{{Somewhat}} Wordless Wednesday!

We are so enjoying the warm up in weather lately and lack of sickness in our house. We have been playing outside and even going more places since it isn't so frigid and it has been wonderful!!! 

Mellany and I traveled to KC a couple of weekends ago while the boys stayed in IN and we are currently in the middle of prepping for several visitors in the next couple of weeks. We've been getting involved with our church lately and that has been a really welcome change and with Easter on the way we are SUPER excited!! (I'm pretty sure Easter might be Mellany's favorite holiday.....she is constantly talking about Easter eggs and wanting to read Easter books). 

John is traveling quite a bit for work but is really enjoying his job and seeing this part of the country. We miss him like crazy when he is gone but we definitely find plenty to keep us busy! 

Here's what we have been up to!

Baby boy was sleeping so peacefully on this day that I couldn't resist taking a pic of him

Mellany and Lauren walking from the neighborhood park

Barrett girls are KC bound! Excited for a weekend full of activities: Dinner at Papa and Teresa's to celebrate Liz's birthday with Brad, Amiee & Capri, spending time with Gammy for Mellany, spending time with girlfriends for mama and then dinner with Gammy, Brad, Amiee & Capri!

While Mellany spent the weekend with Gammy, I spent the weekend with some girlfriends from NE. Both of us had a fabulous time!!!

The boys had some fun too and Johnny broke in the swing for the first time!

While Mellany was spending the weekend with Gammy, they traveled to downtown KC and explored Crown Center. They ate at Fritz's (where the "choo choo" brings your food according to Mellany) and spent some time in Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope is really special to us because my Grandpa Jones helped create the exhibit. Gammy and Mellany had so much fun and I know Grandpa was enjoying it too! 

The return to IN.....we were so excited to see the boys! Mellany experimented with dipping oranges in ketchup....it was a hit! Who knew?!

Upon our return from KC, the sibling battles began. Johnny is wanting the doors to the castle open and Mellany is wanting them shut. So they sat like this for quite some time.  

He is going to be fearless! He is literally climbing out of my arms to try and get on to the end table. And in the picture on the right, he is banging the Frozen mirror on his head.

Mellany and Johnny had a daddy/daughter date to the mall last Saturday. And wouldn't you know it, Mellany talked him in to letting her jump. 

Mmmmmm....Banana bread. I tried to mix in some peas but he wasn't having any of that.

Somebody figured out the what those things are on the refrigerator....and that they make music.

Earlier this week I helped out some friends by watching their little lady for the day while they worked. We had so much fun! Mellany ensured that she knew about everything "Frozen" and her and Johnny had "baby code" conversations.

Yay for Gymnastics!

Peanut butter and jelly just like big sister!! And he ate an ENTIRE sandwich!

Mellany ate her entire lunch too so she got a few Oreo cookies as special treat. She was pretty excited. She loves her sweets as much as her mama I'm afraid.

(this one is shaped like a pizza mama)

(that hair!! It's just beautiful!)

One of Mellany's absolute FAVORITE things is "washing" dishes. She will wash dishes (play in the water) for an hour or more if I let her....she has a whole "scenario" that she plays out and special tools that she likes to use. Her imagination is just incredible!

Here's to even warmer weather and even more time outside!!!! Happy Wednesday!!!!

{Somewhat} Wordless Tuesday!

Sickness has struck again over the past week or so and we are officially ready for Old Man Winter to depart. The signs of spring are here and we are ready for more sunshine, swimming, and time outside in general. Until then, we are trying to make the most of being indoors. Here's what we have been up to lately!

Dora the Explorer on the computer at the library

The swing is officially entering retirement....

Mellany's calendar. She and I are making a special trip to Kansas City and she kept asking me if we were leaving "today". So, I have introduced the calendar to her and she loves it! The concept is still somewhat challenging to understand, but she is definitely getting there. 

Mama's baby boy!

Morning play time

Daddy and Johnny trying to drive out of the Target parking lot while the girls do some shopping

Without a doubt the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen!!

Showing off her dance moves

Just when we thought the snow was gone for good, we wake up to this!

Feeding brother his lunch...one of her new favorite things to do!

Mellany's photography skills are improving by the day

Real men play with castles and princesses

Exhausted after 9 month wellness exam

I had a great idea of taking a picture of the three of us to send to John while he was out of town. As I was getting Mellany up on my lap, Johnny pulled her hair....hard. The crying began and lasted quite a while and Johnny just kept smiling and laughing. As mean as it may be, I couldn't help but take a picture of one of the first of many sibling issues that will come our way. I just can't get over how upset Mellany is in the picture and how happy Johnny is! After a few minutes, I was able to get a good shot of the three of us. 

