Landon jumped off the diving board!

We met up with Luke, Ella and Marie at the pool last weekend and Landon jumped off the diving board for the first time! Just took a little peer pressure instead of convincing from daddy! After he went off the diving board once he was hooked and jumped several times! Jim said that tonight when they went Landon went off first thing! Jim is so proud and Landon is too!








The boys also had a noodle fight!





And I tried to get a fun picture of the kids together but the boys were being ornery! They are so much fun to watch when they play together!!










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Landon Funnies

Me: Landon, let's work on opposites. Do you know what the opposite of happy is?

Landon: Does his sideways look of thought.

Me: The opposite of happy is sad.

Landon: Why is the octopus sad?

Me: Huh? Wait. Oh!!!!!! Haha!!!

.......

Landon: Mommy I want a "naenae"

Me: what's a naenae?

Landon: it's a "anana" (banana) in "fanish!" (Spanish)...said with an ornery grin.




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5 years and a fun family weekend!

Saturday was our 5th wedding anniversary! Jim sent me 5 roses to work and his card said something along the lines of "Wow 5 years! Sometimes MK makes it feel like 50!". Ha! I'm certain our friends, family and coworkers won't know what to think when we both stop complaining about our lack of sleep! As challenging as times have been lately I'm certain neither of us would have it any other way. We have been blessed beyond measure and I know someday we will look back on this time in our lives and smile. We celebrated our big day by taking the kiddos to the farmers market in the morning and laughed when we got downtown and saw all the taekwondo folks! They have their big event this weekend every year and our out of town wedding guests had a hard time finding hotel rooms because of it! We bought some corn on the cob, okra and cherries and there was an older couple there selling pens and such made out of wood. Wood is the traditional gift for the 5th anniversary and since I hadn't found the perfect gift for Jim we were excited for him to pick out a nice pen. We told the man (in between chasing Landon) that it was our anniversary and he told us that he and his wife were about to celebrate 61 years! I asked him if he had any advice and he said there are two words a man should know to insure a lasting marriage. "Yes dear". We laughed. He also said that commitment is also a big word and that love has ups and downs but commitment is key. Having the mentality that you're committed and there is no other option will keep things in perspective. We thought that was good advice. We all have challenging times in life and we have days when we don't necessarily get along but we feel like we are in this together and even on our most challenging days we know we are in this for the long haul and thankfully we are a pretty good team and we love each other.

After the farmers market we took the kiddos to the pool and then we went to mass with the family. Afterwards we had planned on getting takeout to avoid a messy kitchen and we wanted to watch a movie. We got takeout but unfortunately the resident 3 year old had a late nap and wasn't at all interested in going to bed. So, our plans for a movie didn't work out but that was ok. We are going to the Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker concert Wednesday and I can't wait! I know Jim is excited for a date night even though he isn't a fan of country music!

This morning Jim took Landon fishing and they caught 5 fish! MK and I stayed home to do girl stuff. I've probably not mentioned it much but I have to say...I'm more and more excited everyday that I have a daughter to do girl things with. I know I once said that I always envisioned being a momma to boys but I'm so glad God has given me a baby girl. I know she might not grow up to enjoy everything I enjoy but I have dreams of us baking and going to plays and musicals and on fun girl trips together. I just smile so big when I think about it. My mom and I have such a great relationship and I hope MK and I will too!

When the boys got home from fishing we took the kiddos back to the pool. Landon finally made his daddy happy and jumped off the side and MK took a nap in a lounge chair! I'd say even though there wasn't a fancy anniversary dinner (or even a movie on the couch) that we had a great weekend celebrating our marriage!

Here are a few pictures from our fun weekend! Next time I will get a few of daddy!




























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Maddie Kate is 7 months old!

