The Beeston Family

My sweet baby girl is getting chunky! I love it! I never thought any of my babies would have a double chin and fat rolls on their thighs! It is so stinkin' cute!
Kendall is growing up so fast. I feel like she's getting bigger and stronger every day, and she probably is. She hold her head up really well when I am burping her or when she is in her Bumbo. I have given her some tummy-time every day, and she does okay for a minute or so, then she hates it.
She grunts a bunch when she's not pleased, like when Billy kisses her cheeks non-stop. I don't think she likes that very much. Nor does she like it when he wakes up her by roughly petting her head because she has fallen asleep nursing. Billy never would have done that with Logan and Taylor. I guess it is true that parents are more easy-going with second kids (or thirds in our case).
She loves taking baths, hanging out in her swing, and being held. She doesn't like tummy-time and only enjoys staying in her Bumbo for a few minutes at a time.
She is doing much better sleeping at night. In fact, I often have to wake her at night so that she eats every 3 hours. After her 2 months check-up I might let her sleep as long as she wants. During the day she eats evevery 2-1/2 hours. I guess that explains the rolls...
The girl can sleep through pretty much anything, including her brothers' tantrums and loud play. I consider that to be a huge blessing. At least I don't have to tip-toe or try to keep Logan and Taylor quiet so that she can nap.
She has been observing us a lot more lately. And I think her eyes might stay bluish-grey. Her lashes and eyebrows are blonde. And her hair is redish-brown. Hey, maybe this one might actually look a little like her mommy.
She is such an easy baby. She's happy in her swing, bassinet, or being held. She is very easily satisfied and never fusses very long. I hope she stays that way.

HOLY COW! The terrible two's are definitely here! Logan and Taylor are sweet sweet boys, but they sure know how to fight and push my buttons. They're getting to that point where they don't absolutely need a nap. On Sundays, especially, they often skip their nap and make it through the day without sleeping at all. On those days when they do nap, though, they can sleep up to 3 hours, but usually they sleep for 2. We definitely have tough days, but we also have great days, filled with lots of playing, loving, cuddling, and kissing.  I sure love these sweet little monkeys =)

With Taty Marie

It started with a relaxing back massage and ended with some stumping on the head. Happy Father's Day!

This month, I've realized that Logan isn't just repeating words, he is actually using them in the proper context. He says Thank you (Chay-chu), Please (Peaz), Keya (Kendall), and I love you (I yo you). He also says "poo" after he has pooped, "honey" to get Billy's attention, "cry" when he hears Kendall crying, "share" when he and Taylor want the same thing, and "help" when he wants help with something. He can also say "blue, green, red, orange, white, pink, and purple", although most things are either red or blue to him. And he can count up to 10, although he often forgets 7 (it's a tricky one). He loves to hold Kendall and give her kisses, climb onto the changing table, play in the swimming pool, do somersaults, and play with cars. He also loves to sing "The ABC song" and "Twinkle twinkle little star." And he loves to dance to just about anything.

With Tonton Fred

Lasagna night!

This month, Taylor's communication has improved a bunch. He doesn't get as frustrated as he used to because he can't communicate his wants and needs. It still occasionally happens though... He says Please and Sorry, but only when he feels like it. And if he doesn't, he doesn't get what he wants. And if he doesn't get what he wants, he throws a tantrum. And if he throws a tantrum, I put him in time-out. And if I put him in time-out, he either continues his tantrum but stays put until he calms himself down, or he starts laughing and plays games with me by leaving his time-out spot continually. He sometimes says "poo" after he has pooped, "night-night" at bedtime, and "I love you" when we say it to him at bedtime. He loves to do pull-ups and somersaults, kick and throw toys, rough-house with Billy and Logan, turn himself around until he gets dizzy, jump up and down, climb onto the changing table, and play in the swimming pool. He also loves to make us laugh, so sometimes he speaks in a Donald Duck voice. And I love that he has these very serious conversations with us where he speaks non-stop and makes direct eye contact with us, as if we understood everything he was saying. In his mind, he is totally speaking correctly and we are understanding everything. I wish we were... He loves music and does the gestures to "The Itsy bitsy spider", "Once there was a snowman", "If you're happy and you know it", "The popcorn song", and "Head, shoulder, knees, and toes".

Having a garage, which will especially be nice once winter gets here.

Having a yard and a deck, which we have put to good use with our numerous pool days and outdoor dinners.

Having a stand-up shower.

Having a soak-in tub - very relaxing.

My "woman-cave." It's a small room right off our master bedroom. Some people use it for a nursery or storage, but I convinced Billy to have it all to myself. It's a work-in-progress, but I plan to use it to saw and create crafts.

Having this huge walk-in closet.



And let's not forget the washer and dryer. It has been AMAZING!

There is NO WAY we're going back to living in an apartment after this. Logan and Taylor love having the extra room for running and playing. And they've both adjusted really well to this change. I guess that when change is good, adjusting becomes easy.

I always knew Billy would be an awesome dad. And that is one of the many reasons I chose to spend my life and eternity with him.
He has so many of the qualities that I lack in being a great parent. I'd like to think that if we put his qualities and mine together, we'd be the best parent ever.
Billy works so hard, all day, every day. And yet, when he comes home from work, he still finds the energy to play with our children so that I can take a break.



Happy Father's Day!

Logan and Taylor have both been giving "high fives" for a while now. But today I saw them giving EACH OTHER high fives for the first time. Even though I was in a really bad mood for locking us all out of the house, it made me smile and reminded me of how awesome it is for them to have a BFF. I wish I had had my camera on hand... but it was inside... and we were outside... locked out! Can you tell I'm still kind of mad about it?

Approximatey 4 years ago, Billy and I arrived in Des Moines. It was 1:30 a.m., we had been driving all through the day, we were exhausted, we were stuck with our huge moving truck, and we had no place to stay. So we located the school and tried to find a hotel nearby. No luck. Next we went into a grocery store and asked where the closest hotel was. Yay. They told us where we could stay for a decent price. BUT everybody in there was staring - not at us - at me. I was the only white person in the store. I've always lived in areas that were very diverse. But I've never been "the exception." That's when I had a meltdown. I missed Maryland. I missed Utah. I missed my family. And I missed my friends. I hoped then that we would only stay in Des Moines for 2 years and get out to a better place. At that time, I never would have thought that Des Moines would become our home. I never would have thought that the people I would become friends with would become lifelong friends. And I never would have thought that I would be sad to leave Des Moines.

There are so many things I'm going to miss about Des Moines.

Woody's Smoke Shack - the best barbecue food I've ever had.



The Jordan Creek Mall - including Wet Seal, Forever 21, the Children's Place, the playground, Cold Stone, the Cheesecake Factory, and the movie theatre.




The numerous Splash Pads, which entertained Logan and Taylor every day of the week last summer.

But most of all, I'm going to miss our wonderful friends. Living in Des Moines might not have been such an amazing experience without their friendship. I'm going to miss our double dates, girls' night, and playgroups. I'm sure Columbus has great people, but no one will ever replace the friends I've made in Des Moines. I hope we will stay in touch and get together every chance we get to.

We have had so many unforgettable experiences out here. My graduation. The birth of our 2 boys, Logan and Taylor. Then the birth of our girl, Kendall. And Billy's graduation. It all happened out here, in Des Moines. We will never forget those moments.

So... Des Moines, you have been good to us. We will miss you very much. So long! Peace out! See ya lata!