Lil Negotiator

Ainsley has become quite the lil negotiator when it comes to trying to convince us to give her things she wants. For instance, she sleeps with 2 loveys and several pacis that she is only allowed to have during the night and at naptime. But when we go in to wake her up, this the conversation that typically follows:

George/me: Good morning sweet girl. You ready to go downstairs?
Ainsley: Lovey paci (usually comes out as one word) with us?
George/me: No, lovey and paci are only for night-night.
Ainsley: Lovey with us?
George/me: No, lovey is just for night-night.
Ainsley: One lovey? With us? (this is usually accompanied by her holding up one finger and giving us pleading eyes)
George/me: (Our response usually depends on how weak we are feeling at the moment. Sometimes we give in and let her take one lovey downstairs because she is just so darn cute. But often we try to switch focus) How about we take Meow, Meow with us.
Ainsley: Meow, Meow with us. Thank you daddy/mommy.

Oh how the strategies begin already. She uses this same "drop down technique" (going from 2 loveys and paci to asking for just one lovey) with jellybeans, Dora episodes, and other things she loves. So funny to see.

Funky Town

This past weekend we took a trip to Fort Worth to see some good friends while they were in town. As always it was such a sweet time of fellowship and reconnecting with close friends that we don't see as often as we like. Every time I dread making this trip (no offense Bates's, Davis's, and Mackenzie) because it is such a pain to pack everyone up for just the weekend, but every time I come back so refreshed and encouraged by these friendships and so thankful that we went. Silly me - you would think one of these times I would remember. :)

This time, as the picture above shows, there were 7 boys and Ainsley with everyone under 5. I'm amazed that we were able to get this picture since most of the time everyone was running around like crazy. It was a dream come true for Ainsley to be around so many fun 'peoples' all weekend! :) From left to right, Samuel D. 10 months; Matthew B. 3 yrs; Jack D. 4 yrs; Luke B. 1 yr; Caleb B. 3 yrs; Ainsley P. almost 2 yrs; Bailey P. 2 months; and Dustin D. 3 yrs.

We also got some good pool time thanks to Tim's parents. Their pool had a big water slide and I was shocked that Ainsley was brave enough to go down it all by herself. She just kept saying 'more big slide daddy'.


As always, thanks for a great weekend friends. We love, love, love you!!

Bailey's 2nd Month Snapshot

Weight: 11 pounds, 7 ounces (50th percentile)
Height: 24.25 inches (90th percentile)
Head Circumference: 15.5 centimeters (25th-50th percentile)

Bailey continues to be such a joy! He is still laid back and easy going which is a wonderful contrast to how sensitive and particular Ainsley was at this age - maybe representative a little of mom and dad's personalities. :) Either way, he continues to make the transition from one to two kiddos an easy one for us and we are so, so thankful!



Bailey has found his hands and loves to suck and munch on them when he isn't swaddled or sucking on his paci. He is also grabbing and gripping onto fingers and toys in his play gym. He loves his swing and his paci. He is making some cooing and chatty noises but he isn't quite as vocal (with both crying and cooing) as Ainsley was at this age. Also, as a boy should be, he is slightly over a pound heavier and an inch taller than Ainsley was at this age. And just for my own memory, his first round of vaccines were kinda tough on him. He whimpered for quite a while after he calmed down from getting the shot and then had fever on and off for 24-36 hours. He was also just fussier and a bit out of sorts - poor guy.


As sweet as our lil guy is, he still isn't sleeping through the night and although he will only wake up once a few times a week, he is usually still up 2ish times. I'm getting used to operating on less sleep but some days I still feel like I'm walking around in a blurry-eyed haze. But he is a great nurser, only giving me a few troubles here and there.


