Hollyn Monroe: 16 Months

*You started walking really good right before Christmas! Best Christmas present ever!!!  And now that you're walking, you're practically running!!! 

*You are 23 lbs, and 32.25 inches tall.  You are 50% in weight and 87% in height.  You wear a size 4 diaper and 18-24 month or 2T clothing.  You don't have quite the belly that your sister's always had at this age.  You seem to be a little skinnier in that area and about the same everywhere else.  

*You're always trying to do a somersault.  It's so funny.  For months, you've been trying to roll over and you finally did it! You always bend over and try....with your head tucked down and your arms on the ground, ready to roll....but it's turned into one of those funny things you always do.  Now, you actually roll.  Yay!!  Once you start, you keep going until you're dizzy! :)

*You are still a heavy breather and a smacker right before bed.  It's seriously so funny and just your little "thing" that you do to settle in.  Even the church nursery workers have commented on it....to the point that they actually worried about the heavy sighs you let out when they laid you down.  I've assured them that it's your sleep ritual.   

*You say only a few words clearly, other than mommy and daddy.  "Dank you" is one that we can usually make out, but if it's something other than that....you will sign or point to help us out.  

*You are still taking a bottle because I can't let go of that one thing that still makes you an official "baby".  This month is it though.  Onto a sippy cup and lids/straws only. Tear.....

*You've been sick for several weeks recently with a runny nose and a pretty cruddy cough.  It's been so hard on you.  You have felt pretty miserable lately and you just love to be held.  I can't wait to get my happy and healthy baby back.  

*You're still a stinker when it comes to eating!  You cannot be bought, bribed, or coerced in any way.  No meat, no cheese...."not much of anything" is the name of your game.  Thankfully, you've started eating some mac 'n cheese and peanut butter/jelly sandwiches.  Thank you Jesus we've had a small break thru!!

*You smack your lips together when we ask for a kiss.  It's the sweetest thing ever.  

*We have a new zippidy zip (a less constricting swaddle) that you love.  We zip you up and you can move your hands and feet, but you stay warm and snuggly inside.  It's got a cute little pattern of peacock feathers in turquoise, green, and purple.  It's so cute on you and you love the coziness of it.  

*You LOVE to play peek a boo behind the dining room curtains and hide from me under the table!  It's become a fun little game for you and Charli.

*You love to play with all kinds of bouncy balls.  Ansley is usually playing with either a basketball or soccer ball and you love to join in!

*We can finally get your hair in a top ponytail!  It's your little water spout.  :)  

Hollyn Monroe: 14 Months

*You love everything that is soft and snuggly. The minute you realize that there's a possibility that is may feel cozy in some way....you bury your face into it and lie very still for several seconds to snuggle. It doesn't matter if we're here at home or in the middle of Walgreens....you'll plop right on to it and bury your face. :)

*You love to take your socks and shoes off in the car. It's a game to see how many times you can do this during multiple stops in the car.  You think it's so funny and then you say...."uh oh!!" Thanks turkey!

*You are quite the cantankerous eater. You don't eat meat of any sort or many vegetables either. You love carrots, green beans-that have been doctored, oatmeal, crackers and bread, and any fruit. That's about it. Feeding a child has never been so stressful for momma.  I know you're getting enough, but I don't want to resort to letting you eat junk just to get something in you.  Hoping this little battle that we have ends soon.
  

*Your personality is coming out in so many sweet ways. You love to snuggle up to us all of the time, maybe even more than Charli and Ansley combined (both girls love to snuggle). You have also started nodding "no" to us. You're really good at that! I'm really starting to see the smiling baby that you once were. For a bit, we were only seeing a more serious girly.

*A "momma clinger" is not even the best way to describe you. Ha! Some days I think I've created a cling-on monster. I mean that in the nicest way possible! 

*My favorite time of the day with you is at bedtime. You are the most loving little thing and we have a sweet bond that happens every night before lying you down.  You nuzzle your head into my shoulder and piled high with all your blankets....I sing Winter Snow to you (a song that I have been practicing for church).  This became your favorite and after I'd start this tune, you'd put your head on me even if you weren't ready for bed yet.

