Breleigh is 8 months

Breleigh is 8 months old!
She is interested in EVERYTHING that she can get her hands on. She is a very happy and easy going baby right now. She just kind of goes with the flow and only shows her demanding side when it comes to eating! Then she can be very vocal!

Breleigh highlights!
- working on sleeping without the pacifier... so far pretty good!
- eating baby food like a champ and starting to try real solid food
- not a huge fan of bread and bread products.... yet
- likes the taste of ice cream and whip cream
- rice makes her gag!
- while laying on tummy can scoot backwards but has no idea about going forwards
- enjoys tearing tissue paper!
- turns in circles while sitting on her buns
- smiles a lot
- has six teeth and the drool to prove it
- still loves Helaina if she is saying nasty things to her
- cuddles with her "sleep sack" at night. We fear she will have to wear one until she attends college!
- Gives the best smiles upon waking up in her bed
- Is a JOY JOY JOY!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Helaina's friend Camyrn and her mommy and daddy joined us for our birthday celebration.
The best part of the cake is licking the frosting off the candles ,right?
It took about 16 blows to get the candles out... too funny!

It was a Tinkerbell birthday and even Breleigh wore wings!
Helaina is proud to be 3! Look at that round face!

It was a great birthday!
Jim took the day off and we went to the mall to let Helaina do a build a bear. She made a bunny and named her Tinkerbell. She WAS wearing a pink tutu but Helaina decided to "naked" her the other day so she is just a bunny now. Then we headed to see Santa. Helaina was still timid but did talk to him and stand by him. She wasn't keen on sitting on his lap, maybe next year.
Helaina got to choose lunch and she chose to eat at Zebra's (Steak and Shake) where she had mini corn dogs and our waitress gave her an ice cream sundae! Then it was home where she didn't take a nap but instead laid in her bed and talked. After that she got to open a couple of presents and then it was off to Happy Joe's to meet Wendy and Ted and Camryn. We had a great dinner and then came home for cake and to finish opening presents.
Over all it was an awesome birthday. I sure hope Helaina enjoyed it as much as I did because I was glowing all day!

Birthday Cake Sneak Peek!

Here's Helaina's cake for her 3rd birthday! I took a page from my friend's book and ordered my frosting from Hy Vee. It is just the right color and tastes so YUMMY!!! In case it isn't obvious to anyone but me it is supposed to be a fairy house.
Tomorrow we celebrate Helaina's big day. More pics of the big event after tomorrow!

Our new bench and coat rack in our back entry! Love it!

our new word art! I love this stuff. The company is simply said and they are wonderful to work with!

Family pictures- everyone can't look perfect but I like it!
Silly
Sweet
Sweet
Silly
I am using these pictures above my steps on the peg board my dad made. The family shot is 11x14 and the others are 8x10.

Robbins Family

My sister Heather, her husband Grant, son Grayson and daughter Reagan came to visit this past weekend. It was so fantastic to have them here. Heather I were able to celebrate our birthday together too. I love being a twin and I love sharing my birthday.

Helaina said that we needed a "Farm Cake" so we added the Combine to the cake. I didn't have any birthday candles and the kid's insisted on them so I had to use tea lights. It was so FUN!
I told Heather I would take a few pics for her so she might have something for Christmas cards. It was fun playing photographer. I am NO professional but at least they were all in the shot and I didn't cut anyone's head off! (except in editing)
Are my youngest niece and MN nephew the cutest things ever?

Seven Months

Breleigh is 7 months old! We celebrated this major accomplishment by switching her from her infant car seat to her big girl car seat that her sister just vacated. This one is So much easier to get her in and out of. Yes, she is still backwards, of course!
Breleigh is really coming in to her own these days. She is getting a lot more personality and is so much fun to be with.

