Macy - 11 & 12 Months Old

Dear Macy,

         You, my sweet baby girl, are ONE! Your first year is over and I have to thank you for being one of the easiest babies ever in the HISTORY of babies. You are a complete joy. You sleep, you eat, and you entertain us with your sweet and silly self. You have spoiled us this past year. Thank you!

The past two months have been a flurry of activity. You are officially walking now and that means you are also getting into things. We no longer can leave bathroom doors open because that is your favorite place to explore. YUCK! Much to my disgust, you enjoy playing with the covers to the toilet bolts, shredding TP, digging through the trash, and trying to climb into the bathtub. Ruby has become the bathroom police and takes her job very seriously - she is constantly on bathroom door patrol. Such a wonderful and protective big sis you have!

Notable things about the past couple months:

• You took your first steps in early April
• You started walking on May 8th - just a few days before you turned 1
• You have LOTS to say - we just don't have a clue what you are talking about. The only words other than Mama, Dada, and Nana are Duck and Dog. What is it with the Candlish girls and Ducks? That was Ruby's first word too!
• A lot of celebrating has taken place the past two months - St. Patty's Day, Easter, and both Daddy & Mommy's birthdays. You are a trooper and we enjoy having you along every step of the way.
• You finally figured out your sippy cup. I kept thinking you needed the beginner style sippys so I bought a few different types and you seemed very unimpressed. You just didn't care for them. Then one day I looked over and you were drinking your sisters water out of her "big girl" sippy cup. That's all it took - I bought you a few of your own and you are now chugging right along. Literally. 
• You are eating mostly table foods. You are not a fan of me spooning baby food to you so you eat what we are eating as well as the fruit and vegetable pouches. I think you enjoy the independence of feeding yourself. Fine with me!

A few photos from the past two months:

Macy - 9 & 10 Months Old

Dear Macy,

As I write this letter you are back in your room playing in your crib. Not napping. Playing. This is a bit of a new thing around here, you not wanting to nap, and I suppose I should just get over it. You are otherwise pretty much the "perfect" baby but nap time, yea, it's not your fav. I guess you just don't want to miss the party? I have tried to tell you all about how your sister, at your age, took two hour naps twice a day! You clearly have no desire to compete for "better baby" in this category because nothing has changed. Bad news for you is I refuse to stop TRYING to get you to nap. So for now, you hang out in your crib quite a bit. Please just go to sleep?? 

The past couple months for you have been all about crawling, cruising, and a little bit of exploring. You are all over the place and you are QUICK. You are pulling up on everything and cruising around which seems like way too much too soon. You don't spend nearly as much time in your jumper or walker anymore - you want to be down on the ground exercising your freedom and making a mess. I love it when you do your speed crawl - the extra fast crawl you bust out when you hear me making you a bottle or when we turn on the tubby for you and your sister. Your excitement is so cute and you "sprint" from wherever you are to get to either the kitchen or the bathroom. It cracks us up.

You finally are saying "Mama". FINALLY. And of course the very first time you said it was after a night of not feeling well. So it felt like if was a real plead for me. It was kinda sad but extremely sweet. In the weeks since you have continued to be pretty stingy when you say Mama.. But when you do it's the sweetest little thing. I love your little voice, it seriously melts my heart.

Other notable things about your 8th & 9th Months of life:

• You love playing pat-a-cake and peekaboo
• Hearing me sing "If You're Happy & You Know It" makes you smile every time
• You love to shake your head no
• You now wave hi and bye-bye
• We celebrated your first Valentines Day
• You tried the swings at the park for the first time (BIG hit!)
• Two more teeth are in -  for a grand total of 8 (that's a LOT for your age!)
• You are wearing size 4 diapers and 12-18 and some 18-24 month clothing (whoa)

Photos from the past two months:

9 Month check up - 20 lbs 12 oz,  almost 28 inches long

For those who have never seen/heard Macy cry.... I promise it happens! And it's VERY dramatic. The bottom lip quivers, gets stuck WAY out, and she gets very sad. Such a performance! 

