Smiles!!!

So I was kinda busy the last few weeks: newborn+toddler with eczema=long nights and no time to blog... and I missed documenting some of Kallen's Big Moments...one of the Biggest was his 1st SMILE!!! I got his first real smile when he was 4 weeks old. It was the sweetest smile I've ever been given by a boy ;) He is soooo dang cute when he smiles! God, I love this kid. AND he has dimples on BOTH sides. Yah, Mama's gonna need to carry a gun. Duh. A couple days later I got one on camera! Not gonna lie, I'm good with my camera. Haha. But seriously, after 22months of daily pictures with Raya, I better be!
Here's some of my FAVORITE pictures of Kallen's perfect little smile:

Yep, melts my heart. Those eyes have nothing but pure love behind them. Those sweet little smiles are easily what makes life so amazing. To be able to look at such a beautiful little boy smiling up at me makes me feel like the luckiest gal in the world...a lucky gal that's gonna need to carry a guy ;) Did I already say that?

Keeping Up With Kallen---2 Months Old!

Kallen Bug

I forget how much changes week to week when you're this young! I need to blog your updates more often because so much has changed these last 4 weeks.

You are such a sweet baby. You smile at me when you wake up in the morning and its the best way to start the day. You are a good sleeper at night. You usually only wake up once to eat and go right back to sleep. You'd probably be a pretty good day sleeper too if I could hold you every second. You do NOT like to sleep by yourself. You want to be held ALL the time. I've found a few little tricks, like if I get you to fall asleep and then let you nap on the couch on your stomach you'll sleep pretty solid. Having you sleep on your stomach freaks me out, so I only let you do it when you're napping and right next to me. You also sleep pretty good in our bed-I know, its so comfy right?! But you're clearly a cuddle bug and could lay on me or your Dad All Day Long! Raya let me put her down a lot more and would sleep on her own easier, I guess you just have that Needy Man Thing ;) Hehe.

You are awake more during the day now. I'm not really sure what to do to entertain you. Lol. You'll swing and look around for about 15 minutes or lay in your play gym for about 10, but then you're over it. You really just like me to hold you and walk around. You coo a lot! I don't remember Raya cooing this much. Your Dad I were cracking up last night because you literally say "Coo." Haha!!! Sometimes you make other noises, but most of the time you say "Coooo." You're still a loud kid. You grunt and make all sorts of noises when you're waking up or moving around.

You can hold your head up great. I can walk around with you and you'll hold your head up and look around the whole time. When you're on your tummy you'll push your chest up and hold your head up and look around. You also love for us to hold you so you can "stand" up. Your Dad lets you stand and you flex your muscles. It's hilarious. I'll get it on video to share :) So your legs are very strong!

Your eyes are still pretty dark, but every once in awhile the light will shine at an angle that lets me see the brown in them, so I'm guessing your eyes will be dark brown? You still have all of the hair you were born with. It's lightening up a bit. Right now its brown and in the sun it has a golden tint to it. It's still pretty straight. It curls up some when its wet, but by the time it dries its straight again.

You've outgrown some of your 3 month clothes. Last week I busted out your 6month collection. You fit pretty good in a lot of those thing. Most of your 3month stuff fits you perfectly, but any day its going to be too short/tight. I've put you in a couple 9mon shirts and jackets and they don't swallow you up like they did with Raya. We go to the doctor tomorrow for your 2 month appt so we'll get your stats then, but I'm guessing you weigh 12.3lbs and are 21.5 inches. Your Dad and I make bets every time, so thats mine.

You eat great, nursing like a pro. During the day you eat every 2 hours. At night you will go at least 4 hours, usually 5 or 6, before wanting to eat, so we all get a good nights sleep! THANKS!!! And you rarely spit up. I didn't know some babies spit up and some don't, but seriously, you've probably spit up like 5 times your whole life.

Oh, and most importantly, this month you pinky swore me that you wouldn't play football-unless it was as a kicker. Even Dad's on board with it! Football is just so bad for your head, so after we discussed it with you and you weighed your options, you were on board too! I look forward to watching you play soccer or baseball or basketball or waterpolo or whatever. No pressure :)

I love love love you kiddo! You truly are my sweet baby boy and I so look forward to watching you grow. Seeing your face light up and your sweet little smile makes everything better. I could stare at your face and coo with you All Day Long!!!
Xoxo,
Mom

Girls Visit!

One of my best friends from college, Olivia, and her daughter, Priestly came and stayed with us last week. They were here for 4 days and it was sooooo great having them!!!! Priestly is 2 months younger than Raya, so they're super close in age. When Olivia and I talked leading up to the trip we were very curious how the 2 girls would interact with each other. Especially because they'd be together the WHOLE time for the 4 days and neither one had been around another kid for that long. They're still at that age that kids don't really play together, its more like they play next to each other. And they are both learning the whole "sharing" thing, so that was interesting. Lol. When Raya is with her friend Jackson they take each other's toys and run and then the other chases and they just laugh. Its a game to them. So when Priestly got here Raya assumed Priestly knew The Game. She didn't. And when she learned it she really didn't like it. So Raya would take her things and run away hoping Priestly would chase her, but that wasn't happening. Priestly was not amused. Haha! She knew that if Raya took it, she wouldn't have it and that pissed her off. So Olivia and I helped mediate ;) I wouldn't say they loved each other, but they definitely put up with each other. They got along like any strangers dressed alike would get along ;) If you just looked at the pictures you'd think they were BFFs, but clearly I'm just as talented as those people that edit reality shows, cause through the pictures I've made it the reality I was hoping it would be. So maybe by next year they'll like each other a little more.

It was soooo great having Olivia here. Tuesday, Feb 22, was National Margarita Day (yes, its a real holiday-look it up) We went out and had margaritas and talked. Ahhh, it was great having a girls night. I think that's been the hardest thing for me, missing my girlfriends. I have a play date with a couple of my girlfriends once or twice a month and those are always wonderful. So having one of my girlfriends staying with me was so fun. Its was 4 days of "girl talk!" The only thing that would have made it better is if it was just a little bit warmer so we could've worked on our tans while drinking talking.

Olivia and I skype a couple times a month. It's really just like any other playdate. We try to catch up on each other's lives and keep an eye on our kid at the same time. That might mean I let Raya draw on the sliding glass door for fifteen minutes because 1. I know it will come off and 2. That's a solid 15 I can have a conversation without her climbing the bookshelf or eating outta the dog bowl. So because we skype I feel like I see them regularly. And I've been able to watch Priestly grow and change. It's crazy to think I've only seen that little girl once in real life. Ah, good 'ol skype. However, one of the things I failed to witness through the power of skype was the looks Priestly gives. This girl gave the MOST intense looks I've ever seen from a little kid! Sometimes, when she looked at me, I'd think I was in trouble. She could look at you with the most intense look and not even blink! She meant business. I wish I got a picture of it. I'm sure her Mom has one.

Olivia, thank you so so so much for coming. It was so GREAT to have you both here!!! I miss you girls already :) Love you both!

PS- They have a couple matching outfits if you haven't already picked that up. Sometimes Olivia and I find things that we love, so we get 2 of them :) I was so excited to get them together in their outfits. Best Photo Op!
My facebook album has more pictures: Girls Visit