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Saturday, November 2, 2013

FALL!!!

Our family loves the season of fall!  We have many traditions that our little family does each year to celebrate this season!  Here are some things we've done the past few weeks in October!

Of course we went to the pumpkin patch, and we also were a part of Witchy Weekend in Branson!

But we also painted pumpkins!  We do this every year with Caeden.  Last year Callie slept while we did this, but this year, she got to paint her first pumpkin!









 Caeden's finished pumpkins!


And Callie's first pumpkin!!


Another yummy fall tradition we have is to make (and eat) homemade caramel apples!!








And lastly, a few days before Halloween, we carved a pumpkin!  This was Caeden's second year to help Daddy do this!




Callie getting in on the action!



Caeden liked to cut up the little pieces by himself

Our finished Jack O' Lantern!

Yay for fun fall times!  We cherish these moments every year as a family!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Halloween in Branson!!

A few weeks ago, in mid-October, we went to take part in Witchy Weekend at the Compton Ridge Campground in Branson, MO.  This is a weekend where the campground hosts lots of Halloween activities throughout the weekend.  There was a pumpkin-carving contest, haunted house, a clown show, magic show, costume contest, and the best part...TRICK-OR-TREATING!

On Saturday, all the campers totally go all-out decorating the camper and campsite.  I'm talking lights, signs, inflatables, etc.  It's awesome!  And that evening, all the kids in the campground go from camper to camper to trick-or-treat!

While our weekend got off to a rocky start (too long of a story to post), we had fun on Saturday!  We actually started out the day going to Silver Dollar City, since we have season passes.  It was in the mid-40s that day, so it was very cold!!  I didn't get many pictures, but we got one on the way out!! (Caeden refused to be in the picture!)


After we got back to the camper and took some naps, we got all dressed up!  Caeden was a magician and Callie was his rabbit!




And this is my sweet niece, Elise (7 mos):


A few pics of the actual trick-or-treating:




This was a super fun experience, having never trick-or-treated at a campground before!  We will definitely be doing this next year and already have our campsites booked!  However, we did decide to nix SDC from the weekend.  It made the day long and a little stressful.  But overall, it was so fun, and Caeden has still been telling people about "going trick-or-treating at camping!"

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Callie: ONE year old!!!


This is a summary of what Callie was doing in her 12th month (when she was 11 mos old). This was the time period right before she turned a year old.  Just little fun things I want to remember...

EATING
Callie was eating mostly table foods by this time. She would sometimes eat baby food if she couldn't eat what we were having for dinner, but mostly she was eating whatever we ate. 

When Callie turned 11 mos old, she was only on two bottles (breakfast and bedtime). At 11.5 mos we dropped her morning bottle. And right when she turned a year old we stopped the bedtime bottle. So by 12 mos, we were off all bottles and formula!! Woo hoo! She just drinks a cup of milk or water with each meal. At bedtime, she drinks an extra cup of milk while we're reading her story. 

She is still a great eater as far as types of foods she eats. She eats literally anything we offer her....it's wonderful! At 11/12 mos, her favorite food was still yogurt. 

SLEEPING
Callie's sleep continued as usual. She sleeps from approximately 7pm - 7am and takes two naps....usually around 10am and 2pm. Her naps last 1-1.5 hours each. 

We got more consistent about reading to her before bedtime this month.  We would usually read a book and a Bible story, then pray a short prayer. Around 12.5 months (just recently) she automatically puts her hands together after our Bible story when we say "Let's pray...lets talk to God." It just warms my heart every time. 

PLAYING
Callie still plays really well by herself. At this point she was crawling really well and really quickly so she followed Caeden and Ella around most of the day. She doesn't usually play "with" them but she likes to play in the same room as them. 3 days before turning one year old, Callie started walking. This brought playing to a whole new level. I would say her favorite toy this month is her soft baby doll she got for Christmas last year. She loves to carry her around and if we tell her to love the baby, she gives her kisses. 

She loves to "sing" and dance.  Caeden was never a dancer, so that's fun! Her favorite place to play is still outside. If she hears one of the doors open, she panics and walks as quickly as possible to the door so she can sneak outside. 


