Happy 4th of July!

For the first time since Dan and I moved to Montana (2005) we got to spend the 4th of July together. This year we sent decided a BBQ would be in order...with ~30 people in our backyard, we fired up the grill, turned on the music, popped open the beverages, pulled out the water balloons, water toys and yard games and made it a celebration until dark when we watched the fireworks! We really did have a great holiday together with friends and family (Dan's parents are here for the last leg of their trip before heading back to Mexico)!

My little firecrackers!

Water fun!

Drenched to the bone - but going back for more!

Look Mom, No Cavities!!

There has been kind of an ongoing joke with our Mom since we were little - after going to the dentist we (Jamie and I) have always been able to smile at our Mom with our sparkly whites and say, "Look Mom, no cavities!" Kailer had a routine check-up this week and before going we had a long discussion about how when you turn 3 (he wouldn't do it at his last check-up) it's time to let the nice ladies at Dr. Todd's office clean your teeth. Both Dan and I hyped it up and I held my breath as we walked back to the chair. Thankfully these ladies are so very good with kids and they make it as fun as possible ... and as tasty as possible too! Who knew that there is COOKIE DOUGH flavored toothpaste?! Man, times have changed!! So as Kailer put on his special tiger glasses and prepared to get his teeth clean, the hygienist got him sets up with a new Lightning McQueen toothbrush, which is probably what sealed the deal and allowed him to fully trust her to use the 'teeth tickler' to get his teeth nice and clean! We had a great appointment and walked out with pearly whites and a report of, "Look Mom, No Cavities!"

All Done!!

First Bath

The silence of the house by 8:30 p.m. has me in a bit of awe tonight. Maybe it's the fact that Aylah is Baby #2 and this time I'm just more relaxed and she's fielding her behavior from mine or maybe she really is just an "easier" baby than Kailer was at this age? I don't have the answer, but I do know that I'm very lucky to be thier mom. Tonight Kailer helped me give Aylah her first "real" bath (outside of a couple of sponge baths) and he was a great helper. Aylah loved it and was content as could be as we scrubbed her up and washed her hair.

Rub-a-dub-scrub!

Being a great helper ... looks like he's pretty confident with his little sister.

Just relaxing and enjoying her bath.

Being a big brother is hard work and it's very important to keep one's tools handy at all times! :)

The Littlest Little

Time for some more Aylah pictures....I'm finding that the camera is usually handy, but when she's awake, she's moving and the pictures tend to come out blurred with her movements. Needless to say, sleeping baby pictures are priceless as well!

There's just something about being sideways in her chair - she ends up that way, well, all of the time.

Catching a siesta on a hot, hot summer day!

Love her little pixy nose.

"Hello!  Here I am awake."

Water Park Fun!

There's not much that's better on a hot day than to play in the water -- okay, well maybe a big ice cream cone, but the water park was what we did last Thursday. This past winter I joined a MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) group and every other Thursday throughout the summer we're meeting for playdates and this particular day was at the Belgrade water park. I have a feeling we'll be going there a lot this year!!

Kailer and his friend, Natasha.

Having a good time!

Check out this move...

Ta-da!

2 weeks!

Well I'm not sure where two weeks have gone - but it's gone by quickly and it's hard for me to believe that two weeks ago we were at the hospital very close to meeting the newest member of our family! Little Aylah has been a very good little girl who really only cries when she's hungry, sometimes when she's a little over-tired and when she's getting her diaper changed. Kailer has taken to being a big brother like a champ and though there are times when it's obvious he's in need of some attention, he's done quite well. I have been fortunate enough to have Dan home for the past 2-weeks, which has really given us a chance to be a family without dealing with his less than desirable schedule. Today is our first day of "being quiet during the day," and now we're all trying to adjust again! I've found that being a parent to two (thus far) really hasn't been too bad of an adjustment. For me, it's been more about time management .... get Kailer fed and dressed before Aylah needs to eat, prepare dinner and eat somewhere before the little one's tummy starts growling, read stories/sing songs with both kids and make everyone happy! We're doing well, with two healthy children and for that we're thankful!

Our beautiful little girl.

Kailer and Aylah sleeping together ... too precious!

Little miss has been a very active baby since the first days of feeling her move in my tummy.  She does a lot of stretching/moving and making little sounds.  You'll also notice that she likes to have her legs curled (I call her my little froggie); which she does a lot - that makes it a bit of a challenge to change a diaper! :)

Proud Big Brother

Meeting Aylah for the first time.

Already a great big brother!

Kailer's gift to Aylah

The Loves of Our Life!!