Milton

Our elf, Milton is back. He has been busy flying around and making crafts for the kids. Last night I thought it would be fun for him to play a game with Kaylies favorite baby.
I just didn't think about what would happen if she woke up and Big Baby wasn't in her bed. I didn't think about the tears that would come at 6:00 in the morning if Big Baby was missing.
And I couldn't go back to sleep knowing I caused those tears. So, I got up and we went looking for Big baby.
It sort of made everything worth it when she squealed with delight when she saw Big Baby playing her favorite game with Milton! The funniest part-
Kaylie " mamma, how did Milton carry Big Baby out here to play? She is so heavy"
Me "I'm not sure honey, maybe Big Baby walked out on her own."
Kaylie "come on mom Big baby can't walk, she isn't real!"
Oh right, but Milton is and he can fly! I love the innocence of babes!

Love

I cannot get enough of this girl. I'm gonna want another baby, I forgot how much I LOVE newborns.


She is supposed to be awake but I just can't bring myself to wake her up. I know, I'm a wimp!

Ashley Morgan Whitsell

Our new bundle of JOY

born Tuesday, October 9th at 1:03pm

7lb4oz & 20 1/2in

Devin holding her after she was plucked out

:)

She is perfect.....

Her first bath and check up by our favorite

nurse Karen

(She was our nurse when we had Trey & when 

we saw her, we requested to have her again)

The kids watching Ashley get her first bath

Our first family photo

The kids are so smitten with their new sister

I love watching them love on her

Trey is the cutest with her.

he says "my baby Ashley" and tells everyone

he sees all about her

Just look at that smile, he can't get enough of her

When Trey was holding her she started to cry a little

so he started singing to her- the only song

he knows is the alphabet song so when he started

singing it to her we all laughed

Seriously, the cutest thing EVER!!!

READY to go home

We are adjusting well and enjoying life as a family of 5

There were so many blessing and answered prayers along the way 

to her being born that we really saw the hand of God leading and 

guiding us every step of the way.  We are so thankful for a healthy, happy baby

and that the kids are adjusting so well to having her around. We couldn't have asked for a better

transition....We pray the transition continues to be smooth.

Fire Man Trey

Trey is going to be a Fireman for 

Halloween and Devin 

has been working hard on perfecting

his costume.

It turned out great ......

It even got T-Man to smile

for a picture which is not an easy task!

:)

I mean,

who wouldn't want him to 

rescue you!

Everyday I'm crafting

This girl spends hours, HOURS, making crafts. Stickers, glue, scissors, crayons, markers......If her mom would let her she would include glitter and more glue. I love her creativeness and desire to create!

Beach

It has been one HOT summer here. It was 96 yesterday so devin and I packed the kids up and headed to the beach. The kids had a great time & to be honest so did I.

Randomness

We are laying low, enjoying life as 

a family of 4....

Crazy to think we will only be that

for ONE.MORE.WEEK

These are from my brother & Nicole's 

wedding back in June

Kaylie has been BEGGING to have her 

training wheels taken off and to learn how

to ride a bike

This morning she was so persistent that

Devin thought he would let her try

Ultimately she couldn't do it

and we didn't have enough time to devote to teaching

her, so he put the training wheels back on but

raised them up

October, after baby, is a good time to 

learn to ride a bike!

Costco has Halloween costumes

and Devin couldn't resist buying the fire fighter

one for Trey.....

and Trey was in HOG HEAVEN

It was 103 today and that boy did not 

take the costume off 

(except to let Kaylie try it on "really quickly")

Trey was SO serious

because, you know, being "fire fighter Trey" is

no laughing matter

:)

I love that the kids love what Daddy does

Baby Ruby

I've had requests for belly pictures

(ok, well let's be honest, 

it was just one request)

I'm not sure what the annoyed

look on my face is all about other

than it was kinda an awkward 

picture....but I wasn't annoyed!

I'm ready to P-O-P

My goal was to gain 20 pounds,

 I'm at 18

and I've just put myself on maternity

leave (which to me means no more

exercising) so I'm a little afraid of what

my weigh in on Wednesday will be.......

2 weeks to go

:) 

I need to scan in some pictures from Kaylie

and Trey at the same point, 

its very interesting

to see the difference in how I have carried 

each of them

Kaylie's 1st day of Preschool (year 2)

Someone was VERY excited to start school

She asked me daily for weeks when she got

to go back.... 

and once it was FINALLY the first day of school

she was NOT interested in any picture taking,

she just wanted to GO!!!

