baker bree | 21-22 months

this week I was cleaning out Baker's closet to make room for summer clothes and came across her one year birthday book.  I spent (probably) too much time studying her little face, baby features, and the hair on her head that was just starting to fill in and curl up at the ends.  it brought back a flood of memories and sentiment from her very first year as the littlest sister- so many changes have happened since then and as we approach the END of her second year of life and I am planing her second birthday party I'm almost in disbelief that time has flown THAT fast...invites go out in just ONE month.  how is that possible?!

Baker is a big sister.  Baker is bossy.  Baker is so gentle.  Baker is hilarious.  Baker has the biggest personality.  Baker always finds the funny.. and never tires of being a clown. 

basically.. Baker is awesome.

You are fiercely opinionated, girlfriend.

..if you knew how to snap yo fingers you would be snap snapping and waving your curly locks back and forth in my face all day long.

words are coming easier to you.  

you jibber jabber all day long and we hear you saying new things every day! 

NO is a brand new favorite and your answer to everything,

EVERYthing.

you've been saying it for several months now.

..but just recently it seems to be in the correct context.

let's change your diaper.

NO

let's go down for nap.
NO

let's eat dinner.

NO

let's get dressed
NO

..followed by "its too tiiiight!!"
I swear if you are child number two that fights me over wearing pants I might just throw pants out all together.  save myself the headache.

it is rare to find you without a smile.

..and nothing is more sweet that the joy that fills your eyes when you are happy, Baker girl.

I will never forget that joy, love bug.
but girl, you test it.  you test everyone, especially your sisters.  just to see how far they'll let you go. you make Jolie cry about 3 times a day.

many-a-times you scream your head off when you don't get your way.  

..and the look on your face when you know you are being defiant. 

..head cocked, low eyes, raised eyebrows, and that bottom lip popped out. 

you know what you are doing.

..and it is the cutest thing I have ever seen..

it is SO hard not to laugh and just scoop you up and cover you with kisses!

you have definitely fallen in love with the television over the last couple months.

..Sing and Moana are your favorite go-to requests and will keep you statue still for a solid hour.  

..add in Bubble Guppies, Mickey Mouse, and Little Einsteins and we can call it a day.

..you've started to spend the evenings with your sisters on the couch- watching a show and drinking chocolate milk before its time to go to bed- and how you love this routine.

after bath and jammies the three of you will cuddle together tight on the sofa and watch one show.

..you automatically know and expect to do this and walk right up to the sofa and slap the cushion as if to tell those big sisters to hurry up and get in their place, so you can hop up in between.

I LOVE IT. and even sweeter is that Parker and Jolie love love loveeee it.

your favorite game (okay, my favorite game) is having you sit in my lap and point out my features.

..hayyyee (hair), errrs (ears), browwshh (eyebrows), eyeshh (eyes), noooose (nose).

and then for my mouth - you point and stick out your tongue.  

..haven't quiet gotten that one mastered just yet.
you have so many new words and phases this month.
"mama WOOK!"
"mama WATCH!"
"WOOK at me!"
"BUTTAH!" (peanut butter)
and probably me and your daddy's favorite.. "mama or daddy, where are you!?"
we hear this coming from the monitor every single morning when its time to get you up.. which by the way, doesn't happen before 9am, and a lot of times its well after 10am when I am forcing you to get out of bed.  you still go to sleep by 730pm or so every night, so you must be growing!

a few other favorites at 22 months:

running/playing in the backyard | climbing | playing chase | dance parties | hide and seek.. even when no one is playing but you.. | going to BB's house | paci | playing dress up | baby dolls | any sweets/candy/chocolate you can get your hands on | coffee | chicken nuggets | pizza | peanut butter | iPad | movies & TV

you and Jolie have the best time playing house.  

..your mama skills are over the top, and I think it brought me to a new realization with how big you are getting when I watched you swaddle your babies in one of Brady's baby blankets this month.

you have so much love for all your little dolls.

..you never leave a baby behind.

carrying 7 babies and all their bottles and cups and blankets.

..you've got it down.  

when you don't, you holler and scream for assistance.
"HALP!!!"

we cannot go anywhere with out your baby and her bottle.  your sisters loved the baby dolls, too- but I think you are by far the biggest little mama.
watching you with your baby brother is outrageously sweet.

"mama he crying!"
"mama he needs his paci!"
"mama, LET ME SEE brother!"
"hey sweet buddy"
the most gentle and calm big sister I have ever met.  you guys will have such a special bond and I cannot wait to watch you and Brady grow together.

you love to dance and sing, clap your hands, and twirl around like there is no tomorrow.

