Little Bo Peep and Her Sheep

I was so excited for Halloween this year.  First, because Elizabeth really gets it this year.  Second, we finally live in a fun neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating.  And third, I loved seeing them in their costumes!

Thankfully everyone got started by 6:00 so we could be done by 7:00 and in bed by 7:30.

Caroline was warm and cozy in her costume.  She got lots of attention too, which always makes her happy.

Elizabeth's first halloween was two years ago.  She was only 8 months and it was rainy out.  So we just stayed at home and passed out candy.

Last year we went to Melissa and Chris's neighborhood and had a blast.  Elizabeth wanted us to hold her as we walked up to each door.  Then, she just wanted to sit right down and eat the candy she had just been given.  We didn't stay out too long because she was over it rather quickly.

This year was a whole new ball game.  She kept up with the pack running from house to house.  She yelled "trick or treat" in unison with all the other kids and squealed "Daddy, I got more candy!" as she ran back to the street.

 I loved that her excitement lasted the entire time.  But I was a little sad that she didn't need me to walk up to the doors with her.  My little girl is so independent.  I love it and hate it at the same time.

Grow with me

For each of our girls, we chose to do a "grow with me" package for their first year that included newborn, 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months.  The point is to capture those important milestones in the first year and to watch how much they change in those short 12 months.  

By four months, Caroline was able to smile and arch her back on her tummy.  Her personality was really starting to shine.  That's what I want to see in my girls' four month pictures.  By 8 months, I hope to capture them sitting, and by 12 months they are standing and maybe walking.  I can't even imagine that all happening in the next 6 months!

My goal is not necessarily to have "framable" pictures (although that's always a plus), but to simply capture some candids that allow us to always remember them at that particular age.  

I  put a copy of each one (good and bad) in their first year albums.  I especially love the ones of their feet and leg rolls.  Their sweet chubbiness makes me want to eat them!

These were taken on a very hot day in August.  Caroline was happy when we finally took off her clothes.  As much as I love cute baby outfits, I'd rather they not distract from the pure preciousness of my baby girl herself.  Naked baby pictures are my favorite!



She already looks so very different than she did 4 months ago.  Watching her grow and change is such a bitter sweet experience.  I just want to pause time.  I absolutely love this age. 

I noticed how Caroline's hair looks red in this picture, and it reminded again of how red Elizabeth's was at that same age. 

Here are some of Elizabeth's 4 month pictures.

And here's the difference in four months... April to August.

Caroline is 6 months old

Last Sunday, the same day she was baptized, Carolined turned 6 months old.  What a special half birthday it was for her!  

Caroline, here's what you're up to at 6 months:

• You weigh 16 lbs 12 oz, 75th percentile
• You are 26 3/4 inches long, 85 percentile
• You had your check up yesterday along with a couple of shots (including your flu shot).  And once again, you got a fever in reaction to the shots.  It makes me sad that those shots affect you all day.  But you were back to your bubbly, smiley self this morning.

• Your feet measure as a size 2, so I bought size 3 to last longer.
• We are finishing up our size 2 diapers and moving into size 3.

You are eating cereal with breakfast and veggies with lunch and dinner.  You still take a bottle every 3 hours, but you will only take 4 ounces now that you're eating solids.

We've also cut out your "dream feed" at night since you seem to be satisfied. 

You don't really like green veggies, only yellow or orange veggies.

You doctor told us to start giving you a sippy cup and I almost laughed out loud.  With your sister, I was always so eager to start the next phase.  But I never think you're ready when they tell me.  I know it's really me who's not ready though.  You're still my baby. 

You put your sweet little hands around your bottle, but you don't actually hold it by yourself.  Which makes me wonder how your doctor thinks you're going to hold a sippy and drink it by yourself?!  I'm quite okay with that though:)

You go to sleep by 8:00 and wake up at 6:00.  I think you must be starving since it's been so long since your last feeding.  But you still only take 4 ounces.

