Swimming Lessons

Lola started swimming lessons tonight.  I had been talking to her about it for awhile trying to prepare her for what they may do with her.  Apparently, all of the hype worked because she was out of control today!  Bouncing off the walls wondering if it was time to put on her swimsuit yet - she probably asked me fifteen times!  I told her when daddy got home from work, that is when it would be time to go.  When Brian walked in the door, she yelled "Swimming Lessons!!" 

When we walked in, she immediately got shy, of course, but they were very friendly and very good with her.  There were a couple of lessons / swim team practice going on at the same time, but she was the only one in her class.  Her teacher put a back floaty on her and just spent the time walking with her in the water and letting her kick her feet and blow bubbles in the water.  She put her on the side of the pool and held her as she jumped off into the water.  When she hit the water, the teacher took her under real quick and when she came up, Lola was choking a little and was a little unsure of what just happened, but then she wanted to jump again, so it must not have been that bad.  When the 30 minutes was up, her teacher asked if she was ready to get out and she said "No, more swimming!" 

(These aren't the best.  I just got a new camera, so I'm still trying to figure out the settings).

She must have really started to have fun, because she randomly started to climb on her teacher.  She said "Lola, are you a monkey?" and she said "I'm not a monkey, I'm Lola Preston!" 

Lola's Big Girl Bed

For Christmas, Lola got all kinds of fun things for her new big girl bed, which we put together on New Years weekend.  We had been talking about it for awhile and I was so excited to put it all together!

She's in such a unique position.  On one hand, we tell her that she's such a big girl (potty training, dressing herself, new bed, etc.) but on the other hand, no matter how old she gets, she will always be my baby Lola. 

She knew I was in her room working on her bed, but her and Brian were doing something else in another room.  When I got it done, I called her in and she got a huge smile on her face, started clapping her hands and yelled "Lola's new bed!"  I was so excited that she liked it!  I went to go get the camera and as I came back in, there she sat on her bed, reading her books out loud.  And in one moment, I went from excitement to tears.  What was my baby doing in this big bed?!  What have I done? 

Random Photos

A few pictures of Bode eating his cereal...

Lola and Bode both had their Illinois shirts on for the "double header" on Saturday (both basketball and football!). They were 100% not cooperating to get both of their pics together, but I did get Lola... plus her ponytail, which I just mastered!

More Christmas

At my parents on Christmas Eve night...

 The kiddos with their stockings

Bode with his Christmas Eve gift - a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.  Lola's was a Noah's Ark ornament. 

Santa came!

Bode's Santa gifts

Lola's Santa gifts

Bode got a Kawasaki 4-wheeler from Darren!  

My nieces 

Since we had a very non-White Christmas, the girls had to demonstrate Lola's new sled from inside! 

Merry Christmas!

(a little late with the Christmas pics!)

We had a wonderful Christmas, both with our new family of four as well as both of our families.

In typical Preston fashion, we did our Christmas early (the 21st).  Brian and I are just like little kids and can't wait to open presents!  

Lola's presents had purple ribbons...

Bode's had blue and lime green ribbons (the colors of his room).  Lola loved finding the right ones under the tree and handing them out. 

Lola handing me one of my presents (Brian was VERY generous this year!)

Bode with his gifts

Lola with her presents.... She loved her Disney Princess nightgowns and her jewelry box with the twirly ballerina. 

Brian with his presents

  

Bode's 4 Month Update

Bode had a good check-up on Friday.  He weighs 15 pounds (45th percentile) and is 25 inches long (50th percentile).  Brian is a little nervous because Lola was always really tall and so far Bode is just average, so he's got some growing to do! 

He told us that we can start with cereal, fruits and vegetables.  We gave him the cereal that night and I had the video camera up and running for an America's Funniest Video moment when he made funny faces and tried to figure out the soon.... but it was pretty uneventful.  He seemed like he'd been doing it for weeks! 

And lastly... the giggle is now official (because I heard it)!  :)  We were playing peek-a-boo the other night before the bath and I got it! 

Bode Philip is 4 months old!

Little Bode has become quite the 'talker' this month.  He loves to lay on the floor and yell and squeal and make lots of noise!  He is so close to rolling over from back to tummy.  I thought for sure he would do it by Christmas, but not quite.  He gets all the way over on his side, but just can't quite figure out how to get over his arm (several times, Lola will come up and roll him over!  I don't think she quite gets it why I just don't roll him over if that is what I want him to do!)  :) 

He loves to suck on his hands and tries to see how much of his fist he can get in his mouth.  He also is starting to play with little hand-held toys that he can hang on to and bring up to his mouth.  On Christmas day, noticed him hanging onto his paci and putting it in and out of his mouth! 

We brought up the exersaucer and have started putting him in that.  If he's in a good mood, he'll stay in it for a little while and make the toys make noise. 

I'm not sure if I'm 100% calling this one yet.  My mom was able to get him to giggle by tickling him on Christmas morning.  She tried it while I was standing there, but he didn't do it again.  You can definitely tell that he is ticklish though.  His little tummy will tighten up and he’ll pull his legs up and make a grunting sound with a smile when you tickle him.  Since then, I’ve gotten close to a laugh, but not 100%.  I was playing peek-a-book with him the other night and and he did this gurgly smile thing.  

His doctor's appointment is Friday, so I'll update after I get his stats!   

Bode's 3 Month Pictures

Here are a few of Bode's 3 month pictures.  I remember my friend, On-e telling me that 3 months is just such a blob phase.  They are not quite that cuddly newborn anymore, but they haven't started doing anything real fun yet.  Despite the blob phase, I was very pleased with these too! 

Lola's 2-Year Pictures

Lola turned 2 at the end of October, and we got her pictures taken then, but our photographer was closing on her new house the next day.  I had to be very patient over the last month while waiting to get them back.  Lola was in such a great mood the day we had them done and was so anxious to get them back.  We got them back last week and they didn't disappoint!  :) 

And poor Bode got thrown on the cold ground for a few pictures (he was about 2 months old at the time these were taken). 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Such a fun time of the year, especially with two little sweet kiddos around!  Both of them love all the lights... Bode likes to stare at the Christmas tree and Lola gets super excited and points out anytime she sees lights on houses.  Every time we get home, she runs over the Christmas tree to turn on the lights (it's just a button you press... not actually plugging them in!). 

They both have sat on Santa's lap two times and that was uneventful.  Neither cried, but Lola goes from being super-talkative to silent when she gets up to see him.  And then as soon as we walk away she says "Bye Santa!"  "Bring presents!" 

Picking out our Christmas tree

Decorating the outside of our house

Brian and Lola decorating the tree

This picture was supposed to be showing our 4 stocking... instead I got Justin Bieber!

Lola and our decorated tree

Santa visit