{iPhone Rewind} :: July

Oh don't mind me...I'm just standing on my own

He's got his own style :)

A sick day called for snuggles on the couch

Wearing Daddy's glasses!

We don't ever need to pay for entertainment...we just need to take these 2 to Lowe's and let them ride around in this fun cart :)

Aiden transitioned to a convertible car seat...no more infant car seats in this house

Eli and Maddie got to try lollipops for the first time...there was a little wariness at first, but they figured it out pretty quick :)

He is really loving that little rabbit in his book :)

Got to enjoy some one-on-one time with Eli for an eye check-up; he wouldn't smile, so I told him I wouldn't stop kissing him until he did :)

Watching Daddy mow the lawn is BIG entertainment in our house

I hope he's developing a love for reading just like his brother and sister

Love her :)

Our sweet Eli has to wear an eye patch for one hour every day for a month, in an effort to strengthen his right eye. We'll go back to the eye doctor next month to see if it's helping.

Aiden seems to be a Daniel Tiger fan...  {we're still trying to limit screen time for the twins, and try to avoid it altogether for Aiden, but sometimes he gets a peak :)  }

Seems to be living his best life...

When you have to get work done, you let her color ALL the pages

He sure loves his puppy...and she is so patient 

Not the best photo, but these two brothers are just as sweet as can be

He gets pretty silly when he's tired :)

It's getting harder to snag a photo with him these days...he rarely sits still! So I'll take them when I can get them :)

Eli is too smart and figured out how to look under his eye patch {rather than use his open eye like he's supposed to}, so I taped the bottom so he couldn't look underneath...Mama for the win {for now}.

Maddie's happy place: reading books, with grandma :)

Aiden has become enamored with Baby Doll Luke...particularly with his eyes haha

Hobby Lobby trip...and Aiden is looking for the exit haha

Strength training with my 27 pound rucksack :)

Grandmas are the best :)

Summertime with Grandma

My baby loves

Because twins means matching pajamas...for you and your dolls :)

Fully embracing the Buc-ee's excitement

Aiden :: 11 Months

Aiden,

Baby Boy...11 months! ELEVEN months. I believe the Lord has graciously allowed me to enjoy every moment of your baby months. While there have definitely been hard days, and I am still partly in denial that you will be 1 year old in 30 short days...I know that these past few months could have flown by even faster. And I am thankful for that sweet gift. Because I know the next month is going to be hard to process as I try to get used to the fact that my baby is moving beyond the baby stage! You are on the move, full of personality, and such a sweet joy! I have every intention of snuggling you close all day, every day, so get ready :)

Love, 

Mama

AIDEN MICHAEL

Stats :: 27 pounds

Clothing/Diaper Size :: you are wearing 24 months/2T clothes and size 5 diapers

Loves :: all things water {drinking, splashing, bathing, playing}, touching the fireplace and cabinet doors

Dislikes :: being kept from touching things you're not supposed to, staying still :)

Eat :: you are already starting to drop some bottles, but I still think it's going to be month-long process to transition away from formula. some days you are perfectly ok with skipping a bottle in favor of a solid snack. other days, you protest until you get a bottle. some of the new things you tried this month: Cheerios, graham crackers, strawberries, multi-grain crackers, gold fish, kiwi, and peanut butter. you still only have 2 teeth, but that doesn't seem to slow you down too much.

Sleep :: I have started limiting your morning nap, which seems to be helping you take a better afternoon nap. if we keep you busy and fill your belly, you will easily take a 3 hour afternoon nap. it may not last long, but I'll appreciate the long naps while they last! you are still sleeping through the night. you struggled a bit when you figured out how to move around in your crib. I came in after a nap to find you standing up and leaning over the rail, so I immediately dropped your mattress. and then you started sitting up in bed for long periods of time {doing the whole nodding off, swaying, jerking yourself awake}, and I have even had to go in and lay you back down. but I think you're starting to move past it.

Play/Development :: you sort through your toy bin, looking for specific ones you like. you roll and chase after balls. you are not happy when mama tells you "no." you finally rolled over, baby boy! haha- I was convinced you were going to walk before you rolled back to tummy, but you finally did it all on your own {as of a few days ago}. of course, now you won't stay still when I change your diaper, and you spend a good chunk of time sitting up in your crib before falling asleep now. you are pulling up on everything, trying to cruise a bit, and have even stood for a few seconds without holding on to everything. you have some impressive leg control, as you can squat up and down fairly easily to pick up things off the floor {while holding onto something or someone, of course}. it's pretty exciting around here, as you have your own personal cheering squad that yells, "Aiden stand up! YAY!" every time you do haha. you also recently started giving high fives, another crowd favorite :)

Unique to You :: while you are becoming more independent and opinionated, you are still just a happy baby boy. you light up when you see your daddy and when you are playing with your brother and sister. you want so much to run around with them, and you are getting pretty good with keeping up while crawling. it's only a matter of time before you're running around like a crazy kid too! for only having 2 teeth, you sure have a pretty intense bite; you will be playing and snuggling and then will just chomp down on me or your daddy. you're playing, but it still hurts! you have also started gagging yourself; you will stick your fingers in your mouth, gagging yourself, and you think it's so funny. such a funny little habit that we hope goes away soon. I have started giving your belly raspberries after bath, and you let out the BEST belly laughs! and when I am feeding you your bedtime bottle, you like to hold your feet, hold your legs in the air, and smile while letting milk dribble out of your mouth. silly, precious boy :)

Popsicles on the Porch

One of the most "summer-y" things I can think of is eating popsicles! And this afternoon, we enjoyed some homemade popsicles on the front porch :)

I haven't bought the iconic kid popsicles yet, but Eli and Maddie have had some bites from a Steel City Pops popsicle {some of my favorites!}, and I love making my own. I started making my own popsicles when I was pregnant with Eli and Maddie, so I hope to keep up this tradition for future summers. I have mostly made just plain fruit ones, which are much healthier anyway, but I hope to try a few new recipes too. 

 

So far, my favorite have been mango pineapple, and I think my kiddos are fans too. Eli kept saying "it's cold!" and I'm pretty sure Maddie had her first brain freeze haha. Even Aiden can enjoy these ones, because it's just frozen fruit! And he had no problem finishing it off :)

Summer Bucket List :: Play at the Splash Pad

Our neighborhood has a splash pad, and it really is the perfect summer play spot for my littles! It's close to our house, gated, and many times we go, we are the only ones there. There are not many places I feel comfortable taking the kiddos without extra help, but this is one of them. And my kids LOVE IT.

We have been able to spend lots of time here, and we plan to take full advantage of it the rest of the summer. We also love sharing our little splash pad with friends!

And it seems like having a picnic snack in the living room is turning out to be our favorite ritual after getting dry from all our splash pad fun :)

We are so thankful for such a fun amenity in our neighborhood!