May

Measuring how tall she is at Target

The Herrett Center with buddies

Family movie date! This movie is really, really cute. I was a little disappointed that the main character girl with the curly fro was like, Puerto Rican or something, not actually African American. But regardless of that small issue it's a really cute movie!

Something awesome I did one day while trying to do too much while holding a baby. Ashlyn was SO concerned about it and asked me continuously all day when I was going to clean it up. Clearly I didn't care as much as she did because it took me like 2 days to get around to cleaning it up.

"Mom, take a picture of me and Lucy!" What a lucky dog. ;)

This is the 3rd or 4th rainbow I have found that she's drawn in which the colors are in the REAL ORDER of rainbow colors! What the! I didn't teach her that anyway. This girl LOVES her chalk, crayons, and coloring.

First Mother's Day as a mother of 2! Couldn't feel more lucky and blessed to have these 2 amazing kids call me mom.

This is a typical sight around here--him staring fascinated at her, her doing something wacko

It looks like Elan's photobombing in this, too funny!

Worth mentioning--my family started a fitness challenge! Bwah ha ha! I quickly realized it was a mistake to invite Collin to participate in this one, ha ha. Just kidding. The point is to try to make better healthy habits and it's good for both of us. But for real he is perfect every single week and it's a little annoying! 

That picture up on the top left is Ashlyn "holding a baby." So, so cute. This particular picture she wanted me to take so we could text it to Cory. She was weirdly obsessed with Cory one week and kept asking if we could send him pictures and telling me random things about him. "Cory's my uncle,"  "Cory's silly."  

We spent a night in a hotel! All 4 of us! Collin chaperoned a field trip to Pocatello (ritzy!!!!) and we all tagged along. Ashlyn was SO, SO excited. I don't think she even really got what a hotel actually would be, but all she knew was that she got to sleep over somewhere (with her parents still there), and go swimming. And really, the whole time we were there she was bouncing off the walls, thrilled beyond all reason. It was really cute. Collin took her swimming and they had a great time. We lucked out that she slept all night and Elan did too, so it WAS a pretty good night! 

My smiley boy enjoying snuggle time with Mom

After Pocatello we spent Memorial Weekend in IF with Mom, Andrea, and Jodee. Bittersweet like always to be there because we all miss my dad beyond all reason. But it was so fun to hang out, especially with Jodee, we really have missed her! Ashlyn rarely let her leave her side. She is such a good sport. And also, Ashlyn's teeth look really weird and creepy in this picture.

See what I mean, getting tied up and everything.

He looks just a little comfy.

We got to visit Great Grandma too, which was really fun. Love this amazing, strong, beautiful woman!

New swingset! (and also--did you know Collin got a new job, working as vice principal at that school right there behind our house? Yep. No more Gooding, he'll be working at JEROME Middle School now.)

Oh man.... Apparently he asked Ashlyn to smile and this is what he got. She hung out with the track team one day while Collin was there supervising.

I took both kids over to Boise for a day trip--didn't know how that would go but it went really well and was SO fun! Except I always leave there super sad that we don't live there any more. It is really such a wonderful city. Oh well, I guess we get to just go visit now. I miss my friends there SO much too! Anyway, Ashlyn had an absolute ball with her buddies Ellie, Addison, and Miles. Oh, and Joey too. :) 

Too cool for school

We took a day trip to Tremonton on Mother's Day to visit this awesome family! Nana and Tyler were there too--that was really why we ended up going, for Tyler's birthday. It was fun and we love these guys so much.

I have no idea where this is or what was going on, Collin sent it to me.

Ashlyn has been really into taking care of her own little baby dolls ever since Elan joined us-and she really wanted her own little baby wrap like I have for Elan. So, I found a big scap of fabric and made her a little one! She thought it was the best ever. It really was so cute. We were matching mommies with our babies in wraps that day!

PS-her baby's name is ELAN. Shocker, I know. :)

Elan - 3 months

For reals this guy is dreamy. Like, not just those huge dark eyes that I want to jump in and swim in, but seriously he is beyond chill, and SO DANG HAPPY all the time! I don't even want to talk about it too much because I'm worried I'll jinx it. But he rarely ever cries or fusses. Just when he's really hungry or tired, which that doesn't even happen that often. What I can't get over, and I keep waiting to stop, and I'm hoping it doesn't, is that his favorite way to fall asleep is by himself in his crib. He loves snuggles and will fall asleep in my arms too, but at bed time, he squirms and squirms until I put him in his crib and then he just lies there peacefully and goes to sleep. UNREAL! Do most babies do this? Ashlyn certainly never did! Not until she was like, way way older anyways! He also does this in the middle of the night. He just eats once most nights--still-- (I will take that over the 3-4 times a night we were doing up until about a month ago, for sure!) and he is often wide awake and seems ready to play after his 4-5am feeding. But I just wrap him up in a blanket and stick him back in his crib, not even with a binky, and go back to bed......and don't hear from him again for like 3 more hours! He just goes back to sleep on his own. I guess some babies do this and we got lucky that Elan is one. I keep waiting for him to want to be rocked back to sleep because heaven knows I spent the better part of Ashlyn's first 6 months rocking her back to sleep....but he is totally chill without that. What the. I'll take it while I can. 

Elan is so, so happy and will even just lay somewhere smiling at a wall or pillow if there are no people around. He is a laugher too--I have gotten him to laugh with tickling and funny faces and noises and even rolling him from his back to his tummy. What a jolly little guy. I hope he keeps on like this, it is so much fun!

He is beyond enamored with his big sister too! If she's ever in his line of vision he is focused on her..usually with a big smile on his face. When he fusses in the car (the one place he really seems to dislike), she will start singing (mind you, it about drives me nuts it's so obnoxious) and he loves it. He'll often calm down and even start cooing along with her--it is pretty hilarious. She is so good to him and he already just thinks she's the coolest!

That eyebrow!

Happy happy happy

Can't get enough!

He already loves Aunt Jodee, just like all babies. 

He had big smiles for Great Grandma when we visited her, and she loved getting to chat with him for a bit. 

At 3 Months Elan LIKES:

-being held

-laying down on his own to play 

-bath time

-snuggling

-being swaddled

-being tickled (laughs SO much)

-falling asleep while snuggling

-falling asleep on his own in his crib

-his MOBILE (this is a big one)

-getting his diaper changed

-riding around in the Solly Wrap or Snugli-basically loves snuggling with Mom

-Going for runs in the jogger with Dad

-doing baby stretches with Mom or Dad

-watching Ashlyn

Elan does NOT LIKE:

-being in his carseat, especially when it's in the car. 

-tummy time

-being hungry or tired

Love this little guy so, so much! I'm so thankful he has found his way to us and for the joy he brings to our family. I am one lucky mama.