SMILES!

Who can resist this smile?

Cute Boy

I am posting all of these pictures because I think Walker looks different in each one! He's awfully cute, though, wouldn't you say?

Because I can be a little crazy sometimes...

I have already rearranged Walker's room and decorated it a bit differently. I know, he's not even two months old. However, I just wasn't loving his room and am much happier with how it looks now. I still would like something for the wall behind his crib, but that is a project that I'm not going to undertake right now. My mom helped me hang and arrange the artwork today - with Lainey's help and guidance, of course. Thank you for your help, Mom!

Pops Has a New Name

I think it's official...Lainey has named my dad "Tuck." We had decided shortly after Lainey was born that Pops would be my dad's grandparent name (although my dad was content with letting Lainey choose his name when she started talking). However, Lainey never really said "Pops" and instead has chosen to affectionately name him "Tuck." It's cute. So Pops, there it is. She has named you something truly unique and special! :)

Look Who Is Starting to Smile

This is not the best picture, but you get the idea. We've gotten a few genuine smiles from the little guy, but of course, it's so hard to get a picture of one!!

Our Church's Easter Egg Hunt

Today we went to our church for their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Although it was quite windy, the weather was beautiful! Lainey hunted for Easter eggs on the playground, she slid down the giant inflatable slide, and she took a ride on a train. We only stayed for about an hour at the church (it was pushing naptime) but we certainly made the most of our time there and caught up with a few friends. Lainey even saw a couple of kids from her class and one of her teachers. Walker was with us, too, but he slept through the whole thing!

Lainey liked this inflatable bunny and egg, but she wouldn't go near the Easter Bunny who made a special appearance today at the church. She happily stood about six feet away from him and waved "hi" and "bye" but that was about it.

gathering eggs

It was windy! And sunny!

Lainey and I climbing up the inflatable stairs to go down the slide

ready to go

All done!

riding the choo choo with Yiyia and Bud

Lainey, 23 Months Old

Some highlights this month:

