*currently*

she loves all things trees and leaves.

Fall is here and Colorado is absolutely beautiful right now. I am sad to see summer go, but I so welcome the cozy temps and the smell of fall. I am even a "wee bit" excited for winter, and for Sophia to see her first snowflakes, though I know i will regret this statement next week when we most likely will get pounded with 10 feet of snow!

squishy snuggles.



and a few more.



We took advantage of a family night together and went for dinner at a yummy Italian restaurant where Kaden got to make his own pizza, AND play with pizza dough while we waited for our food. 

playing with pizza dough

maybe I will just try one pepperoni now?

maybe just one more...



how many can I fit in my mouth?




masterpiece complete. now back to the dough...



*We can learn so much from little ones and their love for simple pleasures. Sophia is utterly fascinated with toothbrushes right now. Who WOULD'NT be???

Happy 5 months Sophia!

 

Not feelin this photo shoot AT ALL.


Dear sweet Sophia,

I am writing this almost a WEEK late, and it's not because I forgot your special day, but life has been oh so nutty lately!

First of all, the lack of sleep is making Mommy a little discombobulated. We seriously need to get a handle on this. I know this world is so exciting, and you don't want to miss a beat. But believe me, with a few more SOLID hours of sleep, life will be even MORE fun, I promise. One day you will realize the beauty and the value of sleep, and you will wonder why you didn't get a head start on this....take it from me. Start cherishing those zzzzzzs.

You are such an outdoorsy girl, you love to be outside at all times, and you love the wind (unlike your brother).  Your favorite sound right now is "Ribbit" and you love Twinkle Twinkle little Star (Kaden calls this song "Uppa" and I'm sure you will learn to love that name too). You love to be naked. You loathe your car seat. You love your bath. You scream like a maniac when I take you out of your bath. You love love love all things Kaden (see video below where he punches you "lovingly", and you just melt). 

We could not love you more sweet little one. You are an absolute blessing, and I cherish every single day and moment with you!

I love you sweet girl.
love,
your mommy

ps.....I need to start adding Kaden chapters to your monthly letters! Kaden is completely obsessed with the movie "Annie" right now, motorcycles, spiderman, telling stories, eating pretty much nothing but hot dogs, and talking about "poop" every chance he can. "I'm gonna poop on your head" seems to be his favorite right now. Oh and death. He loves to talk about death. lovely. See way down below for our favorite "kaden scene".

Kaden showing off his new *preschool* shoes.

Princess Kaden

Favorite "kaden scene" this month:

Setting.....breakfast at the kitchen table.

Kaden   "Dad, when am I going to die"?

Daddy   "Well, you are only 3, so not for a long, long, long, long, long long time."

................Kaden eats a few bites of eggs (thinking), pauses and says....

  Kaden  "How old are you"?

Daddy   "I'm 36".

Kaden   "OH"!!!!!!!!!

eats a few more bites....looks up and says with no expression.

"You're probably gonna die pretty soon".

And goes back to his eggs. 

*six years*



We look like babies. This was taken in Big Sur on our first Mini Moon.



6 years ago, I married my love. The two of us in front of our dearest loves, overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It was an overcast day, and I remember seeing the clouds part (and I think my mama was looking over us and blowing us crazy kisses!) and the sun came out at the end of the ceremony. It was a perfect day.

Years later, I can still remember those first moments where I had such a crazy little crush on him. He would walk by me and just say "hi jenny" and I would completely melt. Our first date was at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Roller coasters and beers. That pretty much sealed the deal for me.

I feel so blessed to share my life with such an insanely amazing human being. He makes me laugh like no other, makes me want to be a better person everyday, and love watching my kiddos smile a zillion smiles at their incredible Daddy.

What an incredible journey this has been so far....cannot wait to see what's next!

Happy Anniversary!
I love you.

so.much.fun.

 



*chompers*





he sat in this chair AFTER the cleaning.

Kaden had his first trip to the dentist this week! We had put it off for a bit after he turned three, since he was going to the ENT doctor every other week to figure out what was going on with his ears, why make him petrified of going to the doctor?? We prepped him for this visit, talked about it for weeks and read him several books about going to the dentist. He wasn't a huge fan. He refused to sit in the big chair, and the sweet hygienist was able to clean his teeth while he sat on mama's lap. Afterward, he was pretty psyched about picking his prize out, getting a new toothbrush and dinosaur floss!

I'm also fairly CERTAIN Miss Sophia is getting her very first chomper. She drools uncontrollably, gets agitated and annoyed with her mouth lately, and still has not quite remembered how magical sleep can be. I can't see anything busting through, but I know one has to be on it's way.

hula hoopin at the park.





me and the mini muffin.



playing peekaboo in her jumperoo. Notice the three pillows under her feet...we tried this out with her just a wee bit too soon!

playing at Centennial Park, our new favorite!



ready.set.jump!



love him.



love her.

 

*training for the Olympics*

*love*

Ridiculously in love with this picture. I feel it is worthy of a blog post of it's own!

Happy 4 months Sophia!

Dear Sophia,

This month brought us many more smiles and many more rolls! I find a new squishy little roll each day! This month also brought a lack of SLEEP! What happened to my sweet sleeping through the night angel? I understand your excitement about the wonders of the world, but please, we need to rest sweetheart. Mama is exhausted! I keep hearing it is just the "four month wakeful", but I have yet to hear a definition of what exactly that is and WHEN will it go bye bye.

You LOVE to laugh, and your giggle makes my heart skip a beat. We love finding new ways to do this each day. You adore your big brother, and he adores you, even though he hides it well. We had your four month appt with your doctor the other day, and he held your hand while you had your shots, with no prompts from mommy and daddy.  Speaking of the doctor, you are now 15 lb, 8 oz and in the 73rd percentile for your age. When Kaden was four months, he was in the 95th percentile, so you can use that against him when you grow up. You are 24 inches 1/4 long and in the 39th percentile. We chatted about starting solids, and we decided that you are ready to start some oatmeal, since you are delightfully curious about what we are eating, and God knows you need to fill in those ROLLS! We gave you some oatmeal cereal today and you chowed it down, you were so happy.

Just yesterday, you seemed to have found your feet. This is my favorite stage, I love watched you hold your feet up in the air! You look at them as if to say "OMG, I think those are ATTACHED to me!". You love your mobile, your owl, being outside, funny faces and bathtime (see below!). You extremely dislike your carseat, post bathtime, having your tummy smooshed in really far (ahem, cough cough kaden) and apparently you are now not a fan of bedtime.

You are such a bright light sweet girl....I love watching you grow, seeing such joy in your eyes, but most of all, I love being your Mommy!

I love you,

your mommy

her birthday pose with her owwie bandaids from her shots.

eating oatmeal cereal for the first time.

Papaw surprised Kaden with this sweet new train set for graduating from his swim class.

Off to the zoo to keep Sophia's mind off of the crazy shots she had just had....see the precious little pink camo bandaids on her thigh?

The last Jazz in the park of the season....so happy so many people came out, it had such an awesome energy! The band ROCKED!

We took the kids to CEC today...kaden's face is priceless when he gets in this truck and it starts to move.

enjoying a rare date night!

See below for the sweetest little cackle you ever did hear....