*You have lots of teeth now and you love to brush them (10 that I've counted)!  You are quite the teeth brushing champ. Neither Ansley or Charli liked for us to brush their teeth, but not you...you enjoy it!!  It's one of your favorite things to do.....find your toothbrush in the drawer and brush your teeth.  You even get the toothpaste out and carry them both around the house pretending that you are squeezing toothpaste out.  It's so cute.   

*You and daddy love to play chase. You giggle uncontrollably and it's the cutest thing ever. You also love daddy's animal sounds. Once he starts, he's not allowed to stop!

*You are a busy little bee, Hollyn! You are into everything, love to play with your sisters (when they share), and you make us laugh all the time!

*We dedicated you to the Lord in front of our church family on October 18th.  You were a squirmy little thing on stage as I held you and made a few little cries/grunts, but you looked like an angel.  You are precious in His sight and ours, Hollyn Monroe. We love you so.   

Ansley Harper: 6 Year Old Update

As I type that, I can't even believe it myself.  I don't feel adequately prepared to continue to grow and teach a 6 year old, but that's not up to me I guess!

This girl is such a joy.  She is so compassionate, sensitive, loves to please, loves Beatrice, roadtrips, and fairytales.  We couldn't have asked for a sweeter daughter and big sister.

Here's what Ansley is up to these days:

*She's seriously so grown up.  She used the word "intruder" the other day in a properly formed sentence and I thought, wow....aren't you still like 3?!

*She has no front teeth.  Her little mouth is so cute with her missing teeth right now and she knows it.  I'll find her smiling and primping in the mirror before school.  It has begun.  :)

*When this girl wakes up she needs about 5 minutes to stretch and wake up and then she's singing!  It's really a phenomenon.  She performs full-on musicals every day, usually morning and night to songs she just randomly makes up.  It sometimes comes in the form of your favorite Disney tune or a Christian song.  The girl remembers lyrics and tunes like no other.  I love that she always has a song on her heart.

*She's such a great big sister.  I don't say this flippantly.  She amazes me with her mothering skills at 6 (she really amazed me when Hollyn entered the world last year).  She's responsible and she usually obeys.  I feel like I can trust her already with watching Hollyn while I grab a quick shower or run to the car for something.  I hope I never forget what it looks like to see her prop Hollyn on her hip and go.  Her and Charli are a little different.  Their relationship comes in waves....some days it's wonderful and others, well....trying.  They love to play with the same things and some days....that's just hard.  :)

*Her favorite song: Beyonce's Halo.  There's a little story behind this.  It's downloaded to an old phone we had.  It was actually Jason's phone while we were delivering Ansley.  He had put together a list of songs to listen to while I was in labor and that was one of them.  It was one of my favorites at the time...she was my angel and I hadn't even met her yet.  Now that we don't use that phone anymore.....Ansley has made it her own and she listens to it all the time because of the story behind it. She knows every word and every run that she does in that song.  It's unbelievable to hear her sing it.

*Right now, she's playing soccer, gymnastics, and does dance.  She stays busy!

*She's still got to have her after school nap!!  She can go without one and some days she has to, but she could always use one.

*She's recently learned how to do a cartwheel (for the most part-she's still working on straightening one leg).

*She's reading and doing great!

*She LOVES her American girl dolls, Disney princesses, Barbies, and Palace Pets

*She currently is in love with her AG doll, Grace, but has Saige and Kit also.

*She loves sushi.  Like loves it.  She begs for it all the time!! Her favorite is crab and cream cheese and shrimp tempura roll.

*She whistles when she's excited...only she sucks air in instead of out.  :)

*Hates to wash her hair.  I should say....hates to brush it to.

*Loves to camp.

*Talks about Heaven and Jesus often.  She always remembers Adler and often times wonders what he's doing in Heaven.

*She loves to pack for trips and enjoys making plans for our mini vacations. She usually doesn't leave the house without her purse and sunglasses.  She also brings her wallet and money (from the tooth fairy) with her too.

*She's 48 inches tall and she's stout.  She is strong!

*She's still a little clumsy at times, but I think she's getting used to her feet. ?? :)

*She loves to swim and is like a little fish. No fear.  She holds her breath under water longer than I do.

