The Markwell Fam

The Markwell Family paid us a visit this weekend for an early birthday/dissertation completion visit for Dennis. We had a great time, we even got a babysitter for all four of the kids and the adults had a night out on the town.

The kids played as well as can be expected. Elizabeth and Leyton mostly played near each other and wanted the toy that the other one had. Kensley and Redding grabbed each others face and drooled on each other.

All in all, it was a very nice, laid back weekend. Thanks for the visit! We can't wait to see you guys again!

Leyton, playing golf, was too busy for pictures.

I had bought 4 of these "Mummy loves me" t-shirts for the kiddies. Only Elizabeth and Redding were awake for pictures. Maybe next time...Elizabeth riding on Diego big wheel.
Parents night out!

Elizabeth borrowing Sarah's lipstick. Now whenever Leyton sees me putting on lipstick he says "no Mommy, that is Wizbeth's wipstick".

Hands, touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you....

Solids

Redding is now eating solids. He does OK with the cereal but LOVES the bananas! I am not sure how much of it he actually eats because most of it ends up on his clothes (or on me).

Loony Tunes

We have a great Loony Tunes indoor play area in our mall. I had taken Leyton a few times when he was smaller and he had not enjoyed it as much as his recent trip. Dennis and I took him the other day and he had a blast! He is getting very brave, too. I love seeing him play with other kids (hoping he shares and takes turns).

Redding enjoyed himself also. He mostly just clung to mommy and eye-stalked big brother!

A few Leyton-isms...

In the cart at Wal-Mart, with "my" vitamin waters.Seemingly his favorite place to nap

Sliding

Just a few things I never want to forget...

• For some reason, Leyton has developed a habit of dipping his food in his water cup. It used to bother me but then I decided it was better that he dipped his peas in water and eat them rather than him not eat them at all.


• The other day we were riding down the road and I heard him saying "off hair off'". When I looked back, he was attempting to pull the hair off his legs. "I no like it mommy. Pull hair off".


• His favorite thing to say, "more, do it again, more, do it again"


• He has taken up a bit of Spanish, from both his teachers at school and from watching Diego/Dora. He says "cuidado" when driving next to trucks on the highway, he also counts to 10 in Spanish (18 in English), he knows a few colors, and a few random words here and there. It is really cute.


• He walked into the kitchen the other day with a basket and said "I go on berry hunt. I not scared. What a boooootifull day"


• Ah, pooping. He now gets a golf ball when he goes "stinky" in the potty, rather than his underwear. He has gotten one golf ball so far. I don't understand why the pooping is so difficult to accomplish. He is peeing in the potty just great. Oh well. In due time.


• Dennis was out-of-town for a week recently. Leyton missed him so much. Every night, he would ask for Daddy. When we would go somewhere, he would ask if we were going to eat lunch with Daddy. One night at dinner, he saved a bite of chicken on his fork for him. He kept saying "no eat it Mommy. No eat it Leyton. It for Daddy". Too cute.


• Chatter, chatter, chatter. I need to say no more.


• Leyton learns songs very easily. He walks around singing the Black Eyed Peas all the time and "Monster Boogie" and "Boinga". He must know 30 songs or so. It is too cute to hear him sing. At School they learned the song: "I love Jesus, I love Jesus. He's my friend. Ahhhmen, Ahhhmen". Adorable.

Funny faces

If you can't beat them, join them

In mommy's glasses

Kisses
Blahhh

See my teeth

Leyton either loves the camera or hates the camera. I was trying to get some fun pictures of the boys the other day and the only way Leyton would let me take his picture was if he was making a funny face.

Hey, I figure these show his personality better than anything.

He is such a little ham.

Brothers

I have to say, I was really worried about having another baby. I was worried how Leyton would react. I was worried he would hate him, hate me. I felt guilty.

Really guilty.

Now, I don't think he remembers life before Redding now.

Are things perfect? No. Are they better than I expected. Without a doubt.

Leyton is such a great brother. If Redding is crying, Leyton rushes to his side to see if he can help. "It's OK Redding. I here", Leyton says to him.

Redding will just laugh and laugh at him. It is hilarious how fascinated Redding is with Leyton.

Of course, I have to watch Leyton closely with Redding because he doesn't understand the things that can hurt him. For instance today, Leyton was hammering things (the carpet, the wall, cars, etc.) with his plastic hammer. Suddenly, Redding starts crying. When I arrive, Leyton is petting Redding and saying "it OK Redding, shake it off". When I asked what happened, Leyton said "I hammer him. He no like it".

Time out.

Like Yo Gabba Gabba might say..."Don't hammer your brother".

