Jr 23 months & Addison 8 week highlights

(written on 6/22/11)

As we stay busy chasing around one kid and snuggling with the other, the weeks just seem to be flying bye. On Monday Addison turned 9 weeks, yesterday Jr turned 23 months, and tomorrow I turn 26! Our babies are growing oh so fast and it truly is a blessing to watch them discover the world everyday. Here's the latest on both the kiddos.

Jr @ 23 months:
-Is full of life and all boy!
-Loves to drive anything and everything!
-Is pretty good at driving and steering his 4 wheeler through the house.
-Took his 19th and 20th flight when we traveled up to WA to see Grandma & Grandpa Carriker.
-Went bowling with Grandma C and Daddy. Did pretty good using the bumpers and slide for the ball. Bowled a 73.
-Got to ride on the 4-wheeler ride with Grandpa C and Daddy. At first wasn't quite sure about it, but after he got on it, he loved it!
-Loves going on the boat! Has fun driving and playing in the boat. He is really well behaved on the boat.
-Spent a weekend morning with Uncle Mark, Aunt Gina, and Aleah riding around on the boat and playing in the sand.
-Went tubing for the first time (went 4 mph). Looked like he could have fallen asleep while leaning back on Uncle Mark.
-Celebrated Addison's baby dedication with everybody.
-Loves to give Addison lots of hugs and kisses! The 10 sec holding sessions has now turned into a couple minutes and if you take her away before he's done, the tears begin to fall.
-Is a copy cat and repeats a lot of what Adam and I say.
-Puts 2-4 words together really well.
-Sings "Twinkle, twinkle" (on his own) many times during the day!
-Counts the stairs while climbing them (slowly making it to 20).
-Likes to watch his movies and will go sit in front of the TV and say "Movie on."
-Is pretty good at using manners (please and thank you).
-Waves and says "Hi" and "Bye" to everyone and everything. Ex: "Hi Dog!" "Hi Boat!" and then just "Hi!"
-Would do anything to be outside all day long. Has thrown a couple tantrums because he has to stay inside.
-Enjoyed a long weekend at the farm with the McBride clan.
-Really enjoys playing with Jenna or as Jr would say, "Enna!"
-Got sand in his crack at Lake Mac! Had fun playing in the sand and water with the kids.
-Went kayaking (we call it a boat) with Jenna and Daddy in the lake.
-To make a long story short, Jr was super thirsty as we left the lake after a long day (part of it was on the farm for a nap); anyway, the extra milk somehow ended up in the other pickup and he kept asking for milk to drink, so mommy thinking on her toes, says "Why don't we just use the breast milk I have in the cooler." And what would you know, Jr gobbled it down like a milk shake. Adam and I had to switch places, so he could drive and I could pump more milk for both him and Addison (who was apparently starving too). Somehow he ended up drinking it out of a bottle too. I love these priceless memories and will truly never forget this crazy adventure with my family!
-Went on a go cart ride with Papa McBride. Loved every minute of it!
-Loves to be outside on the farm. Doesn't matter if it's playing in the shop, garage, or riding some fun vehicles around, if he's outside he's happy!
-Drove around on the mower at the farm.
-Loves to jump and go crazy on the trampoline in the basement!
-Loved to just sit in the basement at Mama and Papa's and play with the big old metal tractors that Mommy and her brothers used to play with.
-Got his very own big and little tractor while back on the farm.
-Played with Jenna driving around the little battery operated gator and tractor. They also splashed in her little water play yard. He wasn't quite sure at first, but then was having a blast falling and rolling around in the water.
-Experienced a rain and hail storm at the farm. Wasn't quite sure about the hail, but just wanted to be outside. Loved splashing in the mud puddles afterwards!
-Throws most balls (& some toys) with his right, however switches to his left occasionally.
-Really enjoys playing at the park and going down (and up) the slide. Still is not a big swing guy though.
-Seems to be launching everything through the air lately.
-Will ask to "play" with you.
-Has this thing where he takes his socks off and then says "Socks off" (repeated at least 5 times). Although the instant they come off he wants them back on and we hear "Socks on" (repeated at least 5 times). Such a crazy guy!
-Favorite toys right now: we call it his firetruck (it's a little car he can ride around and makes a siren noise like a firetruck), tractors/trucks, puzzle block, and some toy balls.
-Has a new game where he rides his "firetruck" around and then is chased and chases mommy who rides his "zebra". Loves this game!
-Still sleeps and naps like a champ (8-8 and 12-3)!
-Loves to pose for pictures. Will even say "Picture" when Mommy gets out the camera. Turned bear's head the other day so he was facing the camera and not looking at him........priceless!
-Likes to go for rides in his wagon, which is occasionally called a "Boat!"
-Loves to say "Yellow" and when asked what color something is, 98% he'll answer with "Yellow!" and then just laughs!
-Finally eating chopped up fruit and not the pureed form.
-Is all boy in so many ways. Lately he's been laying on the floor and on all fours pushing his trucks & tractors all around.
-Wears size 6 diapers and mostly 3T clothes.
-Shoe is 8.5 wide.
-Calls Grandma and Grandpa "Mama & Papa!
-Celebrated Father's Day with Daddy and Papa Mc!

Addison at 8 weeks:
-Sleeps through the night! Goes 8-7:45am with feedings and sleeps from 8:20ish to 6 (when she wakes up on her own); however she goes back to sleep easily and then isn't up until 7:40ish. Is on 1:15 schedule during the day.
-Moved up to size 1 diapers!
-Is now in 0-3 month clothes!
-Usually has a head band or bow in her hair to tame it down a little. People always comment on how much hair she has; so fun and pretty to do things with.
-When on her tummy she manages to scoot backwards.
-Loves to smile:)
-Turns her head to voices and makes good eye contact with whoever is talking or holding her.
-Went to the farm, Ole's and Lake Mac for the first time.
-Got to spend some good quality time with Mama and Papa Mc while at the farm.
-Sleeps best with noise around.
-When holding her she supports her own head and lifts it off your shoulder for a few seconds.
-Is starting to make cute little noises. She can barely be heard since brother is pretty loud.
-Is such a snuggle bug! Loves to be held and cuddled with. Calms down almost instantly when she is picked up.
-Eats about 4-5 oz when she takes the bottle. Prefers to nurse over taking the bottle.
-Ate 6 oz two feedings in a row while on the farm.
-Celebrated Father's Day with Daddy and Papa Mc!

Addison's 2 month (9 week 2 day) measurements:
length: 21.5 in (15%)
weight: 10 lb (30%)
head: 15.6 cm (75%)
*note- nurse was really quick on taking measurements, so might not be completely accurate.

Jr's 2 month (8 week 6 day) measurements:
length: 21.5 in (7%)
weight: 11 lb (34%)
head: 15.5 cm (37%)

“The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”  -Psalm121: 7-8