What's Up Wednesday 7.29.15

Happy Happy Wednesday!  Just a few short days until we arrive at the weekend!  Hooray!

What we're eating this week

I'm not quite sure where this week will take us, so we are planning a little loosely for the week.  We've had chicken bacon ranch panini's and hot dogs so far.  We will probably throw in a night of breakfast (my favorite!) and pick up food in Wichita for dinner Thursday night.

What I'm reminiscing about 

The newborn days of both my babies.  I cannot believe that Lyle will be going to preschool soon!

What I'm loving

My fitbit! Hoping it will be a good motivator!  If we're not already friends, let me know so I can add you!

What we've been up to

Trying to find a break from the heat!  We set up a small pool in the backyard and it's been great! 

What I'm dreading

Knowing my house is going to be in the same state of mess for the next two weeks.  We are busy both weekends and in-between and there is already mounds of laundry waiting to be taken care of.  BUT I plan to enjoy everything and worry about that later!

What I'm working on

We are gearing up for another year at our church preschool.  I am on the board so we are getting ready to set up a fair booth, have a big fundraiser breakfast, and send out parent letters for the upcoming year.  Zach has a seed and supply business he helps run and they have been hard at work getting their store front cleaned out and set up for the fair too.

What I'm excited about

Hurt's Donuts are now in Wichita!  This is a donut shop that originally opened in Springfield, MO by a girl I went to middle school with.  They have had awesome success and are expanding like crazy!  They have wild flavored donuts (from cotton candy, to smore's, to maple bacon.)  We tried to go on Saturday night, but hit it when the college crowd was there late and did not want to stand in line for an hour!  My sweet father-in-law brought us a couple on Monday night, but we are planning to pick some up on Thursday!  What can I say, we are a donut loving family! :)

What I'm watching

We are currently watching Psych on Netflix.  Thanks for the introduction Kodi and Shawn! 

What I'm reading

This is a book about the concept of "conscious discipline,"  which is basically saying we have to change how we react to situations and how we say things before we can expect a change in our kids.  It's been really interesting so far.

I am loving reading this as part of my devotionals in the morning.  

What I'm listening to 

I guess this should go under "What I'm Watching," but I've been listening/watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix while I'm cooking, during lunch breaks, etc.

What I'm wearing

 I got this shirt for my birthday, and I can't wait to wear it!

What I'm doing this weekend

We are headed out to Camp Mennoscah for a church retreat this weekend.  I always love weekends at camp!  I am just praying it isn't too hot!  There is always great messages, fellowship, free time, and minute-to-win-it games!  My favorite!

What I'm looking forward to next month

It's all about the babies!  I can't wait for Baby Swander's arrival in the next month!  Gimme some baby snuggles!

What else is new?  

Lyle is going to the dentist for the first time tomorrow.  Well actually that's not true.  We made a quick visit to our local dentist to have his front tooth looked at after he busted it on the cement when he tripped down our porch steps.  Twice.  Poor guy.  But this is his first cleaning and regular check up.  Hopefully he will do well. 

What will you miss most about summer?

Well, since we are not yet in school, summer is a relative term.  One of the things I love about summer the most is that it stays light for so much longer.  In the winter it's easy to think the day is over when we get off work at 5, but there is so much more time to play in the summer!

So that's "What's Up" with the Bauers!  What's up in your neck of the woods???

Birthday Festivities

I had a wonderful birthday weekend.  28 is looking like it will be a great year!!  I am excited for things on the horizon and most of all enjoying all the upcoming fun with my family dearest!

My sweet husband and kiddos had these flowers delivered to my office on Friday.  They smell just as beautiful as they look!

Saturday morning breakfast with these two crazies.  If that tongue isn't sticking out, she has her nose scrunched up and is sniffing at you!

 Lyle had already eaten a full bowl of oatmeal and some scrambled eggs.  So now he's eating jelly beans.  Why not, right?  He was convinced every day of the weekend was my birthday.  "We're going out to Grammy's to celebrate your BIRTHDAY???!!"  Me: "Tomorrow, honey."  Lyle:  "But your BIRTHDAY is today, right?"  We had this conversation MANY times. :)  He was pumped.