Trying to play Candy Land
with Caeden & Ella 
LANGUAGE
During this month, Callie said 3 words. The doctor said that 2 words at 12 months is the goal, so I guess she's doing well. Her three words (in order of how she spoke them) were "mama", "dada", and "Boo!"  The last one she pronounces with a G though...."goo!"  She says this when she's hiding behind something or when she's covering her face with something. When she shows her face she says "Goo!" with a big smile on her face.   It's so cute!

She has strong comprehension and can understand a lot of what we say. We know this because she will often do what we say when we're talking to her. She also uses pointing to communicate with us what she wants.




TEETHING
Callie got two more teeth this month, at 11 mos old. They were her two bottom teeth. So on her first birthday she had a total of 3 teeth. She cut the two bottom ones about the same time, but did pretty well. However, she ended up with another ear infection. This was the second one in 5 weeks....Hoping this doesn't continue!

DISCIPLINE
At 11 mos Callie definitely understands the word "no" and obeys us most of the time. However, she started throwing more fits and tantrums. She does this mostly when she gets frustrated, like when something doesn't work how she wants. We usually ignore the fit, distract her, or if we're holding her we just tell her "no." 

Playing with the remote
like she's not supposed to...

DOCTOR
At Callie's 12 month well-child check up, everything looked fine for the most part. Developmentally she's doing everything on track. Her growth stats are below. This was when we found out she had her new ear infection. It was actually good timing because we suspected she had one the day before, and knew we had her well child check up the next day, so that worked out. She got 4 shots and had to get blood drawn. Poor baby... But after crying for few minutes she was her happy self again! 

BIRTHDAY PARTY
Callie had a pink pumpkin birthday party. It was on her actual birthday which was neat! While I'm sure she won't remember it, it turned out just like mommy had pictured it!! For more party details, click here

GROWTH STATS
Weight: 22 lbs 9 oz (75th percentile)
Length: 30 inches (75th percentile)
  **Note: she is down from the 85th percentile which she has been in the past. I think the less bottles and increase in crawling/walking has contributed to this)
Clothes size: 12-18 mos
Diaper size: 4
Shoe size: 3

MILESTONES
These are milestones that Callie met when she was 11 mos old:

  • Finished weaning off all bottles
  • Cruising more quickly
  • Standing alone for long periods of time
  • Says 3 words 
  • WALKING!!! (Oct 9, 2013)
This was just a few minutes before she took her first steps!


OTHER FUN PICTURES - 11 MOS

Cheering on the Razorbacks from home

Playing with Nana...
and her two cousins, Lyla & Elise


Sitting in a rocking chair like a big girl!


 Cuddles with Caeden!!!


OUR SCHEDULE
This was Callie's approximate schedule at 11 mos. 

7am- Wake up, eat breakfast
10am- Nap #1
11/11:30- Wake and eat lunch
2pm- Nap #2
3/3:30- Wake and eat snack
5:30- Dinner
6:15- Bath (every other night) and PJs
7pm- Bedtime


Oh Callie,
How you've changed in one short year!  I still remember the first time I saw you.
We were scared so bad because you weren't breathing.  You were covered
in prayers that afternoon, and God chose to breathe life into you, after
a scary delivery.  I remember holding you for the first time, 2 hours after you were born, 
in the NICU.  As soon as I walked in and started talking to you, you turned your
head to look up at me.  I have re-lived that moment several times this year.
I didn't ever want to put you down.  We have not taken one day with you for granted.
We love you so so much baby girl!!  I can't wait to see how you grow and change this year!!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Pumpkin Patch 2013!

On Callie's birthday, after her party (and naps), we went to a local pumpkin patch in good ol' Carl Junction, Missouri!  It's called Frederickson's Farms.  It was a short trip, but the kids were happy with it, and we got some pumpkins, which is all we needed!  Here are some pictures from our pumpkin patch trip!


Callie's first experience with hay!




Caeden trying to find 
the "just right" pumpkin!

And Callie helping...
 

 GROUP PICTURES!!
Caeden & Callie
with Nana & Papa

C & C with their cousins,
Emerson & Lyla
(Poor Emerson had a bad earache...)


The kiddos with Nonni & Grandpa


And one with Great-Gram!


Yay for pumpkin patches!!!