4 & 23 months

~ Happy Daddy's Day! ~

TRISTAN

Age: 4 Months

Weight: 18 lbs

Height: 

Size Clothes: 9-12 months

New Trick(s): Giggling, sticking his feet in his mouth, cooing, idolizing big brother.

Hours Sleeping at Night: 8-10

This chunk is absolutely precious. At 18lbs, he is almost as big as his 28lb brother (literally... Eli wears 24 month clothes and can fit into his 18 month shirts. Tristan is just 2 sizes below him and he's almost 2 years younger), but it's a good thing for Eli that he is so calm. Big brother is going to have to watch his back because Tristan will be bigger than him in no time. He is the sweetest, cuddliest, calmest little boy and he just makes our lives so much fuller. 

Daddy got lots of love from his boys this weekend because it was Father's Day! Eli and Tristan are the luckiest little boys alive when it comes to having this guy as a daddy. Josh is so loving and attentive to both of them and the relationship he has with them is just amazing. I couldn't be more proud to call him my husband and the father of our children.

For this Father's Day, we went out to Josh's dad's farm and had a wonderful time with his family! We made lots of fishing memories and got to see some pretty awesome people. 

This little doll-baby, Carly, and her grandma, Tammy

Carly's big brother, Blake

4 month old Tristan next to 7 month old Carly... he's a beast I tell you. 

A BEAST

Grandpa Marty with his killer bass *story behind this photo available upon request*

Jill and Moby Dick

Uncle Timmy even got in on a little bit of the baby action, even though he thinks babies are the worst and all bodily fluids make him gag. lol

ELIJAH

Age: 23 months

Height: 33.5"

Weight: 28lbs

I love to: Sing songs, say my ABC's all the way through, count to 10

My favorite word(s): "No," "Thank You," "Welcome," All the words to the Veggie Tales theme song, Jesus Loves Me, Patty Cake, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. 

My favorite food is: ALL MEAT. He's a carnivore. 

My favorite toy is: Tristan.

My favorite movie is: Jimmy Newtron

Eli has turned into the best big brother. He absolutely loves Tristan and Tristan idolizes Eli. They are so good together! I will lay Tristan down in his bed and Eli will want to climb in bed with him and read books to him, or when we sit on the couch, he asks to hold him. It is so precious! I cannot wait to see how much the bond between them will grow over the years. 

Eli's vocabulary has skyrocketed just in the past month! He can say his ABC's from beginning to end, count to 10 in the right order, and he knows all of the words to his favorite songs! It's amazing how much he has developed lately! He is responding to questions with legitimate answers (e.g. "Eli, it's bed time..." "No. No thanks.") and following direction very well...for the most part. Terrible twos are a real thing people, let me tell ya. This super-sweet, caring, adventurous, talkative, loving little boy can be an absolute monstrosity when he so chooses. It's a good thing he's cute. ;-)

3 & 22 months

Tristan

Age: 3 Months

Weight: 16 lbs

Height: 

New Trick(s): Reaching out and grabbing things; cooing; BIG smiles

Hours Sleeping at Night: 6-8

This chunk is absolutely precious. He will give even the most devout "parenthood is not for me" people baby-fever. He is sweet, cuddly, giggly, and just amazing. Our photo shoot this month is all naked-baby pictures because, what's not to love about a squishy little hunk of love? 

He loves his playmat and has started reaching out and grabbing onto the hanging toys. He also lifts his chubby legs up so that he can kick at the toys as well! He coos and squeaks when you talk to him and if you kiss his belly he giggles! Sometimes, when he smiles he looks like he's going to explode with excitement, even if he doesn't actually make any noise. 

On the off-chance that he does get a little fussy, nothing can calm him down quite like big brother. If Eli so much as walks into his line of vision, he calms down and stares at him. Now that Tristan is a little bigger, Eli thinks he can poke and prod him which makes Mommy and Daddy very nervous, but Tristan takes it all in stride and is just mesmerized with every move his big brother makes. 

The faucets of drool have started happening with this kid, as well as pulling everything into his mouth and soaking it in said drool. I mean, lets face it, babies are gross...but so stinkin' cute!!

Elijah

Since Eli's development doesn't change that much from month to month, I won't put all of his height/weight/favorites stuff up every single time, but I will show pictures of his latest antics. I wish I could put video on here because that kid is not one to sit still for ANYTHING, let alone photo ops. He is constantly getting into something or making toys out of things that should never be toys. 

