December update

We are coming up on Christmas and my girls are growing faster than ever! I missed last month so of course have lots of updates. Brynlee turned 8 months on Dec 10 and is getting so big! Not sure on height and weight, her next appointment is in Jan.  She is wearing 9 month clothes now and just this week I switched her cloth diapers to the largest setting. When she wears disposable diapers she is in size 3. She still eats a big bowl of cereal every morning and nurses. For lunch she eats some baby food and whatever else I have around for her to eat. Today she had mashed potatoes and green beans :) I started skipping her 1pm nursing and I just nurse her whenever she gets up from her nap and then she eats supper with us and nurses again before bed. She was so insistent on nursing I was starting to worry about weaning her when the time came. Sometimes I stick an extra nursing time in there but I figure as long as she satisfied I won't push it. The girl LOVES food! In addition to all the typical "first veggies" we have added peaches, bananas, applesauce, and avocado.  I plan on introducing pears and apricots next :) She also likes to eat whatever we eat so I try to share what I can. I have a baby food grinder so she got vegetable soup last time we had that. She also likes pasta. I started giving her cheerios to work on her coordination a little bit. She doesn't do well at using her pincher fingers and getting things in her mouth. Right now she grabs things with her fists but then drops it when she tries to get it into her mouth.  We have a ways to go with that but, practice makes perfect!

7 months old

8 months old

Brynlee isn't as into the excersaucer anymore and would much rather be mobile. She does pretty well sitting on the floor as long as things are within reach. Just this afternoon she sat on the living room floor with toys for over an hour and played. But, that doesn't happen too often. Usually she gets tired of being on the floor and wants me to help her walk around. She doesn't seems to have much of a desire to crawl but walking, on the other hand, is REALLY fun!  When she is on her tummy she can get around pretty well by swiveling around and scooting but still doesn't go far. I am hoping it stays that way until after Christmas. Only a couple weeks left! 

Tooth number 3 finally made it's debut last weekend after weeks of misery! The crazy part is that it's not one of the top middle teeth...its the tooth NEXT to the middle teeth! Totally weird...she's got a little fang poor baby lol. The one on the other side is trying to come in too and then hopefully the middle ones won't be too far behind. The song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" comes to mind, hehe :)

In all honesty, football has been the biggest time eater and the most excitement for our family the past couple months. Football was the reason I didn't get any updates done last month :S  In my last post I mentioned that we would be playing the number one team in the state. We ended up beating Newell-Fonda in the biggest game of the year!  On November 8th we went to the UNI Dome for the first time in school history and totally domimated! We won that game, went back to the dome the next week and won MMC's first State Title. It was the craziest 3 weeks ever but completely amazing. I wouldn't have traded the stress and the two, 6 hour round trips to the Dome for anything :)

Hanging out at the hotel pool

Both Hayden and Brynlee got to go with us and we stayed in a hotel both times. Brynlee got to go swimming for the first time and she LOVED it! It was so cute seeing her splash and play :)  She was so at ease and had no problems laying on her back or splashing around. Hayden has always been a little fish and had a great time playing in the water with several of the cheerleaders and stat girls who were at the same hotel.

Hayden showing the crowd the award!

MMC was presented with an award during the Championship game for getting first place in the district; and because Kyle was with the team the girls and I were able to accept the award on his behalf.  It was so exciting to go out with both of them during halftime and accept the award in front of the whole crowd (it was on tv too!). I held up the certificate when it was given to me and of course the crowd cheered...but that was nothing compared to what Hayden did as we walked off the field. I gave her the certificate and she walked off the field with the paper held high over her head the whole way. The crowd just went nuts! Something about a cute little 3 year old and such a high honor as "first place" sure does something to people :) It was so fun hearing the supportive cheers down on the field. I guess I got a little taste of what the team gets to experience :)

Hayden and her favorite "football boy" Isaiah

Hayden loves attention from anybody that will give it to her but she has a special place for "daddy's football boys".  She constantly talks about them and knows a lot of them by name. And the even better part is how good they are with her. They all know who she is and are so patient with her and her incessant questions and talking. I know that she may not remember going to the dome when she gets older but I know that she will always remember the football boys and the fun she had with them. Hopefully for many years to come :)

Kyle with the championship trophy and banner

The whole family with the trophy :)

The football season may have ended over a month ago but there was lots more to take care of and wrap up for Kyle.  The awards banquet was a couple weeks ago and went really well. Lots of awards and lots to celebrate for the Eagles.  And....drum roll please!...Last week Kyle was named State Coach of the Year! I am so proud of him and all he was able to accomplish over the season. His assistant coach also got Assistant Coach of the Year for the district as well. The coaches and kids all deserved every honor they received.  Now Kyle's time is taken up with talking to college coaches wanting kids to come play for them and planning his spring around the conferences and clinics he has been asked to speak at. Again, SO PROUD OF HIM!!! :)

Hayden is getting excited for Christmas. She has been asking for a "big baby" for months now. A friend of hers has a large baby doll that she loves to play with when she goes over there.  I had been looking online and in some local stores with no luck.  So, after a city wide search of Des Moines, I FINALLY found the doll she wanted. It was a HUGE load off my mind. I felt bad, it wasn't like she wanted anything super expensive, she just wanted a doll! But, I found it and all is well. I don't have to have a disappointed little girl on Christmas :) We have a busy week ahead getting ready for all our Christmas travels. We will celebrate our family Christmas on Friday and then leave Sat morning for NE for Christmas on Kyle's side. After that we head back to IA for a couple Christmas's with my family. All together we will be gone for about a week. Praying the girls (and me!) survive so long away from home. We don't do well away from our own beds for long :(

We are so super blessed this holiday season and have so much to be thankful for. After next month's post I am sure the blessings list will be even longer after spending Christmas with all our family and friends. I pray that your holidays are bright and you are able to enjoy time with your own families :) Merry Christmas!