Lola is 5 Months Old!

Or was, on Jan. 7th :) Where has the time gone? Where has my sleepy little newborn gone?! This babycakes is babbling away and rolling all over town. Check it out:

Ada is crying for me at the end because Matt accidentally kneed her in the head :( That boy is just too big for this little world we live in. Always knocking things over and bumping into stuff. (Ada was fine, just needed a kiss to, "make eh all be-her")
...
Lola's 5 month stats:
Height: 2 ft. 2.5 in. 90th percentile
Weight: 18 lbs. 95th percentile
Head Circumference: 44.8 cm. 100th percentile!
Her doctor marveled at her perfectly round, large head! Once again, a trait from Papa :)

Lola is the smiliest baby I have ever met. She will give you a smile and melt you into a puddle on the floor.

She loves to be burrowed while she sleeps, her favorite place is right in the crook of my neck. I love it :)

She is a mellow, happy girl that is such a blessing in our home. I know Heavenly Father knew I couldn't manage without a calm baby like her. I thought that Ada was an easy baby, but Lola is even more so.

The church dress was made by a sweet woman in our ward. I absolutely love it! The blue brings out her blue eyes. And look at that smile! She had just recognized herself on the screen when I took this one of us.
She loves to grab & pull things. Hair, earrings, faces, you name it.
Also, everything is going into her mouth. Eeek!
It sounds like she says, "Hey!" and "Hi!" when she babbles. She kicks her left leg repeatedly while getting her diaper changed and sometimes while falling asleep. Her arms are also constant motion, patting your shoulder or arm rhythmically.
She has started using the walker and really likes being upright vs. just rolling around all day.
Her favorite place to be is in someone's arms though :)  

She is the squishiest, most kissable baby ever. We love you Lola J!

Thanksgiving 2011

We had two Thanksgivings this year! 

Wednesday was spent with my side of the family.

Bobba was so excited to give Ada her birthday present that we let her open it when we first arrived :)

She loves her trike but needs to grow into it a bit. 

 I made Nana's incredible rolls!

Matt took this picture of me in action. Can you believe how high my left eyebrow is?! I died when I saw this pic! 

I'm like Two Face from Batman. 

Ada wanted to be just like Auntie Rach (technically second cousin Rach but that's no fun to say).

 And what's Thanksgiving without a little nap time? :)

 

Good thing you didn't come out Linds, I would've caught you! 

Lola & I hanging out and being awkward after our delicious dinner.

Thursday we went down to Lompoc for Thanksgiving #2! 

We started the day off with a 2.5 mile run, the 2nd Annual MiMo Turkey Trot! 

(Mi = Millers & Mo = Morgans)

Kandie put it all together and it was so much fun! It was my first long run since having Lola 3 months earlier, and she pushed me to keep running when I wanted to walk! My hips felt totally shifty and weird but it felt so good to run. That's one thing I really miss when I'm pregnant. 

Kandie even made finisher medals for us all that Ada adored. 

Here's the first group of us that finished.

Kathleen, Kandie, Kristina, me, Matt, Marsha, Glen & Marc. (Kids stayed behind with grandma)

Then once Ben & Alissa's fam joined, we all walked it again, this time with babes in tow.

Me, Matt, Kandie, Ashley, Ben, Alissa, Eve, Kathleen, Glen, Marsha, Ada, Claira, Kristina, Dylan, Evelyn, Marc & Lola. 

Kandie & I walking it the second time.

Then we went to Marc & Diana's and got cleaned up, then headed back to Marsha's for a wonderful turkey dinner! Everything was delicious.

I had to post this picture because it cracks me up! We were all on our phones playing Uno and this is how it shortened our names:

Ryan = Captain Faggy (or something like that)

Matt = Farty Pants

Kara = Smelly Cat

Marc = Marc

And sleepy Ada on the drive home after a long day of running and playing with cousins! 

We went to pick out my mom's Christmas tree the next day and Ada was so cute running through the "Kissmas Tees!"

I love watching her make memories where I have so many fond ones.

We have so much to be thankful for!

Wonderful families who love us, the fact that we live close enough to drive down to see them, two beautiful, healthy daughters, and on and on and on. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.

Ada is 2 Years Old!

Ada Elizabeth is two years old! We just love this cheeky little monkey.

On her birthday, we went to pick out our Christmas tree. She had fun running around and playing hide-and-seek with some other kids there. She is very outgoing and not afraid to join older children while playing.  

At her two year check-up, her doctor said she's smart & charming. I wonder if he says that to all of the parents :) 

Head circumference: 19.5 in. 90th percentile

Height: 36 in. 95th percentile

Weight: 29 lbs. 80th percentile

It's weird to see her weight percentile so low compared to before.  

She is really losing her chub and becoming a little girl! 

She had two shots, one in each leg. I had her on my lap and was holding her hands. I had explained to her beforehand that they would hurt, but only for a little bit; then she'd feel better, and they would help her stay healthy. 

I said, "Okay, here comes shot number one! Just a little poke." She didn't even flinch! No whimper, cry, grimace, anything! I was amazed. Then came the second shot, and the same thing. She just said, "All done!" Such a tough cookie!

We celebrated with family a little early while we were down in Santa Maria for Thanksgiving.

Ada was so funny trying to blow out her candles! 

Then, a day before her birthday, I brought cupcakes to our mom's group at the park. Since it was Matt's finals week (we made it through alive!), I didn't want to throw a big party or anything. This was perfect. A bunch of her little friends were there and we sang to her and visited.  

Being so patient (notice the tiny bite taken already)

 

Going to town! 

Lola hanging out and keeping warm in the stroller.

Ada is a bright little girl. She has been counting and doing well with her letters. I love to hear her sweet little prayers, too. She loves to talk, sing, and especially dance to Michael Jackson & Yo Gabba Gabba. One minute she is cracking me up, and the next she is melting my heart. This morning she saw a picture of Jesus and said she wants to give him hugs and kisses. She is very strong-willed as well, some of her favorite words are stop and no :) It has been such an incredible experience to be her mother and watch her grow. I am constantly amazed by the things she learns and the things she teaches me.  

Ada's birth announcement, labor story, and one year birthday.

Happy 2nd Birthday Ada!

Picking Apples

A few weeks back, Living Social had a deal for Fuji apples at Clearview Orchards. We jumped on the opportunity to go apple picking! They were delicious in the Glazed Harvest Apple Cake :) 

Ada had a blast and was very serious about it. Look at that game face! 

First you pick it up, put it in the bag, bump bump...

The apple picking crew...I spot a little strawberry in there!

Ada sees a good one...

Triumphant girl leaving the orchard with one of her spoils in hand. A good day indeed :)

Halloween 2011

We took our girls to the mall for Halloween. It was perfect because it was a well-lit, good atmosphere for Ada's first real time trick-or-treating! Plus we could get dinner at Hot Dog on a Stick :) 

 Ada was Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, and Lola was a little ducky. 

 Her little crown/headband was pushing her ears forward...I thought it was so cute!

 The most important people in my life. What a good Papa he is! 

 The squishiest duck you've ever seen :)

After the tick-o-teeting! A scary Halloween movie with floating ghosts, creepy eyes, and tired babes. 

Two Adas

Whenever Ada and Lola sit by each other, Ada says, "Two Adas!" After church a couple of weeks ago, we tried to get some pictures of them together in their pretty dresses. 

Oh how I love Lola's sweet smiles 

Turns out it's really difficult to get a toddler and a newborn looking at the same place at the same time! 

 The best one :) 

InstaCollage