Taylor's 2 Month Update

Some highlights from the 2nd month:

* He likes time under the playmat and will laugh and coo at the lights and sounds. He has not taken at all to the swing so we got a MamaRoo - So far the results are mixed but better than the Swing. 
* We are getting some good smiles that just melt us. 
* Taylor's favorite thing to do is be strapped into a carrier and walked around - that is the best way to get my hand's free and get anything done during the day. He also loves to be bounced on the exercise ball - that is a great way to get him to calm down. 

* He is getting a lot better at holding his neck up and turning his head. 

* Nighttime sleep is on and off. He has some great nights where we get some long stretches and then there are nights where he is up every 2 hours...We'll get there eventually....

* He is still a good eater - And he is excellent about taking bottles and also breastfeeding. Since getting his tongue tie addressed, feeding has been a breeze.

* He loves bath time - Hung always does bath and says he is very calm and content and does not like getting out of the water.

* He really loves being held and close to one of us. And he is just so sweet and cuddly that he usually gets his way :)
* Avery is still a sweet and loving big sister and tries to help us calm him down and make him laugh.

Fall Break 2015

Avery had the week off for Fall Break and it was so nice to be on maternity leave and be able to spend lots of time with her and Taylor. We started off by heading to Leland for a long weekend with G and Papa. It was beautiful and cold up there - very different from our summer visits. We spent lots of time in town going to the toy and book stores, reading at the library and having breakfast at the Early Bird. We had dinner at the Riverside and Martha's and Avery had lots of fun playing with all the treasures in Sally's House. One game she really loved was wearing Sally's sunglasses and carrying around her extra keys and being a "mom". Taylor Newell and I were the annoying teenage children and my mom was a housekeeper/cook. It was an odd game but she loved it! Minus the most awful loss in Michigan football history it was a great trip. The kids did amazing in the car with lots of naps and minimal stops and Taylor slept well 2 of the 3 nights so we got lucky!

We spent the rest of the week playing around Indy. There were lots of playdates at parks with Lila. We had Lila sleepover on Friday and carved pumpkins. Avery chose a Scooby Doo design and Lila picked My Little Pony - The dad's did all the carving and the girls were more interested in playing on their own. G slept with the girls and it was an interesting night. We got them to sleep before 11, but then Lila woke up at 4 asking Avery to move her legs off her and then both girls were up for 2 hours. Lila had a toenail she needed clipped and then Avery demanded my mom brush her teeth to freshen her breath. Of course Taylor was up in the middle of all of this and my mom and I just laughed and made it through.

Avery also went to the annual Halloween party with my mom's group. She wore her Elsa dress and enjoyed practicing trick-or-treating and playing with her friend Elise.

We ended the weekend with a playdate at Jade's house. The two got along great and had a fun Sunday together.

It was a fun (and somewhat tiring) week and she was ready to head back to school this morning!

Leland

Flying Kites and Donating Gifts to the Children's Hospital

Hanging With Tay and Working with Daddy

West Park on a Hot October Day. The girls doused themselves at the drinking fountain and then walked around topless :)

Taylor slept in with Daddy while Avery and I went to the Halloween Party

Pumpkin Carving and Sleepover with Lila

Hanging with "Baby Brother" as Avery calls Taylor

StoneyCreek Farm Fieldtrip

Avery's class went to the Pumpkin Patch for a fieldtrip and Taylor and I were able to join. There were tons of activities - Petting Farm, Hay Pile and Playground, Jump Pad, Haunted House, Inflatable Caterpillar, and Storyteller. We ended the trip with a hayride and each kid got to bring a pumpkin home. Taylor was a perfect baby and slept in the carrier the whole time! I was so happy I was able to go and watch Avery have fun with her friends!

Dad and Taylor Watching Monday Night Football

My Boys :)

2 Funny Avery Stories

Just wanted to capture these so I don't forget them.

(1) Avery told my mom that everyone is going to die at the same time. Except Avery and Lila. When we all die they are going to go live at Lila's house together so they are not alone.

(2) My mom and Avery were at UHS one night doing some Halloween decorating. Avery was fascinated that "Me and G are the only humans at the school right now." She asked my mom what would happen if a bad guy came and my mom said they would be OK because Papa was home and would protect them. She asked Avery what Papa would do to protect them and Avery said "Probably throw blueberries at them." Papa always gives Avery blueberries when she is at their house - he has for years. This logic cracked us up!

Avery Copying Taylor

Since we have had Tay at home, Avery has days where she wants to be a baby, too. Like wanting to use a hooded towel, be held and carried, and wear the same jammies as him. We didn't have any footed ones but Marija got us a pair and Avery likes to rock those and match her baby brother.

Taylor Smiling

We are starting to get some real smiles from Tay Man - Here are some that Hung caught.

And here is finally wearing a "real" outfit and not just jammies

Avery's 2015 School Picture

I thought I had done her hair really well that morning but it didn't quite hold up....Still love to see what we get every year on picture day.

Avery the Dog

We spent Sunday morning with Avery pretending to be a dog. We even had to feed her on the ground and her pajama pants riding low made us laugh.