He loves being outside more than anything in the world. He loves exploring around the barn and playing in the dirt and grass. Although he is a boy through and through and often tries to eat worms and bugs he can catch, the kid is afraid of frogs...Yeah. I couldn't believe it and I tried everything in the world to get him to touch it, but he wanted nothing to do with it. lol 

All of brother's baby things are fair game for Eli when it comes to finding new and improved uses for them. 

 Despite the personality differences, I have no doubt these two are going to be the best of friends.

2 & 21 months

There is no light like the light brought about by children.

Tristan

 Age: 2 Months

Weight:13.13 lbs

Height:24 1/4 in

Size Clothes:6 months

New Trick: Smiling and having a perpetual mohawk 

Hours Sleeping at Night: 6-7

Behold the awesomeness that is this child's hair. I mean seriously. I give him a bath and brush it down, but it still dries like this. lol Please take a moment to enjoy some of the best captured moments of his hair...You're welcome.

This little boy is a CHUNK. I'm not used to having a fat baby because Elijah was always long and skinny, but Tristan is just Chubs McGee. He's already almost too big for 3-6 month clothes and he's just barely 2 months old! I thought maybe I might get lucky and have some cross-over in seasons for the boys clothes because the weather was getting warmer and all of Eli's 3-6 mo clothes were for summer and his 6-9 mo clothes are for winter, but it doesn't look like I'm going to get that lucky. So, I guess that means I'll have to buy more baby clothes...what a shame. ;-)

And, of course, since March Madness is upon us and our UK Wildcats are currently 38-0, we have to document Tristan's allegiance to the team.  LET'S GO CATS! 

Elijah

Age: 20 months

Height: 33.5"

Weight: 28lbs

I love to: Play in the dirt, watch the chickens, play with Kota, hold my brother, make animal noises, do puzzles, pack heavy things, run around the house

My favorite word(s): "No tane" (no thanks), "Otay", "Hi Tittan" (Tristan) 

My favorite food is: Green beans, pizza, pasta

My favorite toy is: My tool box and stuffed sheep

My favorite movie is: Nemo, Jungle Book, Despicable Me and Bubble Guppies

Spring is FINALLY here and we are all so very glad to see it! Along with the beautiful weather and budding plants, we decided to add 6 new members to the Ater household. Everyone, meet Hermione, Minerva, Ginny, Bathilda, Tonks, and Molly. Yes...we're Potter Heads. Deal. lol These ladies are Isa Browns and they are extremely docile which is great for Elijah! He absolutely loved hanging out with these broads and had a melt-down when we actually had to take him out of the chicken coop. I see a budding new friendship blossoming. ;-)

Who needs a baby play yard when you have a chicken coop, right?

For an update on some of Eli's new tricks: this kid is a chatter box. He can say pretty much anything and he is picking up on every word that comes out of our mouths (which isn't necessarily a good thing). He can count to six on his own, then he skips seven and just says, "eight, nine, ten! Yay!" Why he skips seven, I have no idea. lol He also knows his colors and can match the colors and shapes on his shapes ball. His matching skills are top notch and he can put matching puzzles together like a champ. We haven't graduated to jigsaw puzzles yet, but we'll get there.

He is also doing some major decision making. I will give him options between which books to read or what he gets to eat for lunch and he will choose what he wants. When we're looking through books he'll repeat words we read and eventually he'll start saying the words before we do when he sees the page. He is so smart and incredibly goofy. He is an endless source of entertainment and I honestly don't know what we did before him.

1 & 20 months *Snowmageddon edition*

Age: 1 Months

Weight: 10 lbs

Height: 21 in

Size Clothes: 0-3 mo

New Trick(s): Following things with my eyes and an occasional grin or two

Hours Sleeping at Night: 3-4

In a stark contrast to his colicky big brother, Tristan is the BEST baby. He's so chill and it is wonderful. Although, he doesn't sleep as well at night as big brother did. Tristan wants to party at about 2am and Mommy and Daddy are not ok with that. But otherwise, he has just been awesome.

This kid has become famous for his hair. I have never seen a baby with crazier hair than this one, but I absolutely love it! He definitely has his daddy's hair, but he's got mommy's eyes, nose and temperament so, I win. ;-)

Tristan takes Elijah's craziness like a champ and doesn't even mind when big brother holds him and rubs his face in Tristan's hair. lol

Winter came with a vengeance this year and Mommy and big brother are going nuts from being snowed in for weeks. We got 20 inches of snow here in one day! But, once the cold let up a little, we were able to have a snow-play day with Elijah!

The snowman Elijah named "Olaf"

These two are best friends

How to survive snow days: Elijah edition

1. Invent new and interesting ways to enjoy your breakfast.

2. Make toys out of EVERYTHING.

3. Catch up on your reading with Dad.