We dropped the kids off with the grandparents after lunch and Zach and I headed to Wichita for kid-free shopping, dinner, and a movie.  I was searching for a shirt to wear for our upcoming family pictures, and no-lie we went in basically every store of the mall.  It was a BUST!  Who would have thought finding a simple blue shirt would be so stinking hard!  I ended up with a couple of dresses I think will work, but next year I am picking my outfit first instead of the other way around!    I also made sure to take a spin through the Starbucks drive through to cash in my birthday reward free drink!  (Download the Starbucks app if you go there very often.  You can pay using your phone and you get extra discounts and rewards.)

We headed to church Sunday morning, then out to my in-laws for a steak dinner.  Mmmm.  Lyle insisted my birthday cake have an angel on it.  And that all the flowers and sun be named.  I love that kid.

Lyle is helping me blow out candles and Aria is giving us the side-eye.  I think she's a little peeved that someone moved the cake further than her little grabby hands could reach!

Grammy helped Lyle and Aria make this for me.  Oh my goodness I love it.  I took it to work and am going to hang it in my office.  Then Lyle sang "You are my Sunshine" for me and I definitely got teary eyes.  I used to sing that to him as I rocked him to sleep.  That moment got my momma heart for sure.
 

I am looking forward to getting together with my side of the family in a couple weeks (we have our church retreat and county fair the next two weekends which are sure to be a whirlwind!)

Aria Grace: Seven Months

 

We have checked another month off of our calendars, and you definitely think you are big stuff!  We have hit some big milestones this month and you are quite proud of your accomplishments!

No measurements this month, but you still are the sweetest chunk around!  Your chubby thighs are to die for!  Any new clothes we buy are 12 month size.  Most of your 9 month clothes still fit (except for one-piece pajamas, which are high-waters by a couple inches!!).

Sleep- Mission "Sleep Through the Night" officially started this week.  Your patterns were getting worse instead of better, so now you don't get to eat every time you make a peep.  We have cut down to only one feeding a night, so that's an improvement!!  At home you nap great, usually 2-3 times a day.  At daycare you were having trouble settling down if you could see or hear anybody...I guess you wanted to get up and play instead of sleep.  Once they moved your crib you seemed to do better.  

Eating- We started solids this month, and although it took you a bit of time to warm up, now you love it!  We are doing a combination of baby-led weaning and regular baby food/cereal.  So far we've been able to just feed you whatever fruit or vegetable we are having, but soon I will probably puree a bunch of food to send with you to daycare.  I have a Baby Brezza and love that it will steam and puree all in one.  All I have to do is chop the food and come back when it is finished!

Likes-   Jumping.  You LOVE to jump.  I swear you can get a foot off the ground in your Johnny Jumper, and will be content in there forever.  You like to be outside and scoot to the edge of the blanket so you can feel the grass.  Often you are in the ERGO or hiking backpack if we go on walks, and you seem to like it pretty well. 

Milestones-  You started sitting by yourself this month and then a couple weeks later you were back on your tummy on the move!  Right now you are doing an inchworm crawl.  You get up on your hands and knees, then slide down and pull yourself forward, then back up on your knees.  Gone are the days of setting you down and thinking you will be there when I get back!  You love this new sense of freedom and use it to get right in the middle of Lyle's toys.  

Fun Firsts- You experienced your first harvest and combine rides this month.  We rode in the combine with Dad and you were mesmerized.  You were very content to sit on my lap and watch out the big windows.  We went on your first trip to Kansas City as well. 

 

Lyle Update:  I love watching you become friends.  You love to play with Lyle's toys, and although he will take them away sometimes, it's usually not in a mean way.  You love to be chased by him and he still gets the best giggles out of you.

Happy seven month birthday baby girl!  All the love.

Gifts for the Bebe

I have always loved baby showers.  There is something so precious about the excitement of a new baby, and being able to celebrate with the mom-to-be.  I remember going to baby shower's at church with my mom when I was younger, and loved helping pass around the gifts for everyone to ooh and ahh over. 

When I knew that we would be able to go to Kodi's baby shower, I wanted her to have a few special things to open from us.  For our first gift, I put together a Baby Medicine Kit.  I went to the store and bought all of the basics you need on hand when you have a sick little one, then made a cheat sheet with tips and dosing instructions.  I also included a Tylenol and Ibuprofen dosing chart that can help you navigate doses based on your babies weight. (Of course this goes without saying, I am not a doctor and it is always best to check with your child's physician before giving them medicine.)  I put it all together in a plastic tub, so it can be stored or moved to wherever it is most convenient.  Medicine seems to be the kind of thing that you never have in the house when you need it, so this kit will help prevent a late night run to the store the first time baby has a fever.

