Feeling the Love...

We are so lucky to have such a gentle, loving dog. Sierra is learning to love Belle and Mark more and more each day.  Usually you find Belle climbing on, laying on, or chasing Sierra around, but today Sierra decided it was time to relax with the more mellow Mark. Mark still isn't certain about this dog thing, but he sure loves to watch her.

Sierra going in for the kiss....

Usually we're not so lucky with Mark turning his head in time :-)

Sierra jumped up on the couch (which she shouldn't be doing in the first place) and Mark tumbled over on top of her. I think Sierra planned this.

And now for some plain cute brother/sister love. Mark and Belle love to be with each other! Mark is constantly staring at Belle and he laughs pretty much every time she does something around him. She loves to take care of him and smooch and hug him all day long. Mark really couldn't ask for a better big sister.

Belle loves climbing in his crib to read or play with him.

Some morning play time in mom and dad's bed. Note: I am on the side letting them play for as long as they like so I can get 2 seconds of extra rest. How can Mark be so wide awake and happy after being up all night?? It's not fair.

 

Belle is very serious about her reading. She wanted to get a big book at the library for the sole purpose of reading to Mark.

Mark was too busy trying to stuff the big book into his mouth, so Belle gave up and went to the floor and Mark got his own chew appropriate book.

Some diaper free time for Mark = Belle taking all her clothes off to kick with him

The Long Weekend

We've been working hard on getting the garage completed and this is pretty much all we did over the long weekend. There is still a ton to do, but today was the most exciting day because for the first time I drove out of the garage to the grocery store and returned home to park back into the garage. I know most of you probably don't find that very thrilling, but I sure did love the feeling of it! I will especially love it on that first freezing, cold, snowy day!!

Sierra has been working hard at helping us get the yard fixed back up (so she thinks). Here she is frantically digging a very nice hole which became a very soft and dirty napping area. I think she'll be sad when there is no longer dirt for her to make her cozy hole.

 

Below is a very classic photo.I have a number of pictures like this, all the way back to when Belle was very little. Sierra knows exactly when one of us is going to arrive home. I remember pulling up to the house when I got home from work to see Sierra's little head peeking out the window. I have NO idea how she knows this, but somehow she senses it. Belle often joins her to watch out the window for Jamie's arrival. This is them the other day and sure enough a few minutes later, Jamie pulled up. I have always cherished this moment because it is so darn cute. I'm sad to say this moment may end soon now that we have the garage. That is probably the only downfall of getting our garage. Maybe they'll just move to the window in the kitchen?

We started Mark on some rice cereal which didn't go over so well. He liked the idea of sitting at the table with us and enjoyed the spoon in his mouth, but could care less about the cereal. All of which went into his mouth and back out, down his chin and neck. We'll wait a couple more weeks and try again. I'm in no rush to be making meals for two kids. His meals are rather simple right now :)

I know this is probably one of the most dangerous items you can give a 5 month old, but put that aside for a minute and look at how much fun he his having playing with this plastic bubble wrap. Complete entertainment for a very active boy who is now all about putting things in his hands and mouth. We no longer have the tiny little boy that laid around or was carried around and slept the day away. In fact, sleeping is a thing of the past for Mark (and us). He suddenly got some "stay awake all day and night" super power. He's still extra cute and extra sweet even though we're all sleep deprived.

Another item of pure enjoyment. The laundry basket. I remember Belle loving this too. He is starting to sit up on his own for longer periods, but still needs some support.

Since working on the garage we have spent a lot of time outside. Here is Mark enjoying time in his jumparoo watching us dig or carry heavy items into the garage.

And Belle having a little snack after helping us out in the garage (which usually means she is playing with the hose and getting soaking wet and muddy). She has dug a few holes with her big shovels just like Jamie does.

Pro Cycling Challenge

Yesterday was the Pro Cycling Challenge through Denver. The cyclists were going to be riding right by our house, so we had some friends and family over and found a great spot in the park where we could watch them come around a sharp corner. They did a loop down Speer six times, so we got to see them and experience their speed multiple times.It was so exciting to watch, especially with the huge crowds! It was hard to believe they could go so fast on flat ground. These guys are pretty amazing and it was such a cool experience to see them.

Mark slept through the entire thing and Belle laughed super hard when they first came around. Then, she didn't care too much and preferred to run in the sprinklers that were spraying down in the grass :)

Just before it started...
The pictures don't do justice for how close they were and how fast they came speeding by....
Afterward we relaxed in the park while the crowds left, then went back to the house for some grillin'.

More Reasons to Love these Two!

I haven't taken many pictures lately, so this is a little text heavy, but I'm writing about things I don't want to forget.

