5 Months Old!

Kayla weighs 15 lb 9 oz

Matthew weighs 15 lb 1 oz

Accomplishments this month:

• Kayla found her feet (Aug 16)

• Kayla is now sitting (Aug 18) - Oh no! The bumbo chair is no longer any fun for her (time to sell already?), nor is laying under her play mat. All she wants to do is sit! It's amazing how much older she seems over a week ago when she wasn't sitting. Once she realized how to sit there was no stopping her. She got really good at it in a matter of a couple days.

• Matthew is getting close to knowing how to roll over. We've been practicing, so he should get it soon.

• Kayla has started talking...and talking...and talking. She talks as if she's having a conversation with you. She talks more than Matthew.

• Matthew has learned how to yell. He gave up talking for a little bit and would only make a screeching noise. Now he does a combination of both.

• Matthew and Kayla have started 'fighting' over toys. If you sit them facing each other with one toy they will both frantically try to grab for it.

• Matthew just adores Kayla. When he looks at her he will smile (or laugh!). Kayla just glares at Matthew.

Hmm, what else is new?

• They each only have a dirty diaper every day or two (so nice!).

• Soothers are now typically only for nap/bed time.

• They drink about 6 oz each roughly 5 or 6 times a day.

• They usually have 4 naps a day (early morning, late morning, early afternoon, late afternoon).

• I like for them to go to bed at 9pm.

• They both are in 3-6 month clothes. Matthew wears 6-9 month sleepers, and Kayla wears some 6-9 month pants. Other than that, it's all 3-6 months.

Penticton

And we're off! We managed to leave the house at 7:30am. Not bad, considering myself, Matthew, and Kayla all had showers/baths.

I had never been to Bridal Falls before, so we stopped there on our way. We had sent the stroller along with my parents to Penticton (due to lack of trunk space in our trunk), so we had to carry Matthew and Kayla. I was so tired. Early morning + not in shape = hard climb. Jon laughed at me.

Feeling the lake water for the very first time (That's about as far as I got in all week!). Matthew and Kayla enjoyed having their toes in the wet sand/water.

A few evenings I spent some time with them standing at the edge of the lake. I even let them get their clothes wet :)

As as alternative to the lake, my parents bought a little wading pool for them to play in. Jon enjoyed it too!

Little Ms. Curious sure enjoyed the sand.

She also enjoyed beating up on Matthew.

But I'm so sweet and innocent! I would never wake up multiple times a night screaming, demanding to be fed. Those extra 9 oz a night were completely necessary! GRRR.

The view from our campsite. Thank goodness for my parents' trailer (aka space to take along all of Matthew and Kayla's toys).

I was drinking my glass of water when Kayla grabbed it from me and put it to her mouth. She did quite well drinking from the cup!

What playground doesn't have a swing set?!?! We had to make do with slides instead.

Cuddles for Grandpa. ALWAYS. I don't get it?!?! My dad picks her up and she instantly calms down and falls asleep. Definitely a lifesaver at night!

Having their morning baths outside, on the picnic table. Matthew had the luxury of having a shower in my parents' trailer...out of necessity. He had a massive 'poo-nami'. It was seriously up his back to his armpits. TWO DAYS that week. Gross. I was so tempted to just throw out his shirt, but the dutch-ness in me washed it by hand instead. Gross.

Camping with Grandma and Grandpa = lots of goodies. I think Matthew and Kayla have only ever tried snack foods. Hopefully they won't refuse rice cereal in a few weeks' time!

Naps in the trailer (yay for a/c!). They slept on a blow up mat in the tent because it's too awkward trying to reach into the bassinette in the tent when they're practically at the same height as me. It was cute :)

On the lake with Daddy, getting her tan on!

Each couple is responsible for planning, providing, and cooking dinner one night. Jon and I made spaghetti with garlic cheese toast. Yum.

Playing in her exersaucer at night.

While Jon was having one of his afternoon naps, a neighbouring camper came and painted his toes red.

Look who started sitting while we were there!