So, actually she's pretty close to 8 months old now and I'm obviously way behind! Last week I got her dressed for her 7 month photo shoot way late and when I picked up my camera the battery was dead. Nice. So, I took some pictures with my phone. She was in such a cute mood and I was sad that I wouldn't be able to get any good pictures of her at 7 months!! She is growing and changing so fast and there is so much to write but I will save it for her 8 month post next week...I will add though that until this week after a visit to the dr because I thought surely she had an ear infection since she wasn't sleeping well at all...she is sleeping better. Her ears weren't infected but were a little pink...and she is still working on 5 teeth...so she's getting Motrin and ear drops at night. They seem to be helping because for the last couple of nights she's doing better. Her dr said it sounds like she is sleep deprived. Really? How do you fix it if she won't sleep?? She won't nap at school and bedtime is a challenge. We have started her bedtime routine earlier and we are trying to stay consistent...easier said than done with an active 3 year old in the house and two full time jobs...but after letting her cry it out just a little and with some snuggling we are doing better and the Battreal household has been a smidgen less stressful this week...and MK gets cuter by the minute.




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Maddie Kate's first day of school.

Today was MK's first day of school. I was a little nervous about taking her because she's been a little clingy lately and her schedule is a little out of whack. I talked to her teachers this morning when I dropped her off and told them that she's a little high maintenance these days. I sat her down on the floor and she immediately started playing with toys and made friends with a cute little girl almost immediately. She didn't even notice I wasn't looking at her! It was so sweet and made dropping her off so easy. I didn't even cry! I really thought I would and I'm so glad she did so well. When I picked her up the teachers said she was happy and fun all day! I guess she's going to be our sweet little social baby and we just love her so much!




Also, Jim's dad came home from the hospital today and we are so happy! He's feeling much better and the kiddos can't wait to see him!

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Pool Adventures!

Yesterday we took the kiddos to our neighborhood pool for the first time this year...it was for our neighbor's birthday. Landon was so excited before we left and although he had fun, he still needs to learn that we don't run around the pool and he didn't quite pick up where he left off last year. This frustrated his daddy who had high hopes that the kid would do backflips and cannonballs off the diving board immediately! Ha! I know he will be right back into the swing of swimming soon...however, he will not be getting reacquainted by taking swimming lessons. I took him to his first lesson tonight and he was less than enthused to get in the pool with just the coach and not mommy or daddy. He's our cautious kid while I'm certain our fearless (already) MK will dive in head first when she's older and the water warms up a bit. I think we will either skip lessons altogether in favor of having daddy spend quality pool time with our guy or we will wait til next month.



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Sleep...it's obviously overrated.

Maddie Kate still isn't sleeping all night. I know this phase has to end eventually but right now it feels like we will never actually sleep all night again. Baby girl had a tummy bug earlier this week and although she seems to be over it, tonight she seems to be suffering from gassiness...or maybe the fact that she's cutting 37 teeth at once is the reason she isn't sleeping and seems to be so uncomfortable! We've tried gas drops and Motrin and after trying for over an hour to get her settled she's finally asleep. Hopefully for a while. I'm not complaining...just documenting our current situation so we can look back and laugh when she decides she wants to sleep all night. Clearly she isn't cutting 37 teeth...I'm exaggerating. But she does appear to be cutting 5 at once. She has three on the bottom already and one just started popping up on the bottom and I noticed that the two teeth closest to her two front teeth are coming in and her two front teeth are bulging. She's such a happy little thing during the day but at night she is so unsettled! We just hate that she's obviously in pain and we haven't figured out how to make her comfortable. We will get there and this will all be a distant memory soon enough but it's sure a challenge now! It could definitely be worse and we count our blessings daily that we have generally healthy kiddos.

Also, Jim's dad has started feeling better and it's such a relief to everyone. He is still in the hospital but he's improving and we hope he can come home soon. If you read my blog keep he and Mary in your prayers. I know they're ready to get home so they can get back to normal...the kiddos and I are really missing them and can't wait to see them soon!

On a side note...Landon and MK went to stay with Aunt Sissy today and his cousins had fun painting his face! Apparently he was a trooper and enjoyed it as much as they did!! Little toots!!




