New Seat

So Quinn is finally using a booster seat at our kitchen table. We got her a seat a month or so ago, but when we got it home, we realized it was broken. We had bought it from Burlington Coat Factory, which is in a neighborhood we never go to unless we have a coupon for free pictures from Sears or I have a craving for CiCi's pizza. Randy finally got it exchanged for a new one (which has a damaged tray, but we are cutting our losses!) and Quinn is loving it. I think she really likes being a big girl and sitting at the table to eat, do crafts, or work on something quietly while Wes is sleeping.

Stringing noodles onto pipe cleaners

Pipe cleaners quickly turned into "snakes" and then into mustaches :-)

Being silly with Daddy

Cheesy smile at lunch

Heartbreaker..

First tooth!

Wes had his first tooth pop through! I didn't even know it was there until he smiled big for my sister and she noticed the little glimpse of white poking through his gums. However, with this first tooth has come a nasty cold. Wes has such a bad cough; it kept him up much of the night last night. He got his first taste of Tylenol and his first rub-down with Baby Vicks. I hope that this is not the way all his future teeth manifest themselves! Yikes!

Quinn got her two bottom teeth right after she turned four months old, too. Wes seems to be hitting milestones at about the same time Quinn did. It will be interesting to see when he learns his next "trick." :-)

Green monsters

This is a post that is NOT about my kids...how long has it been since that happened?! If you are like me and are obsessed with blogs like Iowa Girl Eats, Pinterest, and/or my personal favorite, foodgawker, then you have likely heard about green monsters. They are a current breakfast favorite in my home. Basically, the concept is incorporating spinach into a typical fruit smoothie. I normally don't like smoothies for breakfast because they aren't that filling, but green monsters made with yogurt are a real meal. They turn this insane bright green color that just exudes nutrition to me! Since I am working hard at losing weight, they are also a great option that can come in under 300 calories and tide me over until lunchtime. Bonus: Quinn loves them! She's not a picky eater, but I love that she can get some extra nutrition from the spinach and other ingredients. She declared this morning's green monster "very good." :-)

source

We have made several varieties so far. This has been my favorite.

6 oz. fat-free vanilla yogurt. Greek yogurt would be a good boost of protein here, too!
1 orange or 2-3 clementines, peeled and segmented
1/2 cup pineapple (I used canned crushed pinapple in 100% juice)
2 big handfuls spinach
Milk or orange juice if desired
Sweetener to taste (I use Splenda and vanilla extract)
1 cup ice
Combine all ingredients in blender and pulse!

I have also done one apple, a tablespoon of peanut butter, spinach, and milk. I don't like bananas but they would be a great addition to any green monster! I'd like to try carrots, too! You really cannot taste the spinach at all.

Happy Friday! I will be back soon with some updates on my sweet kids.

Watch me grow: 4 months

Wes, you are four months old!

At four months you...
*Can roll over both ways
*Eat 6 times a day
*Are getting a lot better at sleeping at night. We usually start bedtime at 8:30 and you are asleep a little after 9:00. Sometimes we don't hear a peep from you until 5:30, but there are other nights when you want to party at 2:00 a.m
*Wear size 2 diapers
*Wear mostly 3-6 month clothes with a few pairs of 6-9 month pants
*Drool like crazy
*Are a sweet, snuggly boy. You love to play on the floor under your gym, swing, or sit in your Bumbo seat (but just for a few minutes at a time).
*Steal your mommy, daddy, and sister's heart every day! We love you, sweet boy!

Wes was not too forthcoming with the smiles this morning, but I think he is pretty handsome anyway. :-)

Wordless Wednesday

My boys

I have some amazing boys in my life!! I love the expression on Wes' face. He is so serious and wide-eyed. Lots of you have asked if he is sleeping better. He is doing a little bit better. A few nights this week he slept all night (10-5:30) but a few times he was up at 4:00 and once at 2:00. We are getting there!

Funny Girl

Quinn is extra silly these days. She is at such a great age!! We laugh constantly at all of the things she says and does. One of her favorite words lately is "funny." She is getting great about putting in snack requests (usually "cookies" or "eggs" or "crackers"), and of course, telling Momma and Daddy "no" to everything. Just today I had to run into work after I picked up the kids from day care. I think I've spent so much time convincing Quinn that it is fun to go to work with me that she really does like it! When I wanted to leave today, she was sure to tell me "no home, Momma, play!" Playing for her is pressing her nose and face against all of the freshly cleaned windows in the atrium....sorry, janitors! She also loves counting all the stairs at my school and going "knock-knock" on all the teachers' doors. I remember playing at school while my mom did bulletin boards and other weekend stuff, and I love that Quinn already enjoys being at work with me!

There is lots of talk of potty and poo-poo around our house. When she has a dirty diaper she loves to blame it on someone else. I think I heard "Wessy stinky poo-poo!" ten times tonight.

We love our sweet girl. She (sometimes) loves to give snuggles and kisses and squeezes, is crazy about Gerber sippy cups, can't get enough of babies and dollies and teddies, and amazes us with how many new things she learns every day. She will be 22 months old in just a few days. What a big girl!

Silly girl in Wes' bouncer

I can still fit in this swing!

Looking particularly disheveled en route to a bath, deli ham and sippy cup in hand!

End of 2011

Goodbye, 2011! We had a whirlwind of a year-end. After returning from my parents' house the day after Christmas, we stuck around Waukee for two quick days at home. I hung out with the kids while Randy worked on the basement. We then went to Randy's parents' for a few days to celebrate Christmas with them. We celebrated so late because Randy's sister Amy's family was home from Idaho! It was great to see them for a few days, and Santa (or "Ho Ho," as he is known in our house) spoiled all four of us. We left late Saturday night and the kids slept in the car the whole way home. We were able to transition them into their rooms seamlessly! I love when that happens.

My parents came up to stay with the kids on NYE. It is so nice to have them stay with us! They know where everything is, and of course my kids absolutely adore them. We went out to eat with our good friends Jake and Stacy and then went out to their house afterwards. They are redoing another house and it will be gorgeous when it is done!

Randy and I are back to work and Quinn and Wes are back at day care. It is always hard to leave them after a break, but it is nice to be back in our routine. Randy will be out of town through Friday. He is in Moline on a business trip. Since I will be running a zone defense with my two little punkins, I probably won't post anything here this week. Stay tuned for pictures and updates soon, though!