Breleigh Bits
- teething (working on the top four and has a lower tooth peeking through)
- working on sitting on her own consistently
- likes being a baby
- has a smile to die for
- has long beautiful eye lashes ( but are so light you can't really see them- mascara will be her friend)
- STILL has some funky hair- yes I know this about her and if I knew how to cut it to make it cute I would, but there isn't a A LOT to work with
- Uses a pacifier to sleep and sometimes in the car
- Eats baby food like a champ
- can eat a whole container of prunes with no side effects
- LOVES to happy scream- especially in restaurants
- Is often referred to as Breleighkins
- Is loved!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everyone!
It was a bit chilly but "oh what a night"!
For those of you who don't know the story let me explain why Jim is dressed as a lady bug in these pictures!
Long before Halloween Helaina started talking about costumes etc. One day at lunch she declared that "daddy is going to be a ladybug". She kept that idea for days so I of course, WENT WITH IT ALL THE WAY! Jim was a VERY good sport about the whole thing. He wore his Spots with pride for his Helaina. I can hardly wait to see what his future costumes will be when there are two little girls doing the dictating. It is so funny for me to see him dressed as a lady bug since in previous years he was constantly trying to convince me that he needed to dress scary and scare the kids! Hehehehehehehe
My mom found that cool witch hat that I am wearing and I actually had everything else I needed to make it a costume. It is a good thing when you have a large box in the basement marked "costumes". I love Halloween and I love to dress up so the family pictures of all of us dressed up just make my day!
Breleigh made an adorable lamb to Helaina's Mary! She went the whole way with us in her stroller and never made a peep. Who knew that lambs liked pacifiers so much!
So, things I learned this Halloween

1. We have exceedingly generous neighbors
2. Trick or Treating with Friends is way more fun!
3. Having Nana and Papa here makes it even more special.
4. The Port Byron Fire Department puts on a great treat with games, videos and a HUGE amount of treats.
5. Practicing "Trick of Treat" and saying "Thank You" goes out the window when the candy appears and gets changed to "I need more Candy!"
6. Having a family and celebrating Halloween is so much better than anything I could have done in college.
7. Making the costumes makes them even more special
8. You can't carve a gourd even if it looks like a pumpkin (ok so we didn't actually try but it really looked challenging)
9. Kids don't care how chilly it is when candy is involved
10. I STILL love Halloween!

I played just a little with some pics I took of Helaina in her costume. Sorry- Breleigh was sleeping so she didn't get to come out! Stayed tuned for more!

Helaina has taken to wearing this petticoat all the time. I must have caught her on a good day because it is actually on correctly. More often than not it is inside out!
Helaina wanted Breleigh to watch a little morning TV with her! I had to capture the moment!
Helaina enjoyed her first taste of Rip's chicken. She must take after her mother because I love it too! We actually waited in line for this tasty dinner for about an hour!
Breleigh didn't get to eat any of the chicken but she did sit in a highchair for the first time and enjoyed it very much!

Yes, Breleigh is now six months old. Where does the time go? Here is a list of her recent accomplishments...

1. eating baby food. Successfully tried and liked both sweet potatoes and carrots!
2. can now eat a puff with very little gag faces
3. can sit up for short periods of time inside her boppy!
4. Loves to find and try to chew on any necklace that mommy is wearing
5. Reaches out and grabs at anything and everything- including Helaina's hair
6. loves to look at and feel your face
Just to name a few.
We love her!
We had some professional shots taken recently so if any turn out expect to see them on this blog!

Pumpkin Harvest Time

Helaina and her Daddy shopped for seeds, planted seeds, watered those seeds and watched them grow. (notice I didn't mention anything about weeding) They have been keeping a close eye on the lone pumpkin growing in the garden. While it is still more than a month until Halloween it was ready to be picked. So... off we went to document this momentous occasion. Next year perhaps Breleigh will do more than just "sit" in a stroller! These days I think my girls are growing as quickly as the pumpkin did!

Breleigh is Five Months

And then Helaina started calling her name...

I just cannot believe that Breleigh is five months old. I am sure this is a common thread in the previous posts of Breleigh's previous monthly pictures. Where on Earth does the time go though? I thought things went fast with Helaina but this is just crazy.
Breleigh is changing by leaps and bounds.

Breleigh's Top Ten
10. Rolled over from back to front at 4 months
9. Pulls off a "Mohawk" like no other 5 month old
8. I am sure that when she drools she is singing to herself "I feel spitty" (instead of I feel pretty)
7. Thinks Helaina can do no wrong
6. Has survived more than one tongue bath from Parker
5. Dislikes chaos but can sleep in her car seat at the food court in the mall of America
4. Has very dainty hands (for now)
3. Is learning how to sleep longer during nap time
2. Has been sleeping through the night since she was three weeks old
1. Is a true blessing to our home!

