Little mover!

Sienna has been crossing the room for a couple weeks now, via rolling, turning around, reaching for this or that.  Yesterday I tested her to see if she would move straight forward.  Yep!  She can scoot!

Of course she wasn't interested in moving for her own toy, but she was very interested in Brayden's Buzz Lightyear!

My little assistant.

Yesterday evening I had to run to Figures to take a few pictures of our latest program wrap up.

Being that it was a quick trip I brought Bray along.  He sat for about two minutes and had a yummy strawberry, then he suddenly realized, many of the women were sitting on giant exercise balls!  And that there were little trampolines!  Needless to say, it is good we just came at the tail end to snap a few pictures.

Afterwards, when everything was over and people were leaving, we snuck into the classroom.  Brayden got lots of energy out playing in the class room.  :)

It will probably be his last trip to they gym.  I don't think he could handle all that excitement again.

Morning Gym Class

Monday, Friday & Saturday mornings at 8am are my time to sneak away and fit in a Pilates Yoga class at Figures (www.Figures247.com)

My wonderful husband manages to watch the kids and also work.  It's always interesting to see what he comes up with when he is balancing these two jobs.  This morning I came home to this, both kids playing with Buzz & Woody in the crib. 

While I watched them play, Sienna scooted!  First time I have seen her intentionally move in the forward direction (although she has been crossing the room for a while now via what we have called "slithering").

Babies & Toddlers...

More and more lately, when we get together with friends, the kids seem to outnumber the adults!  

It can get kinda wild.  :)

Here are a few pictures from a church group get together.

 Jantzen Putnam, Sienna & Finn Anderson.

Finn's tellin a joke, Sienna has the giggles and Jantzen is still figuring it out.

Spontaneous hand holding and jumping from Cora Huff & Brayden.

Bray & Sienna

Yesterday was a busy day between a playdate & lunch, a business meeting, etc.

Took a break to do one of the things I love, take pictures of Bray & Sienna.  

Sienna already has her bottom two teeth, but the top to are SLOWLY making their debut.  She is up every hour or two through the night to tell how much it hurts.  Poor baby girl.  :(

When she cries during the day Brayden will often run to her with a pacifier and say, "Oh no sis, no cry..."  He loves loves loves his sister.  Each day she goes down for a nap around 10am (if we are home).  Everytime Bray seems to be devistated that he is losing his sister to naptime.  "Oh no!  Sissy stay awake!  Please?!?!" About a quarter of the time tears will even come down his face.  Then while she is napping, he will ask, "Wake up sis?  Mommy, wake up sis?  She's crying."  I will show him the monitor and explain to him that his sister wants to sleep.  :)

Way to go Bray!

We are noticing there is a HUGE difference between 2 years & 2.5 years.  Brayden is growing, of course, but also becoming learning and maturing.  We can now, for the most part, understand everything he is trying to tell us.  We no longer have to strap him in to his chair to keep him seated at dinner (he is still {mostly} eating great, three times a day).

We were so proud of him yesterday!  Bray, Sienna and I went to our Thursday morning church group.  Brayden went potty on the BIG toilet!  Normally he holds it till we get home so he can go on his little one. He also did not attempt to "make a run for it" in the parking lot.  He climbed in the car on his own and got in his seat and waited for me to buckle him (this is another thing that we have been working on).  Had a great lunch, put himself down for a nap.  When he woke up we went to the chiropractor (he used to be TERRIFIED) and he had lots of questions about the doctor, but was okay about it all.  Then B-Bo & Mammy took us to dinner at Tacoma Country Club (The ultimate TEST! Sitting at a table in public without getting out of his chair).  Brett met up with us there.  Bray did so well and went on the BIG potty again while we were there!  When we got home he had his bath, story time and then laid in his bed without getting out (we have been working on him doing this for a while).  Just one of those days to celebrate the small things... 

Brayden, Daddy & Mommy are SO proud of you!  

Here's a picture from this morning of Brayden and "Rex".

Grandma Lois picked out a shirt for him and it has quickly become his absolute favorite.  :)

Our Lil' Helper.

Helping Dad built some new shelving.

Woops, I spilled.  I'll clean it up.

Fun to have some friends and family over for dinner.

I'll do the dishes.

(Brayden actually does help do the dishes.  I scrub them.  