• Lainey is talking all the time. I had been told by several people that one day, your child will just start talking and never stop. This has happened with Lainey. This month has been a big one for her in terms of communication. She suddenly has lots of things to say and many opinions to share! One big development is that she has started to speak in short sentences. Most of her sentences are comprised of three words, but sometimes she'll use four words. She will say, "Where that is?" when asking about some object's whereabouts, and she'll also ask, "Where _____ go?" when asking about where someone or something went. She also asks us, "Who that is?" a lot, particularly when she sees a character in a book or someone on TV.
• She will sometimes refer to Ben and me as "Abby" and "Ben."
• Most of the time, Lainey calls me "Mama" but she's also learned to say "Mommy" so sometimes she'll call me by that name. She'll also refer to me as "Mom." She has learned that each of these names will usually get some kind of response from me!
• Ben has been called "Daddy" since Lainey could say the word. Lainey's biggest laughs come when she's playing with her dad. He can make her giggle and laugh so hard - it's such a wonderful sound! He definitely plays rough with her, and she loves it. One of their favorite activities is playing airplane (where Ben lays on his back and extends his legs so that Lainey balances on his feet) and it makes Lainey smile every single time. They also like to go out and run around our neighborhood. Lainey will say, "Daddy run!" and so Daddy runs. Then she'll say, "Lainey run!" and then she'll take off running. They take turns doing this around the block!
• She will usually answer you if you ask her how old she is or what her name is.
• Reagan's nickname is Princess. Lainey has started calling her Princess as well. The word comes out of her mouth sounding like "Pahssess" and it makes us laugh each time we hear it.
• Lainey is now using the binky only when she sleeps. This was a BIG step for us, but Lainey's done okay with the transition (despite a few rough spots here and there). I took the idea from Nora's mom, Kate, to put Lainey's binkies in a basket after she wakes up in the morning and then again after she wakes up from her afternoon nap. The basket is stored on a shelf in her closet, high out of her reach. I'm happy that we're at this point with Lainey and her beloved binkies! She still loves to have her blankie (her sleep sack) with her around the house and in the car, but because the binkies are in their basket, the blankie doesn't make as many appearances as it used to. Her binky is definitely associated with her blankie and vice versa. A time or two, we've noticed Lainey chewing on her blankie - probably because she misses her binky!
• Recently, when I was in Lainey's closet picking out her clothes for the day, I asked her what outfit she wanted to wear. She said, "Pink cwose (clothes). Blue shirt." So we settled on a pink outfit.
• Funny words: "peet" (feet); "pall" (fall); "Seffuh" (Swiper, the sneaky fox from the TV show Dora the Explorer); "Sheedo" (Cheerios); "wap" (lap); "ghose" (gross); "Yainey" (Lainey)
• Lately, Lainey has been calling Pops (my dad) by the name "Tuck." It's funny because she can say "pop" when talking about popping bubbles, but she can't (or won't) say "Pops." So, for now, he's called "Tuck."
• Lainey uses the words "Lainey's turn" or "Lainey" or "self" (it sort of sounds like "shelf" when Lainey says it) when she wants to do something by herself without our help and guidance.
• She's still loves the song "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and has even started to try to sing it on her own. She'll say the words "down" and "wash" and "sun" while doing the corresponding hand motions.
• She loves to give hugs to adults, other kids, and dogs. I think she just enjoys giving hugs to people whenever she feels like it. She will hug the kids in her class, her friends, and random, unsuspecting kids at the playground. She'll also give hugs to adults, like friends of mine or her teachers. And, of course, she hugs her family members. She particularly likes to give Walker hugs. It's so sweet!
• We like to talk about her school and the kids in her class. Lainey has gotten pretty good at naming most of the kids in her class. We understand most of the names and words that she says, but sometimes she'll talk about someone or something at school and we have no idea what she is trying to say. :)
• Ben taught her how to say "Hi, Dude!" and "Hi, Man!" to her little brother.
• "Scue you, Walk" in Lainey's language means "Excuse you, Walker" and she says this whenever he burps or toots. :) However, our sweet baby girl has also been saying it when she herself does the tooting. She's already blaming her brother... :)
• She says "Bless you" (and now it actually sounds like "Bless you") to anyone who sneezes (including herself).

• Lainey still loves to run and does so at any opportunity. She also loves to roll, kick, or throw a ball and she likes to try to play catch with her giant beach ball. She doesn't really catch the ball, but she loves trying to do so. :)
• Dora, the Explorer is a new favorite TV show. It's fun to watch her talk back to the TV and answer Dora's questions. I think her favorite character is Map (which is literally a map) and she also likes Boots and Swiper and then Dora, of course.
• Lainey loves to play with Walker. She likes to make him do the hand movements to "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and she enjoys clapping his hands and feet and "waving" for him (usually speaking for him by saying, "Hi, Mama!" or "Hi, Sissy!"). She tries to calm him when he cries by shoving a binky in his mouth (who wouldn't want to use a binky to calm down). She likes to include him during playtime by feeding him the meals that she prepares in her kitchen; she always gives him a plate for his food (usually on the floor or on his bouncy seat) when she's passing out plates for us to use for our food. Sometimes Reagan gets a plate, too. Lainey also reads her books to him and tries to show him the pictures. A couple of times Walker has been the object of the game "Where Walk go?" Just the other day she covered his face with an open DVD case and asked me, "Where Walk go?" She loves to give Walker kisses and hugs and genuinely seems to be interested in him and concerned about him. She usually has good intentions and is sweet with her baby brother, but she has been known to be a tad rough. Their playtime definitely needs adult supervision. Walker seems to be entertained by his big sister because he does watch her and generally tolerates her actions. I love watching them together and look forward to more and more interactions as Walker gets older. :)
• She still loves horses and dogs. Whenever she sees a dog she will fearlessly charge after it. She is very fast and a time or two I've had to rely on someone else to chase her down because I've either been pregnant or tending to a newborn. Thank goodness for good friends who will help you with your kids! :)
• Lainey is getting better at counting! I think she can count to five pretty independently and I think she can identify most of the numbers between 1 and 10. Sometimes we do step in to encourage and help her a little bit! :)
• She still loves to play outside.
• Lainey likes to eat lettuce (or "wettuce" as she calls it) - especially if it has dressing on it. :) Sometimes we make her a little salad with dinner and she'll actually eat most of it.

