Cousins

This is what Greg and I came home to when his parents came over with cousin Desi to babysit while we went out.  Too cute!

My big kids

We've been letting Ashlyn and Braden out of their strollers a bit more.  I've even let them walk into the YMCA once when we got a close parking spot and I've let them walk into P's school twice, the latter being a little more stressful since there are so many fun things lying around.  They are becoming pretty good listeners.  Lately on walks around the neighborhood Peyton and Ashlyn have been holding hands so they can be safe.  Here is a picture of P holding Braden's hand at our last trip to the Science Center.  I just love it!

Snow Days!

These pictures were from two of the rare days this winter where we had snow.  The last time Ashlyn and Braden got to play in it they weren't even walking!  They loved to eat it and also started saying "no" when they looked out to the snow.  (Just like Peyton at their age, they can't pronounce the s's at the beginning of words)

I can do it MYSELF!

For over a week now, Miss P has been dressing herself from head to toe!  She's been able to do her bottom half for quite some time now but has been getting super frustrated with her shirts.  I don't know what happened but all of a sudden she can do it.  She still has a love/hate relationship with socks and asks for me to twist them so they fit properly (if I can get her to wear them at all!).  Today she even brushed her hair and got 99% of it. 
Also, her new thing is that she likes to make her bed. This also started about a week or so ago.  She had been coming out of her room and saying "I need help making my bed nice and neat."  When we go in she has her comforter all pulled up and wants help with the pillows.  My big girl!

One funny thing from school this week...She told a boy that she was going to marry him when they grow up.  He said, well I'm four so I'm almost grown up.  P said "I'll be four on my 2nd birthday".  She had previously told me that she was going to marry this same boy as well as her friend, Evan.

Ashlyn and Braden are 21 Months Old!

We're closing down the days of saying they are so many "months" old and will soon start talking years.  Say it isn't so!  They are starting to talk a bit more and are past 20 words each!   I am starting to realize they are talking much more than I know, it's just in their own little language.  They jabber back and forth a lot, especially in their high chairs and at bedtime.  They also like to do things like mimic each other shaking their heads and spinning around.  It's pretty comical.  The only thing I have figured out so far is that "na-na" means "more" or basically that they want something.
 They enjoy chasing each other (and Peyton) around the house.  They know when one of their siblings is upset and will come and pat them on the back or bring them a blanket or stuffed animal.  They also love to throw things, even their food and cups, on the floor - especially Miss A.  Momma's not so happy about that one!  They still love to be "nakey babies" and if one sibling has their clothes off they come over and say "na-na, na-na" and grab at their shirts. 
We broke out the potty chair and they fight each other over who gets to sit on it (still fully clothed).  Guess we'll be buying another one of those!  Oh and fighting is the new thing around here.  It's getting quite competitive as far as who gets a lap to sit on, whose book gets read and who gets to play with what toy.
Ashlyn is my good sleeper.  She can go to bed at 7 and sleep until 7 the next morning if "somebody" doesn't wake her up.  Normally she's up around 6:30.  She naps around 2 hours each afternoon.  Mr. B likes to keep us on our toes.  Some days he sleeps through the night until 6 or 6:30, maybe even 6:45.  Other nights he is up 2 or three times wanting his paci and then starts waking up around 5:30 and is hard to get back to sleep.  He is a pretty decent napper, though, as well.  Ashlyn and Peyton are on pretty much the same schedule so I would like to put them in the same room, probably when Ashlyn gets into a toddler bed.  However, Ashlyn and Braden wait for each other to get in the room before they lay down in their cribs so I know that will be hard to separate them (at least it will be hard for me!).
Although it is somewhat bittersweet, we are looking forward to all the birthday planning coming up!