These first few pictures are actually from the end of January... Winter Girls Weekend 2011! Matt was up north ice fishing with Dan and his cousins Nate and Bjorn. So Abby and I decided to head out to one of our favorite breakfast spots (Maria's Cafe in Minneapolis - YUMMY) with the girls. Kristi was able to stay with us over the weekend to help out with the girls, which was great. I didn't get too many pictures of our girls weekend extravaganza, but here are a few. Me and the girls (Calla, Ayla, and Mckenna) at Maria's. It was a busy Saturday morning and we were kind of squished back at a corner table. Luckily the girls were pretty well behaved at the restaurant.
And here are the cutie cousins taking a bath together. Abby and I have been taking Zumba Fitness classes together, and there was a make-up Sunday afternoon class that was in place of a class weeks earlier that had been cancelled. So Abby and Ayla came over to our house, my parents watched the girls, and Abs and I went to our Zumba class. After we got home from the class the girls were playing and I had a window of opportunity to get Mckenna in the bathtub. For whatever reason, Mckenna has recently been resisting taking baths, so we've had to find creative ways to coax her into the tub. This days creative coaxing was compliments of Ayla. "Do you want to take a cousins bath with Ayla?" "YEAH!!!" :) Mckenna thought it was fun to dump buckets of water on Ayla's head... Ayla just sat there and smiled and took it like a champ. What a nice cousin!
At the beginning of February, Matt and I attended a scholarship benefit dinner for Minnehaha students at the new Target Field (home of the Minnesota Twins!) in downtown Minneapolis. Matt had been to a Twins game during their first season playing here, but this was my first time there. I was so excited to see it, and it certainly didn't disappoint. It was so cool! The dinner was inside in the fancy "Legends Club" concourse, which was really nice. We were able to open the doors to step out into the stadium. It was beautiful to see the field so quiet with a blanket of snow in the winter.
This is what it looks like during the baseball season. You can see the Minneapolis skyline in the background. (Picture taken from twinsbaseball.com)
A fun night out for Matt and I to support a school we love! We took the light rail to Target Field from Bloomington, which is always kind of fun, and it was awesome to see the stadium. I can't wait to go to a baseball game there, it will be really cool to see the place in action.
Calla has really been enjoying her play mat lately. Here she is wearing a cute outfit that my friend Julie gave her, and a fun sunflower headband that Grandma Karen gave to Mckenna when she was younger. Cute!
In February, Abby and Dan were able to take a fabulous week vacation to Costa Rica. Ayla stayed with Abby's parents, but she was able to come over and hang out with us one day during the week. We had so much fun with her, as always! Here they are finishing up a yummy lunch of chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and peas.
Coloring and enjoying a snack after naps. They are so cute together and have so much fun!
Mckenna and Calla had a fun Valentine's Day party at daycare. Here is one picture of Mckenna and two of her friends coloring. Every day coming home from daycare Mckenna has a new, colorful picture to show us. She loves to color!
There was a warm "heat wave" in February - one day it got up to a balmy 52 degrees, pretty good for February in Minnesota! Not really too terribly warm with the strong wind, but still warm enough to get outside for some fresh air. One afternoon after we got home from work we bundled up the girls for a walk. This was Calla's first time sitting up in a stroller on her own, and she did a pretty good job! Not that she could move much with her little snowsuit on, but she still did well. :)
Mckenna loves playing with Calla! Calla has been enjoying a lot of tummy time lately, and Mckenna likes to keep her company...
...it's so fun to watch them together! (And by the way, I love big baby heads - aren't they cute?) :)
Most of our past few weekends have been spent hanging around the house. Matt went upstairs to put Calla down for a nap (in her swing), and didn't come back down. I went upstairs looking for him several minutes later, and this was what I found... I guess it was nap time for both of them!
And awhile later, Matt's still sleeping and Calla's awake. Side note, it's funny to have to pick up an infants room (as if she's the one making the mess... not!) Mckenna comes in and plays while we're changing or feeding her, and it ends up looking like this - various books and other items all over the floor! Overall, Mckenna is pretty good about cleaning up after herself when she's asked to do so.
