Equal Time with the Kiddos

I have been thinking about writing this post for a while. I feel so blessed that my children get to spend equal time with both of their parents. Not all families raise their children this way. I grew up in an environment where my dad worked all the time and my mom stayed home with the kids. Johnny grew up in an environment where both of his parents worked and when they were working his extended family would take care of him.

I think as parents (Johnny and I) work really well together. We sat down a few months ago and discussed what it is that we both want career wise and as parents. Both of us decided that we would prefer to both work and spend time with our kiddos as oppose to one person working 5o to 60 hours a week and the other staying at home. So I work anywhere from 30 to 40 hours a week depending on the time of the year and Johnny works anywhere from 32 to 40 hours a week. Johnny typically works evenings and weekends and I work during the day on the weekdays. This has allowed us to both spend lots of time with the kiddos and continue to progress in careers. I like to think that we are a true modern family where both parents raise the children and work.

Yes sometimes our work schedules make it so that we need extra help from family and childcare (Montessori Home) but we have put careful thought into what type of extra help we needed. Johnny and I think it is very important to have our families help raise the children so that they are exposed to other people that love them. We also feel that it is really important for our children to get exposure to other children and learning environments which is why Pennington goes to Montessori Home. Our plan is to have Piper go to Montessori Home as well starting next January.

Above all I would like to thank Johnny for allowing me to continue working and for helping me to raise our children by splitting it 50/50. Love you!!!

Swimming at the YMCA

Yesterday the whole family went to the Downtown YMCA to go swimming. It was Daddy's idea and I have to say it was a lot of fun. We hung out in the Kiddie Pool where the maximum depth is 1.5 feet. Pennington to walk around everywhere and even lay down in parts where it was only 8". Pennington enjoyed playing with the balls and the noodles. I got him to go down part of the dragon slide which he thought was a lot of fun. Piper enjoyed playing in the water as well. Mostly she enjoyed watching everything that was going on around her. Below are some pictures of our swim day at the Y.

Story Time

Daddy spends Wednesday mornings with the kiddos while Mommy is at work. Almost every Wednesday morning Daddy takes both Pennington and Piper to story time at the library. Mommy did this one time and realized how difficult it is to take two little ones out in public. However, sometimes it is even worse to stay at home all day so you just have to prepare yourself for some chaos and go somewhere. This last Wednesday they ran into G.G. and Papa at the library. Below are some pictures of Pennington and G.G.

Pennington 18 Month Checkup

Pennington had his 18 month checkup on Friday. Dr. Booth said he is looking great. Below are the stats:

Weight: 23 pounds (25 percentile)

Height: 32 1/4 inches (55 percentile)

Head Circumference: 47 cm (45 percentile)

Looks like he is starting to slow down on his growth specifically in height.

Piper Six Months Old

Can you believe it? Piper is already six months old.

Over the last month she started eating solid foods (rice cereal, bananas, pears, apples, carrots and sweet potatoes). She likes everything so far. I have to say she is probably the only baby on the planet that likes rice cereal. We made it through a whole box already. I don't think we even finished a box with Pennington.

Piper is already getting up onto all fours in either the crawl position or a bear crawl position. It wont be long until she figures out how to crawl. When she does move she moves backwards and gets herself stuck in corners.

Piper is turning into a very happy little girl. She hardly ever cries anymore. When she does cry it is because she is hungry or tired.

On the sleeping front she is starting to take really good naps for everyone except for me. I guess it is good thing I went back to work so she can get in the habit of taking longer naps. She still is waking up a few time a night. On a good night only twice. I sort of think she would sleep longer if I just gave her a bottle. I'm about 99% sure the only reason she wakes up is because she is hungry.

I would also like to point out that I am still breastfeeding. This is a huge accomplishment for me and I am super proud of myself. Yes we are still supplementing with formula but whenever I can I try to breastfeed. I currently am feeding her at least 4 to 5 times a day and pumping while I am at work. I am only able to pump 5 to 6 ounces while I am at work so we are having to supplement to make up the difference. I just achieved my goal of making it six months and now I have set a goal to continue until she gets teeth. I will say that there are some days when I just want to quit because I am so tired and I think that if I just give her a bottle of formula she would sleep longer. But then I realize that this is the last time I will ever be able to breastfeed her so I just keep doing it.

Brother-Sister LOVE

Pennington has been into wanting to share things with his Sissy. Below is a picture of Pennington trying to share his water with Sissy. Keep in mind that Piper has no idea how to drink form a straw but she is sure interest now that Pennington is showing her. Pennington tries to feed her sometimes as well which is a little scary since she isn't eating really solid foods yet.

I just thought this other picture was sweet because they are both looking at the camera.

Side note: I am 100% aware that baby walkers are not safe for children. However, we got it as a gift (I DID NOT register for one). We are really good at supervising our children when they are in the walker. Right now Pennington thinks it is his car. This is just one of the many things I said before I was a parent to a 6 month old that I would NEVER do but somehow I gave in. Welcome to parenthood!

First Warm Weekend

Finally it is starting to get warm so we can get the kids outside more. This weekend it was in the low 50s. Our family had a wonderful picnic lunch at Camels Back on Saturday. Pennington played on the play sets and swung on the swings. He also kicked his ball around. There was a little soccer goal set up that he was really interested in. He would try to kick his ball into it or pick his ball up and put it in the goal. He liked it so much that I think we might need to concern getting him his own soccer goal. Piper enjoyed looking around at what everyone else was doing. We could tell she was really happy to to be outside. Below are pictures of the kids at the park.

Piper Eats Carrots

Below is a video of Piper eating carrots. She still is learning how to eat from a spoon. Right now she sort of sucks or slurps her food when she eats from a spoon.

Grandma and Grandpa Luangaphay

I just thought this was a great photo of Grandma and Grandpa Luangaphay with the kids. The kids are so lucky to have both sets of grandparents close by to give them lots of love. Enjoy!

Pennington 18 Months Old

Pennington will be 1 1/2 years old tomorrow. Below is a list of some of the things Pennington has been up to over the last month.

Pennington has been going to school twice a week now for six weeks. Last week was the first week that he didn't cry when I dropped him off. I think he is really starting to enjoy going to school. When we talk to him about things he does at school he gets really excited. Below is a picture of Pennington when we picked him up from school on Friday.

At school the kids get to help prepare the food they are going to eat. Each week one of the morning snacks is usually pancakes or french toast. When I make pancakes at home he gets really excited and wants to help me mix the batter and flip the pancakes.

At school they are teaching the kids how to put their own shoes and coats on. Pennington is really into trying to get his own shoes and coat on all by himself. He can get his shoes and coat on but he can't velcro his shoes and zip his coat yet.

I have also noticed that he is really into making sure everything goes where it belongs. For example, if something is missing he looks at you like where did it go? Or if he finds my phone, purse, shoes, ect. he will bring them to me.

Pennington gets to paint A LOT at school. Below is a picture of one of my favorite pieces of artwork that he has done at school. He does at least one of these everyday at school.

Pennington is still going to The Little Gym every Tuesday morning with Daddy. He is quite a little climber. A few weeks ago we were at the park and he climbed up the ladder on side of the play set like it was no problem at all. Keep in mind the play set is taller than I am. Below is a picture of Pennington hanging from the rings.

A few weeks ago we took Pennington to Mommy and Daddy's indoor soccer game. We let Pennington sit in the box and he LOVED watching us play. Pretty much everyday now he likes to kick his soccer ball around the house.

Pennington still isn't really talking yet. He still uses his signs and makes lots of sounds when he talks. He just doesn't say any real words yet.

Below are a few other pictures of Pennington taken over the last month.