8 Months/22 months-- Spring Break 2015

 For some reason, these two think they need to keep getting older. Don't get me wrong, I am happy about their new skills and some more independence, but it seems like the older they get the less free time I have. I would have thought it would have been the other way around.  Shows what I know. Now that Hazel can move herself around a bit (scooting, rolling) I have to be more aware of where Miles is. He rarely hurts her, but does enjoy feeding her whatever he is eating. This sometimes requires me to rush over and pluck things out of her mouth. She still has zero teeth, by the way.

 Miles has discovered that he would rather be outside. All the time. He goes to the door, knocks on it, and asks for his shoes and says 'owww-sigh' over with increasing emotion.  He gets very upset when it is time to come inside. I can't wait until we live in a house with a nice fenced in yard and he can just go out and play! He is starting to really name objects these days instead of just repeating what we say. He will point to things and say their name. He knows who people are. He answers questions and is forming 3 word sentences. It is so nice to be able to communicate!

We took a short spring break trip to Missouri to see the cousins and grandparents. Miles and Hazel adore their cousin, Audrey. She is so helpful. Where do I find myself a 9 year old? We went to Silver Dollar City and Miles rode his first baby roller coaster. 

 Hazel's version of kisses. Full contact, open mouth. Watch out!

 Miles chilling with Grammy! 

 When we got back from Missouri, we went to the zoo with some friends. Miles loved looking at the animals.

 He was less excited about me trying to take his picture.

 When Hazel fell asleep, Miles would go to the stroller and tell her about what he just saw. 

 Miles and his buddy William.

After checking out the animals, we played n the playground at the zoo. It was a successful Spring Break.

Feb 2015

The weather around here has been awesome! We have been taking walks/jogs in the park daily as well as playing outside our apartment complex.  I can not wait to have a back yard or neighborhood for them to play in.  I've been exercising during naptimes and trying to continue to improve my photography. These two pictures are my first attempts at editing. I am currently using Lightroom, because that's what my course suggests. I haven't purchased it, so we will see what I think in 30 days. I'm happy with how my photography is progressing. 

Miles had his first toddler fit the other afternoon about his lunch.  I had served him up some mac and cheese with avocado mixed in, which he likes and has eaten before. For whatever reason he decided he wasn't going to eat it that day.  After closing his mouth and shaking his head no and pushing the food off the plate on to his highchair tray, I took the food away. A few minutes later he brought me a a nutri-grain bar. Don't think so brother. He went down for his nap hungry. (Don't worry, he ate an entire egg and banana for breakfast, so he wasn't going to starve.)

This chunky-girl is so strong. She loves to move herself around on her stomach and stand holding our fingers. She still makes lots of babbling noises. She goes in for her 6th month check-up (a month late) #2ndbaby next Monday. I'm interested to see how much she weighs. She is starting to interact more and more. We love it. I think it's safe to say that the Howards are not newborn people. We like our babies rockin' and rollin'.

Hazel:: 7 months

Oh Hazel. 

Somehow each month my babies keep getting older. Funny how that happens.  These two adore each as usual. It amazes me how tough Hazel is and how sweet Miles is. He sometimes gets a little rough with his 'love', and she takes it all in stride. For example, in this picture he's leaning all his weight on her and she is just hanging out. 

Hazel has started eating some solids. She loathes baby food. She sticks her tongue all the way out and makes it impossible for me to get a spoon in her mouth. She will eat anything as long as she is the one holding it. No teeth yet, but I think she is working on some, girl has been fussy! She can move her self side to side on her blanket, sit up for long periods of time, and get herself from her stomach to her back and over again. She is much more motor-ly inclined than her brother was at this age.

She is still not that great at napping and a champion breast-feeder. It's becoming more and more clear the older she gets, she knows exactly what she wants and she is stubborn enough to get us to do it!

Miles at 20 months

Miles:  You are so fun.  Ever since you decided to get on the walking *more like waddling* band wagon your fun-meter is off the charts. The thing that makes you the most fun is that you are really able to make your wants and needs known with your words! You frequently ask where certain people are, ask to go outside, ask to get in your crib, ask for the toy you want, ask to get up or down.  You know where your eyes, nose, head, mouth, ears, and belly are. You can count to 6. You know the names of all of our family members.  You can say 'Hazel' (Hah-Zull) but you call her 'sis-ser' most of the time.

 You love helping put wet clothes in the dryer and match socks to put away. You love people especially kids.  It doesn't phase you when they are older than you or you are outnumbered.  You sometimes like animals.  You still sleep wonderful! Most of the time you take two fulls naps a day and still sleeping all night.

 I can tell you don't feel good by your eyes. You never fuss but the sparkle is gone. We just got over your second real illness in your twenty months.  I never would have known you had an ear infection if the doctor didn't tell me.

It is so fun to watch you learn new things and new words. We love you more each day!

Hello 63 degrees

Welcome back, sun and warm weather. Feel free to stick around. So far today I have done laundry, dishes, vacuumed, cleaned up Miles room, and showered.  I get this nice pep in my step when I can open the windows and breathe fresh air!

 Hazel is sitting up well now on her own.  I snapped these in my bedroom the other day. I liked how natural her eyes look in them. This is the color they look in real life. So often in pictures they just look dark and I can't see the greens and browns that are in them.  She is such a good sport for me snapping away. What a fun girl she is turning into!

The Cruds.

Hello cruds! You hit our house solid on January first with Trevor.  I may have not been so sympathetic towards him while he weathered the illness. I have babies to take care of and two is my maximum.  Then Miles started coming down with a cough about 4 days ago and each day has gotten progressively worse.  Well, turns out our boy has ear infections, bronchitis, and tonsillitis all at once. So fun.  Let's add to it that Trevor jets off to rotations for the 12 wake-time hours each day and it's so cold I can't take the kids outside.  January, you have been rough.  But I will win.

Cheese!

In an effort to get Miles to look at me while I'm taking his picture I often put something on top of my head.  I think it relaxes his face and opens up his eyes--one of my favorite of his features. Yesterday, I caught him with this puzzle piece on his head yelling cheese!  I know the picture doesn't fall into the 'rule of thirds' very well, but I still really like it.  I have no idea how to use editing software--I haven't got to that lesson in my photography class yet.

I also feel the need to blog about this photo because I have significantly cut my time back on facebook and went through a spree of unfriending and unfollowing. I think that may mean I'm inching ever closer to uncool adulthood.  If it wasn't for my photography group and my co-op group I would get rid of it altogether.

Happy Monday!