Rylan

Yesterday, Mike and I heard Rylan say, "Eye!" and point to Mike's eye.  We both looked at each other curiously, and then Mike started asking him to point to other features of our faces.  He was able to recognize eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.  I have stopped a few times to have him point to these features on my face and his, but only a few times.  I had no idea that he had them down so well already.  He also is saying "Oh man!", "No way!", "Mine!" and "More".  Fun to hear his vocabulary expanding.

 He also loves to say words like "shoe" and "sock" because he enjoys putting them on so much.  He gets super excited when we go out to get the girls from school or to go for a walk or car ride.  He will actually pull out his own shoes, have me put them on him, and then go get mine for me.

He was fighting me when it came to brushing teeth, he did not want me to do it.  Now he isn't too happy about it, but gladly lets me use a finger brush for his teeth.

He LOVES to flush the toilet, and watch the water swirl down the drain.  I think he may be getting close to time for starting potty training.

We were super sick the whole month of April, I am thrilled that everyone is back to their normal self.  Thank goodness, bring on May!

Finally back!!!!

I have been trying to get into this account for a year now :(  Finally was able to gain access again by trying tons of passwords, finally one worked! Yay!  Excited to be able to post again on here!

Holidays

Rylan started laughing a few days ago and has been practicing at lifting his head.  Love it when he laughs, so cute.  He actually was laughing a bit over the past month, but it was hard to tell if it was actually a laugh.  He loves it when we make funny faces at him or when I sing to him.  These are the moments that make him laugh the most. 

We played some family games yesterday, and it was a lot of fun.  We really enjoyed the Game of Life that Mike went out and bought, Ruby especially loved it!  Elsie was able to participate a bit, but it was later in the day and she was pretty tired. 

I have been singing "the 12 days of Christmas" to the girls each night, such a humbling moment each day when I get to rub their backs and sing to them as they calm for sleep.  Yesterday, Mike was holding Rylan as I did it and as I sang the lyrics he would pop Rylan's head around the corner of the door and act like Rylan was singing the lyrics.  So funny, had the girls laughing a bunch.  He is such a good daddy, and soooo funny!  They love his humor. 

Getting ready for Christmas Eve, when we go to visit my Dad and buy the last of the gifts for the girls.  This year has been pretty budgeted, so Mike and I decided to only buy for the girls and to forgo gifts for us.  We have been blessed by so many things though.  Our friends gave us an entertainment center with a larger tv and my mom gave the girls a swing set for the back yard.  Amazing gifts that were truly needed!  We also just feel blessed by the fact that our health is good as a family and that we have another member to share it with this year. 

My sister and her boyfriend are coming to spend the evening with us this year on Christmas, it will be so nice.  It has been nearly a decade (maybe longer) since we have been together on this day.  The girls are looking forward to it.  Ruby told her friend yesterday to come by to meet Katie, and said that she is a really nice person. 

Happy holidays to all my friends and family!  Hope it is filled with love and peace!

7 Months later...sorry no posts for so long!

Well...since my last post 7 months ago we have added our newest family member, Rylan Michael Suhling.  He is almost 3 months old now.  A big boy at about 15 lbs.  Amazing!  He is the sweetest, most easy-going, fun baby!  We all love him so much of course!  Yesterday he officially rolled over from back to belly, so exciting!

Ruby has started Kindergarten and Elsie is in her first year of preschool.  Ruby loves her awesome teacher Mrs. Elam and Elsie loves her teacher Mrs. Rachel.  It has been a crazy start to the school year, with the birth happening the week after.  I am sooooo horrible in the mornings, so we are always working on trying to get going faster and be on time.  I don't know if it will ever happen. 

Ruby had all satisfactories at her conference in November, with the exception of organization.  She needs to work on being more organized.  She did get two areas where she excels in, and those are working with others and cooperating with others.  She is a sweet girl in class, I am thankful. 

I continue to get tons of comments about how much of a crack up Elsie is while she is in class, she is very social and loves to talk and entertain.  She has a huge crush on a little boy named Isaac, it is super cute.  She loves to sit by him and also give him a kiss and hug before she leaves each class.  The last class, I guess Isaac was running his fingers through her hair and she was loving it!  I am so glad that he enjoys her as much as she enjoys him. 

Elsie was thrilled to have a playdate at his house the other day.  As we went through the line at the grocery store before heading over there, she was telling the clerk that we were going to visit Isaac on an island (because she knew he lived so far away).  So funny!  As we travelled there she was thrilled and kept looking out the window and talking about the scenery on the way to his house.  They had a blast together, so fun!  The funny thing is that Ruby just adores his older brother Ethan and has since they were in preschool together.  We always joke about how funny it would be if Rylan and their younger sister Isabel liked eachother too, they are about a year apart.

Yesterday we went to Mike's holiday concert at CHS and I brought coloring books and books for the girls.  They did really good except for one slight argument where we had to go out and discuss and then came back and they were awesome!  During the concert, Elsie just decided suddenly to stand up in front of the audience (huge) and dance like crazy.  She still stayed quiet, but smiled out to the audience and continued on until the music was over.  It reminded me of a little Shirley Temple.  I think I am going to try and get her involved with drama/theater, I think she would really excell and enjoy it!  Such a little ham!

I hope to write more now that we are settled into a routine.

Life is GOOD, I couldn't be happier.  The kiddos are healthy and so are we...so thankful.  Looking forward to all the fun months to come!

It's a boy!!!

I just realized that I did not post the results of our ultrasound on May 3rd, the technician was able to tell immediately that we were having a little boy!  So wonderful!  Very exciting for our family. 

At my doctor appointment on Wednesday, the doctor told me that the ultrasound results were normal and everything looked great.  So good to know.  She was able to find the heartbeat right away, and said that it was 140-150 bpm.

We set up the next appt for 4 weeks out, and at that appt we will actually do the gestational diabetes test too.  It will be interesting to see if I have to go back to the 3 hour one, like I did with Ruby and Elsie. 

I am doing well and the baby is very active these days.  Ever since the ultrasound, I have felt him so much more.  Looking forward to all the weeks to come.

Ultrasound

6 days away from the gender ultrasound at 20 weeks, I am soooo excited!  I can hardly wait to see our baby!  I dreamed of the baby last night, that I could see it's toes pushing through my belly.  I have not felt the baby as much as I remember with Ruby and Elsie, but I know that the movement will pick up as the weeks go by. 

Ruby rode her bike without training wheels

Today was such a wonderful day!!!!  Beautiful weather that called us to be outdoors.  When Mike got home from working out, he took Ruby's training wheels off of her bike and started spotting her as she rode along.  Within 30 minutes, she was off and going on her own.  I was so proud of her!!! I knew she was ready for this next step.  So many milestones happening in our family, one right after another!