Only one more month until Lainey is 2 years old! That's very hard for me to believe. I feel like the 2-year mark was such a long way off for so long...and now it's just around the corner. It seems as though Lainey does or learns something new each day. It's such a joy for us to watch her grow and become an independent little girl. Thank you, Lainey, for making us laugh every single day and for allowing us to see the world through your eyes and experiences. We love you, sweet Lainey!

Doctor Visit

Yesterday I took Walker to the doctor to discuss his eating issues. I was concerned because he didn't seem to be eating much at his feedings, and each time we gave him his bottle he would arch his back, kick his legs, and scream like he was in pain. He was only consuming about 2 to 3 ounces of formula every three hours. This didn't seem like much to me considering his sister was a pro at finishing her bottles and always consumed the normal amount for her age and size. When we put Walker on the scale yesterday at the doctor's office, he weighed 10 pounds! This is good because it means that he has been gaining weight, but it also means that he should be eating about 4 to 4-1/2 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours. Well, as you can imagine, he was given the diagnosis of reflux and we were given samples of the medication Prevacid to start immediately. Lainey was also diagnosed with reflux as an infant, but Walker's symptoms seem to be worse than hers ever were. Thankfully, Lainey never spit up very much and Walker doesn't seem to spit up much, either.

That all being said, Walker's already had two doses of his medicine and although I know it's probably not possible, I think we've already started to notice a difference in our baby boy! He seems much more comfortable eating and has been draining his 4-ounce bottles. I hope this continues. Maybe it'll mean that he will start to sleep for longer stretches at night!

Walker also appears to have blocked tear ducts in both eyes, so the doctor gave us drops to put in his eyes to help with that problem. Poor little guy - those drops are awful and I can never actually get the drops into his eyes. We're supposed to put two drops in each eye about four times a day; I'm lucky if I get one drop in one eye a couple of times a day. Hopefully this process will get easier!

That's about it for now. We are doing well in the Harris household...still adjusting to life with two kids and taking each day as it comes! :)

Babies in the Bouncy Seat

Watch out, Walker. If you aren't careful, these babies may take over your favorite piece of real estate.

Typical Texas Weather

I took these pictures this morning. What a way to welcome the spring season to North Texas! One day it's in the 70s, the next...it snows. A cold front came through yesterday reminding us all how unpredictable Texas weather can be. Thankfully, it's supposed to warm up again this week. I'm ready for pretty spring weather!

Playdate with Knox and Tate

Yesterday, my friend Tracy and her sons Tate and Knox came over to our house to play. Knox was born just two weeks before Walker, and Tate will be four in July. Lainey and Tate ran and played everywhere while the babies hung out with their mamas in the playroom. Thanks for coming over to play with us, Tate and Knox! It was a fun morning!

"Cheese!"

Lainey LOVES playing with Tate.

a cute little Knox and a sleepy Walker

Walker, 1 Month Old

Baby Walker is one month old!

• Sleeping/Eating: Walker still eats every 3 to 3-1/2 hours during the day...generally he eats in the morning around 6:00/6:30 a.m. and then his last feeding is at about 10:00 p.m. He wakes up between 2:00-3:00 a.m. to eat again, then he sleeps until his first morning feeding. I try to feed him, shower, get dressed, and eat before Lainey wakes up. Sometimes this happens, other times it does not!
• Walker likes being on his tummy (most of the time), so tummy time is a relatively painless experience for everyone. He has even been known to fall asleep during tummy time. :)
• He loves being in the bouncy seat and in the swing. Lainey loved the bouncy seat but never cared for the swing. Even now, she never swings for very long on the swings at the park.
• Walker is going bald. The hair on the top of his head is falling out in clumps! His hairline is receding rapidly to the point where we notice changes on a daily basis. He still has hair on the back of his head and around the sides, but I bet he'll start to lose that, too.
• Our baby boy was born with lots of birthmarks (that we've been told will start to fade with time). He has a red one under his left nostril, a big red splotchy one on the back of his head, a few red spots near his hairline on the back of his neck, and another red birthmark along the outer rim of his right ear. He also has three small, red, circular spots on his nose - I think those are little birthmarks, too. Also, the little space between his eyebrows, his left eyebrow and eyelid, and the middle part of his forehead have little red spots that really flare up when he's upset. I had some red spots very similar to Walker's on my nose and forehead when I was a baby.
• Walker sleeps in several locations: his car seat, the swing, his crib, the Baby Bjorn, and the bouncy seat (most often). He'll also sleep on his dad or mom or anyone who happens to be holding him. He is getting pretty good at sleeping in his crib at night.

