Updates

Life has been going well in the Yates home and we are moving into a comfortable and easy routine. Landyn eats 5-6 times a day, giving Jordyn and I a lot of time to spend, just the two of us. Some mornings we just hang out while other times we do special things such as crafts or a little t.v. I've ventured out a few more times with both girls to both the grocery store and the library. Both trips went really smoothly so I think we'll keep going out from time to time. Jordyn has really adjusted now to Landyn and rarely ever gets jealous or angry with her. She does feel she needs to be included and be doing whatever Landyn is doing as you can tell from the picture above. In short, our life has been going very smoothly and most days are stress free. I'm loving being a mom of two!

I've also posted a cute little video of the two girls. Jordyn counts! She doesn't know 7 or 9 but she knows all the rest. Then just some cute video of the two girls spending time together. They just get along so well and this video shows it. Enjoy!

Landyn's Update

Landyn is now a month old and we really can't believe it. Sometimes it seems like we had her just yesterday while other times it seems as though she's always been a part of our lives. She is such a wonderful girl, so full of interest at the things around her. We definitely see both Wayne's and my temperament in her. She is often so laid back and happy to just be, but when she gets angry she gets so unbelievable angry and screams at the top of her lungs! We'll let you guess whose temerapment is whose!

She is very patient with Jordyn and doesn't often get upset. Jordyn tends to trip on her or accidentally drop toys on her. Once she covered her face with a blanket, something I quickly put a stop to. In all that Landyn just seems to take it in stride and not really seem to mind it. She doesn't have a doctor's appt. this month so we can't tell you her exact weight and height but I know she is definitely growing as some of her clothes are now getting too short and too tight!

Really the only things Landyn does are eat and sleep and both she does well. She eats only 5-6 times a day, only once in the middle of the night, and loves to sleep. We've been having to keep her awake for a while after eating otherwise, she'll sleep all day and come night time she'll be ready to play. Thankfully, we've been nipping that in the bud.

She has a very strong neck and when put on her belly or held over our shoulder, loves to look around and see everything she can. Her favorite expression is a frown but she also likes to just be wide-eyed and take everything in. She is a complete pacifier baby and is alreayd dependent on it, just like Jordyn was. The frusterating thing is that she can't keep it in her mouth and so almost every time it falls out, she cries. Hopefully that stage will be over soon becuase we're both tired of popping it back in a million times and also tired of just leaving it out and listening to her scream! We can't seem to wean her off of it though.

She really is a great baby and we are so thankful for the added craziness, sweetness and cuddles that she's brought into our lives. We couldn't imagine life without her and are excited about how she will continue to grow!

Jordyn's Update

Jordyn is growing in leaps and bounds every day it seems. She is now 16 months old and we just can't believe all the things she's doing. She loves to eat and can do much of it by herself. While that sometimes drives me crazy because I have to treat almost all her clothes for stains and we definitely do more laundry, it is so fun to watch her work her magic with a fork and spoon. And even if you do want to help, she's very strong-willed and often refuses to eat it unless she's doing it herself!

She is also talking all the time. She says new things every day and we just can't believe it. She's great at saying Landyn's name, even though she can't say her own very well, and loves to say it often. Imitating is something that Jordyn does best and will copy almost any word we say, which is fun and scary. We definitely have to watch everything we say! Some words she says even though they aren't really true. She loves to tell me that her clothes are all to tight and proceeds to try and pull them off. She also thinks all her food is hot and will tell me that, and then not eat it until I blow on it, even sandwiches! But overall her vocabulary development has been really enjoyable.

Other things she loves to do is read books. Thats always been one of her favorite things but now she will actually say words and point at things, all on her own. It's really fun to just sit and watch her. She also has started learning to jump and tip-toe and will just run around the house on her tip-toes yelling "tip-toe, tip-toe". It's very cute.

Lastly, her adjustment to Landyn has been great. She loves her sister very much and doesn't usually mind her. She used to be afraid of the crying but has now come so used to it she'll just talk louder over Landyn's cries. She enjoys helping pull out the wipes for me when I'm changing Landyn and putting her paci in. She'll cover her up in a blanket and give her kisses without even being prompted. I'm so thankful for how well they get along!

