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Happy Birthday Shelby Kaitlynn.

March 3, 2010 8:01 a.m.
At Birth: 7lbs. 15 oz and 20" long
Today: 20 lbs and 30.5" long

Our heart overflows with love for you.You are a treasure from Heaven, perfectly created, perfectly placed.You're life brings us so much joy. You are our sunshine! Happy Birthday Sweet Girl.

Shelby happily swinging!

Shelby loves to swing! At time she is very chill and takes in everything around her. At other times, like in this video, she is quit excited!  Kicking screaming, and now waving--this girl is a hoot! She had me laughing. Her little legs were going crazy! Love her! 

Bells Are Ringing, Bells Are Ringing…

Levi’s school hosted a week long Holiday Book Fair. They tied other events in with it throughout the week.
One evening was Family Night, where the kids performed in a little music program. It was adorable! Levi and his school friends sang four songs about Christmas and then afterwords we shopped the book fair and stopped off to see Santa!
This was a first for both the kids to visit with Santa. We tried to take Levi la couple years ago to the mall, but the line was very very very long, plus the picture was $25. So, we waved at Santa from a distant. This was the first time Levi talked to Santa, sat on Santa’s lap or shook Santa’s hand. With it being their first experiences with Santa, I wasn’t real sure what would happen. I plopped both of them in Santa’s lap in hopes of a good picture. They were a little unsure of the guy in the big red suit and the long white itchy beard, but they did great! This video captures their reactions. Shelby had us laughing!

In the end, we had a cute picture. Hey, no one is crying! I consider that a win!

Later in the week, there was a Grandparents’ Coffee, where the kids performed again for all their grandparents. We didn’t tell Levi, but we invited Ryan’s parents to come and hear Levi sing. Thankfully, they both were able to come! I dropped Levi off at his class and then made my way to the fellowship hall, where I meet up with Ryan, Shelby, Poppi and Grammie. We were able to sit in the front row. Levi walked on staged and ended us sitting almost in front of us. The show started and Levi had yet spotted us. As the third song began, I was getting nervous, because I really wanted Levi to see Poppi and Grammie before it was all over. Finally, as the sang their third song, Levi spotted all of us! Here’s a video of him singing and his surprise! I love his excitement and how he is pointing everyone out to his good friend, Stephen. Levi even says, “That’s my sister, Shelby!”

After the singing, we ate cookies together and just spent some time talking with Levi. He was thrilled to have us all there and was just beaming from ear to ear.



If having Poppi and Grammie there wasn’t enough, Clifford The Big Red Dog showed up. Levi was so excited!! He practically jumped into Clifford’s arms!

All in all it was a great week. We had a lot of fun spending time together and watching Levi sing. He has really taken to his music class. How can I tell? Well, several times a day he burst into song as he’s playing or riding in the car or laying in bed. He gets all jazzed up. I love how it has drawn him out and gives him something else to be proud about.
And of course, we can’t leave this little cutie pie out…she took a quick nap in the car as we drove Levi to school. Little one decided to wake up at 5:50. She needed the little nap.

Christmas Groove...

While shopping at Old Navy, Levi was in a festive mood & started dancing! Oh, he had Ryan and I laughing!

Video Time!

Finally uploaded video from the camera. Here are a few little snippets of the kids.

6 months-Shelby discovering her "scream" voice.


Kids Playing-Sept 2010



This is how it began: The Army Crawl @6 months


Shelby Crawling @ 7 months

Tomorow He's 3

Happy Birthday Levi.
August 6, 2007 6:43 p.m.
At Birth: 8lbs. 13 oz and 21" long
Today: 41 lbs and 40" long

You're such a joy and a blessing. Our hearts overflow. Every time we think of you...we just smile, smile, smile...We love you!

Feet, Feet ,Feet!

Here's our Little at play. She discovered her feet. Plus, she loves to chat.

Video Friday: Cookies and a Box

One of my favorite memories of Christmas as a little girl was making Christmas cookies with my mom and sister. We would cut out sugar cookies and then decorate them. It was always so much fun. We made a mess, ate cookie dough, laughed, painted cookies and somewhere along the way managed to get some cookies completed and tucked away in the cookie tin.

So, without thinking about it, making Christmas cookies has become a family tradition of our family as well. Since we’ve been married (6 years now), I’ve been making Christmas cookies. Nothing fancy, just good ole sugar cookies.

Last year, Levi and I made cookies together…or I made cookies, he played with cookie cutters. However, this year he really got into it. He enjoyed cutting out the cookies and of course eating the dough…I mean, lets be honest, its one of the best parts! We’ve already made one batch, which are long gone. I plan to make another batch next week.