In my mind, February 2011 will be remembered as the month of sleep problems. No, not with Calla, but with Mckenna. Mckenna started sleeping through the night (about 11-12 hours straight) around 3 weeks old, and so far Calla has been the same. (Yes, we know we are very blessed!) In February, Mckenna suddenly started catapulting herself over the side of her crib - not just climbing, more like emphatically throwing herself over the side rail. We would hear a thump on the floor (her feet/body hitting the floor), followed by a few seconds to a few minutes of silence (like "Oh, I don't think I should be getting out of my crib... I better be quiet so I'm not found out"), followed by the knob on the door being turned and Mckenna coming out of her room and standing quietly by herself. There were times we would see the light turn on in her room (we have a video baby monitor with a screen to see the girls) and she would go out of her room into her play area, get some toys and books, and go back in her room and sit down on the floor and play... when she should be sleeping.
So we switched her from the crib to a toddler bed that we had bought last spring. At first it was a fun novelty to be in the toddler bed - freedom! But it quickly turned from something fun and exciting, to something she seemed to dread... screaming, crying, and carrying on when we put her to bed at night. She absolutely refused to sleep and went on what seemed to be a sleep strike for several days in a row... not much sleeping at night, and not really any nap to speak of during the day. For those few days of not a lot of sleep, Mckenna turned into a different person, overly tired, cranky, always crying and whining, multiple meltdowns, and more.
So we talked to a bunch of parent friends of ours that had older kids that might have gone through this same thing to see if we could find some advice and any possible solutions. Several people we talked to raved about this crib tent. I remember seeing one in a magazine when Mckenna was a baby, thinking it was funny looking and probably pretty unnecessary. Well... we got one to try it out, and it works like a charm! It has been a total lifesaver. Mckenna is back to her old, happy self, and most importantly, is safe and sleeping through the night. I guess you can't put a price on peace of mind. We haven't gotten a picture of Mckenna yet in her fun, "I'm going camping!" crib tent, but I'm sure we will. But below is a picture from the internet to see what it looks like. We're hoping that we can try the toddler bed again when our summer vacation comes and we have more time and energy to devote to the transition period. I think Calla can handle the pack and play for at least a few more months, and then she can switch to the crib. Musical beds! :)
The several nights that Mckenna would be getting out of bed (either the crib or toddler bed), we would often find her sitting outside her door with a few toys or books... just sitting quietly by herself. This night Matt went down to get her and ended up sitting down with her and reading a book. How can you be upset about her getting out of bed when she's still being so cute? :)
Throughout the beginning of 2011 Calla and I have been taking an ECFE (Early Childhood & Family Education) baby class called "Wee Ones." Every Friday morning we would go to the Prior Lake/Savage Early Childhood Family Center and meet with other moms and babies. We sang some songs, had play time, and talked with the early childhood educator (named Joy) that led the class and chatted with the other moms. I not only enjoyed meeting other moms with kids the same age, but also having that one on one time alone with Calla. While we were in this class, Mckenna was across the hall in the "Sibling Care" room. Mckenna loved Friday mornings too - she liked going to her "class" with her new friends. Starting in a few weeks, Calla and I will start a new session in a similar class, and Mckenna and I will be in a "Terrific Twos" class. Can't wait!
She was really interested in these bells!
Back home and playing on the play mat. I love how babies (including Calla!) have such fun and funny facial expressions. :)
Sisters! Mckenna enjoys being with Calla pretty much everywhere, including right down on the play mat with her.
Sweetie!
Goofing around in her high chair... Mckenna sits at our kitchen table in a booster chair for about half of her meals, and in her high chair for the other half. We try to eat together as a family as much as possible, but if I'm up and around, cooking or taking care of Calla or doing something else, I'll put her in the high chair where I know she'll stay put if I can't be watching her. :)
Love that smile! It's crazy to me looking at pictures of Mckenna next to pictures of Calla - where did our little baby Mckenna go? She's such a big girl now!
And here is our other smiley little girl! These pictures are from her 4-month check-up appointment at the pediatrician. She did great... a very healthy, happy little girl. We feel so blessed!
Don't you just love that big smile and those bright eyes? Calla's official 4-month stats are: weight: 13 lbs 1 oz (25th percentile), height: 24.8 inches (58%), and head circumference: 16.5 in. (67%).
Several people who have seen this picture on our camera have commented on how she looks like a doll here. :)
Calla is a strong little girl, she can prop herself up like this for quite awhile. The doctor was impressed with her strength!
This picture was taken right after (like less than 1 second) she got a shot... still smiling, but not for long.
Next snapshot - - ouch!
Next snapshot - - "I'm okay guys!" You gotta love cute baby faces - priceless! And it's interesting how resilient kids are - literally one second happy, the next crying, and the next smiley again.
We have had a lot going on in March, so stay tuned for our March Madness post... coming soon! :)