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Sneak Peek of our trip to Kansas

I have pictures on my grownup camera of our fun trip to Kansas but I thought I would go ahead and post a few pictures from my phone. We had such a fun time visiting my grandparents and we can't wait to go back! In fact Landon didn't want to leave! His Pocky said something along the lines of "isn't Kansas fun!" on our last day and Landon replied with "yep, and I'm going to stay here!". I'm so glad Landon loves visiting his great grandparents as much as we do. It's been so much fun to take him every year since he was little and let him really get to know them. He loves them so much and we do too! Maddie Kate is also a big fan. She put on a show and talked, crawled and showed them that she's ahead of the game for her little ol self! Great Mama and Papa, Aunt Lindy and Uncle Carl are pretty smitten with her too.

Landon caught two fish on his trip to the fishing pits! He was so excited!




And MK enjoyed just being her cute, sassy self. She's cutting more teeth and is a drool machine. She keeps her hands or toys in her mouth at all times!




Also, keep Jim's dad in your prayers. He's in the hospital fighting what they think is a pretty icky infection in a salivary gland. He's in quite a bit of pain and I'm sure he would appreciate your prayers. Landon is missing his Nana and Papa and we can't wait for him to get better real soon!! We love you Papa! Feel better soon!!

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MK's stellar verbal skills and Landon's cute haircut

Today I was home with the kiddos in the afternoon. We went to Painted Pig to paint a fun Father's Day surprise (Jim already knows...so it's not spoiled) and then we went to get Landon's hair cut. When we got home we enjoyed being together and I got a fun video of MK showing off her verbal skills. She has perfected saying momma and I'm kinda her favorite right now. And I kinda love it. When I got home around lunchtime Jim had her in the back of the house and he said that when she heard my voice she perked up and got excited. That makes a momma smile!! MK is still not sleeping well and although it's a little frustrating since we have busy daily schedules we know that this phase will pass. One night a week or so ago I went in to get her in the middle of the night...sleepy and a bit grumpy...and she said momma plain as day. I was still sleepy but far less grumpy. She's got us right where she wants us and I'd have it no other way...however, I would prefer the dark circles under my eyes to go away and lack of sleep is not helping my weight loss motivation. Tonight (after asking her pediatrician first) we tried gripe water. I hope it calms her belly since that's what I've decided is keeping her up. I will report any progress later.

Also, Mr Landon cracks us up daily with the stuff he knows. He has a rubbery lizard that he has started calling his "weptalle" aka reptile. Today he sat in a laundry basket with his weptalle and watched "tb". All before he ate pizza rolls, carrots and grapes on the ottoman, picnic style while watching more "tb". He loves having picnics and we love to let him enjoy them when he's been extra good!

Cutest little ornery boy ever!




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Maddie Kate is 6 Months Old!

Maddie Kate,

You're six months old...going on 16.  You have started getting into everything...you love to grab big ol handfuls of your brother's hair and you're also fond of cat fur.  Zoe is less tolerable of you than she was of Landon.  He was nicer.  You're a tooter.  You sure are a cute tooter though and aside from your aversion to sleep you're pretty awesome and we think we might keep you around.  We celebrated your half year the same way we celebrated your brother's.  With baby food!  You had green beans and until tonight I wasn't sure you'd be a fan of the green bean.  Tonight you ate an entire tub!  I don't make your baby food...sorry kid.  I didn't make Landon's either.  Gerber is alright with us.  In addition to green beans you've had peas and sweet potatoes.  Sweet potatoes are by far your favorite and in the last couple of days we can't seem to shovel it in fast enough.  You also like the fun little rice sticks called Mum Mums.  You are very verbal and you're starting to have quite a little opinion.  I think you already understand what "no" means but I think you've also already learned to flash your sweet grin and pretend you don't.  I decided to reference the milestone chart to see how you're doing...and let me just say kiddo, you're very, very advanced for your little ol age.  You're doing everything and more from the "advanced" column for 6 month olds.  You lunge forward, you crawl, you drag object to yourself.  You babble, coo, giggle, you say dada, you can finally sit up and you can pass objects between hands.  You're already doing things in the advanced column for 7 and 8 month olds!  Keep it up kid and your daddy and I will use your 529 for a lake house since you'll surely get an awesome scholarship for college!

