7 months

what would you do?

Since the beginning ryan has only slept through the night every now and then. he is teasing me. It was okay at first, because that is what they do, wake up to be fed. So then I stopped feeding in the middle of the night, and then had to go in 2-3 times a night to put the binky in. Or re-swaddle the guy because he wiggles so much he would get his arms out and be wide awake playing.

Now...I am STILL going in every night, to put the binky in. I don't swaddle anymore, because he learned how to roll over from back to tummy, and not tummy to back. Which then was another thing I had to go in for, to roll him back AND pop the binky in. I have tried to let him cry it out, sometimes it worked. But all he needs is the binky and he is right back asleep, so I go in.

So, a dilemma is what I have. Fortunately, he just learned to roll over from tummy to back...and will sleep on his side now. Unfortunately, I am still going in to put the binky in.

I have learned a few things:

1. I will not teach child #3 to go to sleep with a binky
2. I don't think I will swaddle #3 either(taylor was not swaddled because of her hip and it was fine)
3. I knew better in the beginning then to go in all the time and give him his binky...now we are stuck in a rut. why did I do it?

But now I just don't want to do it anymore. The crying it out is fine and I get that, but I still don't sleep because I am listening to him the whole time, and I don't want him to wake up taylor. This is why I always went in to pacify him. I feared Taylor would wake up. Taylor has been the best sleeper since the beginning. No problems.

Do I just have one of those kids who doesn't sleep through the night, or is there something I should try? What would you do?

{how I find him on several occasions during nap time and at night}

...so completely sad,and I snapped a picture:)...


{the result...a cuddle, which neither of our kids do}

my 2

these 2 are SO precious and SO different

this one...

...is a hoot.
she never stops talking, singing or dancing.
her imagnation runs all day with going to the grocery store, shopping,
zoo, calling jack and brit, and blow drying her hair.
she loves her babies, dolls, purse, wallet, and pretend candies.
we spend most of our evenings listening to taylor .
she is constantly going and is pure entertainment.

right now we are going
through a little phase.
"no" is her favorite word
and she has a little
attitude about everything.
love it!

and this one...

...is chill.

sometimes we wonder if he likes us.
he always gets stuck on the ground, in his swing, or car seat.
left alone to play by himself.
but taylor can make him laugh.
he babbles a little, but is so quiet.
he now rolls over one way, but can't get back the other way.
which means i am going in once a night to roll him back!

i love my 2 little ones.
it has been so fun to see how different their personalities are.
maybe it is just boy vs. girl.
i know taylor can't wait until ryan can play with her more.
poor kid is going to get pushed around by this girl!

crazy cousins

over christmas taylor spent day in and day out with jack. these to lOvE each other.
they know how to push each others buttons(mostly taylor pushing jack's),
and still enjoy every moment together.

{dress up}


these little ones have yet to interact, except for the occasional slap in the face.


{bottle buddies}


{holding hands...sweet}

i love that my sister and i had kids so close...makes the family get together's fun and a little chaotic...but that is how is should be.

the rest

I am still trying to catch up on our holiday fun. And so here is the rest:

{new years lunch with high school friends and sisters}


{our kids}


{ryan and tia}


{jada and taylor---best buds}

snow

{1st time playing in the snow}

{the snow was so bad this is the biggest snowman we could make}

{still not sure how to move around in all the gear}


{1st time sledding}

{do you like the facial expressions?}

{sledding was so much fun with cousin jack}


{then we had to get the back up the hill...exhausting}



{cousins}




{icicle eating}



{snow angels}



{snow much fun}

photos from brit

eight

8 years
7 jobs
6--
5 homes lived in
4 cars (added the 4th today!)
3 different cities
2 kids
1 happy family

6 months

over Christmas ryan turned 6 months. we took him in for his shots and stats last week. he is tall ( in.-98th) and not as big as I thought (17.5 lbs-70th). he carries his weight well.

*he rolled over by himself for the first time yesterday
*eating solids every night and is still spitting up
*wakes up several times a night...seriously???
*smiles at anyone who will look at him
*still prefers being on his back...result=a flat head
*breaths heavy when concentrating or playing

santa claus

this was the first time i took taylor to see santa.

of course the wait was great and she couldn't wait to see santa


what happened next...she flipped...and this is what we got


ryan, chill as ever


and taylor...


right after this a lady walking by told me i was so mean to make my child do this!
first off, i didn't make her do anything.
She was willing up until the last second.
And secondly, what 2 year old, who has never met santa, doesn't cry?

Christmas

christmas eve

the C* family tradition of christmas stories, and music.
was a little rushed this year with the little ones needing to go to bed

{musical # by dave and mom...just lovely}

{enjoying the eve in christmas pj's}



christmas morning

{it was all about taylor this year. i had so much fun playing santa}



taylor loved the tunnel...and so did uncle dave!




we are fortunate enough to see both sides of the family because we live so close. after the morning of spoiling taylor, we went to eric's parents house for more fun filled with homemade pizza and lettuce wraps! yum!

first 'real' snow of 2009

A couple weeks before Christmas, the snow came. It came all the same. I love it right when it snows but am quickly over it when I have to trek out around town with 2 kids and then it becomes dirty and gross.

Eric spent almost 3 hours this day plowing the driveway. Taylor, who wasn't walking last winter, got to go out and experience it for the first time. Later in the month she got her own snow clothes and played in the snow many times(more on that later).