 

 

The next present was a little more personal.  I have found it so fun to make a baby quilt for each of my nieces and nephews!  They are not perfect by any means, but they are made out of love, and hopefully they are something that will be special to them.  We are not sure if Baby Swander is a boy or a girl, so I tried to pick fairly neutral colors and fabric.  In the baby's nursery there is a storybook/movie theme and Shawn is also a photographer, so I thought this fabric was perfect!

Baby Swander (or Donald Duck Jr. as Lyle lovingly calls you) we are so excited to meet you!

Fourth of July Weekend

I was so happy this year when the 4th fell on Saturday, giving us a three day weekend off of work.  We took full advantage and left Thursday evening after work to head to Kansas City.  Lyle hitched a ride in the van with Grammy and Papa (DVD player for the win!), and Little Miss slept the entire way with us.  Amazing.

We packed up and headed to the Kansas City Zoo Friday morning.  Lyle has been fascinated with polar bears lately, so we made a bee-line for that exhibit first.  He loved them!

The weather was beautiful in the morning, and was perfect for walking around.  We rode the train and found some shade to eat lunch.

Lyle with his hands in the air like he was riding a roller coaster!  Hilarious!

And we made the carousel a family affair!  It was so much fun to act like kids!

The penguin exhibit was awesome!  

After lunch some of the girls left to get pedicures and the rest of the bunch found more animals, and rode the tram and sky rail.  Aria of course woke up as soon as we got inside the nail salon, so she spent the time on my lap.  In all she did well, but was definitely squirmy!

For dinner we hit up a Hibachi grill-a family favorite.  Lyle was terrified of the flames and sat on the floor throughout dinner.

Saturday morning Aria and I headed downtown to meet a good friend from college for coffee.  It was so great to catch up, if only for a short time!

We met the rest of the family at West Bottoms, a group of antique shops that are open the first weekend of the month.  It was a fun mix of antiques, refurbished finds, and handmade crafts.  It was such a cool place to look around!  We are definitely going to plan another weekend to go and shop!

Lyle made an awesome fort behind the couch. 

Aria has been starting to eat solid foods.  Those beginning faces when they are tasting new foods are the BEST!  This was her applesauce face.

Lunch and naps were next on the list, then we headed out for Lyle's surprise...Shave Ice!

Sweet kiddos in their Fourth of July attire!  I made everyone take pictures BEFORE they got their shaved ice.  (Mommy is learning!)

After supper the girls and the kids headed out to find fireworks.  Lyle and Aria helped steer the carts at Hyvee.  I wish our stores had carts where they could sit beside each other!!!  It is awesome!

We found a great grassy spot in front of the hospital, across the street from the display.  The bugs were out, but not horrible with bug spray, and it was the first Fourth of July in forever it wasn't a million degrees outside.  Both kids loved the fireworks, and it was a perfect amount of time to be out.

A little pre-show nap for Aria and game playing for Lyle.

Sunday morning we headed to church with Kodi and Shawn.  The main reason for our trip was to be able to attend Kodi's baby shower in the afternoon.  It was such a special shower, and so wonderful to be able to share in the excitement with her.  It is hard to believe that next month their sweet baby will be here!!!

Lyle made a house under the table with the bags and wrapping paper.  Everything these days turns into a fort or house.

After the shower we helped unload gifts at the house, and packed up to head home.  Lyle emphatically told us, that he was not going in the car, he was staying there with Uncle Shawn!!!  Luckily for us, he fell asleep before we were out of town.

He woke up three times on the way home, and said the following things:
-"Koko's house"

-"chicken nuggets"

Lyle: "Where's mama?
Me: "Right here, buddy."
Lyle: "No, my mama."
Me, taking off my sunglasses: "Lyle, I AM mama!"
Lyle: "Ohhh"
-I think he was still pretty much asleep, lol!

Aria only screamed for thirty minutes in the middle of the trip, until we could stop at a gas station and I changed and fed her.  Then she was a happy camper.  (Could be so much worse, I know!)

It was such a fun weekend, and it's so exciting to think the next trip we plan to KC will be for a new baby!