Trey was also very excited about school starting for 

his sister and wanted to be a part of

everything that she was

he even wanted to go in to her class before her.....

So Devin had to take him out 

while Mrs. B was giving

us information

Next year, Trey will get to go!

:)

the BIG switch-a-roo!

We were once again given an amazing

hand-me-down-

BUNK BEDS!!!!!

Can I get a Woot Woot!!!

The kids were VERY eager to help with the

switching of the bedroom sets

Kaylie's old bed went to Trey....

she was devastated,

but he was beyond thrilled

with his new BIG boy bed!

(who wouldn't be, its nicer than anything I

ever had at that age!!!)

His room still has a few things that need to be 

done, but we will get there

Kaylie got the bunk bed and is super

excited to have a new bed....

she started out sleeping

on the bottom but quickly decided she wanted

to try the top and found that she

 LOVES sleeping on the top bunk

her room is wall to wall furniture but she has more floor space than

she did before.

We were thrilled that the bunk bed matched the dresser

and shelf we already had- how does it get

better than that!?

The kids are so funny, every time someone comes over

they are both very eager to show off their new rooms.....

It's very cute!!!

Family Camp at Mt. Hermon

For as long as I can remember my family has vacationed at Mt. Hermon

Family Camp in Santa Cruz....

It has been so great continuing that tradition with

our family!

We go to the boardwalk and ride some rides 

on Monday cause the rides are $1 each!!!

Waiting for the carousal 

Kaylie had enough of pictures and wouldn't smile,

maybe one day!!!

Trey was SO excited to get to ride his own horse

ALL by himself!

The kids LOVED the helicopters

:) So intense!!!

While we were there, we even got to play at the beach for a 

little bit....

and Devin told the kids the first one to catch a 

bird got icecream......

they believed him & chased those birds like crazy!

(I took them for icecream when we got back to camp,

cause CLEARLY they were not going to catch

a bird!!!)

I have no idea what T-Man is doing,

maybe dancing????

but I think he is darn cute!!!!

On our way to dinner

We went boating and the kids 

each got a chance to row!

the last night there is a party on plaza

with music, popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy

Trey picked a snow cone and 

was so nice to share with sister!

And here is Kaylie showing off her song she learned

(And you will understand the reason for the cape!)

And her teacher asked ONE kid a question,

and guess whose kid it was!!

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

All in a Week!

This past week has been one for the books-

its been busy, fun and scary.....

Warning: There is some potty and poop talk here.....

if its TMI, skip this post

:)

As you know there is little I like more than these cute little

baby buns in undies...

Seriously, cuteness :)

Trey did awesome with "pee" training

but pooping on the toilet was not so easy....

With Kaylie it was super easy. She let us know she was pooping

 with a bright red face and grimace. We would run her to the restroom

and she would finish. She consequently pooped on the 

toilet before she went potty.  It was simple!

When it came to Trey we were sort of at a loss as to how to

motivate him to poop on the toilet because he gave us no warning.

So we tried candy, worked great for pee, 

but poop, he had no interest....

UNTIL

these babies made an appearance.

He wanted those cars and trucks so badly he hasn't

had an accident since we told him he could earn one 

each time he pooped on the toilet.

Now, he goes all on his own.

Best 87 cents I've ever spent!

YIPPEE!!!!!

Trey showing off his reward for his hard work!

He is SO proud of himself! 

And trust me, I am too....for lots of reasons!

:)

Kaylie.....poor Kaylie!

It has been a rough week for my girl!

Devin and I went away for the weekend for our anniversary and 

the kids stayed with Grandma and Ba-pa.

While we were just about to take our first bite of dinner on our first night out, 

we got 3 phone calls and a picture text.

 

Kaylie was kicking a ball around and slipped

and fell, splitting her chin open.

My parents took her to the ER. We boxed up 

our untouched meal and met them at the hospital.

The doctor stitched her up while she watched Dora and 

My Little Pony on an ipad.

Genius!

They were so great to the kids and made our visit far too easy.

Kaylie had such a great time and came home with lots

of take home prizes that we were nervous she would like 

it too much and want to go back!

Here she is post stitches

She got 8 stitches and says 

it looks like she has teeth on her chin!

:) She is so funny!

First she splits her chin open

then she got sick....

she has had a fever since Saturday

Poor girl!

Oh, and just for fun, Trey has an ear infection....

cause why not add one more thing to our already exciting

week!