The first five months has be a joyous adventure and really looking forward to the next 5, 10, 15,... etc

I finally trimmed Breleigh's "bangs" the other day. She was starting to look like she had a serious comb over! I intend to get the top of her mohawk trimmed soon too. I refuse to count it as a first hair cut since she only has hair on top of her head. ;)

Sisters

I finally captured some shots of the two girls together. I was unable to get Breleigh to smile in these shots. Unfortunately her favorite thing to smile at was in the picture. She just loves Helaina and usually does her best laughing for her. I still think the shot turned out cute.
The sisterly love from Helaina's end is coming along. It is a slow process... but the more personality Breleigh seems to get the better their relationship seems to be.

First Dance Class

Helaina waiting for her turn to do some tumbling
Helaina and her dance pal Camryn!
Trying on the outfit at home!
Helaina with her teacher- Miss Jamie
So the big news is that Helaina is now taking dance and had her first class last night. All I can say is that Miss Jamie, her teacher, is a saint! She had about 9-10 2 and 3 year olds. It looked a little like she was trying to herd cats! I have been playing "dance class" with Helaina for a while now and I think something might have sunk in because she actually did a pretty good job. She even got a sticker for sitting so nice! YEAH! Now, keep your fingers crossed for next week! :)
Her little friend Camryn is taking dance class with her. It took Camryn a little while to warm to the idea but I am sure they will be tapping their way across the floor together in no time. Dance is a while new world for me. I never took dance as a child so this is a true test of my ability to try new things. So far so good I think. If nothing else... the girl can fill out a pair of tights!

Breleigh is 4 months old! I wasn't thinking when I took her outside for these shots. Her eyes are a pretty light blue... I am sure the bright day was a killer. She has her mommy's squint! Check out that funky hair do. All I can say is... she grew it herself! There is some curl in there right now. Will it last? Probably not, so get a good look now!
The other day one of the dogs (neither has confessed to the crime as of yet) pooped on the floor while I was feeding Breleigh. Helaina kindly helped me out with the feeding so I could clean up the mess.
This is Breleigh while at the zoo. I think she will one day love the experience as much as we do!
Helaina wasn't much for riding the "real" ponies but these "up and down" ones were right up her alley!
My entire family in one spot at the same time! It was SO AWESOME. It hasn't happened since 2006.
I cannot believe that it has been a month since I have updated this blog. That is just shameful. So many wonderful things can happen in a month.
Helaina, Breleigh and I left Daddy at home and we traveled to MN. It was just us girls and it went really well. Helaina was very well behaved and Breleigh handled the trip very well. We spent the night in Rosemount at Nana and Papa's house and then off to their cabin the next day. Of course, we had to stop at the Outlet mall on the way up! It had been WAY too long since I had shopped with my mom. We haven't lost our talent for finding all the best deals and forgetting about the time! It was WONDERFUL. There is nothing like shopping with my mom.
Heather and her family took a week vacation up at their cabin at the same time and since their cabin is only one other cabin away from my parents Helaina and Grayson got to spend a lot of time together. They are so much more like brother and sister. They tend to fight just like that too. Grayson loved Breleigh though and always wanted to feed her. It was so SWEET.
Uncle Goggy( aka Grant) tolerated us very well. He didn't even throttle me when I chopped down their lilac bush to make the view of the new playground better. ( I was chopping on Heather's orders). :)
The weather wasn't hot by any means but it was nice weather with only a few rainy times. We managed to go shopping a little and relax a lot. It was a great time. My mom and dad really know how to play host.
I was a little nervous leaving Jim at home. Last year when I tried this trip he broke his leg. I was very happy that I did not get any of those phone calls this time. Jim is still in one piece!
Both the girls are doing awesome and enrich our lives oh so much. Not to say that there isn't drama... there is plenty of that these days but at the end of the day when the little angels are sleeping, the only word that comes to mind is BLESSED!
Breleigh is growing like a weed and has been rolling from her back to her front and then back again. Helaina is going to attempt dance class this fall and has been parading around her house in her tap and ballet shoes as much as she can!
My goal is to be much better about posting on my blog so don't give up on me... keep checking!

Here are some random pictures from the last month for you to enjoy!

Breleigh is 3 Months Old

I can hardly believe that Breleigh is 3 months old. She is getting so big these days. She has developed her sister's "ONLY MOMMY" issue. It makes it rather difficult because I want people to be able to hold her and she just gets upset. *sigh*
She is starting to Coo a lot now and stays awake a lot longer during the day. She isn't the greatest day time sleeper but she does sleep very good at night so this mama isn't complaining.
(I don't know why the earlier text was underlined)