Weekly Update - Holding Bottle

Week Of August 24, 2012

Addie's Weekly Photo

Cooper's Weekly Photo

This week, mommy's Aunt Cheryl, cousin Robin and her kids came to visit.  I'm not sure what Addie and Cooper are going to do with the summer is over and we don't have company over all of the time.  They enjoy having people over so much I think they will go through withdrawal!!!  I took Addie to her first Fair (the MO state fair in Sedalia).  Daddy stayed home with Cooper so we wouldn't have to take our little guy out in the heat.  The fair was a blast!  Addie rode the Carousel, Cars, and Train and we played lots of games.  More pictures to come! :)

All about Addie

Sitting through Movies:  Addie hasn't ever had a problem sitting through a short cartoon like Mickey or Dora, but when it came to movies she didn't seem to have the attention span.  This week, on several occasions she sat through movies without getting up!!  Her favorite right now is probably Toy Story.  We bought her a ride-on for her birthday in May that has Buzz Lightyear on it and she will get really excited when Buzz comes on the screen in that movie.

Sings to self:  Addison LOVES to sing to herself... or to us!  She will sing anything from nursery rhymes to theme songs in her cartoons.  It is definitely music to our ears when Shane and I hear her.  We sing a clean up song any time we're picking up her toys to put them away "clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere....".  Addison likes singing that song and will get excited about cleaning up just so she can have a reason to sing it!! LOL

Queen of the Chickens:  Whenever the chickens are roaming the property, Addie will run around with them.  They must like her most because she's small and not as intimidating because they seem to go right up to her when she's running around.  They will go up to her shoes and peck at the straps too.  At times though, Addie will decide she wants to see them run and she will flock her arms up high to scare them or throw things towards them.  It surprises me that they keep going back to her!

Potty Training:  On Thursday we started Addie back on potty training.  I'm going to hold off and post more on our next update so I don't jinx our progress!!

All about Cooper

Holding Bottle:  Coop has been holding his bottle for a while now but really never held it longer than a minute or so.  In the last week though, Cooper can practically feed himself!  He still fidgets quite a bit at times and we will need to get the bottle back in his hands but overall he can hold it for most of the feeding on his own.

Formula:  In the last week, we have been slowly introducing formula into Cooper's diet.  In addition to his regular feedings of breast milk and solids, he gets one scoop per day of infant's formula.  We started this for a few reasons.  For one, it's been difficult for mommy to keep up on a pumping schedule.  Another reason is that Coop is reaching 6 months of age and it has always been a goal of mommy's to get her kids breast-milk at LEAST until the age of 6mo's.

More Photos From the week:

"Cause I've got one hand in my pocket...

and the other one is tormenting CHICKENS!!"

Hands in the pockets... Cracks me up every time! 

Sporting the outfit that Grandma Handley bought her 

Reading to Fredbird 

Learning "The Beginning" and "The End" 

Sharing her drink with Fredbird 

At the MO state fair with cousins Blake, AV and Lexi 

Posing near the Budweiser Clydesdales

A tuckered out lil Coop!

One of the few rides we were able to sneak Addie on!

And the ChooChoo Train!!

HA HA HA!!!  Coop and Keaton as Fairies

All of the kids just before a long walk

Watching a movie 

Coop is enjoying his jumparoo-roo time 

He loves the camera, and the camera loves him! 

Addie taking a ride with Mickey at WalMart 

Weekly Update - The Handleys visit

Week of August 17, 2012

Addie's Weekly Photo

Cooper's Weekly Photo

Over the weekend (August 11th), Daddy's family came for a visit.  I love Addie's age because she's at the age now where she remembers everyone even if it's been a few months.  Addison had a great time being around everyone again.  Cooper was in his element too.... Both nights, he slept through the night with Aunt Shan!

