Derek takes the leap!

So for Derek's 40th birthday I planned a day trip for him to go skydiving.  It was something he had wanted to do for a long time.  He had talked about doing it on and off for a while so I figured he might as well cross that one off his bucket list.  I talked to a few people who have done it before and called to make the reservation for him and his friend, Bruce.  On his birthday I just gave him a card with played the song, "I've Been Everywhere" and a poem giving hints about what he was going to be doing.  He guess right away and was pretty excited.  The next day we headed to East Stroudsburg to Sky's the Limit to jump.  Unfortunately, we waited around the place all day and they never got to jump because of cloud cover.  So they gave us a raincheck and said to come back anytime and they would put them in as first priority.

We went back yesterday.  The forecast said MOSTLY SUNNY and HOT.  We got there...and it was sunny...but had one big black cloud right over the place.  Soo they put everyone on a weather hold.  We waited...and waited..with 4 babies lol.  The kids all did awesome waiting. Finally they were able to go!  They met their instructors and suited up...Derek didn't seem nervous at all!  He refused to kiss us goodbye because he said he WOULD be back lol.

When he got back he said it was the most amazing thing ever.  He had a hard time explaining the whole experience.  He just kept saying it was amazing and that he would do it again in a heart beat.  His instructor was really cool and even let him steer the parachute on the way down. He said it was about 45 or 50 degrees when they jumped...and on the ground it was 85 degrees! Crazy.  They jumped from 3 miles up! I left there wanting to give it a try next time...and that says a lot lol.  The only thing he complained about was his ears...he said that because of the high altitude and the pressure his ears were killing him.  I'm so glad we got the video package...watching it puts the whole thing into perspective..

Getting his harness on..

Practicing with his instructor

Ready to go! 

Meeting his videographer

Heading to the plane

Boarding the plane..

Taking off....notice the big black cloud..oy

Coming slowly back to earth..

Safely on the ground! 

The boys loved it

Getting his harness off..

Miss Bris is 6 months already!

Half a year has flown by so fast!  I can't believe she blessed us with her presence 6 months ago.  She had a rough start to life but with a little persistence from Derek and I we figured out all of her belly troubles and she is the happiest most content baby I have ever seen.  She loves to just sit back, relax and watch everyone around her.  She is extremely observant and nosey.  She loves watching Brooklyn and her brothers play and goof around. I have a feeling that once she figures out how to move on her own she will be right in with them.  As for now, she sits back and giggles at them all.  She has grown so much in the last month!  She now sits on her own for 10-20 minutes without tipping!  She likes being able to sit and play with toys on the floor.  She has also FINALLY figured out how to eat off a spoon.  I've been trying on and off for about a month with no luck.  She just pushed it all out of mouth and didn't seem interested.  Then all of a sudden, the other morning, she polished off a whole container of squash with little trouble.  She has been eating at least twice a day ever since. She enjoys her veggies much more than fruits.  I'm not pushing fruits too much at this point since she has been having some trouble going potty.  Two ounces of prune juice, or a container of prunes seems to helping with that issue for now.  She is getting so big all of sudden...I don't think I like it...

So at 6 months Bristol:
* likes to eat squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
* eats prunes, apples, bananas, and pears...if she has too lol
* sits on her own for several minutes
* likes to play with toys
* reaches for everything in sight
* puts everything she gets her hands on into her mouth
* loves to screech at the top of her lungs for no apparent reason other than to make noise
* still isn't sleeping through the night...gets up to eat around 3:30-4:30 and goes right back to sleep
* giggles and laughs at Brooklyn all the time
* loves to squeal and screech just for fun
* is very content
* is starting to have potty troubles...
* loves tags on things
* loves falling asleep in her swing
* still sleeps in the rock n play...hoping to change that soon!
* went swimming for the first time...and loved it!
* likes to be outside
* watches me eat and tries to get ahold of my food
* has the most beautiful eyes..green/hazel
* has the biggest, cheesiest smile :)
* LOVES the song "You are My Sunshine"
* likes when I sing to her....for some strange reason because I am NOT good lol
* likes to play in her jumper..but not for too long
* still doesn't roll over but then again we don't do much tummy time..oops!  I'm not concerned..Brooklyn never rolled over either and she is a walking, running, climbing monster lol
* kicks her feet non stop
* gets extremely excited and shakes
* still has a bump on her head...I will be asking about it again at her appt coming up..
* wears 6 or 9 month clothes
* wears size 3 diapers
* is starting to hate her car seat...doesn't like to be strapped laying down..wants to sit up
* weighs....I'm guessing about 19-20 pounds
* is _____ inches long (will fill in after her appt)

Love waking up to this happy girl every morning :)

Chew chew chew

Mommy's girl 

Really biting into those sweet potatoes lol

6 months!!

