Update

Life with two high energy kids keeps me busy, and with all that's going on I neglect to update. These updates are for me mostly, so I can look back at these precious times that seem to be flying by. I need to be better about updating.
Holden is 17 months. Almost 1.5 yrs old. I still feel like I was just pregnant. He is a very active, very wild and very happy little boy. He talks up a storm, loves to sing, and even more loves to dance. Some of his favorite songs are : of your happy and you know it, wheels on the bus, .& ring around the rosey.
Owen is 2.5 yrs old and acts like such a big boy. He decided he was ready for underwear and we haven't looked back, no accidents- I believe he was just ready. We haven't given him prizes, but not every single time he goes- more of a reward for just doing a great job. We've left him in the tot room at the gym, and been to birthdays parties both of which I thought he might get distracted. But he did great! I am one proud mama. We also moved him to a toddler bed and he's so excited! Hopefully that continues to go well too.
So, all is well. Everyone's doing great and growing up before my eyes. Too fast!!!

Owen

Owen... I have been meaning to post on all of his updates but just couldn't find the time to sit down and post.
Since turning two in August Owen amazes me everyday. He loves to learn and read which I think is why he amazes me. He really pays attention to what is going on around him and then uses that to make discussions later on, connecting things e similar and asking questions about things that seem to not make since to him.
I started working with Owen when he was 18 months or so on learning his colors, shapes, and recognizing letters and numbers.
He can name all the colors except red??? Red is ALWAYS green which I know could be a color blind confusion. But I won't worry about that. He can name and recognize in every day objects, the shapes: square, circle, rectangle, triangle, oval, heart, diamond, and octagon. I think playing a shape app on the iPad really helped him learn all these shapes. We worked on them and read shaped books, drew shapes, and have several shape puzzles- but the reinforcement of the shape app definitely helped.
Owen knows the letters on his name and a handful of other letters... We are still working on this and numbers, which he can count to 6, and recognize those numbers too. On some occasions he does count correctly to 10 but not always.
Owen loves to play with his friends. He ask as soon as he gets up to play with.... And will name one of his several buddies. He is very social and loves going on adventures. We have been occupying our time swimming, playing the children's museum, playing at the see saw center, having playdates, meeting dad for lunch, enjoying lilyput play homes, going to gymnastics and music class.
Owen at this very moment/age 29 months is very easy going. He is so happy! He is full of energy, hilarious, silly, talkative, loving, and will still hug, kiss, and cuddle with me. I am absolutely loving this age!!!!
A few things we will starting working on in the spring.... POTTY TRAINING, and possibly moving to a big boy bed. Right now Owen loves his crib and sleeps great! So I'm in no hurry.
Owen is growing up so fast. I'm loving the polite loving child he is becoming. I look forward to watching him and loving him become a kid- my toddler is fading fast.

It's been awhile.......

Things were so busy for a while and have just started to calm down.
Do I will update from October- Jan.

At the end of October we took our first family of four plane trip. We took off for dallas. I was stressed but it ended up being great. We got delayed on the plane our flight to Dallas.... Sitting for two hours wasn't tons of fun but we did ok. Everyone slept well while traveling and we had tons of fun.

As soon as we got home from Dallas we had Halloween and Holden's first birthday party. I have decided that since his birthday is Te week of thanksgiving we will celebrate it early with our friends at home and then again with family during our travels.

We traveled to NC for two weeks over thanksgiving holiday. We had a blast! We had lots of play dates and park playing :).

On our trip writ ride a school bus and a train. Owen was in heaven.
We also saw Santa.

We came back home and then had family here for the holidays. It was perfect. We now have more trains than one knows what to do with but we have two very happy boys.