Play date and the park with Zoe and your Aunties

Good times at Costco. You two kids are MONEY PITS! But we still love you....

You and your rubber ducky. Serious love affair

Your sisters favorite new morning routine. Not your favorite, but you deal. 

A girl's gotta eat, right?

Playing with one of your favorite toys your favorite way - with a toy in your mouth. You are kinda like a little puppy dog -  you ALWAYS have a toy in your mouth.

I love you. And your eyes, they somehow turn me into mush. 

You are in every sense of the word, Mama's baby!

Your first time swinging. Love.

Random tidbits from the past two months via Instagram

You make my heart so happy Macy Mae! 

Xoxo,

Mama

2013 Easter Celebrations

Here are the girls, getting into the Easter spirit with a visit to the bunny. Yay for no tears.

Macy tolerated sitting next to the bunny but she in no way enjoyed it, as if that wasn't obvious.

Heaven forbid we get a family photo with all 4 of us looking at the camera.

Macy is always trying to figure out what her big sister is up to! 

We spent the day before Easter down in Newport for the now traditional egg hunt, egg dying, brunch extravaganza.  The egg hunt is always fun to watch. Macy even got in on the action this year. Pretty hard to believe I was still pregnant with her this time last year.

The girls with their Nana and Papa

And with their "big" cousins Ashley & Skylar

     Ruby was the egg dying champ this year. She took her job very seriously and did a great job. Macy however needs to improve her skills. The picture on the left was taken seconds before Macy split yellow dye all over herself and everything around her. Of course....

Easter morning. Ruby was thrilled with the pom poms the bunny left. 

Macy just wanted to make a mess with the grass from her basket. Go figure.

Sunday afternoon was spent over at Uncle Mike, Aunt Cindy, and Mimi's house for the annual family reunion/Easter celebration. Ruby spent the majority of the time in the jacuzzi as usual and Macy just took it all in. We had a great day hanging out and feasting on all the yummy food. A great grand finale of our Easter celebrations!

And now, for a little trip down memory lane...

I love the similarity in these pictures of both Ruby and Macy's 1st encounters with the Easter Bunny!

Pictures of Ruby waiting to see the bunny. Spring 2010 and 2013. Amazing what can happen in just 3 years. We love this girl so much!

My Favorite Little Leprechauns

St. Patricks Day hasn't really been a holiday that we "go all out" for in the past but this year we made the Irish proud and did it up right. Because nothing says St. Patricks Day like a Sunday play date with your favorite friends and aunties! Such a fun morning. I only wish we could all get together more often!

1. Cutie Pie, Miss Zoe 2. We are clearly getting old, because we celebrated with green juice 3. Getting our group photo was hilarious as usual 4. The crazies trying to get "The Shot" 5. Connor's Rainbow Art 6. Handsome Connor  7. Leprechaun Art (Thanks for your help Robin!) 8. Sweet Macy 9. Ruby's Rainbow 

We love Auntie Meg! xoxo

I have so few photos of me with my girls. Thanks Auntie Bird for snapping this one!

Our crew - we missed you Auntie Leece!! 

Thank you all for coming over and helping us celebrate.

Rubes with her leprechaun hat she made at school

I adore these two kids. Seriously!

And I just had to include this picture sent by Ruby's teacher, Mrs. Diaz. Love that my girl is front and center with her crazy face. She cracks me up. Love her silly little self so much!

Macy - 7 & 8 Months Old

Dear Macy,

I refuse to give up your monthly posts. Oh no, no second child syndrome for you! Seriously, where is the time going? How have I fallen so behind here? The months are flying by and it's time to get everything written down before it all becomes a blur. 

The last couple months you have grown and changed so much, it's amazing. Every day it seems like you are doing something new and while I love to cheer you on I am simultaneously sad that my baby is disappearing right before my eyes. Don't do that to me!