I think thats it for now in the area of Jordyn but I'm sure in two weeks from now she'll be a totally different girl, on to bigger and better things!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas season this year and while it was totally different than any other Christmas we've had it was still very memorable. Since Landyn was still small and Wayne had used most of the rest of his vacation days when she was born we opted not to go anywhere for Christmas. This was my first Christmas not spent with my family and Wayne's first Christmas season not visiting his family. While it was a little difficult for us at first we still had a fun time.Christmas Eve was spent opening the gifts from eachother. Jordyn didn't get tons of gifts from us but even still, it was hard to get her to focus on opening them. She would open one and just want to play, oblivious to all the others still to open. On Christmas morning we had a big breakfast and opened the presents from other family members that had been sent to us. That took over an hour just because Jordyn was so slow! We had a lot of fun though and did a lot of playing.My parents and sister were able to come visit a few days after Christmas and of course brought more presents! For Jordyn it was the year of the kitchen stuff. She got a kitchen set, play food, bowls and measuring cups and a chefs hat and apron. She looks very cute and loves to play in the hat especially. Poor Landyn just got stuck with clothes (every childs favorite present) but we loved them all and it has been very fun putting her in all her new things and not just hand-me-downs from Jordyn. It was a great Christmas season and while I missed my family and all the activity that usually takes place I just couldn't stop thinking that I didn't mind to much. I have a beautiful family that I got to spend the holidays with and we got to make fun memories together, just the four of us. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Our First Outing

Well, today was our first outing, just me and the girls. They've been out together before, just to the doctors, but I didn't take them by myself. I figured Jordyn was getting antsy and tired of being in the house, although the main reason was that our library books were do and I couldn't renew them any more times! So, we trekked off to the grocery store and the library. It actually was great. Of course, if I needed more than 5 things at the grocery store I wouldn't be able to take both of them. Landyn's seat takes up the entire basket and Jordyn sits in the front, but it worked out great since I was only running in for a few things. Then it was off to the library. We sat Landyn in a chair and Jordyn and I played and read. Thankfully, Landyn kept to her schedule and slept the whole time, not waking up until after we had gotten home and finished lunch! We are doing great, just the three of us, and while Jordyn does get fussy and want to sit in my lap every time I feed Landyn our days are going quite simple and well. I can't believe how easy it has been so far. Of course I know there will be rough and horrible days but so far we haven't really had those and I'm so thankful. Jordyn loves Landyn and Landyn tolerates Jordyn so they really do quite well together. I'm so thankful for both of them and the patience God has given me!

Landyn and Jordyn play!

I know we haven't posted any video of Landyn yet, it's a little busier with two, but here it is. This is a cute video of Jordyn taking care of Landyn, and some of just Landyn by herself, although that's hard to get. Hope you enjoy it and we'll try to get some more up soon.

Home Alone

Well, today was my first day home alone! I was so blessed to have my mom come and stay for a week and it was a lot of fun. She did tons of things with Jordyn and since I was feeling well most of the week we were able to do things together too. We made cookies, watched movies and did a puzzle. Mom watched the girls one night so Wayne and I could go out Christmas shopping and then watched them again the next day so we could pick out our tree. Thankfully my mom and I get along really well now (who would've thought it) and so the week was very enjoyable and I was able to get some much needed rest, although not as much as Wayne or my mom wanted me too! Sadly, she left on Saturday and Wayne was already back to work so today I was home alone. I thought it was going to be horrible and everything would fall apart, and while I'm sure I'll have those days, thankfully today wasn't one of them! Landyn was great and followed her eating and sleeping schedule, completely unfazed and unaware that anything was different from any other day. That made everything else go smoothly. Jordyn on the other hand had a rough day even though she pretty much had Mommy to herself. I think now she is going to have to adjust to now having Grandma or Gram to dote on her, it's just Mommy and life is going to start to get back to normal. We survived though and while she was whiny a lot we also had some fun moments.She really enjoys helping me with Landyn. She loves to tell me she's crying and give Landyn her pacifier. She likes to tuck her in with a blanket and help me change her diaper by pulling out the wipes. One of the things she really likes to do is share her toys with Landyn and pile them on top of her. Jordyn also got to have a pillow in her lap and hold Landyn today and she liked that a lot. We tried to get a picture when Daddy came home but it was unsuccessful. Since Landyn is such a great baby and sleeper Jordyn and I were also able to have a lot of time just the two of us, spent reading and singing and playing with her new kitchen set. She's also learning to treat her baby like Mommy treats Landyn. Her baby has a diaper we constantly put on and off. She also gets to ride in the swing and we swaddle her baby tightly when it's time to rest. It's been really fun seeing how Jordyn reacts to Landyn and how much she really enjoys her. So needless to say we survived the first day and I am looking forward to what the rest of the week might hold!