Two Cuties

Here are some pictures of the girls around the house and yard. They are super cute and they sure do keep me busy.










Chess wanted to wear my jacket.


Chess was playing with Lera's feet. Lately, Lera has really been laughing at Chess. Chess gets excited about it, too. It's so fun to watch.














Chess put all these babies around Lera. Lera looks a little creeped out by it. :)






This is how I found Chess when she was supposed to be taking a nap. She had been in her room an hour and a half and did not sleep. That has been happening more and more lately.










I love how Lera is watching Chess in this one.


One second she's happy...


and the next she's not so happy.




We practice sitting up, but...


she'd rather stand.

The end.

Wordless Wednesday

First Rice Cereal

I think we started Chess on solids the day she turned 4 months old. I was so excited for the next big step in baby-feeding. She liked it a lot. Unfortunately, it didn't help her sleep better through the night like so many people said it would. And it took a lot of time out of the day to feed her. That's why with my second baby I wasn't in as much of a hurry to get started with solids. Lera is almost 5 months old, and on a whim, we decided to try out some cereal. She liked it okay. She didn't quite get the open-your-mouth-wide thing like Chess did (see pictures here). She kind of stuck out her tongue and felt it out. She was good with the chewing motions, though. We're keeping things slow and still not giving it to her everyday, since she doesn't seem extra hungry or anything. I'm in no hurry for her to grow up. She'll be eating us out of house and home, along with her big sister, in no time.

Aquatic Center

What could be more fun on a cold March day than swimming? We are making it a family tradition to go swimming at the aquatic center once every winter. See our last year's trip here.

I did some crazy editing to some of the photos.
















Despite Chess's face here, she really had a great time. She just wanted me to be in the water with her as she floated away in the lazy river.

Fondant

I made my first fondant cake. I've been wanting to do this for awhile now, but never had the occasion. When planning my friend, Melony's, baby shower, I thought I would volunteer, then I had to try it. I watched a ton of videos on youtube to get the recipe and see the techniques. Instead of buying rolled fondant at the store (which I hear is expensive and tastes nasty), I made it out of marshmallows and powdered sugar. With the help of Nan-Naw's Kitchen Aid mixer, it was so easy to make. The decorating took quite a bit of time (around 3 hours), but Jared helped, and we had a fun time rolling fondant and making polka dots after the kids were in bed.

Wordless Wednesday

4 Months Old

Lera is now about 4.5 months old. She is chewing on her hands and everything else she can get into her mouth, except a pacifier or a bottle. We have tried to stick both of those things in her mouth several times, but she rejects them each time. She is sleeping....okay. Her naps are short and she still wakes up a couple of times a night (Chess was the same way). She loves her sister, being tickled, taking baths, and being talked to. Here are some pictures and her 4 month stats:

















height: 26 inches
weight: 16 lbs
head: 16.5 inches

note - These are almost identical to Chess's 4 month stats, seen here.

Happy Valentine's Day

Yes, I know it was a month ago, but here are my favorite people to love on Valentine's Day.