At your sixth month checkup you weighed 15 lbs 10 oz (37%), you were 26 1/2" long (72%), and your head circumference was 16 3/4 cm (48%).  You wear a size 2 diaper and mostly 6-12 and 9 month clothes.  You have 2 teeth with a  3rd almost all the way through...all on the bottom.  Your hair is getting longer and still has some strawberry blonde but is mostly blonde.  Your eyes are still very blue and your eyelashes are gorgeous.  We just think you're about the cutest baby girl that ever lived.

We are enjoying you so much.  You are a daddy's girl and he gets all the biggest giggles at our house.  Landon get quite a few too...and I think you think I'm alright too.

Now that you're mobile and opinionated I wasn't able to get many good pictures for your sixth month photo shoot.  But here are a few not so bad ones.

She was totally over the photo shoot...actually she was over it before it began.  But in this one you can see her teeth!

 

Home again...

I made it home from my work trip and the kiddos and Jim survived just fine. He's such a good daddy. Being a working mom is so challenging at times. I don't love being away but I learned a lot and I'm enjoying my new role with SPP. I'm so behind on blogging! MK has her six month check up tomorrow so I will post some pictures and her stats soon. She's growing and changing so fast and her big brother is still an ornery little dude. I love my little family and even though we have our challenges we are doing great and we are looking forward to a crawfish boil this weekend and a trip to Kansas later this month!

Landon and I had a mommy/son date a couple weeks ago and he enjoyed yogurt at Orange Leaf!






And Miss MK is becoming more mobile by the minute!!





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Travel Time

Tomorrow I'm heading to Hartford Connecticut for work. I'm going to training for my new position with SPP. This is one of those times when being a working momma is a little hard...for momma but especially for daddy who will be staying home with both kiddos while I'm gone. This will be my first time to leave MK and I haven't left Landon very much either. I'm so fortunate that Jim is such a good daddy and that we have his family so close...I don't have to worry about anything at all while I'm gone. I'm sure he will be a little frazzled when I get home late Friday night (assuming I don't get stuck in the ATL) but he will do great...he always does and that makes being a working mom a smidgen easier. I like that we are such a good team and that he has no problem taking care of things while I'm away. But I'm sure going to miss my little family.

We went to Lavaca over weekend...even after Landon woke up with a horrendous rash Saturday morning. Turns out the strong antibiotic they gave him to fight strep throat didn't agree with him. Poor guy looked awful but it sure didn't slow him down. At all. He's a wild man and even at his orneriest he's still pretty cute. We had so much fun on our trip and got to see most of the family. Maddie Kate even got to show off her crawling skills! We went to see Pocky and Nanny Gayle on Sunday. I didn't get any pictures this time so I will have to get a few next time.

If you think about it say a quick prayer that I will have safe travels and will return safely to my sweet family.


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Landon and Maddie Kate

I haven't had much time to blog lately but I had to share this picture. I'm overdue a blog about MK's baptism and we have lots to share...and I'm sure I will get to it soon. But for now look at this sweetness!



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MK is mobile...

And I should be impressed...considering she's only 5 1/2 months old. And I kinda am...but really, do babies crawl this early??? Landon didn't. She isn't even sitting up on her own but she can inch her way across a room and her latest favorite object to crawl to is shoes. Such a girly girl!!! Here is a video from earlier this week. If you can believe it she's gotten faster since! In this video the goal was the remote and you will see how much she liked the book I tried to replace it with!

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Happy Easter!

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Preschool dollars well spent.

This week Landon asked me out of nowhere if I knew "I'm a little teapot". I said yes and we sang it. He knew all the moves and said he learned it at school. Between I'm a little teapot and Honkey Donkey aka Humpty Dumpty I'd say we are getting our monies worth. :)

Ignore the fact that I can't sing and focus on the cute kid's moves.