I think that is your favorite time of day.  You don't stop smiling and cooing at us.  You just lay on our bed or bounce in your jumperoo and watch us all get ready. 

You usually take your first nap around 8:00.

Your neck is your tickle spot, and I love to kiss you there.  Your belly laughs are contagious and get us all cracking up.

You are still your sister's biggest fan.  She can make you laugh just by talking to you.

Happy half-year birthday my sweet baby Caroline.  I am soaking up all of you preciousness and enjoying every moment of this age with you.

Here is a comparison picture of Elizabeth and Caroline at 6 months old.  Their mouths and noses are so much alike, but their eyes look a little different to me right now.  I see Bert's eyes in E's and more of mine in C's.  But who knows if that will change or not?!

Fun Fall Madness

I called last weekend "Fun Fall Madness" because it was full of fall activities and they were all so much fun!  Friday night started at our friends' The Brumbaughs with a bunch of families from our church.  They have the best backyard for entertaining and for our kids to play.  

Caroline slept inside most of the time while Elizabeth ran around loving the freedom she was allowed.

They had a kid's 4-wheeler that Elizabeth was pretty good at driving.  She also loved their trampoline and taking rides in their wagon with her friends.

We ended the night around their fire pit making smores.  It doesn't get much better than that!



On Saturday we took our Little Bo Beep and her sheep to our church's Trunk or Treat.  Elizabeth definitely gets the concept of getting candy for Halloween, and this year she even got in one of the blow-up bouncers.  She typically doesn't like them, but she braved it this year.

Elizabeth tried cotton candy for the first time.  She took about two bites and was over it.

She did like the pumpkin bowling, but I didn't get a picture of that.  Our sweet little sheep never made a peep!  She either slept or watched her sister enjoying the different activities. 

Saturday night, Nana, Papa, Aunt Hannah and Aunt Rebeka came down.  After dinner we sat around our fire pit outside.  It was our first time using it, and we will be using it more often.  I love that area in our backyard.

It was the second time this weekend that we made smores, and I don't even like smores.  It's just something that must be done in the fall!

My little princess got to stay up late (until 8:30) around the fire.  She insisted that I feed her smores to her so her hands wouldn't get dirty. 

I took some pictures with Elizabeth and her Nana and of Hannah and Rebeka, but I couldn't get them to download to my blog properly.  I'll keep working on it though.

Caroline's Baptism

This morning Caroline was baptized at our church.  It was a beautiful day and many of our family and friends were there to witness it.

Caroline was a happy little baby throughout the entire service.  I anticipated taking her to the nursery, but she was so content in her daddy's arms.

Our preacher and friend, Keith, who baptized her.  She was in awe of all the people and probably wondering why they were all staring at her. 

Our little girl is very blessed to have so many people who love her.  It was quite humbling to have these special people make such an effort to be here to celebrate with us. 

Caroline was exhausted by the time we got back to the house for lunch.  As soon as her Nana changed and fed her, she passed out in her Papa's arms.

After her little nap, we snapped some pictures of her outside in her gown.  Her sweet bonnet kept riding up on her little head.  I think she still looks like a little angel.

It was also Caroline's 6 month birthday.  We took those pictures too, but will post those after her appointment this week when we get her stats.

Today was a perfect day with friends, family, and fellowship. 

John 3:5  Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, it is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God.

Happy Fall

What I love most about living in the south is that by each time the next season rolls around, I am so ready for it!  I can never decide which one is my favorite.  Right now, it's fall.

I love that the heat has subsided and the anticipation of the holidays is so exciting.  Espeically when you have two precious children to share it with. 

We've had a couple of new firsts in the Kelly house.  Caroline and Elizabeth took their first bath together. 

And my favorite first was that Elizabeth told me she loved me without any prompting.  After rocking her one night, I laid her in her crib and she just simply said, "I love you mommy".

I got her right back out of her crib and gave her the biggest hug.  I think it confused her that I was making such a big deal of it.  Now she tells us on her own a lot.  We can't get enough of hearing those words from her.