Charli Suttyn: 3 Year Old Update

We have a live one here!  :)  She's a mess.  A totally fun mess that is so different from our first child, Ansley and we love it.  She keeps things lively!  You can see it in her eyes, facial expressions, and the personality that comes out daily.

Here's what Charli is up to these days:

*She is writing her name pretty well!  She of course, needs some help, but she really does a great job if you help remind her which letters come next.  When she does it by herself, the letters are there, but usually a little out of order. :)

*She still has beautiful blonde curls.  Her hair is to die for! When we're out and about we get stopped almost daily with comments about her locks.

*She is full of sass and sometimes an eye roll.  She gets in trouble almost daily for her defiance, but she's so darn cute and it makes it painful sometimes to get onto her!

*She loves Disney princesses, her blankie, and her mouse camper she got for her birthday.

*She adores her sisters and sometimes loves on Hollyn a little too much (Hollyn's standard) and loves to play Barbie's and school with Ansley.

*Her favorite song right now is Kari Jobe's "I Am Not Alone" (something I sang in church), "Watch me whip, watch me Nae Nae", and any Psalty song!  :)  

*She loves to tell me that Jesus died on the cross for us.  She is wise beyond her years.

*She loves to make pictures for us and they are usually beautiful in their own unique way.

*She is actually a pretty decent little artist! She likes to draw butterflies, people, and flowers and they all are pretty good!  Then she says.....flower starts with an F and butterfly starts with a B.  She's a smart cookie.

*She still eats ALL THE TIME! Nothing food related gets past this girl.  If she so happens to hear unwrapping of any food, she'll say...."whatcha eating?" or "whatcha got, Mommy?!".  I always get busted!

*She loves to swim, but is a little more timid than Ansley.  She did great in swim lessons, but we're still using water wings.

*She always mentions that she wants to go back to Disney.  I can't believe she still remembers it!

*She loves to play a little game where we all pick a place to go and we pretend we're actually going there.  It could be Discovery Playhouse, the beach, the movies....the list goes on!  She imagines we're going there and then everything is related to our destination.  It's the cutest thing and I hope she never gets tired of doing this!

*Watching her do her Psalty motions and songs in the car is a highlight of my days.

*She's got one volume.....loud! :)

*She spends the most time in time-out (between her and Ansley)!

*She loves Anna and especially Elsa!

*She loves spending time at the cabin and on the farm.  She another little farmgirl!

*She occasionally slips into our bed at night from time to time.  I think it's mostly her sleep walking or when she starts coughing that causes her to come in.  If I'm awake enough, I put her back in bed but some mornings I am surprised that she's snuggled in next to us.

*Her bed still looks like a crib, but she climbs in and out of it all the time.  She refuses our help and likes to do it herself.  Even in the dead of night, she climbs out (thankfully with no injuries) by herself.  Sometimes we find her sleep walking too.  It's probably about time we take the side off of her bed, but we're afraid where we may find her! :)

*Ansley is affectionately called "Answay" and Hollyn is "Howyn"

Hollyn Monroe: 12 Months!

 

*You are standing up and squatting all the time by yourself and you're so proud!  You just smile from ear to ear when we catch you standing.

*You do pretty well at cruising around things, but no walking yet!  You like to take steps holding a hand or two and sometimes will take a step without a hand. You are not quite confident enough to go it alone. :)

*You weigh 20 lbs and are in the 88% in height, 36% in weight, and 50% in head circumference. You are wearing a size 3 diaper and 12-18 months in clothing.

*You are still a momma's girl....no doubt about it.

*You are loving green beans, carrots, and peas these days!  You aren't eating that much baby food either.  When you want more of something you usually squeeze your hands together like you're waving "it" close to you.

*You are still a speed crawler.

*As soon as you walk a few steps, you can go to school!

*You are really starting to understand what we are saying lately and we are getting lots of smiles and excitement when we mention something you want! I'm praying our communication excelerates quickly because there are lots of grunts and squeals when we don't get it right!

*You are about to get another tooth on the bottom!

*Your hair is growing and growing in the back! I see a few curls forming just like your sisters!

*You love the Tupperware drawer. :)

*You really don't want me to leave your side right now and you scream/squeal until I pick you up. It depends on the day how long I let you go on without giving in! As soon as you're picked up though......no tears! Let's just say, you've got us all wrapped around your finger.

