Allison: 15 Months

Our sweet girl is growing up- she's definitely not looking like our baby anymore, but more and more like a toddler. What a fun few months we've had since she turned one!

We've mastered walking, and are practically running around the house after Brayden, Ashley, and Katie at this point.

She loves to go outside for stroller rides and to ride on the back of the bike. Since she's started walking she loves wearing shoes, and she will go grab them and hand them to you if she knows everyone else is putting their shoes on.

Her favorite words are "momma", "puh" (which is her "up"), "nigh, nigh" and "bye bye". If you ask her to cuddle she will lay her head down on your shoulder. And if you ask for a kiss she will open up wide and go in for a big one- tongue included ha!

If she hears the bathtub starting she will run into the bathroom pulling at her clothes and diaper. And when she is ready to eat she will get a bib out of the drawer and bring it to you. 

And homegirl still loves to eat. Green beans are easily still a favorite, but she's also found a big love for poptarts. You can often find her rummaging in the pantry for a poptart or poptart box to carry around. 

Allison's favorite place to be is being carried by you, but if she can't be carried, in your lap or on the couch next to you are close seconds. 

She loves her momma, but pa-pa and grandpa are close seconds. She gets the biggest smiles when she sees them and walks right over to them. Sometimes it's hard to get her to come back to Eric or I!

Allison has 9 teeth with two more molars coming in. She is in size 4 diapers and just got moved up to size 18 month clothes. 

We love our sweet Allie girl and can't wait to see where the rest of this year takes her!

Katie: Fifteen Months

Fifteen months with our Kater-chip have come and gone so quickly, and the past three months have been big ones for Katie. 

She went to her first fair, had her first family photo session, took her first long road trip, took her first steps, went to her first wedding reception, went on her first boat ride, went to her first football game, and graduated to a big kid car seat-wowzers Kate, can we slow things down a bit?

I almost have to laugh at the thought of her slowing down, because I don't see that happening any time soon. Since she's mastered walking, she sometimes is practically running chasing after Brayden and Ashley around the house. 

Katie loves being outside, whether that's on a swing or just exploring the yard. You say the word "shoes" and she is well on her way to the garage door to grab her shoes to put on. And if you try to take them off of her once you are ready to come in- good luck with that ha!

Her favorite words are "momma", "up" (with a huge emphasis on the /p/ sound), and "shoes". She also says "dada" and something that sounds like "this?" that she uses when she is pointing to something. She loves to point at different things and have us tell her what they are. She understands so much, even if she doesn't want to listen. I swear her favorite thing to do is look at you, smile, and turn the other way when you tell her to come to you. She is the orneriest thing ever!

Katie's favorite places to be include anywhere I am, with anywhere Brayden and Ashley are as a close second. It's been fun to watch their bond develop as Katie is able to actually play with them more and more. 

She loves bath time, and when she hears the water turn on, she is in the bathroom pulling at her clothes and diaper to have you take them off. 

Lately she has been a huge fan of blowing raspberries, or even just spitting everywhere. She has been a huge fan of going around with a spoon of some sort in her mouth, but I've noticed that less here at the end of August compared to how much she used to do it. 

Katie isn't a fan of being told "no" or when someone is in her space (or more specifically if Brayden or Ashley get too close to her or try to steal her food).

She has 7 teeth, four on top and 3 on bottom, and those bottom ones sure are crooked! I have a feeling braces are in our future with her. Katie is weighing about 22 pounds and is just over 29 inches tall according to our measurements here at home. 

She is a bright ray of sunshine in our lives, and we couldn't imagine life without this sassy little girl!

Brayden and Ashley: Fifteen Months

How we are already 15 months old is beside me, but here we are! Brayden and Ashley have had a big past few months, and every day I look forward to seeing what new thing they can do or word they can say. 

 

Brayden, your dimpled smile can light up any room you come into. You are the true definition of a momma's boy, and I couldn't love it more. Your absolute favorite toy is a book (much to daddy's dismay- he'd prefer it be a ball), and you like to let us know you want us to read it by shoving it up in our faces. We could read the same book 100 times in a row- and sometimes we have- and you would never get bored of it. Your favorite books are the counting book, Red Pepper Yellow Squash, and any lift the flap book (which you and your sister have continued to ruin as you rip off the flaps....). Your one true love is food, and you can get pretty hangry if you don't get something to eat when you want it. You weigh 27.8 pounds and are about 31.5 inches tall. You love the dogs, and like to let them give you french kisses when we are playing in the yard. And the outside, that's your favorite place to be. You've shed a few tears when we had to come in to eat. I have a feeling we will be living outside this summer. You are walking a ton, but still do a decent amount of crawling. Your steps are a little smaller and your balance a little shakier than your sister, but you've also got a few extra pounds on you, so I know you'll get there. You wear your emotions on your sleeve, which can turn into some pretty random tantrums of you screaming on the floor. Luckily they don't last long, and we are hoping that that drive will serve you well as you get older. You still drool so much. I can't even explain the amount of drool that comes out of your mouth. So if you look back on pictures one day and wonder why you have a wet bib on in every photo of you, that's why. Your favorite spot (inside) is on the couch, or wherever a book is being read. Brady-bug, we hope you never lose your love of reading and adventure. 

 

Ashley, you are our little firecracker. You still laugh every time you see Moana save the baby turtle. Your favorite word is "bup" (or in big people's terms- up), because you love to be up where we are to see everything. You have to sit on my lap to eat your snack after daycare. No one can quite make you laugh like your daddy can, but Brayden is a close second. And that laugh, it is quite infectious. You weigh 24 pounds and are about 30.5  inches tall. You used to hate when I left daycare in the mornings, unless I could sneak out while you are sitting on Amanda's lap. And now when it's time to pick you up, you act like you want to stay and cuddle with Amanda instead of coming home with me. (At least your brother is excited when I come get you guys ha!) Speaking of cuddling, you are my little cuddle bug. You will weasel your way between Brayden and me to get to my shoulder, and when you lay your little head down and stick that thumb in your mouth I can't help but let out a big smile. That's one of my favorite moments in my day. You love to walk, and are definitely walking almost exclusively now. I still find it weird to see you just walking into the kitchen while I'm doing dishes though. Stop growing up stinker! You love trying to put on all of our shoes and playing peek-a-boo with a blanket or your sleep sack. And pillows, you love a good pillow. (That's something you got from your daddy.) You enjoy cuddling up with us with a good book, and eating the dandelions out of the yard. Don't worry, each time you try them you decide that they don't taste that great, but you still try them nonetheless. We hope you never lose that sassy spunk and crinkled nose smile.