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Stella...

She's gone to heaven. I can't believe how quickly she went and my heart is absolutely broken for her family and all the other families who lose their babies too soon. I just can't imagine what they must be going through and I pray that we will never have to know personally. They had a healthy little girl one day and found out the next that she had a brain tumor. I prayed and prayed for a miracle for them and I truly expected one...and I'm so sad they didn't get the miracle we all prayed for. I know Miss Stella's story along with so many similar stories has touched the lives of others in so many ways. I said something to Stella's dad when we were in the Children's hospital cafeteria together that I wish I could take back. I was so worn out and didn't know what to say and I told him that with our situation the reality wasn't as bad as the thought or stories you hear of babies with RSV. Clearly they weren't dealing with a virus and in my need to make conversation I'm surprised he didn't tell me that the reality for them is horrific and is much worse that the stories anyone can tell. Stella's family is so strong and everyone is quick to call them heroes. I'm sure they'd much rather not be this kind of hero...no one should have to go through what they've been through and my heart just aches for them. Please continue to pray for this sweet family. Stella joined her big sister in heaven yesterday and I hope they can play together and send comfort and peace to their mommy, daddy and big brother who need it so much. RIP sweet Stella.


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Sweet Stella

Well, sweet Stella, the baby girl I asked you to pray for back when MK was in the hospital isn't going to be with her family much longer and my heart is just broken.  I don't know her family well - just remember her parents from college - but I just can't imagine what they're going through...especially since they lost another baby girl several years ago.  Keep their family in your prayers during this horribly sad time.

MK's Babbles

MK said Dada yesterday! I tried to get it on video today and she kind of said it but you can see that she has a lot to say. I have no idea where she gets it.

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Tiny Dancer

I love the song Tiny Dancer by Elton John - it's one of my favorite songs!  We just happen to have a tiny dancer in our house...and boy does he have some energy and some awesome moves!  I didn't get his latest dance party on video but I got a few pictures that showcase the little dude's moves.

Tiny dance and his tinier sister...precious.  We sure love these two!

Maddie Kate is 5 Months Old!

Sweet Maddie Kate is 5 months old and she's such a doll.  She weighs 15 pounds.  We started giving her rice cereal at night between 4 and 5 months...she wasn't too sure at first but she's getting the hang of it.  We're doing it now just to get her used to eating from a spoon and also to get used to solids...we'll start a more consistent solid feeding schedule and with fruits and veggies when she turns 6 months.  Miss MK is just the sweetest baby.  She has perfected rolling over and now won't spend much time on her back at all.  She's been sleeping in her crib for a couple of weeks now and every night she ends up on her side or on her belly.  She still sucks her thumb but since she's cut two teeth and they're bothering her she also likes to chew on a paci...or Sophie the giraffe or the chew beads Nana got her...or tonight, Daddy's finger.  Ha!  I finally feel like we have more of a normal routine.  MK goes to bed fairly consistently between 7 and 8 - right around the same time as her big brother and she sometimes sleeps all night and sometimes wakes up around 1ish for a bottle.  We are enjoying a little bit of consistency but we are still looking forward to the day she sleeps all night more than one night at a time.  I'll post more when I post her 6 month stats and pictures but here are a couple from her 5 month photo shoot and from her first taste of rice cereal!  She's wearing the same onesie in both sets of pictures...totally a coincidence, however, Mommy is not fashion forward...and while she has found some super cute things and is getting better...MK still wears the same things over and over...and over.

What is that?  I'm busy sucking my thumb.

Okay, I'll try it but only if you let me do it myself!

What is that, wallpaper paste?

Grody

On second thought...it's not so bad!  Keep it coming!

Jungle Journey Playset!

We just ordered this super fun swing set for our favorite kiddos! We can't wait for it to get here and Landon has been helping his daddy get the yard all ready!!




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