Here’s a video of us making cookies.

In the previous post I mentioned that Ryan and Levi assembled a dresser for Levi's big boy room. If Levi wasn't helping his daddy sort and assemble, he could be found playing in the box the dresser came in. Oh, its the little things that make us happy. Why do we even by toys?!

Video Time

Thought I'd post a few short clips of Levi doing what he does best....playing and being Levi. These are simple and just him in action...just wanted to capture him playing, his little conversations and how much he is growing! Enjoy!!

Pocket Elmo...Levi has discovered pockets and enjoys storing things in them. The other day I pulled out 8 little pom-pom balls from one pocket. In this video he's trying to tote Elmo ( a little hard plastic figure) around but doesn't like the way Elmo is poking his leg...which ends with Elmo being tossed out!


Hi Levi!


Levi loves his tractors! We went to the HUGE yard sale about a mouth ago and came home with a little play kitchen for Levi and 5 outside trucks/tractors--all of which were FREE!! They're a bit worn and faded, but still in great shape. Levi loves playing with them.

Video Friday: Where's Levi?

Okay, its been a good while since I've posted a video of our little one's adventures. Hoping to get back on track with Video Fridays. So, to kick off today's video, I'm posting a video from yesterday. I was unpacking from our trip last week and cleaning. Levi was running around playing and helping me. Then, I hear this muted conversation coming from the guest bedroom. As I entered the room this is what I found...


Levi has been doing a lot of hiding lately. Just the morning while I was blow drying my hair he discovered that he could fit under the bathroom sink. Funny Boy!

The White Cloud...

Tonight, we put Levi to bed as always. He played, talked, sang-- all the normal things he does to whine down. Ryan and I were watching a little TV, relaxing, and catching up. After about 20 minutes of so Levi started saying, "mess, mess!" "Mommy?", "mess". Well, we all know that when Levi starts saying "mess" that something isn't right. He's pretty good about informing us when there is a mess, even if its a mess he's created. I went to check on him. As I rounded the corner, I was greeted by a big white cloud and the overwhelming smell of baby powder! When I got to his room, I found Levi standing or should I say, playing in a puddle of powder. He was covered from head to toe. He just kept saying "mess" and pointing to all the powder. It was all pretty funny and cute I must admit.

The clean up wasn't too bad. Ryan ran the vacuum and then we took a damp cloth and patted main 2 areas that were covered in hopes of cutting down the smell and dust. Levi received a quick rinse in the tub and then we aired the room out for a few minutes. (I love the smell of baby powder, but a whole bottle dumped out is pretty strong!) Tomorrow, I'll have to dust because the room is covered in a white layer of powder and probably do some additional work on the carpet! But for now, the little Casper is back in his bed and dreaming dreams.

For some reason I didn't think to take still pictures, but now worries, we did take video. Here you go...

Video Friday

It was lunch time. Ryan had just prepared his meal, which he was enjoying greatly. After a few minutes, he took a quick trip to the fridge to refill his drink. When he returned, he discovered his dinner roll was MIA. Where might it have gone?.....Ohhh, Chef Levi?!


In just a few short weeks our little one will be turning 2! This was our little cutie pie a year ago. I can't believe how much he has grown and changed. So, cute.

Video Friday: Sprinkler Fun

After dinner the other night, Levi and I went outside to play. It was still hot, but much cooler than earlier. While Levi rode his little truck around, I thought I'd set the sprinkler up to water our dying grass. The next thing I know, Levi was darting through the sprinkler. He had me laughing so hard. He would stop to wave at the cars as they drove by and if you listen closely he is saying "raining".


Levi found all my travel make-up totes this week. He has not put them down since. He has carried them everywhere. They even go in the car with him. He's enjoyed the zippers on the bags. Plus, he can hide his cars and rocks and whatever else he finds in the pockets. Whats been cute to me, is at night, before bed, he puts them back in the cabinet where he found them.


Levi was being silly in the grass.

Our week!

Wow, its been a week since I posted. Lets get to it. This is a big post...lost of pictures, some funny stories and yes, even a video!!

Levi's new interest this week has been cooking. He drags several pots and pans out of the kitchen and sets up his "stove" on the coffee table. Next, he gets a spatula from the kitchen drawer. Then, the cooking begins! He stirs and shakes ingredients into the pots. And as any good chef would do, he "samples" what he's preparing. Most of the time its followed with a "mmmmm". His kitchen is a traveling kitchen too!He even carried the pots from room to room at one point this week. Here he is cooking in our bed.....a new take on breakfast in bed I guess.

