7 months

Whoever said "enjoy these moments cause they go by quickly" really knew what they were talking about. I feel like when Ashlyn was a baby and hit all her milestones I had so much time to take it all in, share the excitement, and enjoy the moment. With Austin, he'll do something that suprises someone, and i'm like "oh yeah, he's been doing that for weeks". Not that it isn't exciting, and I definitly want to share it with the world, time just seems to be in warp speed these days.

These next few months are my favorite. I love it when they can sit and entertain themselves, show SO much personality, try to talk back to you and think you are the FUNNIEST person alive. Life is more routine, fun, easy, and enjoyable. I could squeeze and kiss my little monkey to pieces.

My little boy is anything but little! He is going to eat us out of the house. All you have to do is get out a baby food jar, or spoon and he loses his mind with excitement. Over the last month he's started sitting up, and babbling Dadadada. It is the cutest and sweetest thing in the world watching him say "dada" and seeing the proud look on Matt's face. Priceless!

Everyone who is around Austin says the same thing, wow he is such a content and happy little guy. How did we get blessed with perfection twice. Lucky us!!!!

Austin's 1st trip to the Zoo

Mastering his sippy cup skills

Brighter Skies

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. ~Thomas Campbell

The sky got a little brighter last week when Matt's grandma, Evelyn Bayer, went to be with the Lord. She was such a dynamic lady, and it was a honor that I got to spend a little time with her over the last 6 years. At her funeral, they spoke of her candy jar that was always out and full of M&M's for guests and family to enjoy. Just like her home and her heart! She raised 5 amazing kids, who went on to raise their own wonderful famalies. I am blessed that both of my children got to spend a little time with their great grandma. They may not remember those visits, but hopefully her humor, and spirit will be pieces of them forever. God Bless you Grandma Bayer.

Ashlyn did not seem scared of confused by seeing her body at the funeral, since I wasn't sure how a 2 year old would take seeing a dead body. She kept saying, "great grandma died out, she's an angel now."

The funeral did however leave me with some very raw emotions. I was able to keep it together, but have been feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness since. I'm sure it doesn't help that we are just a week out from the anniversary of mom's passing. I keep reliving the day in my head, both the beauty and total sadness of the day she left us. It was extremely emotional when her spirit left her body. She told all of us she didn't want us to remember that moment, and I don't focus on it, but it's tough. I miss her terribly! I miss her calming presence, our daily talks, her words of advice, I MISS MY MOM!

The only positive is that Grandma Bayer has some pretty awesome company up in heaven.

She's Got Skills

I think Ashlyn got her Aunt Ashes genes, she is a natural at gymnastics. I started her in a toddler class in the fall. She currently is the only one in the class, so it is basically a private lesson. She is extremely strong, and the different apparatus skills come very natural to her. They have her doing skills they do with their 3-4 year old class (bridges) The owner and her teacher, Miss Chelsea, love working with her and are amazed at how quickly she learns and masters using her body. And she is SO adorable in her little leotard!

Ashlyn is 2 and a Half! When i look at the big picture, 2 1/2 is such a baby, but Ashlyn seems anything but a baby girl. She is mature beyond her years. I don't realize how smart and advanced she is until i'm around other kids her age. She speaks incredibly well, is witty, and has the memory of a genius. Of course I think she's adorable, and smart because she's my child......but I think in reality she really is. Those are certainly England genes, just not her mommies:)

A cute Toddlerism: The other day she asked me to tape Dora on TV. I told her I couldn't because the show was already over. She goes to the kitchen and walks back and says "here you go mommy, just use this"......as she holds up the roll of packaging tape.

Ashlyn is beautiful inside and out!

"I'll help you Baby Austin"

Austin kept falling to the side while I was trying to take his 6 month picture, Ashlyn jumped right in to help support her little brother. I hope that NEVER changes!! Although Austin seems to be hitting his milestones exactly the same ages as Ashlyn, i'm not sure how he can do anything on his own cause Ash always wants to do it for him. Could I be so lucky that that never changes, or that he never gets annoyed by it!?!?!

My little monkey hit his 6 month mark this week. He is weighing in at 18 lbs 7 oz, putting him in the 65%. And was 26 inches long, putting him on the lower end at 35%. We've made it through all of our veggies with no issues, and are about done with fruits. He's learning the art of holding a sippy cup, and not spitting it all out when the water flows out quickly. Sleep is pretty consistent during the day, with 2 good naps, but very unconsistent at night. We have 3-4 nights of sleeping about 11 hours straight, and then a few nights of waking up once or twice. Last night we were up about 5 times, which makes mommmy very very tired! His gums are puffy and Dr. said they'll pop through anytime. COME on teeth, seriously, COME on!

Austin is doing, or mastering, all the things he should accomplish between the 6-9 month mark so he is well on target. We are still a little unsteady side to side, but he'll certainly be sitting up on his own any day now. Overall, a chill, easy going little boy.