Forget toys! All this girl needs is some melting snow!

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!!

Johnny: 9 Months!

I think I will call this the month of movement! Johnny is anxious to get going. He is on the verge of crawling and pulling up on furniture any day and loves to be on his feet as much as possible. He's moving all over the place in his crib and on the floor and really dislikes being in the swing or any other confined place. I can only envision that in the next month our little man will be moving all over! 

Here's a little bit about our sweet baby this month:

• He is constantly playing peek-a-boo and getting more involved with it. We can put a blanket on his head and he immediately pulls it off and laughs then wants you to do it again. He really laughs hysterically when Mellany plays with him. He also likes when you hide toys under blankets....pulling that blanket off is so much fun for him!
• One of his favorite "activities" is chasing Mellany up the stairs. We will hold him facing out and Mellany will start up the stairs first. His legs just go nuts trying to "get her" with them. And Mellany just giggles and giggles. 
• Depending on the type/brand of clothing, he is wearing 6-9 month,  9 month, 9-12 month and 12 month clothing as well as a couple pieces of 12-18 month.
• He is in size 2 diapers still (we are dragging this out as long as possible since you get more for your money with smaller sizes) but wears size 3 at night. 
• Still no teeth but man, the drooling is constant and he sure loves to chew on anything he can get his hands on (including his fingers)
• His toes are almost always curled....while he is sitting, jumping in his bouncing seats, laying down....he gets it from his daddy. 
• He likes to use long hair as ropes....as well as hoodie strings. Zipper pulls, buttons and ball caps are just as intriguing
• When the TV is on, Mickey Mouse always catches his eye and the music from Little Einsteins also gets his attention

Sleeping:

His morning usually starts at 7:30/8. He then takes a nap from 10:15-11 and then 1:30-3:30 and will go to bed by 7:30 and sleep all night. 

Eating Habits/New Foods:

New foods: mandarin oranges, mango, cherries, pineapple, green beans were an attempt but with no teeth it makes it difficult to chew

Johnny is still eating great! He is really preferring to feed himself as much as possible. Puffs and fruit/veggie melts are his favorite, I think mainly because he likes the ease of feeding them to himself.

He also prefers applesauce to just about anything else....so much that he even made himself sick on it one evening.

Meal time is a big deal for the little guy and he gets EXTREMELY excited about it. So much so, that he is "whining" for the next bite as he is eating the current one. Because this isn't always the best scenario, he has quickly learned the word "more".....and the way he says "more" is so adorable!!! 

Spitting up is pretty much gone. We have the occasional spit up from eating too much but other than that, we are so thankful he is keeping his formula and other food down. 

New Discoveries:

Sleeping on his belly. He now prefers this to sleeping on his back. On that same note, he sleeps like a wild man in his crib. He pulls down the crib bumper to hold it while he sleeps, throw his binky out of bed, look for someone to come in his room, etc. 

Accomplishments:

Clapping. He gets so proud of himself when he remembers how to clap and giggles so hard when you start to clap with him. 

Places:

Kids Club at the gym, Mellany's preschool, Church, gymnastics, the library, urgent care. (Can you tell it is winter and sickness has come?!)

Special Memories:

Mellany wanting to feed Johnny. She recently has enjoyed picking out what he has to eat and then feeding it to him. And of course, because he loves his sister so much he absolutely loves it. 

9 Month Dr Visit

Length:  27.95"
Weight: 16lb 11oz
Head Circumference: 46.8cm

Dr. Fahler was very pleased with Johnny's progress. He is eating well, growing great and should be moving around very quickly. We were given a few exercises to help him gain leg strength as well as food suggestions to increase variety. Dr. Fahler commented on how "content" and happy he was during the exam and how well he has progressed and mama couldn't have been more proud.

Johnny does have some consistent fluid inside his left ear so we are being referred to an Ear Nose Throat specialist to take a look at it further. We are praying that this is nothing significant and hoping for normal results from this appointment.

The only shot he received at this exam was his flu booster and he took it like a champ. (Sister was a big help with this as well, telling him "You're okay brother, it's okay"......talk about heart melting!)

9 Month Photo Shoot

9 Month Professional Images

9 Month Video

Laughing at sister's duck call

Mellany feeding Johnny lunch