Coloring and the End of the Bink

We have officially said goodbye to Max's bink!  Max was very attached and we decided that when he turned two, we would get rid of it.  Well, right after his birthday, he got an ear and sinus infection.  How cruel to take away the bink at a time like that, right!?!?

Preparing for a huge battle, I decided that the morning, well before nap time or bed time, would be the best window of opportunity.  Some of our friends have had luck with cutting a slit down the middle of the pacifier and then the kids weren't interested anymore.  We gave this a try and it worked with GREAT success!  Max tried the "broken" bink and handed it back to me.  I told him that it was broken.  He really didn't even get that sad about it!  He wanted to carry it around for a bit, but gave up on that by bedtime!  So thankful with how smoothly this transition went!

Here are a few photos of our bink-less guy!

Max has been really into coloring lately.  We started school a couple of months ago and he was introduced to more coloring and other types of crafts.  He really enjoys coloring books and often asks for his "colors." 

Max and I went on a date to the Pizza Ranch!  We had a great time!

Showing me that his belly was full!

Church clothes

I love this guy!

 

Gwenyth is Four Months!

Gwenyth turned four months on December 1.  She is a growing girl; here are her 4 month stats:
Weight: 14 lbs 13 ounces- 65%
Height: 24 3/4 inches- 62%
Head: 42 cm- 86%

One of my favorite pictures that Rachael took for our family!

Daddy's little girl!

Just us gals!

Some interesting facts about Gwenyth:
She loves getting talked to and smiled at, a lot!  Especially when it is her daddy doing the talking!
Believe it or not, she does not get annoyed or frustrated with her older brother, she adores him and gives him plenty of smiles and giggles!
She is a little lady with a big voice!  She is not timid to tell anyone around her what she wants.
She likes to take her pacifier, but often prefers to be chewing on her fist or fingers.
Swaddles are her (and my) best friend, without being swaddled, she will not sleep!

Gwenyth and Max hanging out in chairs.

This is the view I get while Gwenyth is eating.  She is a happy girl!

Go State!

The sweetest little girl.

Does it get any better?

The Christmas Train

Valley West Mall had a special event the other night for families to ring in the holiday season!  There may have been cookies, balloon animals, Santa, and crafts; but we were there for one reason... FREE TRAIN RIDES!

Max had noticed the train earlier in the week and I had to tell him it wasn't open yet.  I read a sign posted that said it would be opening on Friday and that the celebration included free rides!  Jason and I were so excited to bring the kids!




Gwenyth enjoying her "ride"



Max waiting for his turn!



All strapped in!




Big guy "driving" the train!


We have a two year old!

It seems like with having Max's birthday party a couple of weeks before his birthday, that we have been celebrating for a very long time! What's not to celebrate though about this wonderful boy turning two!
 

Year two was a big year for Max! He moved from his crib to a toddler bed, traveled out of state, learned some great dance moves, and became a big brother!
 

Max continues to grow and weighed in at 30.4 pounds putting him in the 76% for weight and measured at 35 1/2 inches, placing him in the 85% for height! I think it is his healthy appetite that is helping him climb the charts!

 

 

We are loving this big guy!



Max and Jason at our family birthday dinner for Max.  Coloring and Pizza, what more could a two year old ask for?



Max and his favorite little sister!  She hasn't even tried to steal any of his birthday presents! (Yet...)

School is in Session for Max

The start of "school" just so happened to fall on the same week as trick or treat.  We began the two year old curriculum on abcjesuslovesme.com.  So far Max really has enjoyed it!  

 

Here we are learning about circles!

Can't beat play-dough to learn about the color red!

Trick or Treat

Max really got a kick out of trick or treating this year!  Once he realized he was getting candy, you couldn't slow him down!  (Even though he got a door opened in his face at the very first house!) 

 



 

Gwenyth picking out a pumpkin!

Spiderman and his first candy bar!

 

 

Captian America (Cousin Brody) and Spiderma on the move!

Cinderella (Cousin Hailee) and Spiderman getting some tasty treats!

Trick or Treating in my hometown of Adel means a stop at the fire station. For most kids, it is a chance to get warm, eat some popcorn and sip on hot cocoa. For Max, it was the most awesome thing ever! He was climbing in all of the trucks and even got a ride in the fire truck from his Uncle Bobby!

 



Happy, happy kid!

Grandma Karen's new dog, Bruno came along!