Just chilling in Mommy and Daddy's bed one morning. All sweet and innocent. GRR (can you sense the frustration I had that week?)

Hanging out on the beach. I had forgotten to pack their hats (whoops!), and Wal-Mart was all sold out of anything that was cute/would fit, so Matthew and Kayla spent most of the week in the shade (which they probably would have even if they had hats because they're not allowed to wear sunscreen).

Smiles from Matthew.

Posing with Auntie Candice.

We went to the batting cages one evening. The guys all tried the 'fast baseball' one.

The baby laundry that resulted from our trip. I think I did a grand total of 6 loads of laundry...2 baby loads, 2 parent loads, and 2 "end of camping wash the bedding" loads.

...and Let's Start August!

Good MOOOOOORNING! Matthew and Kayla in their matching Tigger and Piglet pajamas (thanks Uncle John and Aunt Grace!).

I meant to bring the pajamas to our family reunion so that Uncle John and Aunt Grace could see them on Matthew and Kayla in person, but I forgot. I also forgot their fuzzy blankets. That's what happens when you don't write a 'to pack' list. Thank goodness we were only in Ft. Langley so my Dad was able to bring them when he visited. Penticton isn't so close...so as I'm writing this blog and uploading pictures I'm writing a list.

Bumbos

Kayla is quite an independent girl. She seldom likes to be cuddled, and much prefers to sit and play with toys rather than laying down to play with them. This, however, is quite difficult, because she can't sit (unassisted) yet. I had never intended on buying Matthew and Kayla Bumbos, but the benefit of providing Kayla a sense of independence while still two free hands was too tempting to pass up. I scoured craigslist and found a lady in Cloverdale selling two with trays, a blue and lilac one. Bumbos (with trays) retail for over $80 + tax each. I paid only $75 for both. I was pretty excited!

First time in them, checking things out...

I don't have the trays on the Bumbos yet because they tend to drop their toys to their side anyways. Once they've mastered the whole 'keep the toys on the tray' concept I'll add them on. I look forward to using the Bumbos in Penticton on the beach! That way, when it's weather in the 30s (fingers crossed), our sweating bodies won't have to hold a sweaty baby.

Pt. Roberts

Matthew, Kayla, and I went with Jon's Environmental Education class on a field trip to Pt. Roberts. I'm still not exactly sure what the point of the field trip was, but it was fun! We went with the kids in the stroller only to find out that we had to hike through a forest on a trail that was not stroller friendly. We left the stroller on the trail as soon as it was too narrow, and carried Matthew and Kayla downhill the rest of the way. Correction, Jon's professor (Sandra) carried Kayla while I carried Matthew. We ended up on the beach, and followed it for a bit until we came to a sand/clay cliff. Amazing!

Jon and I left earlier than his class, so we had to do an uphill hike back all by ourselves. I nearly died. It's hard enough hiking uphill by yourself, let alone when you're carrying a baby. I was kicking myself for leaving the Baby Bjorn at home.

Sandra fell in love with Kayla. Hopefully this will help Jon's mark?

Helping Daddy Cut the Lawn...

It's official, my brother David and Laura (and the in-utero twins!) are moving to Ontario. Not only are we losing half of the residents of our house, but we are losing our yard man as well. The responsibility for the yard upkeep will now be shifting to Jon. Lucky him!?!? David has been super busy so Jon offered to cut the lawn this past week.

We spent the afternoon outside, watching Jon cut the lawn. Life is rough :)

And some other random pictures...

Playing with Mommy, and then playing with Daddy. Notice the two different styles? I prefer the cuddles, Jon prefers the rough-housing!

Playing in the exersaucer. They're getting so good at it!

I thought Kayla's hair was looking a little reddish in colour, but Jon pointed out that it was actually cradle cap. I stationed Kayla in her Bumbo in front of the tv (her favourite place to be!) and oiled and combed it out. Matthew had cradle cap about a month ago.

And we'll finish with a smile from Matthew!

We head to Penticton on Saturday. Hopefully I'll get around to posting shortly after we return the following Friday evening!