Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Strawberry and The Attack of The Ice Machine

Dear Kacie,

You seriously have the best personality. You're so animated just in your facial expressions.

You make this one face that your Grandma Sandra and Grandpa Jim dubbed the Kyle face because they say it's a face that your daddy would totally make.

One night you and I were chilling at the counter munching on some Strawberries.


When all of the sudden the ice machine dropped some ice in the bucket and you freaked out!

"Whus zhat!!??!?!"


And luckily I whipped out my camera quick enough that I caught 'the face'




I explained that it was just some ice dropping and you went back to munching your strawberries.






Seriously. How are you so cute!?


We love that face of yours!

Birthday Presents, Bald Spot and Walking With Daddy

Dear Kacie and Kalvin,

Kacie, you like to be doing what Kalvin is doing so we often find you snuggled up right next to him, or on top of him, but we try to get you before you actually lay on him!

Kalvin, when you were born, we just gave you the pacifier that the hospital provided, but eventually we wanted you to use these cute baseball ones we have. Well, it turns out that you hate them. So occasionally I will try to get you to suck on them but it only lasts for a few seconds until you realize I've tricked you!


Tummy time is going well, you're really getting good at lifting up your head! You definitely don't look exactly like Kacie but sometimes I get a glimpse of her in you, like your eyes!


Kacie, you got a package in the mail one day for your birthday from great grandparents and aunts!


You got a cute new outfit with matching flip flops. You got some pretty new Sunday shoes too. They're a little big but you will grow into them and then I won't have to buy you more shoes. Yay!


You're always trying to pick Kalvin up. And when he is in his bouncer, you will get over him like this and then bounce him like crazy! And he loves it.


It's a terrible picture but you enjoy having your nails painted and you like them to look like mine so sometimes we have matching nails and I love that. I can't wait until you're older, we can send daddy and Kalvin to go do something manly and we can go get our nails done! Daddy will have to have a job by then of course, but i'm sure he will!


I think it's cute how flexible babies are. I also think about how I need to keep you guys stretching all the time so that you just never lose your flexibility. I am not flexible at all, like I am negative flexible basically. Anyway, My point is that I wish I could fall asleep anywhere, like Kalvin pictured below, and still be comfortable, but I'm pretty sure my legs don't do that.


You're getting more and more obsessed with Frozen every day Kacie. And when people don't want to take care of you they just put Let It Go on and it entertains you. Personally, I'm getting sick of it, but I suppose that's just what happens when you're a parent. (My mom said it was Little Mermaid for her and I'm like "calm down mom. She just wants to be 'part of your world'")

You're also scared of the thunder in Frozen. Whenever you hear it you'll run to me and bury your head saying 'thudder. I scared'


Here is a picture of the cute outfit you got for your birthday!


Well, inevitably, you were going to see me nursing since that is all I do. Lately you've started sitting in my rocking chair and laying a towel on your lap saying 'boots. boots.' (<--boobs) and pointing to your lap. When I feed Kalvin I lay him on a towel.


And you'll try to take off your shirt, because when I'm downstairs nursing, I just take my shirt off. One time Kalvin was nursing but he unlatched and looked around. You came over Kacie and tried to push his head back and said "keep eat. You do it!" You're such a positive influence Kacie, cheering Kalvin on like that.

It's cool how observant you are of what goes on around you!


Like one day, I was sitting on the floor and you came up behind me and just ran your hand across my bum and said 'butt' and it was really random but totally adorable. I'm not exactly sure what you were doing but I'll be you were copying us naming your body parts. And then you just made the connection that if you have a bum, mommy must have one too!

I think you're a little more excited to hold Kalvin then he is to be held by you! You really do like to be involved with him. Lately you've been helping me change his diaper. You'll pull the tabs open and then get a wipe and 'help' wipe.

Also, you say 'pider' instead of 'diaper' so I started having you copy me. I'd say di and then you would. Then i'd say per and you would say it. Then I'd say diaper and you'd say 'pider.'

We'll get it eventually though. I mean you're only 2.


Here you are all ready to go swimming in your new suit! I'm totally jealous of your suit. Seriously, I want it!


We aren't really sure why but Kacie you are really against violence. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but when dad and his brothers are together, they wrestle a lot and it can happen with no notice. So they will start wrestling and you will yell at them "No! No hit! Stop!" and try to get in and stop them from fighting. I'll sometimes have to hold you back so you don't get hurt!


