Kaitlyn at Two-And-A-Half Years Old

Photo taken December 2013 courtesy JCPenney Portrait Studio

KAITLYN'S STATS AS OF JANUARY 2013

Length: 32 1/8 inches; below fifth percentile

Weight: 22 pounds, 3 ounces; below fifth percentile

Kaitlyn.
You are full of spunk and personality at two-and-a-half years old. Some refer to your age as the terrible twos, but I'd have to say that I am really enjoying the stage you are at right now. You are great at entertaining yourself, but you also love playing with Skylie. You two have become great buddies and you'll often go into Skylie's room and spend hours reeking havoc together! :) Right now you and Skylie are in the kitchen pretending that little pieces of bubblegum are baby eggs that need to hatch! I hope your friendship lasts a long, long time.

You love playing with dollhouses, pretending to be kittens or puppies, coloring, jumping on the trampoline, playing 'Hide and Go Seek', having family movie night, picking out your own clothes, and playing in child-watch at the gym. You are great at helping clean up, taking care of Baby Ava, sharing, and making dinner. You are a great eater and will down almost anything you're given. Taking off your own dirty diaper is a habit you've gotten into lately. You think you're being so helpful! :) (We should probably work at getting you potty-trained...someday...)

You adore Daddy, although you aren't quite as attached to him as you have been at times. You're skimpy on giving hugs and kisses, but when you first wake in the morning or get up from your nap you'll usually snuggle with me for a good while. I love it!

Ava taking your place as the youngest child hasn't seemed to bother you too much. Only once and a while you'll cry "Don't hold Baby Ava!" if you want dibs on my lap. Thank you for adjusting so well!

*****

You crack me up with the funny things you say. Some of my favorites are:

Me: "Let's go chick-a-dee."
You: "I not a chick-a-dee. I just Kaitlyn."

(You'll say something similar anytime I call you a nickname such as monkey, kiddo, girly, etc.)

*****

Once when I was pregnant and out shopping I held up a cute shirt that didn't fit me at the time (but probably would now).

You were brutally honest: "Mommy, that not fit you. Put it back!"

Later that same shopping trip when I tried on a sweater:

You: "That looks cute, Mommy."

*****

Me: "What are you doing, Kaitlyn?"

You: "Hangin' out."

*****

Kaitlyn, we love you so much. Overall you're a really fun, easy, low-maintenance child. I'm excited to see what the coming months and years bring for you!

Love,
Mom

Month One

Photo taken by 123 Click Photography Thursday, February 20 when Ava was 18 days old.

ONE MONTH STATS

Length: 20 inches; below 5th percentile

Weight: 7 pounds, 5 ounces; below 5th percentile

Head Circumference: 13 1/2 inches; below 5th percentile

Ava,
You are dearly loved and are a welcome addition to our family. A new baby at homes brings a special sweetness that I love. The nighttime feedings, crying, spitting up, and being--well--completely and utterly helpless are your qualities that I'll take any day since it means I get to snuggle with you.

A few things I want to remember about you at this age are:

• I get lots of comments on your beautiful auburn, red hair. People are awed at not only the color, but also the amount.
• Your sisters love you so much! Skylie and Kaitlyn compete to see who gets to throw away dirty diapers or get me burp rags. They talk to you in adorable voices and are endlessly asking to hold you. 
• At birth your nose was pretty smooshed, but it's positioned back nicely now.
• People also comment on how teeny you are. "My babies never saw the light of day that little," someone said today. You are growing well, but at seven pounds, five ounces at six weeks old you are pretty little.
• You are a bit of a lazy eater and take a while to get it all down, but you've sped up quite a bit since your birth.
• You sleep okay during the night, but compared to Skylie and Kaitlyn as newborns, you're a bit of a night owl. Once you wake up to eat you usually want come company for a while.

We are so glad you're here, Ava! 

Love,

Mom