First Birthday

Planning a birthday party for a 1 year old is challenging. We tried to do everything keeping Kensi in mind since it's supposed to be all about her. She gets overwhelmed with too many people, so the party was kept small to close family. Since she's such a Mama's girl I wasn't sure how she was going to do, but she proved to be a party girl. Loved all the attention (as long as no one got too close). She even attempted to open her gifts. Lucky for her she's got a great older sister and cousin to help her out. We made all her favorite foods - meatball subs, french fries, and a fruit salad. I have never seen her be so quiet while eating and eat so much food. Success!

She was not having the head band.

Much happier with her favorite.

This girl was all about the cake. She asked all day when it was cake time and as soon as dinner was done she ran around cheering for cake.

Such good buddies.

Again not having the hat. Apparently she doesn't like things on her head.

Grammy with the older girls and hats.

Grandma Deb & Nana in their hats.

Even the Grandpas wore hats. Kids can make anyone do anything.

And finally it was cake time. She dug into the frosting right away.

Mmmmmmmmmm

Frosting all over the face and arms. This was right before she started the actual cake smash, which flew cake crumbs all over the kitchen. Conner loved being on cleanup duty.

My loves.

I had to make one special decoration. Thanks to pinterest, I made a poster of pictures from Kensi's first year and arrange them in the shape of a 1!

3!!!

Sienna,
How did you get to be 3 already? It sounds so old and you act every bit of it. I read a blog where they called it "threeanger." Every time we have to wake you up in the morning as you moan for us to turn the lights off and yell that you don't want to get up, I picture you (and myself) as a teenager. You still have a very sweet and empathetic personality with a bit a sass thrown in. And you are the ultimate charmer. You charm the pants off everyone we meet from the cashier at Target to the pastor at Kensi's baptism. Your charming skills also brings on lots of negotiating. Your Daddy is convinced you will be in sales someday. If you don't like our answer, you will think of another way to get what you want. You are extremely articulate for your age and I love the things that come out of your month. One of  my favorites, "Mommy, I have a GREAT idea!!" and then you either repeat something I just suggested or come up with a new idea and giggle afterwards. My other favorite is whenever you want to cuddle you ask us to, "Nuggle" with you. You are such a cuddler too. I love it.

You also love to sing. It started with "I like to move it, move it" from Madagascar. Then it turned into normal kids songs like ABCs, Ring Around the Rosey, and now you sing about everything and anything. The other day you sang, "Look both ways when you cross the street! Take an adults hand." over and over and over again.

Some of your other favorite things to do:
Dancing and watching your dance recital video, while dancing to all the songs.
Playing dress up
Riding your trike
Reading books - you are especially into your Tinkerbell and Friends books set
Wearing dresses and skirts

Becoming 3 also means big changes. We took the railings off your bed and made it into a princess tent. You were pretty hesitant to take those sides off, convinced that you would fall out of bed. We had to talk it up for a few weeks before you turned 3. It also means you are starting preschool! You are leaving Bita's and going to a full time preschool. You are very very excited to go to school, although a little disappointed that you don't get to take the bus there. You start in a couple weeks and I'm sure that will be a post in and of itself. You are fully potty trained now and only wear pull ups at night and sometime for nap.

new really big girl bed

As much as Daddy as tried to stop this, your teething toothbrush has become one of your favorite loveys. Before you go to sleep every night you line up all of your friends in their certain spots. If anyone is missing we have to go searching to find where Conner relocated them. Daddy and I have both tried to remove toothbrush from your bed but no such luck. You spot that he's (yes toothbrush is a he) missing right away.

You, toothbrush and another favorite book - Green Eggs & Ham

To no surprise you are still on the petite side. We got your official Drs measurements

Weight: 28 lbs - 21%

Height: 35.3 inches - 13%

Happy 3rd Birthday my Sweetie! We love you so much.

Birthday

It was my birthday last week. Another year older. Can't say they are very exciting after 30 but of course we still celebrated. The parties started at my Mom's the weekend before. Kensi was an angel for us and slept through the whole party except when she was eating.

Sienna is always excited for a birthday, especially when party hats are involved.

Ariana was not sure about wearing the hat. She took it off right after this picture.

Even I had to wear a hat for a little bit.

