Let's just assume she's a super-hip grandma

I don't think I've mentioned it on here, but I've found a new store where I love to shop.

I'll admit, it's kind of an olderladiesmightshopherebutthereisstillcutestuff kind of store.

You might have heard of it.

It's called Christopher & Banks and I'll admit that some things in there are things I would never in my right mind own, but for women of my ahem, proportions, it is like the best store ever. Things just fit. Without going up to larger sizes just for my chest, or having to alter things after I get them home.

But anyway, so some things are a little old for my taste but other things are cute. Take, for example, this shirt. See? It's cute, right? [please don't tell me otherwise, my ego can only take a limited number of hits a day]

Now, on to the point of this post. I arrived at work last week and stopped to ask a co-worker a question. A co-worker that is approximately 30 years my senior AND A GRANDMA. She was wearing a shirt that I bought about two weeks ago at Christopher & Banks. Different color, but still, same shirt*.

I'm trying to tell myself that it's not that I have the same taste of a grandma, it's just that she is super cool. I've almost got myself convinced**.

*Not the shirt I linked to up there, I couldn't find the exact shirt online.
**But let's be honest, I could use some convincing. Why else would I tell the whole world internet about this experience?

Easton Sings

Here's one example of Easton singing. This one is to the intro of Peter Pan and consists of him "wah-wah"ing along with the music.
He's a little reserved since I have the camera. Normally, this is happening at the top of his lungs.

A skill I just don't have

See the picture that I blatantly stole from the internet right there?

See how that dad is totally eating* and holding a baby at the same time?

I.

Can't.

Do.

That.

I just can't.

I thought for sure by the time I had a second child I would have it down, but my skills are no better than they were with Easton.

Ronnie can totally do it, and does it without problems or complaining on the nights when Kendree is wanting a little extra attention during dinner time.

I have to find a way to entertain her on her own so I can eat.

I'd like to think that it's because men have bigger arm, hands, etc. but I know I've seen other moms pulling it off with ease, so I fear that is not the reason.

Tell me--can you manage it?

*I could probably manage to eat a piece of toast. It's food that requires utensils that is my real issue.

Easton-2.5 years

What a big boy we have!

Easton is at such a fun age (minus the tantrum-throwing-regular-2-year-old moments).

He tells you stories, that most often are a combination of things that have happened over the course of several different days. When telling these stories, he always used the filler "and then" which sounds like "an den" and it is hilarious! I'll try to get one on video soon so you can all experience it.

He still loves all things Toy Story and Cars, but prefers to watch other Disney and Pixar films. They change daily. He even enjoys some good musicals, like Annie, The Family Band, and The Gnomemobile.

He tries to sing along with everything. That translates to him yelling out the last word of every phrase of the songs. He gets the words right 90% of the time, it's amazing how much he retains!

It's funny how this age is such a combination of boy and baby. One minute he won't accept help putting a puzzle together and the next he is begging "Mommy, hold you!" (translation: hold me!)

Easton is starting to interact with Kendree more and more. She loves watching him when he is in the mood to entertain (and not torture) her. He even gets her laughing (something that mommy has yet to do). I have video of the most recent laugh session that I'll upload soon, I promise.

We love our big boy!

A Confession

Aside from the fear of having a tornado rip through town and destroy everything, I love this time of year.

Love the thunderstorms

Love the hail (mainly because I don't have plants of my own for it to ruin)

Now, if my two and half year old didn't drive me crazy on the days we can't go out, I would be completely satisfied.

Kendree-3 months (four weeks late)

I guess this is Kendree's first official proof that the second child is slighted. :)

Kendree turned three months old almost a month ago. sigh. Where does the time go?

In my defense, these pictures were taken all around that time, with the ruffle quilt ones on the actual day she turned 3 months old.

I continue to be amazed at what an angel baby Kendree is. She is so mellow and easy-going, exactly what you need in a second child. She is starting to really test her voice and entertains us with her babbling (that sounds a little like she is upset, until you see her happy face). She rarely cries, unless she is getting her nose sucked for the 15th time that day, or if her older brother is showing her a little too much "love."

