{4.17.17 - 4.23.17}

I have some pretty little girls! Lyla // Alya. So what if I had to bribe them with jelly beans to pose for me! 

This little guy doesn't sit still at all if he can help it. He pulls himself up onto everything! My favorite is when he gets up to the piano and starts plunking away.  

With one tooth in and one on the way, it's no wonder there is so much drool. all. the. time. 

It almost looks like she's faking sleep! She's not. Here's Alya. Asleep. Again. Too close to bed time! 

Lyla. Lately she teases me when I pull out my camera. She runs and hides and tries to trick me into "not" getting a picture of her. But I usually end up with one similar to this. And I love it! 

He really is going to be the death of me. Is he old enough to climb stairs?! 

I honestly don't know, because how in the world is he 7 months already!? Wasn't he just born 4 months ago? 

This. This is my favorite! For a while, carpet was easy, but once he got to the linoleum it was hard to crawl with his knees on the ground, so he tried to crawl like this. Now-a-days, this is one of the ways he gets himself from crawling to sitting. He pulls his feet up as far underneath himself as he can get them, and then pushes himself back onto his bum. It's pretty cute.

.new room.

The girls wanted to be so helpful while we were working on Axel's room! They were awesome little mudders!!! 

I forgot to take a "before" photo, but this is pretty close! Just imagine brown baseboards around the room as well! 

White ceiling...gray walls!  

I am really excited about how his room turned out. We just kind of need to put up some décor. Good thing Axel could care less right now! Ha!! 

I think he likes it! He has slept so much better being in his room...and even though the couches were super comfortable (I hope you can all sense my sarcasm) Matthew and I are really excited to have our bedroom back!

{4.10.17 - 4.16.17}

AXEL HAS HIS OWN ROOM!! He only spent one night in it before we went to Idaho for Easter, but he did great! 

I love how my girls decorate their cookies! This bunny was my favorite from this year!  

My amazingly talented mother made all 4 of her daughters beautiful quilts for our birthdays. This one is mine! I LOVE it!! Isn't she amazing!? 

Balloons = tons of fun! Alya // Lyla 

The girls were to fast for me to get a good picture of them, but they were so  cute playing with Axel through the gate at the top of the stairs! I love the way he looks at them!! // The girls were wrestling, and obviously it turned into not-so-much-fun for Alya fairly quickly. But I thought it was so funny I made her lay there while Lyla sat on her face so that I could get a picture.  

I asked her which egg was her favorite...she started with the purple, and of course had to choose the pink one...and then the blue one, and then the yellow one and then the orange one...

Basically she just liked them all! 

Lyla // Alya. I'm not sure how many people know this about me, but I LOVE hands. And the hands on those little girls...those ones are some of my favorites! 

I can't get over Lyla in this picture! She just cracks me up!! 

The girls enjoyed their first s'more this weekend! They didn't love how sticky they got, but I think they got good reviews overall. // My boys!!! How I love them! 

My little ham! Lyla, I sure love you!! // "Seni" and Miss Alya...it seems like they are always laughing about something together.  

"Mirror Image" // It seems like nothing can make Axel laugh quite like a balloon can! 

Luke and Diana stopped by to see us, and as always, we have to attempt a picture with the kids. I love these pictures that are so real life! Haha! It's definitely fun to see how they  change every time we get together! 

Happy Easter

-2017

{4.3.17 - 4.9.17}

I love when my girls want to "read" to me! Alya is a great storyteller! 

I don't know what it is about a baby on his knees! I just think it's the cutest! 

I wish Lyla was this excited to have her picture taken always! // Axel loves riding in the stroller like a big boy.

The girls (or should I say birds) were running (or flying) up and down the hall. Back and forth, back and forth. And this little man tried and tried to keep up with them, crawling back and forth, back and forth.  

Lyla and I sat still long enough for her to fall asleep. If you know Lyla, you know this is nothing short of a miracle because as soon as she feels like she's going to fall asleep, she will wiggle just enough to keep herself awake. So, obviously we had to document! 

My beautiful babies, all ready for church! (Alya, Lyla & Axel)

{3.27.17 - 4.2.17}

Axel had his first graham cracker. I think he liked it! 

I love rainy day pictures, and the girls love the rain! Lyla seemed so thoughtful just walking through the gutters, and Alya thoroughly enjoyed splashing! 

These two are the best! 

Alya has learned how to work the teeter-totter. She loves it! // Little Miss Lyla. 

These little bears look so cute watching the rain! 

When you have two older sisters you have to wear pink and cute birdies every now and then. // I love when Axel crawls around with his "toy" in his mouth! 

We are working on getting Axel into his own room. The girls have been very helpful! 

There is just something about all three of my kids playing together that makes my heart melt! // He's so handsome!! 

We had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa! It was a pretty great day! 

When three year olds decorate!

.seven months.

3.25.2017

Axel is really good at sitting up on his own and he's been trying to lean forward when he's sitting to get onto his hands and knees. He can't quite figure out how to get over his feet, though. He is really good at spinning himself when he's on his tummy and no matter how hard he tries to get himself to go forward, he always scoots himself backward.

He did manage to rock forward to his knees one day and started rocking back and forth on his hands and knees. Sometimes he decides it's just easier to scoot around on his bum. He doesn't go far and it's only happened a few times, but it's really cute!

He's getting pretty frustrated that he can't just figure out how to GO. We've seen a grumpier side of Axel this month. But he's still so darn cute and mostly happy!

He still hates to be on his tummy. He tolerates it better when he's the one that got himself into that situation trying to reach for something he wants - which is usually something he's not supposed to have!

He has decided that he would much rather eat his purees than waste his time nursing. It's been really hard to feed him this month.

He has also forgotten how to sleep through the night. For a while he thought that he needed to eat at least twice throughout the night, if not more. This meant that I could feed him for 15-20 minutes and then put him back in his own crib. Then he decided he'd be fine to just sleep next to me ALL night. He didn't need to eat, he just couldn't leave my side. It was exhausting! We finally decided that I would sleep downstairs and Matthew would get up with Axel. The first night went okay and the second night was much better. By the third night, Axel needed his binky fixed once. So now we are going to start working on getting him into his own room.

Axel had his first zoo trip this month! Hopefully there are many more of those to come.

He likes to sleep on his side, but usually he ends up on his stomach. Since we know how he feels about being on his tummy, you can imagine how much he likes that! He seems to rarely wake up and talk to himself like his sisters used to do. He wakes up and whines until I go get him, but almost as soon as he is out of his crib, he is good to go. He doesn't always get grumpy when he is tired. Some days I have to really pay attention and watch for a yawn or for him to rub his eyes. It's like he could just play and play all day.

When I sit him on the floor to play with his toys he is fine for about 30 seconds and then he just gets upset that he's not being held...or mostly because he's not crawling. He's getting so impatient!

We sure love you, Axel! I hope that you don't try to grow up too fast!