Then he rinses. Then I stick them in the washer.)

The nice thing about doing the dishes is, 

when you get thirsty you don't need to dirty another cup!

Brayden is borderline obsessed with putting the detergent in the washer.

Looking WAY back...

Sienna has heard a lot of, "You look just like your mom.  You look a lot like your auntie Julie.  You look very similiar to your Mammy (Grammy Debbie).  I can see your Grandma (Lois) in you."  

So last night at a family dinner at Dad & Mom's we got out the baby book.

(I should have grabbed her Auntie Julie's 6 mo. picture too.  

Her Auntie Julie had the same chubby cheeks and rounder face.)

I am sure there is some of her daddy in there too.  :)

Looking back...

I was cleaning up my harddrive and putting pictures on my external and I just came across these pictures.  

This is Brayden's nursery set up that he had until he moved into his "big boy bed" at 20 months old.  It's nothing to fancy, right before Brayden was born we bought a new house and completely gutted it and started from scratch.  Instead of doing the typical nesting with just a nursery, I was picking out kitchen cabinets, carpet, appliances, etc.  So I stuck with a very basic everything in order to simplify.  

I remember feeling somewhat emotionally attached to this room and it's set up, he was my first baby and was turning into a toddler and we were starting a new chapter in our life.  Below are some picture of Brayden when he was 20 months old and moved to a big brother room!

The new chapter has been so much fun!  I just can't decide what stage I like better, two years old or six months old, feel so blessed I get to do both at once!

Mommy Daughter Shopping Date

Brayden went for a ride in B-Bo's "Big Bus" (they were getting back from a trip and picked him up for dinner in it), Brett was still at work, so Sienna and I went out shoppin'! 

 It is so much more fun for her now that we can shop together (verses her being in her car seat).

Still have a bib most of the time to catch all that drool that seems to be in a constant stream.  We have seen TWO teeth poke through her gums over the past week!!!

Sienna Six Month Photos

Sienna had her 6 month pictures done this week, check them out at:

http://kristaljoyphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/sweet-girly.html

Everyone should have a goal.

Today Sienna's goal was to get her toes into her mouth.

Sienna 6 Month Stats

Sienna had her 6 month appointment and all is well!

Six Month Stats

Weight: 19 lbs & 11.5 oz (97%)

Height: 28 inches (99%)

Head: 42 cm (35%)

Stats happen to be just two ounces different than her mama's.  :)

Brayden was actually a 1/2 inch taller than her, but over 2 pounds lighter.  

He really slimmed out at 5 months when he started scooting.  

As of now Sienna is sliding around, but no hints of scooting or crawling anytime soon.

Coffee Date

Brayden has noticed that Brett & I have a latte everyday and we have started to hear Brayden ask, "Where's Brayden's coffee?"

So, now Brayden gets a little mug of warm steamed milk with some foam.

This is from one of our coffee dates the other day, 

after most sips Brayden will say, "Ahhhhh....  It's good."

I turned my back and decided to share coffee with his Duplo Lego Buzz Lightyear.

Room Projects

I really enjoy decorating our kids rooms, although finding the time to do it seems to be an issue.

I just finished Sienna's room and Brayden's toddler room is more complete!

For Brayden's room I just finished (with Brett's help) a large picture frame, but instead of a picture I put chicken wire on the back.  Then with mini clothespins I put up pictures.  Each picture is one that I knew Brayden would enjoy looking at.  (I printed 50, but not that many fit up there) 

Brayden was thrilled when he saw it completed, made it all worthwhile.  

We have everything from Brayden playing in bubbles, swimming with Daddy, wheel barrel ride, etc.

I filled a larger picture frame in Sienna's room, which means her room is complete.

 Just as she turns 6 months.  :)

One of my favorite parts of her room, a mobile that i made for her while I was pregnant.

Every girly room needs a chandelier.  :)

A handmade cross stitched picture from Sienna's Auntie Katie.

No Mom, I am Brayden.

Here is a cute & short video of how fun bath times are, now that Brayden has a friend to join him.

Our routine used to be dinner, then I would bathe Sienna in the sink and Brett would give Bray a bath.  Now, after dinner, they both head up for bath time together!  

I took this video of one of their bath times.  Afterwards I laughed and told Brayden, "You are funny".  His response was, "No Mom, I am Brayden."