Spring for a Night

The weather has been so screwy lately going between really cold and windy to rainy and then warming up all over again.

Last night was GORGEOUS and we just couldn't bear to eat left overs indoors, so we headed to the Rockwall  Harbor to eat al fresco at Gloria's and then walk around while the sun set.

I just wish Colin would smile for a picture once in a while!

Look at those teethers!

Mommy and her baby

Daddy and his buddy

March Fill In

This is a post for all the one off pictures from my phone!

We have stayed really busy this month!

We went to story time at the Rockwall Library

Colin's "FRRRIIIEEEENNNNDDDD!!!" Isaac

Rolling over and getting stuck with Reagan

My mom and I went to the Mormon Chorale concert together to see my Aunt Renee perform

I made what I consider a pretty cute spring wreath!

My mom helped me sew these cute pillows for Reagan's room (which I still need to do a whole post about!)

We had lots of fun with Nana :)

Sleeping Arrangements

Since the beginning of the year, we've been struggling with bedtime with Colin.  He started climbing out of the crib in January, so he started sleeping on his crib mattress on the floor...but then he discovered a new sense of freedom. He was pretty good about staying in his room, but he would stand at his door and yell for us and cry until we inevitably caved and sat with him in his room until he fell asleep (no fun).

The night of the St. Patrick's Day party, we moved all his bedtime stuff upstairs into Reagan's room for the night and he went to sleep like a dream! So, we've kept him upstairs and he has done great! No more yelling or crying for the most part! It is a win-win situation.  Since it is quieter up there, he doesn't hear us and think he is missing the party, and we don't have to be super quiet once he's in bed.

So the time has come to officially move him upstairs! We aren't going to decorate a new room for him quite yet - we just want to get him settled and see how this goes. the next step will then be for Reagan to start sleeping in her room up there as well, but I am not quite ready for that!

Anyway, I love checking on him while he is sleeping just to see what position he's in! These were all taken while he was still sleeping in his stripey/beachy room. 

He pulled his gorilla stuffed animal on top of him!

He often has his bum in the air!

So relaxed!

Turned around!

Off the crib :)

  

Bang!

A few years ago we bought a shotgun.  The shotgun got lonely and demanded we buy it some friends.  Practically overnight we went from one to four guns - building our personal armory, if you will.

Why?

Why not?

Plus we live in Texas and that's just what you do!

But since we weren't sure what to buy, we had to test out a few models.

We settled on a Glock .45 (Kevin), Glock 9mm (Leslie), and a Mossberg 500 tactical 12 gauge shotgun (because it looks super bad!).

Me and Kaity getting ready to shoot

Shooting a Glock .40

Burglars beware! 

We aren't bad shots!

And by the way, in case you were worried, we do take gun ownership very seriously. Having guns and kids takes some extra precautions - be rest assured that Colin is safe from the guns, and the guns are safe from Colin! 

The Last St Patrick's Day Party...for a while!

This year's party was a ton of fun and I think everyone had a great time - we partied until well after midnight!

With my mom's help, everything went smoothly and the food was, once again, delish! Everyone brought yummy things, so between the food and the fun attendees, we really couldn't go wrong!

Karen and Mike - runners up for the Best Outfit prize and winners of a box of
Lucky Charms!

My dear friend Cindy made 122 DELECTABLE homemade rolls that absolutely made the dinner! 

Camilla and Lucas grabbing some grub

Thanks to Grandma Grady for sending Reagan a cute onesie for the party (Colin was upstairs with a babysitter all night)

Nana's girl

Yum!

Annie and David...only 2 weeks to the wedding!

Nana and my cute neighbors Janelle and Wesley

Meagan and Micah Skidmore - winners of the Best Outfit award ("Take Luck" t-shirts from comedian Brian Regan's show)

Andy picture bombing the Stevens

We are so fortunate to have such great friends :)

Andy actually requested this picture!

Kevin is such a great helper in throwing parties! He knows how to work the crowd, keep the food moving, and make sure everyone is having fun! Such a great husband :)

See Andy's eye? He cracks me up!

However, there comes a time when you have to throw in the towel. This year marked the 9th year that we have thrown our feast and I am about 95% sure it will be our last (at least for a while).  

It isn't that we don't have fun - we do! Lots of it! Heaven knows I love entertaining, but it's just that with two kids, it is almost imperative that my mom come and help and I just don't know if I can keep up!  We have so many great friends and I hate to leave anyone out, but the guest list stresses me out so much each year.  This year we had forty something attendees and while I loved how the party turned out, at the end of it all Kevin and I both turned to each other and basically said that we couldn't really top it, so why try?

It really is the end of a era...but this will be good for us :) In all the hustle and bustle, we've forgotten what the true meaning of St. Patrick's Day is - eating as much green dyed food and corned beef as possible!

Reagan at Four Months

Baby Sister is four months old!

A little bit about Reagan right now:

• She is still amazing us with all she can do! She started rolling from her back to her tummy a few weeks ago but she isn't so great at rolling to her back.  
• Sadly, yesterday she popped out her two bottom teeth. I will miss her little gummy mouth!
• She giggles and is extremely ticklish around her chubby thighs
• Speaking of chubby - this poor girl has to have special cream put in between her chin rolls to keep a rash away! (Let it be known that I use the word "chubby" as an endearment and to be honest, she isn't a "fat" baby and is completely proportional - Nana doesn't like it when I point out her chubs!)
• This little stinker is not a great bottle taker - we are having some success with pumped milk with a fast flow latex nipple (instead of silicone) given while I am out of the room...we're working on it.
• Since she's started teething she has stopped sleeping through the night...but I can't blame her when she is so cute! Plus she is a quick eater these days so I don't mind so much.
• She likes to go a week in between poops just to keep us always guessing when the next blow out diaper will be! She really likes blow outs on the go!

Four Month Stats

Height: 26.5 inches (>98th%)

Weight: 15 lbs 10 oz (95th%)

At the Zoo with Nana

Phew! This has been a crazy week! My mom came out for a fun visit and to help with our annual St. Patrick's Day party and I feel like I am still reeling from all the stuff we packed in! Trips to the store, Costco, Hobby Lobby, Joanns, Charming Charlie's (cutest accessory store ever!), the zoo, the park, taking Reagan for her 4 month check up, a dentist and a hair appt, and everywhere in between! We have been busy...and my house is still recovering!

Taking a bunch of kids to the zoo can be a little crazy, especially during spring break, but Colin had a great time seeing all the animals and making all their sounds (roar!).

See the elephants? Colin was so distracted by the water, rocks, and trees that I am not sure he saw them! "Mama! Water! Mama! Trees!"

Nana, cool, huh?

Adorable Sophie

Love these kiddos!

Our new friends, the Pelfreys

Reagan just going with it!