Kylee is Two!!!

Kylee celebrated her 2nd birthday on Sunday!  We had a birthday party that afternoon with all of our families.



At two years old, Kylee:

• is talking up a storm!!!  Her favorite phrases are  - Kylee too * cookie-head * No! * Do it again
• loves to climb!!!  She climbs on anything and everything she can. 
• is wearing size 3t clothing and size 6 shoes. 
• has 15 teeth. She's waiting on her 2 year molars and one of her canines. 
• tries her best to keep up with her sister. If Kaitlyn can do it, she's sure that she can too. 
• Screams!  When things don't go her way, she just starts screaming. We started timeouts for screaming and that has seemed to help. 
• is not interested in potty training quite yet. She'll only sit every 9 out of 10 times asked. My plan is to start in the fall when we're not outside for hours at a time. 
• can put on her shoes!!!  (If she can find where she put them last.)
• gets bored while playing and then gets into trouble.......that girl goes from happy playing to trying to jump off the couch in seconds. My eyes are constantly open. 

Kylee Rae, it's hard to fathom that two years have passed by already. You're growing and changing so much!  It's amazing to watch!

2 years ago

Kylee Rae , on the eve of your 2nd birthday, I sit and think about two years ago while we were waiting to meet you. I was scheduled for induction on July 1st, but was called off as they were too busy for inductions. Daddy and I spent the day pretty disappointed that we weren't gonna be able to meet you. Kaitlyn had spent the night at grandma and grandpas since we were supposed to be headed to the hospital, but since we weren't, I went to pick her up.

I went to bed that night feeling uncomfortable and feeling contractions. I wasn't able to sleep much......contractions woke me up at 2am. I took a bath, bounced on an exercise ball, and walked until 4:20am when contractions were consistently 5 minutes apart and my doctor said to head to the hospital!!

I woke up daddy, made a quick phone call to my mom, asking her to come pick up Kaitlyn, packed a few last things, and daddy and I hit the road. Once we got to the hospital, things moved very slow. Daddy and I walked the halls, around and around, to keep things moving, but they weren't. Dr Amie decided to break my water around noon. Things didn't pick up much though!!!  She then started pitocin around 3. Daddy and I were able to hang out and just wait for things to happen.

Finally, at 6:23pm, you made your entrance into the world. Dr Amie placed you right on my chest and daddy and I spent the next 5 minutes just in awe while snuggling you.

Grandma and Grandpa brought Kaitlyn down to meet you and she was your first visitor. Daddy brought her in to meet you and she climbed right up on my bed and said "I love her. She's so pretty."  She was in love at first sight.

Grandma and Grandpa Smith came in to meet you, as well as Uncle Travis and Grandma and Grandpa Reineke. Uncle Nathan and Aunt Chelsea came to see you too!

8 months

At 8 months, Kylee:

• Has her 1st tooth! 
• wears 9-12 month clothing.
• is moving everywhere! She's mastered crawling and is pulling up on things. Also, she's started to climb......
• is such a happy girl!
• babbles a lot!  It's wonderful to here her voice. 
• takes a long morning nap and a shorter afternoon nap......most of the time. 
• tries her best to keep up with big sis!
• loves to eat. She eats 3 meals a day and is always hungry. If she sees someone eating something, she wants some. She eats anything and everything, except baby food,
• nurses 5-7 times a day. She's been waking in the night for a feeding, so no more solid sleep for mom!
• puts everything in her mouth. Going outside is tough....all she wants to do is eat grass.
• loves Buster! He lets her grab and pull and slobber, all for the attention. Poor dog!
• is starting on the separation anxiety front. She wants me in eyesight at all times. 
• loves to empty out all the toy bins and shelves she can reach. Our house is a disaster when she's awake. 
• has captured all of our hearts completely!

Life Musings

My poor neglected blog!  And my poor 2nd child who doesn't get regular update like her sister did......Oops!

In daycare news, I decided to close the rented daycare house, stop being licensed, and move daycare home at the end of March. At the old daycare house, I wasn't making much money and knew that after our little bundle arrived I would be paying out of our pockets to do daycare. Being unlicensed allowed me to watch 3 kids in addition to my own. The move home went very smoothly! Also, my daycare parents were crazy flexible about baby bean appointments. I was able to take the month of July off thanks to that flexibility!