All about Addie

Hands in Pockets:  Addie's newest thing is putting her hands in her pockets (when she has pockets).  I noticed this first when she was outside playing one day.  I looked over and thought her hands were down her pants!! After a closer look, I saw that her hands were actually in the pockets and she was just walking around the yard like that. I'm not sure why it's so funny and cute to me but I laugh and smile every time!

"I Don't want it":  This is usually at the dinner table, but Addie will take a bite of something and then push it away saying "I don't want it".  We're trying to teach her "no thank you" instead of "I don't want it".  Other times this phrase will come up is when we're trying to get her dressed or if I'm trying to brush her hair and it has tangles.

All about Cooper

Sleeping:  On average, Coop sleeps between 4 and 5 hours at a time during the night and takes 1-2 hour naps around 2-3 times per day.  He's not getting nearly as much sleep as Addie did at this age but it's slowly increasing as he grows.  Hopefully by this time next month, he will be sleeping through the night consistently.

Eating:  Coop eats around every 4 hours right now.  We give him solids three times a day which usually consists of a fruit and veggie and then his meals are followed by a bottle.  When he isn't eating solids, he downs around 4-5oz's of breastmilk.

Pooping:  At the beginning of the week, Cooper was really constipated.  I knew this because he pooped a tootsie-roll-looking turd whereas usually his stool is more peanut-buttery....I know.... descriptive.  We had to up his daily dose of prune juice and I added a bit of miralax and he was good to go by the next day.  Aside from that, Coop has been pretty regular which probably contributes to his happiness lately.  I love my happy baby boy!!! :)

More pictures from the week:

AV and Addie waiting to have their hair dried after bath

They LOVE making faces at each other 

and watching themselves in the mirror!

Addie loving her lil bro 

Addie and mommy baked cupcakes 

and when Blake and AV came over, I let

the kids "go crazy" on decorating them.   

It was a silly-good-mess!

And of course they ate the cupcakes too!! 

Mommy and Coop.  Coop likes to watch himself

in the phone camera almost as much as Addie does! 

Cooper and cousin LuLu (Lexie) 

Addie and PawPaw reading books. 

Addie at Gymnastics with her new 

tumbling outfit.   

My little gymnast!!  

Addie and Coop hanging in the play mat 

Addie and AV doing a fashion show! 

Weekly Update - Kuntz Family Reunion

Week of August 10, 2012

Addie's weekly Photo

Cooper's Weekly Photo

On Sunday (the 5th) we had our family reunion (on Kristin's mom's side of the family).  Since Shane had to work Monday, he wasn't able to go with, but we made the trip with Nana and cousins Blake & AV.  Cooper won a price for being the youngest in attendance!  Addie had a blast seeing all of her cousins and family members.

All about Addie

"Now What": Addison's newest phrase is saying "now what".  She must have picked this up from one of us because I don't remember any of her cartoons/shows ever saying anything like it.  It started when we were playing with one of her toys where you flip switches and little characters pop up (a total of 5 characters).  She flipped all of the characters up, looked at me and said "now what?".  I couldn't help but laugh when she said it the first time and I think that prompted her to make it a trend.  She will get done with dinner and then say "now what", or we will finish with bath time and she will say it.  Every time it gets even funnier!! HA!!

Answering her own question:  Addison will ask a question and answer it herself.  For example, she will say "Dada, you want to go outside...yeah?...okay dada". Too Funny!!

All about Cooper

More solids: Coop has been introduced to Peas, Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Pears, Plums, Peaches and Carrots now. It seems like greens are not his favorite, but if we pick up a small spoon of greens and then dip the spoon in fruit or Sweet Potatoes, he does just fine.  In addition to the solids, Coop still takes 4oz of breastmilk around every 4 hours and then prune juice at least once a day (to keep regular).  We're hoping that by his next appointment, he has gained a bit of weight and is hopefully starting to sleep through the night again! :)

All smiles:  Cooper's moods used to be hit or miss.  We never really knew if/when Cooper was going to be fussy in the past.  Lately though, he seems to have more good days and good moods than bad.  While we were at the family reunion, everyone kept commenting on what a happy baby he is!  I love seeing him so happy too, it warms my heart!! :)


More Photos from the week:

Coop is eating solids like a champ!