She continues to be an excellent sleeper, going down around 8:30 or 9pm. I dream feed her when I go to bed around 10:30 and then she sleeps until at least 5am. When she does wake to eat at 5, she goes right back to sleep and when she sleeps until 7am or later, I love those days even more! Easy peasy.

She continues to love being swaddled to sleep at night, but does her naps without the swaddle. We are working on getting a bit more of a schedule as far as naps go, but aren't there quite yet.

She laughed for the first time this month (see previous post with video) and is smiling. She doesn't seem to be quite as smiley as Easton was, but my mom and I were discussing that with Easton, any free time we had was spent right in his face trying to make that happen and unfortunately, our time is a bit more limited with Kendree. When we do try to make her smile though, she always obliges.

Now for the pictures:

Mom's official 3 month photo shoot:

Proof that Kendree is taking a binky now! Hip hip hooray! She would TOTALLY be a thumb sucker if I didn't force the binky instead and I'll say it a thousand times, I'd much rather have something I can take away later on. She hates the MAM brand of binky that Easton takes, but likes the Nuk ones. I have come to hate that little ring on the front, since it is so easy for her to grab it accidentally and take it out herself when she doesn't want it out. I have found some that Nuk makes without it now and they seem be going much better. She still doesn't love it as much as Easton did and continues to, but it is nice that she can self-soothe all through the night, etc.

We continue to love our Kendree-girl (who gets called "Kenny" by all members of our household some of the time).

A Change

So, after the 15th day in a row of putting my hair in a pony tail, I decided I needed a change.

I had two thoughts, perm it or chop it off.

The perm won (since I know that if I hated it I could always chop it off--it's hard to glue hair back on...)

Yes, for the first time since my freshman year of college, I'm sporting a perm.

Things have changed since then though. While crunchy curls were acceptable then, they aren't so much now. I have no idea what products to use, etc.

I need your help!

What do you recommend?

I know that people like my naturally-curly-haired friend Bethany can't believe I did this by choice.

And yes, I will be sharing pictures, but first I need to perfect my style. Give me a few days :)

Easton Bustin' A Move

NoseFrida. The Snotsucker.

How's that for a title to grab your attention? or send you clicking onto the next page very quickly, your choice.

Kendree has a constant stuffy nose.

No really, constantly.

I've taken her to the doctor and as it turns out, it's just another joy of living at 7200 feet. (love it)

We used to spend hours (not consecutively) everyday sucking the poor girl's nose.

Then, a family friend recommended the NoseFrida.

Lifesaver!

Seriously, if you don't have one already, hurry, lickety-split and order one.  You'll be thanking me--I promise.

Now, a few notes:
1. You actually suck the snot right out of your own child's nose.  That's a little weird to get used to, in fact, I didn't tell Ronnie what the NoseFrida was really all about since he is the primary nose sucker in our family and I knew he would tell me not to get it.  Instead, I said things like "people in Europe have been using it for 20 years!" and "the [name omitted] family loves it!"  Worked like a charm.
2. You know how with those little bulb suckers it is a 20 minute process to get visible snot out?  You suck, the baby sucks it back in, you suck, the baby sucks it back in, repeat one million times.  Because of the constant sucking that the NoseFrida lets you do, everything is so much quicker.
3. The part that goes into the nose is much bigger, so you don't worry about impaling your child. at all. (this is also a great feature if your kids have a little bit bigger nostril openings (like mine, thanks to Ronnie's genes*))

Aren't modern conveniences** wonderful? 

*He would probably argue that the pot was calling the kettle black on that one.
**If one can call sucking your own kid's snot convenient.

I'm Ready

...ready to get my hopes up that is.

I decided to show my faith that spring/summer has really arrived and removed the BundleMe from Kendree's car seat.

Next week I may even pack away my Ugg boots and coats.

Baby steps people, baby steps.