In August, Kaitlyn started preschool along with another girl from daycare, so I only had 3 kids in the morning! Call me crazy, but it was too tame! I decided to get re-licensed in October and added another kiddo shortly after. Just after the new year, I added two more kids. I'm back up to eight!!!  Kaitlyn and Kylee have adjusted really well to our house being filled with kids 5 days a week. They both would be lost without all their friends.

With eight kiddos, my days are back up to crazy! We've slowing been following into a routine and getting into 'normal'. I cannot wait until the weather warms up and we can all go outside, get some fresh air, and run!





In other life news, Mitch accepted a new position as manager of the local lumber yard and store in April of last year. He started working there in the middle of July and absolutely loves it!  His hours are about the same as normal hours were out at Cargill, but there are no trains and no harvest!!!! We love having him home more.




Life with two kids sure is different! Getting out of the house on time takes an act of God. There are more toys everywhere. Laundry and dishes are never ending. And our hearts are bursting with love! It's amazing!!!!

6 Months

Kylee is 1/2 a year old already!!!  I can't believe that she's so big already!  So many things have changed in the last 3 months!  Poor second child......

At 6 months old, Kylee:

• weighs 16 lbs and 7 ounces. In the 50th percentile.
• is 26.5 inches long. In the 75th percentile. 
• has been working on getting her two bottom teeth in. They're just below the surface. 
• is wearing 6-9 month clothing and size 2 shoes.
•  nurses 5-7 times a day. 
• sleeps through the night. Bedtime is at 8 and I wake her up at 7:15 for daycare. There are a few nights that she's up to eat, but not many. 
• has been rolling around everywhere for the last two months. Nothing is safe!
• has been sitting up for the last month. She's so happy to be able to see everything. 
• is starting to rock on her knees.....she's a mover!
• just started baby food. She eats two meals a day with us now. She loves her fruits, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Not a fan of green beans and peas unless we hide them. 
• tries to feed herself. She likes finger foods and is trying to figure out how to use a spoon. 
• is such a talker! She's hit the g's, m's, d's, and l's. 
• is so ticklish, but doesn't like to be tickled. She gets a pained look on her face. 
• giggles all the time. She's such a happy, easy-going baby!
• is a home-body. She's happiest when we're at home. When we're out and about, she gets pretty moody and unhappy when other people talk to her. 
• had her 1st sleepover at Grandma's and Grandpa's on New Years. 
• chews on anything and everything she can get her hands on. My sink is always full of toys that need sanitized and my washer has dozens of slobbered on toys at the end of the day. 

Kylee Rae.....you complete our life!  I can't imagine life without you and I'm so happy God picked me to be your mama!  

She didn't even cry for Santa!

Hanging with Daddy!

Girl snuggles

First 4-wheeler ride

She rarely sleeps on/with me anymore. Have to cherish these snuggles!

Such a happy girl!

3 Months

This evening was one for the books!  Kylee took her first bath without screaming!  I climbed in with her and she loved it. She was kicking, talking, and even laughed (her first)! Afterwards, as I was feeding her a bottle, she grabbed a hold of my finger like she always does when she's eating.  It was evening I want to remember forever.  The pure love in her eyes as she stared up at me. The freshly bathed baby smell. Her little hand wrapped around my finger. I love those moments.

At 3 months, Kylee:

• wears some 0-3 month clothing and 3-6 month clothing.
• is up to 13 pounds.
• has been sleeping from 8pm to 6am. This past week, I've been waking her up at 7. 
• loves to talk and squeal and coo.
• constantly has her hands or whatever is in her hands in her mouth. She's always dripping with drool. 
• loves sitting up in the bumbo. Watching all the kids play is awesome!
• screams if left in a room alone. She has to be where the action is. If she and Kaitlyn are playing together and Kaitlyn leaves to grab a toy, she throws a fit!
• eats every 2.5-3 hours and eats about 6 ounces in the morning and 4-5 the rest of her feedings. 
• has started to 'sit' in the jumper. She lock-stares at the toys. 
• is completely adorable. We love her so much! It's hard to remember what our life was like before she was born. 

Preschool

My baby started preschool in August!  How is she old enough to do that?!?  She was super excited and has loved riding the bus!