Tapanga is 3 months old!

Tapanga has had many milestones: grabbing toys, smiling, a laugh, looks at me when I talk, follows my voice, eye contact and tracking, she also loves the mirror! Grabbed her foot 4/29/12. She is about to roll over!! She had her first sleep over at Babers and did perfect!!! Awoke as usual to eat once during the night and slept through the thunderstorm. I have had so many people say she looks like Tank!! Probably since a little after 2 months old comments have been many and sporatic! Blue eyes like daddy are still present!!

First night that both babies were down and asleep for the night by 8 pm. 4/29. I am going to try to keep a habit of this!!!! Tapanga has been great sleeping during Tank's nap time (12-). I have been accomplishing a lot, taking naps myself, getting some running time in the past 6 wks, etc. Its been very helpful that Chip works from home!

I love Tapanga and my snuggle, sleepy time!!! She is growing and changing so much, I can really tell this time around!

May 5th, Tapanga is doing great at tummy time. Today she held her head up several times for about a minute. I couldn't believe it!! She repeated this several times. She is lying, turning, and kicking a lot on her back and is about to roll over any day!!! She continues to smile up a storm and just stares at you with her beautiful blue eyes!! She is starting to talk some and has found her hands. She grabs toys and puts her fists in her mouth as of 4/20. When I pick her up out of her crib each morning she greets me with a smile. My mom said I did the same thing!!

5/5 Both kids in bed asleep at 8 pm. This is the second time this has happened!! 5/6 Continued the pattern! It helps when Chip puts Tank to bed and I can get her nursed and asleep at the same time. I do put both to bed on occasion. 5/6 Today Tapanga had her second nap (maybe first real nap) in her crib from 10-12!!! Tank napped 10:30 because he isn't feeling well. He'll sleep up to 3 hours! I had a great nap. Tapanga then napped with Daddy while Tank and I went to the pool. I am hoping this is a trend to 2 naps and in bed at 8 pm!! I am a proud mama!!!

Mother's Day, Tapanga rolled over back to tummy for the first time!! 5/13 She continues to be a great sleeper at night. About twice a week she won't get up at all. Most of the time it is once a night.

We just got over a bout of sickness again!! Tapanga woke up with pink eye in her right eye on 5/9. This of course was a day after I took Tank in for a sick appointment for runny nose, cough, possible ear infection. We were back again on the 10th with Tank's pink eye and to check his ear, which no infection set in. On top of two kids getting drops in their eyes three times a day, the bunny bit a chunk out of Alvin on Friday 5/11 and he got 6 stitches. Poor babies!!!

First and Second Easter Celebrations

We had a great first Easter with Tapanga!! I had fun dressing her in her Easter dress. I made Tank's searsucker shortalls! Tank had his first Easter egg hunt at Scooter and Elisa's engagement party. The Easter bunny was very generous in leaving lots of great treats in their baskets. Tank got a choo-choo Thomas hat, Jacob's latter, bubble sword, plates, and snack containers, etc. Tapanga got pink bunny ears, bracelet, silk gloves, pink rubber ducky, etc. We went to church and Tank played in the Sprouts class, Tapanga stayed in the service with us.

Tapanga is 2 months!

Tapanga is such a happy baby!! We love her smiles when we gaze into her eyes! Tank enjoys her as well. She went from 8 lbs 1 oz. and 20" long at 2 weeks old to 11 lbs 4 oz. and 22 3/4" long ( same as Tank at birth) at her 2 month appt. Shehad a great two month well check up.She got her first shots and cried a lot. Mommy and baby did well.

We had a great time playing around with the new camera and taking big brother/little sister photos. They were really sweet to each other and I had a blast just blinking my eyes and being blessed with these two angles.

Tapanga went to church with us for the first time. She stayed in the service and only squaked once! We really enjoyed dressing her up and showing her off. She received lots of oohs and auhhs!! Tank was a very proud brother as well. He would peak into the stroller just to make sure she was ok! She loved the music and listening to Pastor Chip "live" this time!

We had a great trip to Cartersville to meet Poppa B and see Maria, Bumble Bee, Emilee, Nathan, Jackson, Betsy, Ga-Ga and Paw-Paw. It was a fun filled day. Tapanga lied in the cradle that is a special piece Bumble Bee owns. There is a picture of each Great Grandchild in it! We had a great lunch together and visited. In the afternoon we headed over to Ga-Gas and Paw-Paws for some more playing. Tank was wore out! He loved riding the tractor! Thanks Paw-Paw!

