

 We went to the store last night, it was the first time Cooper got to sit next to Kylie in the fun car cart! He loved it!!!

 Kylie wanted to have a couple other friends join her... little friends...

 and big friends.

Coopie and Ama celebrating Coopies first Thanksgiving.

 Kylie enjoying her first taste of pumpkin pie. (yes she does have paint on her cheeks and lipstick on, when I told her we could get dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner, she wanted to dress up like Goldie locks with the face paint and all)

 Just a little preview shot from Melissa and Tim's wedding, we can't wait to see the rest!

A little more of an update...Kylie is still nursing (sometimes is seems like more then Cooper), she sometimes goes to the bathroom on the potty,but still is not totally interested so we encourage her when she seems interested, and simply use diapers the rest of the time. Her language is still amazing to me, her comprehension and memory are incredible too. For example, she has three Thanksgiving books, we have been reading them somewhat often the past couple weeks. This morning when we woke up I told her Happy Thanksgiving, a little while later she says to me "mommy, remember the kids in the Thanksgiving book that watch the parade? I was thinking maybe I could watch the parade on TV today too." Wow, I didn't even remember that part of the book, but she put it all together, and of course we watched the parade :o) She is wearing size 4 clothes and can almost dress herself completely on her own. She still loves shoes and has WAY more pairs then any little girl needs. She often wants to change clothes at least 2-3 times a day and always wants to put chap stick on. Kylie is very good at problem solving and figuring out ways to get what she wants. She knows that I will nurse her to sleep for bedtime or a nap, so lately she will come to me and tell me she is tired (even if she is clearly not) just so we can have some cuddle time and nurse, smart little girl.

Cooper is growing and changing so fast! His two little teeth are getting so big, and he still seems like he is teething. He is sitting up on his own for long periods of time (almost 15 minutes today) and getting more active when he is on his tummy. He can turn full circles and scoot little bits, just today he started pulling his knees up under him for brief moments, I think he will be crawling soon, time to baby proof again! Cooper is SO interested in eating, he sits in the highchair and watches every move we make, he fusses and wines when we doesn't get anything and if you are holding him, and look away for even a second, your food will be in his hands (today he got a handful of whipped cream and pumpkin pie). He is such a happy baby, smiling at everyone, all the time. So sweet tempered, but also tells us when he is not getting what he wants. Often he will be playing with something that Kylie wants, if she takes it from him, he yells and fusses until he can distract him with something new, but often he will still keep an eye on the toy she took. He is always kicking, rolling and trying to stand up, I think he will be a little more active then Kylie was, but we will see.

He has fussed 4 times since I started writing this blog, so I apologize if it doesn't make sense :o)
Time to climb in bed right between the two wonderful guys in me life, it doesn't get better then that.
Good night,
Natalie

Getting to know the new neighbors...

The past couple weeks we have been getting to know our new neighbors. This past week we decided to have a big family dinner with Rachel, Tyler, Lilly, London, Elly Jane, Emerson, Tabitha, Darin, Nico, Portia, Matt, Unid, Mishel, Saraa and of course all of us. It was one fun evening...

Elly Jane just turned 4 years old and her and Kylie get along very well. They were doing each others hair and makeup...

 Lunch time with Elly Jane and London (6 years old)

 Then we all took a walk to Ama and Papa Park

 One night this past week I was working hard to have the kids in bed before Craig came home. He has been having some long days and we decided that it might be easier if he can come home and just relax without feeling like he has to jump straight in to dad mode. So we had been out and about, having a fun day, Kylie had not napped so I knew we would be able to get her in bed early. My parents offered to have us over for dinner so I would not have to cook, yay! So we ate an early dinner and we were on track for an early bed time. Little did I know, Craig had actually gotten out early (which NEVER happens) so he had run by the store and picked up two beautiful bunches of flowers for Kylie and I and was planning to surprise us. He came home to an empty, dark house and called me, we finally connected about 45 minutes later and realized we had both ruined each others plans, lol. It's all about the effort, right?

 We also had Kylie's little table set up for some of the kids... turns out we can feed all of us with one crock pot of chili and some corn bread.

 Cooper enjoys music lessons just as much as Kylie does.

 Thing 1 and Thing 2...

 and Thing 3

 Just yesterday he started sitting up on his own. He can hold it for about 1 min, go Coopie go! Today I put him in our highchair and gave him some fake food to play with while we ate. He is so eager to eat, soon buddy.

 A couple days ago we found a passy that we never used. Turns out he likes it, he has napped with it a few times now, Craig and my parents are thrilled to have something to offer him, but it is still hard for me to give it to him :o) He has been chewing like crazy. His two bottom teeth are through and growing so much already. But they way he attacks everything and takes it straight to his mouth, makes me think we might have a couple more come through soon, who knows.

Craig worked all day and is staying over tonight, so it is off to bed for me, on nights like tonight I am glad I have at least one (most likely two) little ones to cuddle with until Craig gets home :o)
-Natalie

Flight to Sac, Halloween, Melissa's Wedding, Coopie's second tooth, Portorville Trip and Coopie celebrates 5 months.

So much has happened in the past 11 days...

Photos to tell the stories...

5 minutes before we are all supposed to walk down the isle for Melissa and Tim's wedding and I have two nursing, sleeping children (Kylie had just fallen asleep 20 min earlier, she was not a happy camper when we woke her and expected her to walk down the isle in front of 100 people. Needless to say, I carried her.)

 Dancing with the beautiful bride.

 Nursing at the Sacramento Zoo.

 Breastfeeding support group Halloween Party.

 Goldie Locks and the three bears.

 Thursday before we left for Sacramento, Goldie and one of the bears headed to music class.

 Mia and Coopie enjoying music class with their big sisters.

 Kerry and Olivia took us to the airport, 4 adults singing children's songs+ 1 toddler requesting songs + and 2 babies crying = one fun car ride

 Hanging out in the airport.

 Kylie actually rode her "ScootCase" it was so fun.

 Arriving in Sac

 Straight to the Bachelorette party and painting!

 Rehearsal in the art studio. 

 Eva and Kylie meeting for the first time.

 Family photo at the wedding.

 Family selfie while we had some fun playing at the park across the street from the hotel the day after the wedding.

 Visiting with Samantha!

 Coopie was not letting go of Sophie, even if he was fast asleep.

 Sacramento Zoo!

 Train ride at the Zoo

 Coopie and Riley meeting for the first time.

 Coopie and Kylie visiting the cows at Ammy's house.

 Auntie Taylor and Uncle Tim with Coopie.

 Two sleeping children, yay.

 Yesterday Kylie wanted to wear her swimsuit all day, until we headed to the store, then she wanted to wear her flower girls dress. Who am I to argue with a 2 year old.

 Playing at the park in Sacramento...

 Photos from the Zoo...

 Coopie turned 5 months old yesterday. He got his second tooth last weekend. He is rolling all over the place and is getting closer to sitting up. He watches everything we eat and it so eager to eat too. He is a happy boy that loves his big sister. He is getting very distracted when he nurses and enjoys being carried in one of my many baby carriers. Coopie comes with me when I reach classes and everyone just falls in love with him. He is am amazing blessing to us.

Our new neighbors moved in! London loves helping out with Coopie.