Both girls helped me unwrap my presents.

Grandpa, Nana, and the 3 kiddos. This was the best shot I could get until I learn how to Photoshop 3 photos together.

Ariana thought she should sit in the Bumbo and kept calling it the potty. We got a good laugh out of her in and out of it...and her half falling off that ledge while in the seat.

We had more celebrations. My actual birthday was spent with the 4 of us and the Eids at Water Park of America. Both of my cameras were out of batteries at the park, so you'll have to see Cran's post of the evening. The next evening we had a small celebration with cake (including candles insisted by Sienna) and presents at home where I got my camera lens!! I've been playing with it and look at the beautiful shots it takes!! No photo editing has been done on either of these.

Love it. Can't wait to keep practicing with it. The celebrations concluded with our first date night out since Kensi. We had a great time. Unfortunately Kensi was not as excited and decided to scream at my parents for almost the whole time we were out. Sorry! Luckily for us they were troopers and we didn't hear about it until we returned. Another fun birthday for the books.

She's Here!!

Meet Kensi Michelle Jovle. Born Monday January 21, 2013 at 2:08 pm. Big girl weighing 8 pounds 14 ounces and 20.5 inches with very long fingers and toes and short blonde hair. She's beautiful and perfect. 

It's been a whirlwind of a week. We went in Monday morning early for an induction. Sienna was sent to Bita's for the day, so my parents could come be at Abbott when Kensi was born. Labor went awesome. I couldn't have asked for anything better. The staff at Abbott was amazing and really made it a great experience. If you want the detailed labor experience I will gladly tell it to you but not going to post it all here. In summary, pushing out an almost 9 lb kid takes a little more effort than a hardly 7 lb one but even so, it went quick. 

Mom and Ron brought Sienna up to the hospital that night. She was very excited to see us and meet her little sister. I thought she might be scared or weirded out by the hospital, but she wasn't at all. Climbed right up on my bed to meet her sister. Because of all the stuff with the flu going on, they had visitor restrictions. Kids from 2-13 were only able to visit once and for 15 minutes. They didn't strictly enforce it, but Sienna was only able to stay for a short period of time. 

We did have time for a quick cheers with champagne or juice. 

That night Justin and I hardly slept. Kensi was up a lot and when she wasn't, there was still a lot of commotion including the helipad nearby. We were eager to get home. The hospital released us 24 hours from Kensi's birth after she had passed all of her tests. 

The 2nd night at home didn't go much better. Kensi was again up for most of it. Justin and I took shifts, but it was still a very long night. The next morning Mom and Ron brought Sienna back home. Even being exhausted it was good to have us all together. Sienna is very sweet with her sister and loves giving her kisses on her head. 

Luckily for all of us Kensi got some milk in her belly that day and slept awesome that night. She is showing signs of being like her big sister who is also a great sleeper and has been from the beginning. I am crossing my fingers it continues! The rest of the week has been good. Kensi is a happy baby so far and so darn cute. Sienna is a proud big sister, but also starting to be jealous and already wants Mommy every time I am feeding Kensi. I'm sure it'll be an interesting weekend. 

Lastly - who do you think she looks like? I can't tell yet, but I am thinking she's more Jovle than Staubus-Rost. She is definitely different from Sienna as a baby! 

Justin's Birthday

Justin turned another year older. His birthday was on Sunday but we did part of our celebrating at dinner Saturday night.

Birthday boy and his little girl before dinner.

Sienna had more interested in cuddling and hugging the baby than taking a picture with me.

Dinner at the Roasted Pear.

Sunday we had a lazy morning and then headed to Minnetonka Apple Orchards. We had a coupon deal for this place and it turned out great. They had tons of fun kid things to do - hay rides, corn maze, face painting, tractor rides, petting zoo, wooden train to climb on, apple doughnuts & cider, lunch, apple picking, etc. I would definitely go back. It was a chilly windy day, so we bundled up. The sun helped warm us up.

Showing her fake smile.

I think the ears give her some extra height. 

Cute face painting.

Posing with the pumpkins.

We came home from the orchard exhausted and all took naps. Finished the day with a chili dinner, pumpkin cupcakes and presents. Happy Birthday Babes!!

