There is nothing more peaceful and beautiful than watching a baby sleep.

In my attempt to get back in shape (which let me tell you, having baby #4 right when you are coming up on 30...yeah, that is when it starts getting tricky to get the baby weight off!), Con, Carys and I have been enjoying some walks around lake murray. We then stop and feed the ducks. But this is no relaxed "tear up the bread and throw it to the ducks while watching them waddle cutely and eat the bread happily" kind of experience. These ducks are HUGE, Loud and Aggressive. I have found that the trick is to keep Conner in the stroller for 2 reasons: #1 - the ducks can't reach him as well and are not able to rip the bread right out of his hands if he is up that high. #2 - if these little devils get too close and too crazy I can just run them over a bit with the stroller and they back up....at least for a few moments. 

A year or so ago Makenna and Pa went on a hike up Cowels Mtn. and she very proudly made it all the way to the top her very first time trying it. Well, since then Kellen has been wondering when he would get to give it a try himself. I kept thinking he should at least be 4 before thinking he would possibly be able to do the whole thing. Well, one Friday when Todd had off before Christmas, he and Kellen went on a little Father/Son outing to hike Cowels. I thought he would get far, but had no expectations of him making it the whole way. It's a long hike and he is still so young. But sure enough, Kellen and Daddy gave me a call....from the top of the mountain! He did it! Daddy let him set the pace and he led them all the way to the top. Very, Very proud of our boy and what a tough kid and hard worker he is. He was very pleased with himself....as he should be.

A very sweet, special moment for these two!

Little Miss Carys really started being interested in watching her toys and laying under her kick gym right around 2 months old. She is such a content, easy going baby. And she would happily lie there, just starting as her toys slowly spun. Such a cute little one....but she is getting bigger!

This is what happens when you are #3

That is right folks! Diaper free is the way to be! A mommy couldn't ask for a better Christmas gift! I have felt for awhile that Conner was ready to potty train. But the couple of times I tried it before it was just some half hearted attempt, letting him set the pace, using pull ups against my better judgement. (Thats why a woman in her 3rd trimester has no business potty training). But when Christmas break started and I had a good excuse to stay home a lot and really give it my all then we went for it. We ran out of pull ups and I told Conner that they were gone. We were done. It was either pee on the potty or get used to wet undies and pants. Day 1,2 and 3 were a bit rough. But then day 4 he woke up and I tell ya, something just clicked. No accidents at all. And the next days continued just like that. Sure, there are the occasional accidents here and there. But by now he is so good that he is not even wearing his pull ups to bed or anything. He is doing great. Is it pathetic when having only 1 in diapers feels like a relief? :)

You can always count on Kellen to see the Christmas side of everything. Here he is being Santa and using Carys' tub as his slay while he pretends to fly around the world delivering presents to good little boys and girls. Don't worry...we were all on the good list this year!

Con....following in big brothers footsteps.

Conner loves his sister. With a passion. But sometimes he forgets to wipe his mouth before kissing. Thus, a chocolate smeared kiss for his little sis. She is a trooper!