Lately your personality has really began to shine and I am proud to say that you are kinda a mama's girl. I am trying to soak it up now because I know all too well that this won't last. But for now, no one can make you laugh and smile like I can. Which is why I can't for the life of me figure out why you chose to say Dada first?? I mean, seriously!! Do I need to remind you of your birth story?!?! Let me sum it up for you..... NO EPIDURAL! So let's get to hearing Mama, Ok? But back to your personality - you most definitely have a sweet little shy streak. I love the way you burrow your little face into my shoulder when you get a little bit shy, totally melts my heart. You are still as sweet as can be, the only time you cry is when it's nap or bedtime. You seem to not want to go down without a fight and you refuse to take a pacifier. This is new territory for me - so polar opposite from your sister! 

Milestones hit in your 6th and 7th month:

• Started sitting up - First week of December
• Started crawling - December 26th
• Began sitting in a highchair / ditched the bumbo in mid December
• Taking big girl baths - no more bathroom sink - First week in January
• Transitioned to formula in late December with no complaints from you
• Pulling up in your crib - January 3rd 
• Pulling up on furniture - January 7th
• Said Dada for the first time - First week in January
• Top 2 Teeth poked thru - January 9th (for a total of six teeth)

Other fun & notable things about the past two months:

• We celebrated your first Thanksgiving - you sat at the table for the first time in your sassy seat
• Experienced your first Christmas season and sat with Santa a few times (no tears!)
• Took your second vacation - up to Mammoth Mountain
• You decided you are not interested in a pacifier - Whaaaat?!?!
• Snacking is your favorite. You've started feeding teething crackers and puffs 
• You are super ticklish - you laugh especially hard when I squeeze your chubby thighs
• You love drawstrings. I dress accordingly.
• Wearing size 3 diapers and mainly 6-12 month clothing which is none too big - YIKES

Drawstrings and zippers. These two things alone can keep you entertained for days.

Your jumper and a snack = happy girl

 I love your little toes and your chubby little feet

One of your favorite teething rings

I loved the sitting up and playing stage. It was a very BRIEF stage for you. As soon as you sat up you were hell bent on crawling. And you pulled it off. Seriously, NO RUSH.

This little car brings you much joy. We've taken MANY laps around Nebraska Lane and I see countless more in our future. 

Macy Mae, you are the source of so much joy in this house. We all love you to bits.

Now let's hear Mama!! 

Sea World & San Diego

Back in November (yes, I am THAT behind) we packed up what felt like our entire house, loaded it into our borrowed RV (thank you Dave and Melissa), and hit the road for a few days of family fun in San Diego. What a great time we had! We lucked out with perfect weather and being the off season, we honestly felt like we had both our hotels and Sea World all to ourselves. Such a great time of year to vacation down there.

Although it was a quick trip we managed to fit in lots of fun - pool time, a day at Sea World, and even a day at the beach. Chris has been so busy with work, working even on the weekends lately, so it was so nice to have a few days of uninterrupted family time. Macy was her usual trooper self - she seemed to enjoy her first vacation quite a bit. 

1. Ruby excited and ready to leave for our vacation

2. Swimming in the pool at The Catamaran Resort

3. Leaving the Catamaran and heading to Sea World

4. Breakfast at IHOP before Sea World

5. It's hard to tell but this is a great picture of two dolphins doing back flips

The sights of Sea World

Macy could hardly contain her excitement

Up close and personal with the Dolphins

We had amazing November weather. Sunny and warm with breeze.

Atlantis, I still can't believe Ruby went on this ride. She still talks about it, "Remember that time I went on that REALLY SCARY ride with Daddy??" As you can see they were the only ones in their boat - the place was EMPTY!

That's one big fish! Doesn't this picture look fake??

The Shamu show, Ruby thought it was AMAZING

Yea, bad idea to sit in the "soak zone" with two little ones. We thought, "What are the chances?!?" Yea.... we got SOAKED!

Riding the people movers up in the air

After our long day at Sea World we checked into The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. We had a beachfront room but Ruby didn't really get it because it was dark. When we woke up the next morning I had Ruby open the front door and she was in awe. There was the beach! 

I love this picture, she really stood there for a moment speechless. So cute.

Pretty much the nicest spot for my morning coffee

Our lounge spot for the day

This girl was in heaven - she spent the entire morning gathering shells.

 My little beach bum

Hope we make it back soon!