• Walker sleeps best when he's swaddled in his Miracle Blanket, and he does like his binky! Right before he falls asleep, he gives one final protest to being confined in his swaddle. His face turns red and he'll struggle, wiggle, grunt, and let out a little cry or two and then he falls asleep. Lainey did the exact same thing. :) Despite his protests, I know that Walker likes his Miracle Blanket (as did Lainey). It immediately calms him down if he's fussy and it really helps him fall asleep. He definitely sleeps for longer periods of time when he's swaddled! When he's not swaddled, he doesn't sleep as deeply and he awakens frequently. So...swaddling it is!
• He is becoming more accustomed to diaper and outfit changes. He doesn't scream the entire time anymore. :)
• He doesn't love his bath, but I think he's starting to enjoy it a bit more than he used to.
• Walker can burp very, very loudly. He's such a BOY!
• Walker has the tiniest little bottom. There is no chub back there; it is sooooo flat and bony!
• He's snuggly and cuddly, and I love it. I also love the way he smells...that's such a "mom" thing to say!

I think Walker looks like his Uncle Matt in this picture!

"Where did all of my hair go?"

It's amazing that one month has passed since Walker's birth. We love this little boy SO much and feel so blessed to have him in our lives!

Princess Castle Tent

Lainey loves this tent that Emmy and Pops gave her! Here she is playing in it with Yiyia. Lainey loves it when Ben, Reagan, Walker, and I all climb in there with her. It's a little squishy, though, so we don't do that too often!

Just Another Day at the Office

They grow up so fast...

Thanks for Walker's first tie, Miss Sherry. He looks so handsome and grown up! :)

cuteness

Tag

Amy, who is Samuel and Jane Ann's mom, tagged me in this fun little game. Here are the rules!

1. Open your first photo folder on your computer.

2. Scroll to the 10th picture.

3. Post that picture and the story behind it.

4. Tag 5 or more people.

Here's mine:

To be honest, this is not the 10th picture in my first photo folder. My first photo folder is Acapulco 2006, and the 10th picture was a dark and fuzzy one that really didn't tell a story. SO, I bent the rules a bit and posted this picture instead! This is a picture from our trip to Acapulco in July of 2006. We went with our good friends Laura, Bruce, Tracey, Ryan, Sherry, and Ryan. We rented a house for an entire week and had the most amazing time. This picture was taken the evening before one of the couples left. I will always remember this trip and hope that someday we'll be able to take a trip like this again. :)

**I tag...hmmm...(no pressure)...Maddie, Kelley, Tracy, Kate, Carmelita, and Marisa.

Find the Real Baby

I'll give you one guess as to who did this.

It's a good thing that Walker is such a good sport (for now)!

Big Sister and Little Brother

Lainey and Walker received these cute matching shirts from Maddie, our friend and neighbor. I have been so eager for the kids to wear their shirts so I could take their picture! You can see that once again, I didn't have the most willing subjects. I think the pictures still turned out pretty cute, though...but I do look forward to the day that both of my babies will sit still and smile for the camera. Maybe this will happen when they're in their 2os. :)

a close-up picture of the shirts

Do you think Walker is comfortable?

This picture makes me laugh out loud. Walker's expression is priceless. I think he's just grateful that Lainey is not on top of him at that moment!

Our picture session is over. :)