Monday, February 14, 2011

20 Months & 20 weeks!

My sweet boy is 20 months old and I am just about 20 weeks pregnant! Amazing how quickly time passes by!

I'll start with the new baby :). This pregnancy is going well! I'm feeling this little one move a lot now and I'm constantly surprised by his/her little kicks. They make me smile and honestly remind me I'm pregnant when the busyness of the day can make me forget. We're having our ultrasound a bit later, so it's still two weeks away. I'm anxious to see this little one and longing to hear that he/she looks healthy. I'm still hanging on to my regular clothes, but I'm sure I'll have to break out the maternity bin before too long. My favorite pair of jeans are in there final days :). I'm excited we're half way to meeting this little one!!

McLleyton, here's what you're up to at 20 months...
*A full participant in our family! You are apart of everything and if we leave you out you're sure to find a way in! You are apart of dinner conservations, prayers, homework time, movie nights, baking, coloring, you do it all!!
*Talking in short sentences! You are putting multiple words together. Asking questions. Answering questions. You'll now repeat any word we ask you to say and you do a great job!
*You can say your name! I thought you might be 3 before you learned that tricky one, but you're doing a great job! I'm already working on spelling it with you... hoping you can have it down by kindergarten (sorry about that one :)).
*You love your sleep! Sleeping from 7pm-8am or later! You take one nap usually from 12:30-2:30 or 3. I often have to wake you up so we can pick up the girls from school. I always feel so bad, but you wake up happy!
*Your daddy loves your hair long! No buzz cuts for your buddy!
*Elmo is your favorite movie
*You love reading books
*You love to be on the go. Staying home all day is not your ideal day!
*You will sweetly tell me that you love me. It makes my day!


* You smile ALL the time ... and with those dimples it makes me melt!
* You have no problems with me leaving. Either at church, the gym or with a sitter you are happy and will simply say goodbye. Today when I told you I had to run to the store you said "Get milk mom" :).

*You and your cousin Jacob are really starting to become buds! You love it when he comes over or we go to his house! It's fun to see!
* You can open "child safety" tops. (like on the kids tylenol bottle) I have no idea how, but you can!
* You know most of your princesses by name. (Ariel, Belle, Snow white, Jasmine) What 20 month old boy doesn't? :)
* Instead of "barbies" you say "barbra's"- your sisters think it's so funny!
* You love bath time and call it "bubble time"

* You love sports! Football is still your favorite, but you know quite a bit about a lot of sports. When we watch sportcenter (which you'll request) you'll tell me the name of each sport as they show highlights. "Golf, tennis, hockey, basketball, soccer, football"... I don't think you know baseball, but that one isn't so important :).

* You love your daddy! You get so excited and give him the best hugs when he comes home.
*You've graduated from your highchair to sitting at the kitchen table.
* You still have a special bond with Monreau. You adore her!


* You climb. Yes, I mention this each time I update on you, but it seems to be your constant activity. You have mastered so many feats I never thought were possible. But, we've had to take drastic measures to try and keep you safe and have now tied all the chairs to the table. Lets just say you were not so happy with us!

*McLleyton you are a gift. You have such a fun, big personality! I'm excited to continue to watch you grow. Our days would be so dull without you :). You are an amazing little boy.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Birthday Party!


Last weekend we celebrated Shaelyn turing 6 with some of her friends! We had 8 girls. Her sister, her two cousins, two good family friends and three girls from her class. A very sweet group of girls! It was a low key party with lunch, games and fun :).

A few pictures from the day!

Lunch time...
By request a "dog" 6 year old birthday cake (that's the influence of an older cousin who loves dogs :))
Goody bags...

Getting the instructions for the games...
A fun pinata...
McLleyton got in on the fun :)
Shaelyn broke it open!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Cousin Weekend...

Two weekends ago we had most of the 'Jonker' cousins together! It was a weekend of fun... and a lot of sick kids (and then adults)! My sister Jenn and her husband Trey and their 4 kids came in from Texas to celebrate some birthdays! My sister turned 36 and my niece Meagan turned 5! It was a weekend my kids had been looking forward to for a long time, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. The day they arrived my sister Jill's kids came down with the flu. Then the next day Jenn's kids woke up up with a different type of flu virus. We were surrounded. But, we couldn't totally miss out on being together... so we said a prayer, washed hands and hung out. As the illness spread I knew we were doomed. Our family stood strong, but finally fell. Poor Monreau was the victim. She caught the Loftin version of the flu and battled it for a week. Her little body was pretty exhausted. It wasn't an illness that totally took her out, but it's definitely worn her down (aka...very whining and needy!). Not such a fun week!