..but singing is your favorite.  you sing in the car, from your crib, at the dinner table.. and when people give you attention you just get louder and louder with it.

I never want to forget you at this age, Baker Bree.

you are such a sweet little helper, the best big sister, and the greatest companion in my day.  

I don't know what I would do without you and I absolutely adore you precious girl. 

..and I love you to the moon.

21/22 month photo dump

May First

who else is ready for summer??  the temps here in Texas are warming up and I am eager to pull out the kiddie pool, water table.. shorties + flip flops!!  

ask me again in July when we are walking into the fortieth day in a row of 110 degree heat.
these last couple weeks have been such perfect weather and the colors of spring are slowly popping up here and there and getting me so excited for the summer fun we have ahead!

a couple weeks back Brittany held her annual Spring Minis session and I took the opportunity to take just my sweet Baker for some quick pictures.. sort of like a celebration of her becoming a "big sister".
it was right after Brady was born and she just needed a little bit of Baker only attention.
..besides, her romper was darling and I die over every set up Britt has for these mini sessions AND Baker hasn't had any kind of photos taken (by herself) since she turned a year old.  I want to remember her silly self at this age and these pictures depict that personality of hers just perfectly.
no time for sitting. lots of toothy grinning.
..100% miss independent.

photos by b faith photography 

biggie bows // a little lady shop

clip  // ryan + wren

romper c/o crew + lu

shoes c/o sweet n'swag

two weeks | baby brady

felt board HERE // paci + clip HERE // onesie HERE // shorties HERE 

its been about one week since we've made our way home from the hospital, and Brady is two weeks old today!  time is absolutely flying! the transition has been relatively 'smooth' since introducing this new baby boy to our crew of big sisters.  I use the word smooth pretty loosely because although the girls have been amazing with him and want to see him and hold him and love on him.. Baker has officially had her first and second major tantrum/meltdown since bringing him home.  most of it could be related to me not being able to hold/carry her and she doesn't understand that at all.. and the other component has to be the change. 

Jordan and I are mastering the "divide and conquer" parenting style at the moment- Jordan has been AWESOME (as always) with taking on the three big girls while I manage Brady and still be as involved as I am able with the girls, too.  transitioning from three to four hasn't been much different than two to three, but I wouldn't be able to do any of this without Jordan and his help.  he went back to the fire station yesterday after being home for two whole weeks and I was not ready for him to go back!

but we survived our first night solo.

--

the twins + Baker adore this little man more than I can even express into words.  we spend a good part of our day talking about Brady, and most of the talking is actually kissing and smothering hugging Brady.  since being home, we have remained relatively low key.. recovery took a little bit longer than my other two c-sections before so it wasn't until this last week that we finally left the house and I was feeling well enough to be able to move more than just from the bed to the couch:)

bar + 'brady' necklace HERE

 we took Brady to church over the weekend and he rocked it through the service hanging out in the solly wrap.  me and Baker spent many church services together while wearing the wrap and I forgot how much I LOVE baby wearing.  

sunglasses HERE // wrap carrier HERE

.;

diaper changes are not his favorite (!!!) and when he is hungry he definitely lets you know it!
he's got this amazing raspy voice/cry which is much different than my girls.

Brady is sleeping about 3-4 hours at night between feedings.. even gave us one 6 hour stretch the other night. we are all sleeping pretty well.. we've been co-sleeping with the dockatot (I highly recommend!) and we are loving it!! he eats, and gets a clean diaper all in about 30-45 minutes and goes right back to sleep most of the time.
he's still a sleepy newborn and sleeps a lot during the day.  he gives us about an hour or so of awake time in the evening, but the rest of the day its
eat+sleep+repeat
boppy cover HERE // swaddle HERE // knit beanie HERE

 beanie HERE // swaddle HERE

 onesie HERE

 we go for his 2 week well check at the pediatrician tomorrow morning and I'm eager to see how much he weighs!  I weighed him this mooring with my own scale and it said he's about 7 pounds 8 ounces.. the teeny boy regained to his birthweight!  yay!  

he was the biggest of all my babes but he ended up losing the most weight while we were in the hospital.  Baker gained almost a pound within two weeks post-birth and its SO hard not to compare babies to babies..  Brady are working on that weight gain!

the BEST long sleeve tee HERE

other things::

his hair is still amazing.

he's still the perfect blend of his three older sisters.

..and he still scowls even when he's sound asleep.. which reminds me so much of Jo.

OH, Brady!  we love you so!

happy 2 weeks, little bug