How do you get your kids to sleep?

I just love sleeping kids. There seriously is nothing better than that. However Amelia has been quite the challenge lately to get to nap. She just doesn't want to do it and will only give in to a nap every few days. Well, this was one of those few days. We had just gotten home from taking Brad back to work after lunch and I got Joel settled and down for a nap then I went in and read Amelia stories and got her settled in her room (hoping for the best) and then I went and laid down on the couch to be able to have my own nap. When I woke up, this is what I found on the floor in front of me:

Amelia had snuck into the living room and crawled into her box and fell asleep. Such a funny kid. I didn't even hear her come in.

Joel's nap time. He's a much better sleeper than Amelia has ever been. Let's hope it sticks!

And then later that night, the only way we could get Amelia to sleep was to allow her to sleep in her box again. I guess we're just preparing her for a life of homelessness. Funny!

First day at church and lounging around...

Joel and I made it to church last week for the first time in a month and a half!! It was so nice to be back and Joel looked so handsome. This is a hand-me-down shirt from his cousin Joshie and it looks so stinking cute on him! I love it!!

I reckon this is the kind of tie that my dad needs. Nothin' around the neck. :)

Too cute!

And just loungin' around the house. Amelia LOVES being around Joel. She always wants to hold him and snuggle him. So we do a lot of this.

Amelia insisted that I take of photo of Joel with her baby.

And this is the first ALMOST smile that I've caught on camera. Joel is smiling and "Cooing" so much more these days. It's so fun. My favorite thing was yesterday Amelia was laying on the floor next to Joel singing "Mommy, Daddy married the temple." Over and over and over and Joel was cooing right along with her and smiling at her the whole time. It was too cute!

Aussies arrive!

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of visiting with some good friends of ours from Australia. They came to the states on holiday and had some time to spare so they dropped in to say hello. It was so nice to see them again and catch up/hear the gossip from the ward.

All of us together. Yes, I'm in my pajamas. They surprised us just after I got out of the shower.

Heather admiring little Joel.

Sara did a great job of entertaining Amelia with her iPhone.

Thanks guys! It was so good to see you again!

Look Mommy!

Amelia was so excited about this. I put Joel in her lap and he fell asleep. What a good big sister.

Daddy and his kiddies...

What a great daddy!! Thanks for all you do Brad. We love you so much!

Siblings

This is a common sight around our house in the mornings. Amelia always asks me to lay Joel on the couch next to her, she adores her little brother and always wants to be near him. Granted, when she is around him she screams in his ear or hits him or pokes his eyes, but she sure loves him!! And he seems to be getting quite used to her. He's started smiling and often smiles when she's around. It's so sweet!


She loves to sing to him...

And watch movies together...

And just snuggle!!

Roly Poly Joel-y

Here are some more photos of our little guy. He is rounding out much faster than Amelia ever did so he has lovingly come to be known as "Roly poly Joely." He's a chunker that's for darn sure.

Beautiful round little face...

Double chin...

And strong as can be. He rolls over all the time, not sure if it's just a fluke or if he's consciously doing it, but, well, he's doing it.

Finally an update!!

So here are just a bunch (OK so only 5) of random photos from the last month. I haven't quite been feeling up to taking photos lately so this poor kid doesn't have nearly as much as Amelia does, but he'll have to live with it. Now that things are looking up a bit more the camera is getting pulled out a bit more often so hopefully this blog won't suffer so long.

Joel is an excellent sleeper!! He eats and sleeps and poos simultaneously with both of those!! It's fantastic.

Grandma Blunck playing with her grand kiddies. Thank you SOOOOO much Mom for all your help over the last month! I really truly don't know what we would have done without you. Amelia sure misses you. Today she was telling me how Grandma came to play and then went to the airport and flew on an airplane...she misses you...we all do!!

I make no excuses for the way I look in this photo. It pretty much describes the way I've been feeling lately. But like I said things are looking up and getting better everyday!! And I've got two BEAUTIFUL babies to show for it!! I love these two!!

Joel at about 2 weeks of age.

The way we all slept for the first few weeks. Amelia has the terribly bad habit of sleeping in our bed and Brad (Yes Brad, not me!!) insisted that we just put Joel in our bed too for the first little while. Luckily we have a king size bed, so picture this, me on the side of Joel and Brad on the side of Amelia...yeah it was a tight squeeze and so not fun. I'm happy to say both kids are pretty much out of our bed by now. Family togetherness!!