Tapanga continues to nap and eat whenever during the day. The weather has been great and we are getting out to the park some. Chip is very kind in watching her while I go for a run during Tank's naps. We have also had playdates with our neighbors and Conor. She has been sleeping all the way through the night once or twice a week now. I am thankful for a healthy growing girl that is a good eater and sleeper!

Tapanga's 7-8 weeks old

Seven and eight weeks old were exciting weeks! Tapanga had her first time on her changing table!! We also switched her into her own crib in her own room!!! She did great with the transition.

We continued to stay healthy for our visitors. Maria stopped by a few times and she was always sleeping. We were glad to get this picture of her and Tapanga! Scooter and Elisa came over and brought us their leftovers from their wedding tasting (mmm) but more so to meet Tapanga as well!! They are both naturals! Tyler, Lucy, and Theo also came over to visit! Tank and Theo had a great time together and we enjoyed seeing them!

Tapanga and I were invited by the Walker family to lunch at the American Girl store!!! It was our first time going there. I had a blast dressing Tapanga up in the blue cordoury dress from Aunt Debbie. She was so good the whole time.

Tank continues to love on her. He puts his arm around her and lies next to her! So cute!! They both dressed up for St. Patrick's Day! Tapanga even came with me to the nail salon for her first time. Only I got my nails done ;)!

GranPa sent her a letter in the mail! Her first addressed letter (other than SS card!) It was very generous to receive a gift to open her bank account and start saving!!

Mommy, Daddy, and big brother are just so in love!!! We soak up every minute as she starts to change and grow so fast!

Tapanga 5-6 weeks old

Tapanga is 6 weeks old!! Tank continues to adjust being a big brother. He really enjoys showing her off. Aunt Kristin and Uncle Patrick came to visit and meet her for the first time. They were so sweet in giving her a pink hippo, an African animal because the meaning of her name both African and Native American meaning: Where the Mountain meets the sea, or a place above. There is also a Topanga Canyon in California. Pastor Chip gave us a map of this location after she was born. Anyway, the hippo is a hit!

She had her first bath and really enjoyed it. Her umbilical cord stayed put of a while until the ped put some type of expensive solution on it to break it loose. It worked!! I only learned it was expensive because the insurance coverage came in the mail! LOL

I took her to the Ida Lee craft show when she was 6 weeks old. It was her first real outing, being healthy and out of the house. I got lots of oohs and ahhs!

She loves Tank so much as to watch what he is doing. She also loves to snuggle with Daddy or whomever is holding her. Tapanga continues to wake just once a night to nurse. I let her nurse and nap whenever during the day. She is a wonderful baby!!

19 months

Our big boy is growing way too fast!!

He calls from his crib: mama, dada over and over before throwing things out of the crib! Usually he'll hand us each object before lifting him up and out.

His current words are: bite, duck and duck sound, up, down, downstairs, diaper, negs (eggs), nats(banana) norge (orange), juice, babies, baby, dog, car, church, milk (might have been on previous month's post), park, rock (in the rocking chair), taco, back (as in "be right back"), sit,pants, giraffe, nig (pig), cow, meat. He pretty much is at the point where he tries to repeat the word we are saying.
We are having way too much fun!! As you can see in the picture slide show, he is a hoot!!!! He cracks me up from the way he is eating cheerios off the table to falling asleep during his lunch! He loves the park too. Tank came with Tapanga's first shopping stop at Target. Funny because this was also Tank's first outing location. I have been practicing getting them to and from places and plan ahead accordingly! Sometimes it is quite the challenge but we do it and get home safely!!!
Tank has been practicing with his baby too!! He'll mimic me in what I do with Tapanga! I love it! He hands his baby over and sets her down so gently and with scooping hands/arms!! It's amazing!
Nineteen months he can do the shape ball himself!! We continue to work on potty training. It comes and goes in waves.
Tank is a great helper. He puts things in the trash, dishes in the sink, and even helps me unload the dishwasher!! I know I'll be reminding him of this in the future when he bucks the system!! LOL We have a lot of fun!


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Welcome Tapanga!