Happy Halloween!

The kids had a good Halloween. I was lazy this year so we painted our pumpkins instead of carving them. It ended up being more fun for them that way anyway. Then we went trick-or-treating tonight. John's word for "more" is "big" and if he thinks I haven't given him enough of something he'll tell me he wants "big." So the kids went up to the first house (which was our neighbors/friends from church) and the guy gives John some candy in his bag and John yells out (very loudly) "NOOOOOO, BIG!!!" A few houses later I heard him tell the lady "no, I want that one!" I guess at least he's not afraid to speak up for himself right?

So Halloween is over and Bella's getting very excited about Christmas. She keeps telling me all the things she wants to tell Santa she wants for Christmas. And they are both excited about putting up the Christmas tree.

Boo!

Two Videos

3 Months

Smiles

New Jammies

Who doesn't love new jammies?







Bella and John decided to have some slumber parties over the weekend. Between the two of them that's a lot of blankets and stuffed animals on a bed.

Head Control

Phoebe's head control is really starting to improve. She's going to be 3 months old on wednesday, I can't believe it's been that long already. She smiling a bunch now and letting out cute little coos when she does. A stitch popped out of her incision though and it's still connected to the inside so she's heading back to the surgeon on Wednesday to get that removed.

Future Star?

Bella went on her first (and most likely last) audition today for a commercial. They're filming a new overstock.com commericial next week and since Corey works there he found out about it. Anyone who's seen overstock's latest commercial will agree that they really do need a new one and some cute kids certainly wouldn't hurt. Anyway Bella had fun going which was the point and I'm sure she has no future in show business (at least not anytime soon.) I'd be extremely shocked if she got a call back. Corey did teach her to say "shop overstock.com" in a really cute voice though.

And Phoebe is continuing to sleep great. I feed her at midnight before I go to bed and then she sleeps ALL night long. Corey wakes her up to feed her a bottle before going to work and then puts her back to bed and she doesn't wake up until 10 or 11am. I love her! The Miracle Blanket really is a miracle. And other than her early morning bottle she breastfeeds all day (and I literally mean ALL day.) She won't even take a bottle from me anymore since she knows I have the real thing (takes one from Corey just fine though.)

John's video

A little late getting videos out this year. Haven't even made Bella's yet.

Happy Birthday Bella

I can't believe my baby is 4.

shots!

The kids all went to the doctor yesterday. They all got shots (12 total) so it was definitely a scream fest. But John and Bella won't need anymore until kindergarten so that's good. John is doing great, he's finally on the growth charts now. 27 lbs and 36 inches tall. The doctor was very pleased with his weight gain this year (5 lbs total.)

Phoebe is doing great too and the doctor was amazed at the progress she's made since surgery. She's now 9 lbs 4 oz and 23 inches long. So she's grown 4 inches and gained 3 pounds since birth, pretty good considering Bella and John have always been so short.

Bella didn't actually get a check up yesterday so I don't know her weight. I do know she's 40 inches tall though.

The kids had a soccer game today and John actually played. The other games he just sat on the side crying and wouldn't set foot on the field. Corey dragged him onto the field today though and made him kick the ball and he realized it's actually fun and not so scary. Bella usually has her head in the clouds though and doesn't pay that much attention to the game, she plays in short spurts but it's cute to watch and she has fun.

Bella Writes

Bella starting writing letters a week or so ago. Now she can write and spell her name and John and Phoebe's. She wrote these by herself (we didn't even help her spell them.) Don't you dare try to teach her something though, she insists on figuring things out all by herself. Guess we better get some more educational toys for Christmas.

All about Phoebe

Phoebe is doing great. She hasn't vomited once since her surgery, only normal baby spit-ups. That is amazing and so nice. She is much much less fussy and is certainly nothing compared to the crazy colic of Bella and John. We're all madly in love with her.

And best of all she's breastfeeding again, part time anyway. So that means less pumping and less bottle washing for me (always a good thing.) I think she'd lived attached to the boob if I let her.

Pumpkin Fest

Corey got off work early today so we made a last minute trip to pumpkin fest while it wasn't crowded. It was fun but hot. The last two years when we went it was actually cold, this time however was much different. The kids still had fun though so it's all good.

Phoebe has her follow-up appointment with the surgeon in the morning. She's doing great though so I expect it to go well. I'll do an update on her after the appointment.