Redding's Checkup

We went for Redding's 4 1/2 month old checkup today. He is doing well and growing quickly. He has gained 4 pounds since his 10 week old checkup. I guess Mommy's milk is fattening him up just fine!

He weighed 15lbs. 14ozs. (50%) and was 27 inches (90%). These stats are almost identical to Leytons at this age. Funny how that happens.

We are debating when and if to have his lingual frenum cut. We had Leyton's done around this age but the doctor said to wait with Redding because his doesn't seem to be as bad. We are going to reevaluate at his next visit at 6 months.

A few other notes...Redding is reaching for everything. He has to have a toy or blanket in order to keep his hands occupied or else he gets a bit ancy. Leyton still makes him laugh like you would not believe. I think they are going to be a good team together. Trouble, but a good team.

Redding is rolling over and really wants to sit up on his own. I can't wait for him to reach this milestone but in the same breath, I don't want my baby to grow up too quickly!

Sleeping, ah, sleeping. Like Leyton, Redding is not a great sleeper. We are adjusting though.

As long as my babies are healthy, I am happy.

What more could a mother ask for?

Well, maybe a manicure and pedicure.

Redding the Laugher

Could he smile ANY bigger?After his first teething biscuit
Rolling over
Such a sweet face
Kisses from Leyton

To Redding, EVERYTHING is funny, especially Leyton. He cracks us all up. I am glad my babies are happy. I know the saying is "Happy wife, happy life" but for me it is "happy kiddies, happy mommies", which in turn, makes a happy wife!

Redding is on the move now. Rolling over both ways for a few weeks now.

Things are just getting interesting...

Leyton the Entertainer

The boys have been so cute lately, that I wanted to give them each their own posting to show off some of their cuteness.

Leyton is talking up a storm, I don't think he stops talking. And singing. His favorite right now is "The Black-Eyed Peas" song "Boom Boom Pow". HILARIOUS!

He also likes the traditional toddler songs. The itsy-bitsy spider, ABC song, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hokey poky, etc. He is quite the entertainer.

His first love, next to mommy, of course: GOLF! Give him a golf club and he is entertained for HOURS (well, at least many minutes). He can watch it on TV, play it, talk about. Anything related to golf and he is happy.

We did have a mishap the other day when Leyton neglected to put his putter back in the correct spot. This resulted in the putter being ran over and broken by the van. Yikes. I have never seen him so sad in his life. He didn't throw a tantrum, he mostly whimpered and poked out his bottom lip. I almost cried! Of course, Daddy went to the golf shop later in the day and bought him a new putter. Though not until he thought Leyton had learned from the situation.

Leyton's nightmare

Fireworks

The pictures speak for themselves.

At home on the range, well, putting green

As previously mentioned, Leyton loves anything related to golf. We took him to the golf course up the street to the practice green the other day and he loved it. Now the first thing he asks when I pick him up from school is "Go golf course. Putt Mommy...NOW"

Family Fun

Dennis had the day before the fourth of July off and we had a fun time just relaxing with the kids. We did yard work, housework, went to putting greens, played golf in the backyard, and ate yummy "4th of July" food.

Along came baby #2...

One year ago today we found out we were pregnant with Redding!

We love you Big Redd and are happy you are here!

"I got hit by a car Mommy"

Leyton is into story telling these days. At bedtime, we talk about the day, especially if he went to school that day.

The other night, our conversation was as follows:

Leyton: "Mommy, I have ouchie on leg. Kiss it"

Me: "OK. (kiss). What happened?"

Leyton: "It was a big ouchie. Got hit by car"

Me: "You got hit by a car. Where?"

Leyton: "At school. It hurt. JoJo (a kid in his class) was pushing it (the car)."

Me: "You got hit by a car that JoJo was pushing"

Leyton: "Yes Mommy, I OK . No worry, I tough mommy."

Ah, aren't they cute.

The boys love their Da...

Dennis and the boys are usually running around like madmen.

On occasion, the house is quiet.

This is what I usually find...

Strawberry lovers

Our loot

Hard at work
Working or eating? You decide...

"Here Mommy"

This is the new look

I am trying to teach Leyton about the "circle of life". We have a small garden in our backyard with tomatoes, peppers, garlic, basil, and cilantro growing. Unfortunately, I don't have anything but a little basil and cilantro to harvest yet.

Since Leyton has never met a berry he didn't like, we took him strawberry and raspberry picking. We took him last summer but he was still a little too small to completely enjoy it. This year, he was totally into it. He left with a strawberry Fu Manchu, red teeth, and was probably two pounds heavier.

After that, we took Leyton to golf course so that he could putt around on the putting green (Unfortunately the batteries went dead on my camera from taking so many pictures at the orchard so I did not get any pictures). He would have stayed for hours if we could have, he did NOT want to leave.