"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15

Thursday, April 30, 2015

WORKIN on a Good Time


Let me tell you something.  I LOVE birthdays.  Not just my own, but everybody's.  I know I get more excited for my husband's birthday than he does.  I just can't help it.  The planning, anticipation, and excitement are so much fun!  I was so happy this year, that Lyle was old enough to be excited for his birthday too! 


His birthday was on a Thursday this year, so we talked it up all week.  The night before, he helped me make cupcakes to take to daycare.  He requested raspberry (I have no idea where that came from!)  So I found a simple recipe (mix up a white cake mix, and put a spoonful of raspberry pie filling on top of each cupcake, and marble it with a knife before baking), and we put Paw Patrol cut outs on top.  He was so pumped to share them with his friends!



He woke up Thursday morning to balloons, streamers, and birthday banners strung up.  He kept finding more decorations, and saying, "WOAH! Balloons!"  "WOAH!  Look Mom!"
Thursday evening we had supper at his Grammy and Papa's house, complete with macaroni and cheese and chips and salsa (his requests.)  Friday night he went back out to spend the night, while I did party prep at our house.



For his party he wanted "work trucks.'  Thank you Pinterest for brilliant ideas!





The weather on Saturday was so beautiful, so we sent everyone to the backyard and stayed there!  It was so much nicer than feeling like we were on top of each other in the house.



Lyle had a blast, but poor guy wasn't feeling the best by the end of the night.  He had a few grapes for supper and one lick of chocolate icing off his cake.  He at least had enough energy to enjoy his family and opening his presents!












After a VERY rough night of sleep, and discovering his tonsils were ridiculously swollen we made a trip to the doctor in Wichita on Sunday for some antibiotics.  All in all a great weekend.  Thank you to all of our family for coming down!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Lyle Holden: THREE

Lyle Holden you are three years old today.  And you are the sweetest and silliest boy I know.  You make me so happy to be your momma!  Here is your latest and greatest!

The day our lives changed forever!

One year old

Two years old
-We will go to your check-up next week, but the last time we measured you, you were 38 1/2 inches and 29 1/2 pounds.

Muscles like Dad

Michelangelo helping me bake
-You also still love superheros, playing outside, and riding the gator.  You have been using your imagination a lot lately and playing "zoo" or setting up "races" for us.


Such a cool guy!

Flying to South Carolina
-Some of your favorite shows to watch are "Rocket" (Little Einsteins), Paw Patrol, and Blaze and the Monster Machines.  You are also loving the Cars and Planes movies right now.

Beach Bum

Ahh...this is the life
 -Lately you've been watching Veggie Tale movies (Which are some of my favorites too!).  You think the song in the beginning is hilarious and will watch the tuba playing over and over and crack up every time!  Then reenact it for us all!

A baby SISTER????

Camp Mennoscah
-You are awesome at puzzles.  You also love to play your matching games (which you are pretty good at) and lately other games like  Go Fish and Count the Chickens.

Working on puzzles

Eating a donut bigger than your head!
 -You have a tremendous love for all of your family and get so excited if we go to someone's house or they come to your house.

You LOVE Koko and Shawn!

In heaven at the fair with Eli
-You are a pretty decent sleeper.  You don't go to bed until about 9 p.m. otherwise you will just toss and turn in your bed for an hour, but you are still taking an afternoon nap.  Sometimes on the weekend you have trouble setting down for your nap, so your Dad will tell you, "You don't have to sleep, but you need to have your eyes closed."  Works every time-smart Daddy!  We wake you up during the week at about 7:15 a.m. and on the weekends you are up between 7:30 and 8 most of the time.  You have a random assortment of blankets on your bed, including my fuzzy one from downstairs.  Whatever options your choose that night, your blue baby blanket from your Great Aunt Carol always is first with the "cool" side down.

Big boy bed and Superhero sheets!

Denver Zoo
 -You love to read books, but most of the time pick out the same ones to read.  Lately your choices have been "Diggit Saves the Day," or your superhero Golden books.  You also love to read these small Mickey books from Koko and Shawn, mostly because you can read them back to me.  Often you will be silly and purposely say the wrong shape or color then giggle.

Kansas Cosmosphere

Hulk

You love the snow!
 -You are the absolute best big brother.  You love to entertain Aria, by singing, making silly faces, or just talking to her.  She watches whatever you do.  I have a feeling you will be great friends.

Meeting Aria

Loving on baby sister
 -You have become a p-i-c-k-y eater.  You still love fruit, macaroni, hot dogs, blue chips (Cool Ranch Doritos), pizza, and spaghetti.  Most of the time you won't eat the meat I cook and vegetables are hit or miss.  But you LOVE your treats.  You are constantly asking for "something out of your cabinet."  Any kind of candy or cookie will do, but you also love fruit snacks and applesauce pouches.  You are very sweet to share your treats whether you are already eating something, or by offering to get something for them "out of your cabinet."  Obviously you think that thing is allllll yours!

A happy plate!  That spaghetti was good!

