Ettley is 8 months:

Ettley is 8 months! She has had a ton of firsts this month and I continue to love watching her grow and learn everyday. She is such a happy baby and loves to explore and try to play with her big brother. Here is what is new with Ettley:

-The biggest thing for us is that her spitting up has finally stopped! She still spits up a little here and there but I am so glad that is over! Adler stopped at 6 months so we were nervous she would spit up until she was 1!

-She is pulling herself up on everything! A few days before turning 9 months she started pulling herself up in her crib. It’s so cute to walk in and see her looking over the side at us.

-She can high five when we ask for it but she is still selective about when she actually wants to do it.

-She dances anytime she hears music. I love her little dance moves. She likes the Parks and Rec theme song.

-She has started spitting with her tongue and clicking it. For a while she was constantly just playing or making noises with her tongue.

-She can clap especially when we say “Yay Ettley!” I love when she claps. She gets so excited.

-She is starting to climb up single steps. My mom has one step that goes up into the kitchen from the family room and she can successfully climb up it. She has tried the actual steps but with no success and I’m ok with that!

-She got her 1st cold. Adler was sick for about 3 weeks with a fever and chills so I’m glad she only got a cold. Except coughs and runny noses are killer with babies. She is a pretty happy sick kid just like her brother.

-She knows what a doggie is. When we say “Where is the doggie” she will search for Maggie (our family dog) and get excited when she finds her.

-We are starting to teach her sign language. We taught Adler the basics and it was very nice. She is slowly picking up on everything.

-I swear I have heard her say “doggie,” “Adler,” and “woof!”

-She has eaten cut up bananas, avocado and grapes and likes them all!

-She can wave and is getting better at actually waving when we say "bye Ettley".

-She likes to put toys half way in her mouth and then crawl around with them hanging out. Adler use to do this. It’s crazy how they do a lot of the same things.

We love Ettley and can’t imagine our family without her. Now for some cute pictures.

She sleeps like this a lot!

It was nap time

First time on the swing

She experienced her first snow!

Christmas 2016:

Christmas was lots of fun this year with two kids! Adler is at an age where for the most part he understands Christmas which makes it more fun for Ettley. We spent Christmas with my family since we were living with my mom and Amanda was coming home from an LDS mission. 

We had breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus again at Maggianos. We did this last year with Adler and we really enjoyed it. The food was delicious and they had so many activities planned. It was even more fun this year because Adler really understood what was happening and was able to partake in the craft making. It was Ettley’s first time taking pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and even though she didn’t cry, she was a little unsure and if she had stayed on his lap for any longer she probably would have cried. Adler loved listening to the story read by Santa and decorating cookies. The Sugar Plum Fairy even made him a balloon sword! I love this breakfast but since we are moving I will need to find a new one to attend. I just need to book it by September or it sells out (crazy)! I love the spirit of Christmas and this breakfast definitely brought that.

Story time!

He asked for a pink sword...haha

On Christmas Eve we all opened Christmas pjs and our sister presents. We also told the story of Jesus’s birth and used a felt board to act it out. Adler loved opening his pjs but was sad he could only open one present. 

I love this picture!

and this one

Making Christmas cookies

and eating them

Since Christmas was on a Sunday we knew my sisters wouldn’t wake up in time to open presents before church so we did stockings before church. Adler loved seeing everything in his stocking. I only laid out a stuffed animal and shoes for Ettley and she enjoyed playing with her stuffed animal flamingo. After church we took a family picture and then changed back into our pjs. Adler was loving opening presents and actually insisted on helping everyone open theirs. We took turns opening presents and Adler couldn’t wait until we got back to him. Then he opened his kindle Fire (the iPad he has is Dane’s old one and it’s pretty much dead). He didn’t really care about presents anymore just wanted to play his new “iPad.” 

Ettley kind of got the concept of opening presents with the help of Adler and I was surprised that she actually was playing with the toys inside and not just the paper (although she loved the paper as well).

His reactions were the best!

Helping daddy open his presentsr

He makes me laugh! 

Christmas with two kids was lots of fun. Adler made it a lot more fun for Ettley and I’m so excited to start Christmas traditions of our own.