Anna Kate Knee boards!

So basically ever since Anna Kate was an infant, Mark has been trying to get her into water and water sports. She was on her first boat by about three months, on a jet ski before six months, tubing and paddle boarding year one, and being pulled on a paddle board year two. This year, he is determined to get her to knee board solo- we shall see! Here is her first (slow) attempts!

And, they're off! Practicing holding on and riding on her belly.

Jet ski pulling them.

She's up!

She's happy!

Focused.

Daddies are the best :)

Patriotic Little Ones

Of course, while we were at the lake, we had to attempt our first photo of all four of the kids together. It actually went better than expected, given that Robert did get a successful photo where no one was crying and most parties were looking at the camera.

Giggly Marshalls.

Then Anna started to talk to Maddie to get her to smile.

Then Anna Kate wouldn't stop kissing Madison. Marshall kids were smiling for real.

Eh. We are here, we aren't unhappy.

Anna's got the giggles. Carter realizes there's a baby on the couch.

Carter: "But I thought I was the baby!"

Group photo going downhill fast. Carter wants out. Madison wants her face to not be squished.

Abort!

Happy July 4!

This year, we headed up to the lake house for July 4 for some fun in the sun (rain) with family. It was nice to get away, leave work and chores behind and enjoy Gigi's cooking while Anna Kate played with Avery. While the first day was absolutely perfect, it was gloomy and rainy the next two days. But, we still had fun!

Maddie was just happy to get to wear her cute new bathing suit and (too big) sunglasses!

But all of the excitement wore her out. I cannot believe she just fell asleep (given that Anna Kate never would have). She got fussy, so I laid her down and she just closed her eyes and went to sleep!

The big girls enjoyed a snack on the paddle board. Because who doesn't love a floating snack? Charger was jealous.

Carter-bear enjoyed lots and lots of sand and dirt. All boy!

These two are now tubing buddies!

Don't worry, they were supervised.

Carter wanted to watch "Da". And climb on the table.

I think Mark at least had fun.

Yep.

Happy to be swimming!

Happy to be at the lake!

This was as close to a good picture as I got this round. I don't know what that face is that Anna is making.. silly girl.

Anna: "Avery, let's jump!"

Thanks for holding it together despite the lack of cooperation, Avery.

Maddie got to snuggle with her baby twin, Uncle David for the first time.

And of course everyone wanted to get some play time in with baby Maddie.

Uncle Robert got some good smiles from Madison!

And, of course, many many many books were read. Good thing Avery is learning to read!

Sparklers were a must!

When did she get so big?

And of course Daddy had to help with some bigger fireworks!

Madison Leigh, Two Months

Enter cliche phrase... How has it already been two months?! Time really does fly!

Maddie's Stats at two months:

Height: 23 in, 67th percentile

Weight: 11 lb 1 oz, 37th percentile

Head: 15.2 in, 58th percentile

BMI: 14.7, 21st percentile

Maddie has met all of her milestones, and even tried to roll over from belly to back in front of the doctor showing how well she could pull her head up which is apparently in the four month milestone category.

This month had a lot of transitions- most all of them good! We went from a very short lived crying, overstimulated, difficult to get to bed baby to an easy going baby who even tries to get herself to sleep! The biggest changes this month: Maddie has begun to smile all the time, especially when someone talks to her, and has shared her first little laughs! She also now has a fairly good bedtime, most always going down easily around 8. At five weeks old she gave us three days in a row of 8 hours straight of sleep but we are now stuck on a 7 hour routine and she wakes around 3 to eat and goes back down until 6:30. She is starting to enjoy toys and big sister, and seems to be pretty flexible for the time being. She takes a pacifier easily, but also sucks on her fist at night when she loses the paci. We also started cloth diapering this month. Madison is an easy, fun loving girl!

Getting bigger!

I would say "chins and grins" but her chins are tucked into her cute dress.

"Two months? Who me?"

Happy happy girl!

Smiles for days!

Phone Photos, June 2016 Edition

It is comical how true the whole, "second kid gets no pictures" thing is. Given that I'm the third, I feel like it's acceptable. Fortunately since we live in a smartphone generation, there will always be photos- they just might not be the best quality. Because who has time to go get the camera... and where is the camera?

Here are some cute pics over the month of June, because I am eternally behind on the blog.

Smiling naked baby and a silly sister!

Maddie's side eye... 

Pushing sister bear to the mailbox!

One day I let them be in Madison's crib together... Anna was pretty excited. Then I had to shut that down.

Madison showing off her paper crown from a play date at Maggie's and her cool swaddle blanket with her birth month on it from Sarah!

This girl looks so big! Ready to go to Taylorsville with her purse and backpack! You can see on the fridge behind her her first attempts at writing her own name (by herself, as in no one in the room with her.) It reads... nAAnn... Anna.

It is hard to catch this girl sleeping these days. So big!

Hot mess Anna Kate! Walking her football in a princess dress, crown, and crocs.

This day, Maddie would not stop sleeping. I got Anna Kate and Maddie up from their afternoon naps while Daddy finished his. I brought Madison to Mark to hold so AK could have a snack and this is what we found when we came back in the living room.

Ready to go to the lake and more sister snuggles!

Personal space? What's that?

Checking it all out.

Time at the lake!

Baby deep in thought.

Anna is my big tummy time helper. And yes, as you go through this post, Anna Kate is always this close to Madison if she is awake.

Time to swing! Perfect shadow over Maddie for some morning time outdoors!

Stickers and popsicles, two of our favorites!

Some of Maddie's first smiles that were just for Anna.

My girls in their summer dresses!

Baby snoozing while Anna Kate has some fun on the splashpad. That's not her in the back. Some random child.

This year she at least got wet...

More smiles, more snuggles.

It's hard being the little sister.

More swinging. Maddie looks thrilled, huh?

Looking less like a newborn and more like an infant!

We made an airplane! And by we, I mean me. And Anna played with it for 2.5 hot seconds.

That's all, folks! Also, I love a sleeping baby!