2 Years

Sienna,
2 years old!!! How did you get to be so big? Now that you are 2 everything is about being a big girl. Being a big girl means doing things by yourself or at least trying. Of course that also means some big girl tantrums and stubbornness. But even more it means big girl cuteness. You are still so sweet and loving to everyone and you constantly make us laugh or smile.

Coloring is your all time favorite thing to do. You prefer markers, but will take crayons if that's that only thing around. We gave you an easel for you birthday and that's pretty much all you play with now. If you aren't coloring you're usually playing with your kitchen, cooking up some food. You also love anything with Minnie Mouse. You've started to play with your dolls a little more. I overheard you talking to your Baby Stella the other day. You was asking her what was wrong and if you could kiss it. You take your owies a bit to the extreme. If anyone (especially Conner) even brushes up again you, you'll run over and say you got an owie and want ____ to kiss it.

More of your imagination is coming in. Somewhere you picked up that monsters are going to get you. You like to talk about if they are in the room, if we scared them away, or if they are going to get us. Conner has proven to scare them all away so we keep him close by.

Next week you start your dance classes are you are sooooo excited. You love to talk about going to dance class and being a ballerina, even though you don't really want to put on your tights, leotard and ballet shoes. I am hoping we'll get through all that with minimal tears. :)

Your communication skills are definitely your strength. The Dr. even said you are talking at a 2.5 - 3 year old level. It's been great for us because you can tell us your needs and what is wrong. We feel very spoiled to be able to communicate with you so easily this early. My favorite word that you say is "Uey" for Zoey. You also have the cutest expressions. My favorites: "Oh my goodness!" "Conner's Crazy!!" (when he's running laps around the living room) "Oopsie Daisy!" "You love me?"

Your teeth are still coming in very slowly. You still need your bottom eye teeth and all 4 of your 2 year molars. I would guess those won't come in for another 6 months. I am so looking forward to the days of teething being done!

We also got your official measurements. Still staying on the smaller side expect for that head. No wonder those shirts are so hard to get on.

Height: 33 inches (27%)
Weight: 25 lbs 13 oz (38%)
Head: 19.5 inches (92%)

2 Days of Partying for Turning 2

Finally her birthday was here. After [sort of] patiently waiting while many others celebrated their birthday, counting down the days, and talking nonstop about it, Sienna got her day. Her excitement was contagious as she ran around the kitchen yelling, "My Birthday!!" over and over again. Seeing her eyes light up and hearing her exclaim as she spotted every decoration that had been hung for her party was priceless. I wish I could say everything was perfect. But she was turning 2...while battling a cough that has kept her up at night. I didn't think I'd have to bribe her to eat her cupcake, or threaten to let her cousin open her presents, but such is life with a toddler.

Justin & I took the day off Friday to spend with her. I got up early to bake her chocolate chip banana muffins. We kicked the day off with some singing and a candle. She was ever so pleased.

We checked out the Children's Museum next. Of course her favorite part was the room with all the water stations.

She also had a blast spraying different colors on the wall. Yellow was her favorite.

In the evening she had her favorite dinner of Mac N Cheese, opened presents, and sort of ate her cupcake - after again singing and blowing out her candle. Gotta get good use out of it! Her favorite present of the day was a Minnie Mouse camera.

Saturday afternoon was her family party. We filled the house with everything Minnie. Sienna even wore her Minnie Mouse dress for the occasion. Oh the excitement! As all of her favorite people arrived, it continued to grow.

The awwww moment of the night. Sienna giving Ariana a hug. Ariana sort of gave her one back. They'll work on it.

Double owies after Nana & Sienna bumped heads.

She was most excited for her birthday cake. She told Nana at dinner that she wasn't going to eat the turkey and she would have cake instead. (Only on your birthday can you get away with that) Presents couldn't even compete with the birthday cake. Halfway through opening them, she completely lost interest and wanted to play with Ariana.

The cake was consumed, sugar highs were had, and by the end of the night she was exhausted. I think the day(s) lived up to all of her hype. All day Sunday she wanted to play with her new toys and she was still talking about eating more birthday cake. (She tried to not eat her dinner again in lieu of cake but it didn't fly this time) She also wanted to know whose birthday was next. Time to start a count down calendar for Justin?