Holden.. Update

My baby is 13 months. It seems like yesterday we were bringing him home and excited to be a family of four.
Holden is a complete toddler now, eating pretty much anything, drinking milk and walking... Yes finally walking. Holden took his first steps at 11 months but never more than a few at a time. He still crawls, but is walking more and more each day. Holden loves books, cars, and his toy kitchen. Holden now says mama, dada, thank you, shoes, dog, touch down, yes, no and cookie. Holden also signs, thank you, more, please, mom, and eat.
Holden is super funny and has already learned how to get under brothers skin. He thinks it is so funny to get him upset.... I'm sure I will have many years of dealing with this. I try not to laugh but it's pretty cute.
Holden is very spoiled, temperamental, or basically he just wants it his way. He will let you know exactly how he wants it's..... I laugh now but I know I will have to deal with this and it won't be fun. Holden always acts like such a baby...,, he wants to be held, snuggled, still wants a bottle, and the paci. We went two weeks with out the paci after Holden turned one. We took them away from both kids cold turkey. Owen was fine. Holden started waking several times during the night, so we gave in. He now has the paci for naps and bed time. He knows he has to put it in his crib when he get ups and does fine all day with out but the kid needs it to sleep and I guess I do too. ;)
Holden is growing so fast... Well he is still a pip squeak... 18.7 lbs at his 1 year appointment but he is in the 70% percentile for height. I am enjoying watching him learn and grow and build an amazing friendship with his brother.
Xoxoxoxo

Fall and first "real" haircut

Fall is in full swing here. It's gorgeous! I took the boys out and captured some fall photos.

Here are a few pictures of owen's first real hair cut. Up until now I've cut it at home.

And one more picture of my almost one year old. :(

The pumpkin patch.

Our trip to the pumpkin patch was tons of fun! Cookie was here and joined us and all around we all had a blast! We choose the perfect time to go, it wasn't crowded and the weather was absolutely gorgeous! The battery on my good camera died so the iPhone was the back up. Enjoy all the pictures!

Such a fun day!

10 months!

In a blink and you are ten months old. Yep my baby is TEN months old. It makes me sad that he is growing up so fast but I also see his personality coming out and as he is getting closer and closer to toddlerhood- it makes me smile at the person/man he will become one day.

Holden is one super fast baby. He never stops moving! I guess it's because he tries to keep up with his brother. Holden is a constantly on the go and is so efficient at getting where he wants to be crawling, cruising, and climbing- but is yet to walk.
We have moved Holden in with Owen and they both love sharing a room. Maybe they feel safe in there together but it's been great. My fears of waking each other hasn't happened even when holden got sick and woke up in the middle of the night.
So currently Holden is getting over a double ear infection- it hasn't been awful but still not much fun having a sick baby. We have also had some pretty icky weather. So at least we weren't missing much while stuck at hone with a sick one.
Grandpa came to visit this weekend and we had lots of fun just playing around the house because 40 degrees plus rain all weekend canceled our plans to the pumpkin patch.
We are still having to watch holden's weight. He was 17.12lbs this month, and that is great!!! We will continue monthly visits at least until the 12 month visit and then see where we are from there. This is and was an issue with Owen too but Holden was almost a pound bigger when he was born. The biggest problem is they are both so active they burn more calories than come in sometimes. Both kids like to eat fruit, yogurt, & vegetables, which is fantastic but not when needing more calories. I'm constantly trying to add calories to the food they eat. Holden will now eat cottage cheese mixed with fruit- and this is awesome. Lots of protein! He has also been eating avocado really well, which is great for brain development and a great source of healthy fats. Owen won't touch either one, and now that he's talking non-stop he tells me it's yucky... Which is hysterical to me- because we never use the word yucky around here.... :) so I have no clue where that came from.
Holden is also starting o say and sign a few things. Holden can say mama and dada, and is signing more. He will sign more for lots of things. If he wants to play in the bathroom- he will sit outside the closed door and sign more. Since the bathroom isn't a place we okay he doesn't usually get his way here. :) but it's still pretty cute. He will sign more if you are eating something he thinks he wants, or if you are drinking out of a can... He loves can drinks- I think it's the flashiness of the aluminum.? He doesn't know what's in it, but he always wants them. He will also sign more if Owen takes a toy from him... It's like he is saying I want more time with that toy!
Holden now has 6 teeth. 4 on top and two on the bottom- that toothy smile is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Holden is the best thing that happened to Owen. Owen is obsessed with Holden. It is by far the greatest gift of parenthood to watch the love these two boys have for each other.