*I love our bonding time during nursing and I'm not sure that I'll be giving that up anytime soon.  I love our time together with few distractions and I'm not sure that you're ready either.

*We are so thankful for your sweet little life, Hollyn. You brought us joy after our hearts had been broken and we are beyond grateful to the Lord for His faithfulness. We are looking forward to watching you as you go through growing spurts and reach milestones in the coming months. We love watching your personality shine through more and more each day and we can't wait to see how God uses you. We love you precious girl.

Hollyn Monroe: 11 Months

Twelve months is so close we can almost taste it!  I can't believe how fast the past couple of months have gone.  I feel like we're really in a good groove these days and I love every second I get to spend with this little cupcake.

*She's all of a sudden found a few binkies around the house and loves to suck on them.  She used to kind of take one, but it's been awhile since we've tried.  This picture proves it.  She's apparently a fan. 

*She's a smacker.  Loves to smack her little lips before a meal and it cracks me up.

*She loves to find mini legos, tiny squinkies, and any other little microscopic toy and put it in her mouth.  She hasn't swallowed anything yet (that I'm aware of), but we've got to keep a real good eye on this girl.  She shoves stuff in and then puts a deadlock on her lips.  She'll try to talk and jabber with her mouth closed, which is always our first sign.  She's got a toy!!!!

*She will also find things on the floor (usually larger in size) that she knows she can't have and in the sweetest way she'll offer them up to us.  Like....here you go, mom....I'm not supposed to have this.

*She squints her eyes and wrinkles her nose when she smiles.  Presh.  

*She's a good little shopper.  Give her a little item to tinker with and she's good to go!

*I'm not sure that I've ever mentioned this, but she LOVES to hold on to things for comfort while she's nursing.  It may be my shirt, neck, the blanket we're covered in, or my necklace.  She just rubs and rubs and rubs.  LOVE it and I'm going to miss it terribly.    

*We're still nursing and going strong!  I've never been home this much with any of the other girls, so usually at this point we're really winding things down in the nursing department (using a lot of my stored milk), but with Hollyn I'm not so sure.  She's not a big fan of formula these days, so I'm not sure what we'll do at this point. 

*New food love....grapes and blueberries.   

*Your hair is growing so fast and it's starting to curl up in the back.  It is adorable and we can't wait to see if you'll have curly hair like you're big sisters.

*You are standing by yourself more and more!  Cruising has become easier for you too. We're hoping that you start to take a few steps soon!

Hollyn Monroe: 10 Months

You are at such a fun age!  I could snuggle you ALL DAY!

*You are still always smiling, grinning, and cheesing from ear to ear! The only difference is that you have a mouth full of teeth now.  It changes your smile so much! You have the sweetest little gap in between your front teeth and it's so adorable.

*You are quite the fast crawler.  You follow us from room to room....always trying to keep up and stay in the middle of what's going on.  If any of us leave the room for any reason, we get a big "AHHHH" from you to let us know that you don't approve.

*You are the queen of "AHHHH" (that's your word) when you need something or aren't happy with the situation....you let us know, just like Charli did.

*You love to jabber momma, dada, and sometimes baba.

*You are always blowing bubbles with your mouth. Lots and lots of raspberries!  However, it's with more vigor than any other kid!  You, with full force, spit wads of slobber all over us and think it's hilarious.

*I can barely keep you on the changing table these days. The struggle is real.

*You have been standing up and pulling up to everything!  It feels like it started happening overnight.

*You love chewing on our flipflops.  You're like our resident puppy around here.  At any given time of day, it's not a rarity to hear one of us say..."Yucky, Hollyn!  Drop it!"

*You like to keep your pointer finger in your mouth and on occasion you might be caught sucking your thumb or toe!

*You have become quite protective of your stuff lately.  You definitely don't let your sister's get away with taking toys away from you anymore.

*My favorite time with you is still our nightly nose nuggles. :)

*You went camping with Mimi and BB by yourself for a whole weekend while we were out of town.  We missed you so much!

*You have a happy growl that we all love, except Charli.  It's pretty loud and she always tells you that you hurt her ears. She obviously doesn't realize that she has only one volume herself. :/

*You've been waving on occasion.  You like the open and close your hand type of wave.  It's so cute.