Such a big kid!
 -You have the funniest sense of humor.  You love to make jokes by switching out the wrong word for something.  One of your favorites is to sing, "Old McDonald had a ...... burp!  E-i-e-i-o.  With a burp-burp here...." then you giggle like crazy.  It makes me laugh every time.

Sweet siblings

An example of your kind heart.  Shoveling the porch so Mom and Aria didn't fall and get hurt.
 -You are becoming more and more independent.  You go to the bathroom by yourself, and are potty trained at night too.  You put your boots on in the morning (still the only shoes you will wear) and are learning to get dressed by yourself too.

You LOVE to help me in the kitchen
-Your favorite thing to do is "work" (i.e. playing with your tools).  You will load up your toolbox and haul it around to anything that needs fixing.  Frequently you will ask me or your Dad, "Will you come work with me?"
     -I had this quote written down from back in December:
       -Lyle: Mom, do you want a tool to work with?
       -Me: Sure!
       -Lyle: Which one do you want?
       -Me: Surprise me
       -Lyle: I don't have that tool.

-You asked for a "work-truck" party, so that is what we are going to have! :)

Working hard

Being a good friend
 -Your Dad goes to a men's breakfast once a week, and you get SO excited if you get to too (you still love pancakes!)  Often you will talk about seeing Papa, Pastor Weldon, and Mark at breakfast.

Easter with your cousins


Happy Happy Birthday Lyle!!! We are so proud of you and love you so much!!!

Here are your answers to your birthday interview.
Birthday Interview
Lyle Holden Bauer
April 23, 2015

What is your name? Lyle
How old are you? Four (holding up three fingers)
What is your favorite thing to do? Play with my trucks.  And my work (tools). And my sandbox. And my swingset.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A big giant
What is your favorite food?  Pizza
Who do you like to spend time with?  Momma and Aria
What do you do really well?  Playing matching games
What makes you laugh?  Singing silly songs for baby sister
What is the best time of the day?  Paula’s
What are you afraid of?  The dark
Who is your best friend?  Everybody.  Grace is nice.
What do you like to do with your family?  Play with the work stuff
Where do you like to go?  Paula’s
What is your favorite book?  Avenger’s Assemble book
What is your favorite show?  Golden Goose on Rocket (Little Einsteins)
What is your favorite color?  Blue and Green




Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Aria Grace: Four Months

We are four months old, people!!! And life is good!  (Except for teething, which is rough.)  Here's what's been going on!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!





Weight: 16lbs 1 oz (95th percentile) -as of last week
Height: 25 1/4 inches (88th percentile)


Wearing size 6-9 month clothes.

Sleep-  You still are getting up twice a night to eat.  I can't complain too much because it only takes you about 10 minutes to eat, then you go right back down.  Your naps at work are getting much shorter, and you tend to fight them more now.  You typically fall asleep in your swing in the evening after supper, and wake up when we go upstairs to bed to eat one last time.  We are planning to move you to your room soon, and I'm hoping it will help you sleep longer at night!

Supporting our Kansas teams for the NCAA tournament

Eating-  Still breastfeeding and doing great!  Eating about every three hours, but you are not afraid to let me know it if you are hungry before then.  (It doesn't matter if Mom thinks it's too early or not...we are eating NOW!  lol)

In her swing at work, watching nursery rhyme videos on YouTube...can you see the phone rigged up there on the right???


Likes-  Your favorite thing is to be smiled at and talked to.  You get the biggest grin on your face, and it absolutely makes the day of whomever you are talking to!  You love your baths, kicking around on your play mats, music, and being outside.  You absolutely love all the girls at mommy's work.  They have you so spoiled...all you have to do is make a peep and one of them will come to check on you saying, "Were you calling me, Aria?  Want to come play?"  They have your swing set up in the front office and have lullabies and nursery rhymes ready to play for you.  It is awesome.


Biker babe with a bow!


Dislikes- Those darn teeth have started to bother you the last week or two and it drives you crazy some days.  Your hands are constantly in your mouth, along with your blanket, and anything else you can hold well enough to chew on.  Since you've been teething you don't want anything to do with your pacifier.

Easter Sunday



Fun Firsts- You learned to roll over both ways this last week!  Lyle also got the first laugh out of you!  Your Dad and I were standing at the stove finishing supper, and Lyle was singing (super loud) to you in your seat, and you just started laughing at him!  The best moment EVER!  During spring break you finally got to meet your cousins Summer and Weston, and Auntie Kristen and Uncle Philip.  The babies were fascinated by each other!  It was fun for all the aunts and uncles to get grins out of you!  You also celebrated your first Easter, and looked absolutely darling in your Easter dress.  We had a great time with family (although you slept through all the Easter egg hunts!)

The Norris cousins

Lyle Update: You still LOVE your brother and he still LOVES you!  I am so happy for this and hope it always continues!  He loves to help with you and entertain you.  When you are sitting close together, if your arm bumps him, he will squeal and say, "Aria!  That TICKLES!!!!"  So funny.

Lyle reading you books.  Precious.
What a perfect addition to our family you are, sweet Aria!  We love you so so much!