But, here's a few pictures of the fun we did have ... it sure is fun to have such great cousins. (You may notice a few sickly looking kidos!)

A fun morning at a local gymnastic place... then playing in the snow.... dinners together... fun times! It was great to celebrate with you Jenn and Meagan!










Friday, February 4, 2011

WARNING TO ALL PARENTS!

WARNING TO ALL PARENTS: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR 19 MONTH OLD ALONE WHILE YOU
GO TO THE BATHROOM!!***

THEY MAY THINK THROUGH A 5 STEP PROCESS AND HELP THEMSELVES TO A
DRINKABLE YOGURT!

STEP 1: FIND A CHAIR
STEP 2: PUSH IT OVER TO THE REFRIGERATOR
STEP 3: OPEN THE DOOR VERY HEAVY REFRIGERATOR DOOR
STEP 4: CLIMB UP INTO THE REFRIGERATOR
STEP 5: HELP YOURSELF TO A DELICIOUS DRINK

MCLLEYTON HAS ACCOMPLISHED YET ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE FEAT! (MAYBE WE
SHOULD BE PROUD?? ... FEELS SLIGHTLY MORE DISCOURAGING!)

***(if his name is McLleyton Matthew Shatto)





Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Birthday Blizzard! Shaelyn's 6!

"Blizzard 2011" hit and it was a fun way to spend Shaelyn's 6th birthday! She was a little disappointed that she didn't get to celebrate it at school, but I think she had a pretty great day! There's something fun and unique about being snowed in with 18inches of fresh snow!

We knew last night that she wouldn't have school, so we let them stayed up late (8:30 :))! Woke up to a few little presents, balloons and a big birthday breakfast! It was a fun day of staying in our Pj's, doing crafts, playing with cousins and just celebrating Shaelyn!

Tonight, we had a family birthday dinner and on Saturday she's having a few friends over for a little party!

It is amazing to me that she's 6. This morning she was showing McLleyton six on her fingers and just watching her have to use both hands to now show her age made her seem so grown up! It really does seem like I was just teaching her how to do 1 on her fingers! It's days like today that make me want to focus more on each moment, because although these days can seem long the years are passing all too quickly!!
Morning movie time with the neighbors :)
Monreau is still getting over a little virus, so we didn't play outside today, but we had to check it out!
Our mailbox!

View out the front door! Beautiful!!!
Grandpa braved being the only guy :). My dad and Matt are at the National Prayer Breakfast in DC. The Uncles were all snow plowing!
A ticket to see Charlottes Web the play with Grandma! So much fun!
Aunt Emy
Gift time...
Aunt Kelly
Nanny

Dear Shaelyn,
Happy 6th Birthday my beautiful girl. You are every bit a six year old! In so many ways you are wise beyond your years. Your heart for other people and thoughtfulness amazes me. You are insightful and wise. You are kind and so sweet.
You are reading... reading real books! Yes, you remind me they are "Early Readers" :), but you're a great reader. You are a hard worker, always wanting to do your very best at each task. You are committed and diligent.
You are my constant helper. Your willingness to step up and do so many little things for me all through the day with the sweetest spirit is such a gift. Being the oldest a lot is expected, but you handle it so well and we couldn't ask for a better leader in our family. You are honest. You are loyal. You are trustworthy. You are gracious.
You love your sister and brother with all your heart, it's one of my very favorite things about you! At times I must remind you that you're not their mom ... but some day Shae you'll make the most amazing mom around!!
You, my sweet girl, are SO loved. I will never forget that first moment that I held you. You fulfilled my greatest dream, being a mom, and you have filled each day since with so much joy! Loving you is easy! I love how you wake me up each morning, with the most loving touch and sweet words. I love how you'll never leave the house with out kissing me goodbye. I love your laugh. I love hearing you imagine and play. I love the way your blonde hair always holds on to a touch of green :). I love listening to you encourage your brother and sister. Shaelyn you are easy to love!
The other day at lunch you asked me why God would put us on earth instead of just letting us start life right in heaven. I told you it was a good question. You said that you had been thinking about it a lot and you thought you knew why. You said, "If God had let us start off right in heaven and we never lived on earth, than we probably wouldn't understand or appreciate how amazing heaven is." You said "I think it's a good thing we're here first, because someday I'm going to think heaven is amazing." Shae... you're so right. Heaven will be amazing some day. And like knowing earth before heaven, my love is just a little bit compared to the way Jesus loves you! He is your Father and He adores you, keep seeking His love!

Happy 6th Birthday my beautiful girl!
Love,
Mommy