Belle has been totally cracking us up. Everything that comes out of her mouth is hilarious. The other day we were out and here is the conversation Isabelle had with a lady, which has happened on more than one occasion and makes me laugh every time:

Woman: "What's your name?"
Belle: "Isabelle down the lane." (from Baa Baa Black Sheep???)
Woman: "How old are you?"
Belle: "Half and a piece." (this means two and a half)

Another very common phrase we hear is, "I do it all myself." Just a few of the "do it herself" items include dressing herself (more than once a day), going to the bathroom and using a little too much toilet paper, setting the table (with 8 spoons and forks on the floor), getting her cereal, and using glue and scissors. Surprisingly enough, she does a pretty good job "doing it herself" and some of the things she does make us laugh pretty hard.

We also love the tea parties Belle has daily. It really can't get cuter than watching your daughter set up a tea party under the table, then invite you and her bugs to attend.

And, if you are having a bad day, just come see Isabelle. Her choice of words have topped my list of all time favorites. I'm so lucky that I get to hear these words come out of her mouth at least 2-3 times a day. They are:
"I love you more than the world, Mommy!"
My heart melts and floats away to the world of happiness when I hear this.
We are starting to discover Mark's personality. Since day one, he wants nothing to do with you leaving his sight, which is pretty sweet unless you want to get something done. I have decided it's best to just give up on cleaning or doing any sort of chore around this house and soak up the fact that my son wants me with him at all moments. I'm sure that won't last :) I know Jamie agrees.

When Mark wants to talk, he lets you know. He lets out this high pitched squeal. A sound you never knew could come out of a little boy, but it makes us smile every time.

Lately, he has been reaching out for people when he wants to be held. It is extra cute. He gets especially excited when Jamie gets home. He starts kicking like crazy, his arms go wild, and he lunges forward at him. I love watching this.
I tell ya, we are really smitten over these two. We couldn't love them more and it seems each day we somehow find a way to love them even more!

5 Months!

Get ready for what we think is an extra adorable five month old! We are so lucky to have such a happy baby. It's amazing how much he changes in one month. Mark is now:

• Rolling all over the place
• Sitting up well with some support
• Very curious about everything. He grabs anything in sight, including hair (Belle can tell you all about this. She has lost a handful from him).
  
• Takes a good morning, noon, and late afternoon nap!! Yes, on his own, BUT this has come with a little downfall in the evening department. He wakes up much more often at night. We just can't win. Good thing he is so stinkin' cute and cuddly, so we can deal with the lack of sleep.
  
• Loves music and listening to us sing
  
• Is really interested in watching us eat, so we may start some cereal soon.
  
• Putting anything and everything in his mouth (we've got to watch those small Belle toys now!) He gets very frustrated when he can't reach something or get it into his mouth.
• Loves his jumperoo
• Giggles the greatest giggle ever, especially when being tickled.

Happy Five Months Mark! We adore you!

The Foreseeable Garage and Time With Holly!

Stop everything and listen....I know. You hear nothing because both kids are napping at the SAME time! So, I have some time to show you what's come (and gone) of our garage.

Here's the dump. It was used only as storage for anything we did not care about, so basically it was used for next to nothing. The only interesting thing about this garage was that we found out in the 1800's it was used for horses. They'd bring them in the back, open the wooden doors in the front, and let the horses graze in the yard. The little room off to the left was where they stored the hay. Jamie found a horseshoe while cleaning things out, so we'll hang that in our new garage as a memory of the dump. We had to tear out the fence, our garden, move some of the sprinkler system and half the grass before they came, so it looks really, really awful in the backyard.
It's gone!And the next day....a new one! Needless to say, we still have a lot of work to do once it is complete. Paint, put up a new fence, and landscape the yard again, but we are getting pretty excited!We also had my Aunt Sharon and Holly in town this past week. Isabelle couldn't get enough of Holly and Holly was so good at entertaining Belle. They had a great time at Heritage Square, the Apex Center, and spending the night together.
Isabelle's first time riding amusement park rides. She had a permanent smile on her face the entire time, along with tons of giggling!I went on this twirl a whirl thing with Belle and it was one of the worst things I've ever done. It literally did not stop spinning for about 5 minutes straight. Isabelle laughed the whole time while I waited desperately for the moment the stupid thing stopped. Sorry Jamie. Have fun going on the any ride that spins with our kids because I pass. The Merry Go Round is more my style. Nice and slow! I'll do the go-carts too.Ferris wheel with Papa. One of his favorites.Papa's shoes and if you look close you can see little Belle's shoe.The maze in Evergreen.Mom's Birthday celebration. Isabelle picked out all the party favors, hats, and plates. I loved it!And just some random cuteness. Belle is already dressing up her little brother. We can't wait to see what she does when he gets older.