Missouri is so different from anywhere that I have lived. This is someones backyard. 


And this is their side yard. 


I mean seriously. This is gorgeous.


Not everyone's yards are like this.


But the fact that they can be this green and leafy is just shocking to this AZ girl. I love Arizona, but Missouri is growing on me. These views are just stunning and I love it!


Kalvin, you're pretty much bald anyway, but you've got a bald spot on your head from it rubbing on the ground. your sisters was super noticeable because she had a lot of dark hair at this age, but lucky for you, it's not as noticeable as your dads! (don't tell him I said that!)


You are just the cutest little boy. Your smile makes my heart smile. It gets me through the rough patches. I thrive on baby smiles!!


Ok Kacie. It's time.

It's time to talk about your mane. It's getting out of control!


But seriously, your hair is perfect and I love it.


And once we comb it and work with it a little, it turns out looking stellar. And perfect for a walk with your dad.


We love you two!

Love,

Your Parents

3 Months!

Dear Kalvin,

3 MONTHS!!

I am so surprised it's been 3 months. It went by so quickly.

You love to try and get your whole fist in your mouth, you're almost there too!


You eat about every 3 hours still. I'm so glad that I'm able to nurse you kids but man, it really takes a toll on me. Fortunately you've been much better than Kacie. Unfortunately, you spit up worse than her - which I didn't think, or rather, didn't want to believe possible!


You've started rolling over, and I think it's to get away from your sister!


But she just loves you so much! I know that you're aware of her, but I don't think you're excited about her yet. You just seem a little confused, like 'why is she always in my face?'


You're not sitting on your own but you want to be! And dad is already teaching you to walk, so that should be coming soon…well, maybe not for another 6 months. 


You sleep great. I usually get at least 5 hours of sleep, but usually more.


You've already proven yourself worthy of Gonthier-hood because you love bath time!


You are a very happy baby!


Unless you're hungry.


And I feel like you're always hungry, but that's just part of being a baby. 


Actually, when I was taking these pictures and you were crying, I remember thinking "well these will be accurate because you cry all the time these days!" If I'm being honest, you're 6 months old now that I'm finally getting around to writing this (sorry) so I must have blocked out whatever it was that was making you fussy. I really think you were just growing at this point and so I was feeding you a lot. Maybe I was the one doing the crying...


Dad has really enjoyed the last few weeks getting to spend so much time with you. He is so great at keeping you babies happy and as always, he has the magic touch when it comes to getting you asleep in your crib at night.

But really Kalvin, we are smitten by you! You're small, sweet and precious. We can't imagine life without you!


Love,

Mom and Dad

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Holiday!

Dear Kacie and Kalvin,

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Your Aunt Ang made you the perfect shirt, it's Minnie Mouse! And she found the perfect skirt to go with it. You were adorable!


You took my phone from me and started talking to Grandma Sandra. You are funny because you love to walk around with the phone up to your ear like this. 


You and Aunt Ang were playing together. "where'd go?"


You showed Aunt Ang your rainbow rice!


At lunch time I gave you your food and a minute later you weren't at the table. When I found you, you were sitting on the stairs eating your food!


Aunt Ang was so excited to meet you Kalvin. We had Skyped with her a bunch, which you love to do! One time I was Skyping and I tried to sit you in from of the camera and every time I set you down you would cry! So then I stood you up and you would smile and stare at Aunt Ang. And if I set you down, you would be sad again! you were so intrigued with watching everything Aunt Ang did on the screen.


Siblings!


Kisses!

It makes me soooo happy to see you loving Kalvin. I was a little nervous that you would be jealous of him or something but you've just accepted him like… a brother! And that makes your dad and I very happy.


Look at how 4th of July'd you all are!


Aunt Ang and all the cousins.


Dancing with Aunt Ang!


Four our 4th of July dinner we made steak shish kabobs! They were soooo delicious!


All of us together (except Luna…)



Kacie, you needed to be in as many pictures as possible so you jumped in Aunt Ang and Uncle Gregs family photo!


Aunt Ang, Uncle Greg and cousin Luna


Cuddle time!


Aunt Ang wasn't sure what you were looking at but you were excited to show her something out the window!


And Kalvin, you fell asleep on Uncle Greg in the cutest way possible.


Awwwww!!!


Well, the next morning, we made a Dutch Baby for breakfast. At least, I think thats what it was called… Anyway, it ended up being red, white and blue so we decided to pretend like we planned that and celebrated our freedom for one more meal!