I wasn't able to catch any great ones in this photo shoot but as you saw in the last post he is full of smiles. They usually appear after he eats or when he wakes up (if he isn't hungry) and they are the sweetest things to see. They have the amazing power of deleting my mental 'to-do list' and attracting my full attention while melting away all my tiredness and frustration. I simply can not get enough. :)


Bailey still has that great newborn quality of being able to sleep almost anywhere, which has been such an incredible blessing. Not only is it convenient - him sleeping through Ainsley's yelling, running, and playing or my vacuuming - but I cherish getting to snuggle his little sleeping body. When Ainsley goes down for her nap, we try to nap too, usually with him snuggled soundly on my chest. I love these moments because I know they don't last long enough. We love you lil man!

Smiley Boy

I finally got some of this lil guy's cute smiles on camera. I can't get enough of those dimples!!

Aunt Leslie

This weekend we had a wonderful visit from George's sister, Leslie. She made the trip without her hubby and 3 adorable boys (we missed you all!!) which allowed us to have lots of good chats and to spoil Ainsley and Bailey with attention. Here are a bunch of pics from the weekend thanks to uncle Ray.





We love you Les! Come back soon!!

Happy Father's Day

We love you Daddy!

Grandma Smoothie

My mom came to visit last weekend for Bailey's baptism and as always we had such a great time and it was sad to see her go. But this was probably the first visit that Ainsley really understood who was coming to visit. When I told her that Grandma was coming, her response was "grandma smoothie?" My mom drinks a banana soy smoothie for breakfast every morning and while she was here for Bailey's birth, Ainsley was her little smoothie helper. Most of those mornings I was still sleeping but this visit I was able to catch the whole process on camera.

First, you add the milk and fruit. Ainsley likes to try each piece before adding it to the blender.


Then you push the buttons and blend it all together...


Then you pour, cheers...


... and enjoy!


Ainsley loves this tradition with my mom and it is so sweet to see them creating special memories together. Love you Grandma Smoothie!!

Bailey's Baptism

On Sunday Bailey was baptized! My mom came to stay with us for the weekend to celebrate along with George's mom and his brother and sister-in-law. Above is our family before the service and here we are below with my mom.


We believe that baptizing Bailey is a symbol of hope whereby the promises of God extend to the children of believers. As parents, it is our humble prayer that he will grow up never remembering a day that he didn't know the Lord as his savior, companion, and friend. With that sentiment we feel so blessed to be entrusted with this little boy who we just absolutely adore. Sometimes I still can't believe that I am the mommy of two.


Bailey pretty much slept through everything except for when he let out a little cry when the water actually touched his head. Ainsley on the other hand had a hard time understanding why someone was taking her baby from me and making him cry. I tried my best to explain things to her before and during but then she was just upset because she wanted her hair "washed" too. I guess that is the best we can expect from an almost 2 year old.


Here is Gammy Pam getting some Bailey snuggles at our house after church. Sorry Ray and Fema that we didn't end up getting any pictures of you all. :(


And for details, here is his sweet, sweet baptism outfit. I just can't get enough of the adorable embroidery on the collar.


We love you Bailey boy! Thank you for letting us be your parents!

Peek-a-boo

Peoples

Although Bailey is such an incredibly easy going baby, his presence and the heat (already over 100 degrees - ugh!) has limited mine and Ainsley's day-to-day mobility quite a bit and since Ainsley's mother's day out is on break for the summer, she tends to get a bit of cabin-fever. This is the conversation that plays out at some point during every day.

Ainsley: School today mommy?
Me: No, no school today.
Ainsley: Park today?
Me: No, no park today.
Ainsley: Store today?
Me: No, no store today.
Ainsley: See peoples today mommy?

Even though I try hard to plan lots of fun at-home activities and playdates, our social butterfly just wants to "see peoples." What can you do? :)

Big World

I took similar pictures of Ainsley in this same chair... although then it was covered in a pink slipcover. I just love how small it makes these lil people look.

Smiles

We've been getting some sweet wide-mouth Bailey smiles for the past week or so. They melt my heart each and every time even though they normally come in the wee hours of the morning or during Ainsley's nap when I am trying to nap too. But here is one that I managed to catch on camera a few nights ago. Hopefully there will be more coming soon! :)

Sisterly Love

Sorry Bailey. I guess that is just what you get when you arrive second. But I was #2 in my family and I turned out just fine! :)

Daddy Long Legs