On Wednesday, we were able to catch up with some great friends of our from our college days. We don't get to see them that often, but when we do its always a blast! I love the way we all connect--all the laughs we share, the great conversations that challenge you and encourage you all at the same time. True Friendship! They have a sweet little girl just about Levi's age. The kids had a great time together and we enjoyed watching them play and chat.



Levi with the garden hose.


Bath Time Levi. He enjoys "swimming" in the tub.


Why, I'm not sure..but Levi enjoys collecting bark from the pine trees. He has a little stash going in his dump truck.


One last store before I end this post. Two weeks ago, Levi's crib was converted into a toddler bed. This past week we've been having a lot of trouble keeping him in the bed. He seems to want to sleep on the floor. Several times this week I found him asleep on the floor and he even took a 2 naps on the floor also. Plus, he's also been waking 3 and 4 times during the night....which is not like him at all.

Well, one day last week Ryan made a comment about Levi's mattress. How it felt uncomfortable. I kinda noticed it myself at one point last week too but didn't think much about it. I mean, my thought was.."man, can his mattress already be worn out! Its just 2 years old." Yesterday, we were talking about it again and how maybe we need to get a new mattress. Well, as we are tucking Levi in bed last night, Ryan was making note about how uncomfortable his bed feels.... And then all the sudden, I had a "ah-ha" moment. I said, "oh, no...I think the mattress is upside down." We pulled the mattress out of the bed and sure enough, I had placed it in spring side up!!! Oh, I feel so bad. I know at some point we'll probably laugh at this, but for now, I just feel bad. He had springs poking him in his back all this time. No wonder the kid was having so much trouble sleeping. Well, we have straightened everything out now and you know what....He fell asleep in his bed (not on the floor) after 10 minutes. He did sleep better during the night too.

And for the cherry on top! A video of Rodeo Levi!

Video Friday

Musical Levi
We were cleaning up after dinner the other night when Levi decided to entertain us with one of his newest discoveries. We are not encouraging this new talent, but we will say its quit funny. We were trying not to laugh, but he was being a little ham!


Here's our little fish enjoying his bath. Last week, he just decided to lay down in the tub. He started kicking and even put his face in to blow some bubbles. I'm hoping he'll enjoy the pool just as much.


For our next song....Levi sings Twinkle Twinkle and E-I-E-I-O. To me, this clip really reflects what a normal day looks like for us--the ups and downs. It's full of everything...from singing, to talking to fake crying and laughing. Love this little guy. He is so much fun.

Video Friday: Splish, splash, went the little blue fish one day...

Bounce Bounce

Here's Levi riding his favorite little Zebra.

Video: Little Mr. Chatter Box.

Better late than never, right?! Here's our little chatter box sharing his stories.

Video Friday & 19 Months!

Its been two weeks since our last video Friday! I figured I better get something posted for all you loyal fans (hi grandparents and aunties)....Don't want to disappoint!

Today our little man hit 19 months! Wow, time is flying! He is full of life, spouting new teeth, jabbering up a storm and a little social lite. He loves animals, music, cheese, books, playing outside, wrestling with daddy and being chased or chasing someone.

We haven't really recorded anything in a while, so I got the camera out today while Levi and I were playing. I flipped the view finder around so he could watch himself "live". He enjoys talking, laughing and chasing the camera. He was trying to grab it, so things are a little shaky....but i think you'll enjoy our little chatter box. I love his playfulness and personality.

You'll hear him say "all gone" at the beginning. That is one of his newest words. Then you'll hear him making his monkey noises "eee, eee".



Mr. Chatter Box.
Check out all those teeth. He cut 2 more this week (both lower k-9).

Video Friday: Dance Dance

For today's videos, we have a combination of yesterday and today. The first video is Levi a year ago (6months). The second video is from Valentine's Day. I put a cd on for Levi to enjoy as we played and cleaned house. Here he is busting a move....He loves music, loves to dance....he can't sit still when his songs are on. His favorite songs are "the wheels on the bus," "apples and bananas", and "if your happy and you know." I love that he enjoys music so much. The video is short because he "caught me filming"....but still cute.

Last week when I picked him up from Mothers Day Out one of his teachers asked me...how much music do you guys do at home? I said, its a part of our day, but we don't have "music time" or anything. We sing in the car, in the grocery store, while reading books etc...you know here and there. Well, Levi's teacher went on to tell me that Levi pulled the shakers out of the music supply box and started shaking them. Then, he began to dance and shake his body. She said, all the other kids thought it was pretty funny and started dancing about too. She said it was pretty cute!!