Ashlyn is going a little bit stir crazy, testing authority, struggling a bit with the time change, and wanting to do EVERYthing by herself. It can be frustrating at times, but doing my best to stay patient and understand this too is a phase, and she has to learn independence. Mommy would rather she not spill big girl cups of milk all down her shirt, watch her make a huge mess while making her own lunch, bite my tongue while she slams doors after letting the dog in the house, and I try to not talk back when she bosses mommy and daddy around. Oh the joys of a toddler!

I am looking forward to this warm Spring weather creeping up on us, and letting my very independent little girl explore outdoors and run on the playground.....instead of running my house! In the meantime, a few things we've done to help keep occupied and out of trouble.

Helping Daddy Tighten Drawer Handles

Playing dress up with Cole at Boonshoft

Obsessed with Grocery Shopping

Making sure Mr. Snowman is watered daily

Painting Daddy Smiley Face Pictures

Making Marshmallow Towers

Stretching for Gymnastics (Jane Fonda Style)

You're My Little Love Bug

I LOVE the cute little sayings in the book, "You're My Little Love Bug ". When i read it I can't help but smile and squeeze my kiddos.

My favorite page: You're my wiggly worm, My busy little bee, My silly goose, My moosey-moose, my monkey up a tree.........You're everything that's wonderful, You're all of the Above! But most of all, What you are, Is God's sweetest gift of love!

God graced us with the most amazing little beings, and I love HOW MUCH they LOVE each other.

Little A is 5 Months

Hard to beleive that Austin hit the 5 month mark already. The next few months are my favorite of the baby stage. Love that I can hold him, for the most part, on my hip. He's becoming so active and interactive. Getting stronger to sit up, showing pretty consistent napping patterns, super easy to put to bed, eating and swallowing rice ceral and ready to move to oatmeal and veggies, reaching and grabbing for everything. His favorites are crinkle anything, and looking at himself in the mirror. Ashlyn loves to eat her fruit snacks and then give Austin the bag to crinkle...it's sweet!

Poor thing has had his 3rd cold in a row. I hate when he's congested cause he struggles while nursing. He was being fussy (not normal) and ran a low grade temp so I took him to the Dr. knowing something was up. He has his first ear infection. Guess he and his sister are wired the same way, she had lots of ear infections her first 2 years. Got some antibiotics and he's quickly recooperating.

The only thing that really makes him mad, is going in the car seat. He's fine once clipped in, or moving, but gets mad mad mad when you put him in. Much different than ashlyn who would lounge or nap happily in her carseat for hours. Otherwise he is still the most easy going, chill baby. Can't resist his adorable baby giggles. Hope his big baby smiles make your heart sore like they do for us.

Who am I???

The other day I was watching The Nanny Diaries, the main character was talking about "who she was, and how to define herself". As a mother we are so easily defined by our children....what are they wearing, how do they behave, do they know their colors and numbers, ect. It's easy to lose our sense of self because we are trying to keep up, fit in, be noticed, and leave an impression. I don't have the time to go tanning, get my eye brows waxed, hit the gym very often, keep up with cool new cell phones and technology, or shop for myself. But although life isn't about "ME" anymore, I'm ok with that, and still feel I know who Lindsey is. So who am I:

I Am:

A little bit anal- toys/dishes all have a place, books are arranged by tallest to shortest, bed is made with the decorative pillows everyday, pajama's have a place at the end of the bed, don't like it when the kids get dirty and they never eat without a bib on.

Somewhat random- I drink out of the carton, eat lots of dough when baking, never have my cell phone on me, enjoy acting silly to make people laugh, turn everything into a song, never order a drink then will drink out of matt's, don't mind cleaning (except vaccuuming), only wear my hair in a ponytail to exercise or sleep.

Like feeling good about myself- Take a shower everyday, almost alway have on a little bit of makeup, like to be fit and thin, enjoy eating healthy food, taking Zumba makes me feel sexy.

A little snobby- I like having a nice home (although I don't have an eye for interior design), enjoy buying name brand clothes (they really are made better and fit better), love my grandma style Cadi, like eating out on weekends, being able putting Ashlyn in activities like gymnastics, staying home with my children.

Devoted to my friends and family-love sending packages to friends, try to call my friends often to check in, send cards in the mail instead of only e-mailing, am extremely defensive of my siblings.

Sensitive-Do not show my emotions to many people (especially my sadness over losing mom), get my feelings hurt very easily, am not good about standing up for myself, hate to fight or argue with people, am hard on myself when I mess up, want people to like me.

I enjoy: cooking, running, blogging, shopping, being in the Junior League, hanging out with our parents, taking trips (when they get to happen).

I am: a good dancer, decent baker, creative, outgoing, friendly, happy, a wife and mother!

*In the grand scheme of things, my life these days is really about my children....and I'm ok with that. I do not mind being defined by them, because i'm pretty darn proud of my little monkeys, and will always put them before myself!