She did not like to sit still for these pictures 

She looks more like her momma in this picture :)

Holding her bottle all by herself... 

First time sitting in the grass...she didn't mind it but wasn't thrilled lol

First time swimming...loved it! 

Dylan's 11th birthday!

This past weekend we celebrated Dylan's 11th birthday! I can't believe how grown up he is becoming.  He is a unique, one-of-a-kind kind of kid.  He doesn't follow others much and kind of does his own thing.  Don't get me wrong...he still likes his Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas...but he isn't as picky as his older brother. Dylan has the kind of personality that people love.  He is a goofy, happy-go-lucky kid.  He is very smart and witty.  He can come up with comebacks and jokes that other kids his age wouldn't think of.  He is quick as a whip when it comes to comebacks and arguing! I think he might be a lawyer someday...lol.   He isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks either.  He tells it all, the good and the bad.  He'll let you know what annoys him, what he likes, and what he thinks could be changed.  He is something else, thats for sure!

Some pictures from his party:

Brooklyn being a goof..

We taped 100 1.00 bills together and rolled them up into a wrapped tissue box. 

The dollar bills just kept coming and coming and coming...

And coming and coming...

Dylan got tired of it and just ripped the box open lol

Zach's gag gift for Dylan...a PS4 box filled with junk..Dylan didn't think it was funny.

Brookie hits 18 months with a scream!

Oh my dear dear Brooklyn...where has my sweet, happy-go-lucky, fun loving baby girl gone?!  She is only around about half the time now...and the other half of the time we have a strong-willed, independent, don't-tell-me-NO, fit throwing, terrible two's toddler.  LOL She has a personality like you wouldn't believe.  She knows exactly what she wants and when she wants it.  I have found that this is my far my biggest challenge yet with her.  She is going through a stage where she does not want to eat...she either wants fruit or cracker type snacks, which I refuse to feed her all the time, or milk.  Most of the time its milk.  She will throw an absolute tantrum over milk.  I think she is filling up on milk and then isn't hungry to eat. So we have been trying to limit her milk intake which causes meltdown after meltdown.  I struggle with how to handle her meltdowns.  Like I said..she is extremely stubborn and strong-willed so the whole "ignore the bad behavior" tactic is really really difficult.  She will scream...and I mean scream..for what seems like forever.  We have had hour long screaming fits before I am finally able to distract her.  And I'm not going to lie...I have given in a few times for Bristol's sake. I don't want her to have to listen to non stop screaming.  Although she handles it well and continues to smile through Brooklyn's fits.  Brooklyn also does not like to be told NO at all. She has the best sad face ever and it breaks my heart into pieces every time she does it.  We are starting time-out with her in hopes she will grasp the concept soon and understand that no means no.  Derek and I have both been pretty good at not giving into her.  I refuse to allow her to become a selfish, spoiled brat...I think being a teacher and seeing a lot of kids helps motivate this lol..

Brookie still loves to be center of attention and will put on quite a show when family is around.  She loves to run wild and refuses to be cooped up for long.  She has a blast at the ball field and finds kids to follow around...which ends up being the kids following her around.  She lights up a room with her giant cheesy smile.  She is talking sooo much more in the last month too.  She will say most people's names in the family...sometimes is coherent, other times, not so much.  But its so cute to listen to her.

So at 18 months Brooklyn:
* loves her sister but is getting jealous if we are paying more attention to Bristol than to her
* does not like to let her sister sleep
* always brings Bristol toys and burp clothes :)
* says lots of words..some new ones are sissy, nana (banana), book, Mimi (Mickey), hi, thank you, purple, blue, yellow, (doesn't know the the color really, but says the word), shoes, side (outside)..and probably others I can't think of..
* is signing "more" and "please" all by herself without any cues
* loves her milk and raisins
* knows a few animal sounds - Woof woof for a dog, she snorts for a pig, meow for a kitty, cluck cluck for a chick, and mooo for a cow
* climbed out of her crib during a tantrum and then said "Uh-oh"
* loves the water, swimming, and being outside
* has been sleeping in until 8:30 or later...right now it is 9:20 and she's still asleep!
* tortures the dog with her walker and laughs the whole time
* is very clingy to me (which I love..most of the time)
* cries when Derek or I leave..especially if we both go :(
* likes to hold onto my leg
* is signed up for swim lessons :)
* weighs 28.8 pounds...is 33 inches tall
* wears 2T or 3T

eating her first corn on the cob

Balloon fun!

Her first helium balloon...she was fascinated!

Crib hopping

Finger painting...oye

Little too big for the carrier now...lol

Dumping water on her head

Oh another epic tantrum..

The girls with grandma