On our way to Illinois for the family reunion 

At our hotel... Coop preferred this over the stroller! 

Looks fun!! 

We don't see this face too often anymore,

so now I take pictures to prove he's still got it!! :) 

We spend MANY days on the playground now 

Weekly Update - New Play Set!!!

Week of August 3, 2012

Addie's Weekly Photo

Cooper's Weekly Photo

We've had a play set that the previous owners of our house left behind.  The set was pretty old and in bad shape so we purchased a new one.  Before the new set arrived in the mail, we decided to section off/landscape an area that would serve as a playground for the kids.  Over the weekend, Shane spent three days landscaping and putting together the set while the kids stayed with Nana.  Everything turned out AMAZING (See pics below)!!!  Upon pulling down the driveway and seeing the set for the first time, Addie said "ma-ma, look, CASTLE".  Of course I couldn't just drive past the "castle" until she was able to get out of the car and go explore it for the first time.  What an adorable kodak moment!

All about Addie

Outside:  Addie has always been an "outdoor baby" but this week tops them all.  Since getting a new "castle" installed at the beginning of the week, we have spent EVERY day outdoors.  I've never seen a happier little girl!

Liking New Foods:  I've been noticing an increase to Addison's pickiness lately so this week I decided to start introducing new (and past) foods to see if she will maybe start picking up on new tastes.  So far, she has eaten green beans, corn, applesauce, strawberries and peas.  Peas are a no-go, but she seems to like the others.  Every week, we will try to introduce and re-introduce a few more foods in hopes at kicking this pickiness once and for all!! :)

All about Cooper

5-Month Checkup:  This week was Coop's 5-Month checkup.  Of course shots were involved (his first) and an exam.  Doc said he looks great but numbers aren't adding up.  Basically he hasn't gained much since his last appointment and Doc wants us to up his solids and try to get a little more milk in him to see if he'll start gaining some weight.  The doctor isn't too concerned because it's common of acid reflux babies to have slow weight gain, but she wants to keep an eye on things to make sure he's getting enough food down and not spitting everything up.

Solids:  We started Cooper on Solids at the beginning of the week.  I tried rice cereal but he wanted nothing to do with it.  Next I tried sweet potatoes and he was hooked!  

More photos from the week

Weekly Update - Potty Training

Week Of July 27, 2012

Addie's Weekly Photo

Cooper's Weekly Photo (20 Weeks)

All about Addie

Potty Training - We decided to start potty training this week and I have to say, it was a bust! I wasn't totally prepared to start and I was probably the REAL reason we had to postpone things.  We started first thing Monday and I only had three pairs of underwear for Addie.... I know, I should have had more, but it was just a test-run!  Needless to say, by noon we were all out of clean undies!  My plan is to start again after being a little more prepared.

"I Be Nice" - We aren't OVERLY strict on Addie but we do make sure that she keeps manners as often as possible.  It's a daily reminder to "be nice", "use nice words", etc.  When Addison gets in trouble or is sent to her room, before she is allowed away from time-out, we ask "are you going to be nice" and she will reply "yes".  Lately, she will beat us to the chase and will come out of time-out saying "I be nice...I be nice".  I guess it's her way of apologizing but more so her way of not having to sit in time-out too long!

All about Cooper

Gagging Self - Coop loves his hands!  Every time I look at him, it's as though he's gagging himself with his fingers or fist.  I don't know if it comes from teething or not, but at least once a day, he gags/spits up from putting his hands too far in his mouth.

Petting surfaces - Every time we lay Coop down, he will explore whatever surface he is on.  Whether it's our shirt if he's on our chest, the floor/bed if he's laying, or his car seat, he will pass his hands back and forth feeling the texture of whatever fabric he is against.

More Photos from the week: