November

Did November even happen?  I feel like we jumped right from Halloween to Christmastime!  Okay, so looking back at my pictures it clearly did happen.  Here's what our November looked like...

Tessly = 4 Months
Tess turned 4 months old in November.  It is so fun watching her grow and develop.  At 4 months she is 14 lb 10 oz (50%), 25 in (90%), and head at 17 in (96%).
Tessly rolled over for the first time this month.

She loves looking all around at lights, pictures, trees, and colors.

She started eating a little bit of Rice Cereal and seemed to really like it.

She loves to splash around in the bath.

She has really found her voice and babbles loudly all the time.

She has to be holding something to fall asleep.  When she is swaddled she finds a way to grab onto the blanket.

She is quite possibly the happiest baby around.  We can take her just about anywhere cause she is just content and easy going.

Tessly has been sick (and possibly teething) for a lot of this month and she has kind of become a Mama's girl. She wants to be held by me, looks for me, and watches if I walk away.  I don't mind...

San Francisco
Since Tessly was born, we hadn't been able to get into the city.  We decided that it was high time to get back there. This time we decided to walk on The Golden Gate Bridge.  It was a really cool experience to be standing on this crazy ginormous bridge over vast amounts of water.  And it was the perfect day.  Then we headed into Sausalito for lunch and walked around the piers to check out the houseboats.  So cool.

Quincy
Our Preschool adventures continue.  Although she doesn't enjoy it much, Quincy is showing a lot of progress in learning how to read...

She is more of a "hands on" activities kind of girl.  She loves that part of preschool.

This is her right before we went to have her pictures taken.  She loves wearing skirts and dresses...all the time.  Pretty sure there isn't a day in the week that she doesn't have a skirt on.

 She loves having a baby sister.  She gets super excited when Tessly does something and she always wants to be near her.

Quincy continues to be very headstrong and isn't about to do anything she doesn't want to do.  She is so fun, and always tries to make people laugh.  She loves watching TV and movies and dancing to her favorite songs which include Taylor Swift's Shake It Off, All About That Bass, and Enrique's Bailando.  Quincy has been playing soccer recently but has decided that she would rather dance instead.  She loves to have playdates and eagerly seeks out new friends to play with.


Adalyn
Adalyn loves 1st Grade and is becoming very independent.  She loves being with her best friend Sofia, and constantly asks for playdates with her.

She was so excited to be at Sofia's birthday party this month. 

Addie loves to put on make up and do hair.  Sometimes its a little much, but we go with it.

She is so creative, and often comes up with new activities for our family.  Here she decided that we needed to have a Christmas Party.  She decorated the kitchen, set out snacks, and prepared activities like dancing to Christmas music, making snowflakes, and coloring Christmas trees.

Adalyn loves to read, color, draw, and create just about anything she can.  She will often disappear for awhile and then come to show me a new thing that she has created.  She is doing very well in school and loves to play on the monkey bars at recess.  To the point of blisters all over her hands!  She loves to sing and wants to take voice lessons soon.  She is a great big sister and the best helper.  I can often rely on her to help Quincy with something or help with Tessly.


Thanksgiving
For Thanksgiving this year we were invited to join some friends for dinner.  The girls wanted to make some candy turkeys to pass out to all of the kids...

Got a quick family shot before heading out for dinner.  I am very grateful for this bunch.  And extremely grateful for my Heavenly Father's guiding hand in my life.  Without it, I would not have all of my greatest blessings.  

Thanksgiving dinner was so fun.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures, but we really enjoyed the company of many great friends.  It was a great way to end our November.

October

If I could put our October into an equation it would look like this: Craziness + Chaos + Fun= A Super Eventful Month!  Here's what we did...

Dates

Since Tessly was born there has been little to none 1 on 1 time with the other girls.  I decided it was high time that some Mommy/Daughter dates took place.  Addie was first.  She LOVES rides and hasn't been able to go on any of the bigger rides at California's Great America, so that was our date.  I had so much fun with my little thrill seeker!  She is such a sweet kid!

Next up was Quincy who is a big movie lover.  So our date was trip to the theatre to see The Box Trolls.  She loved seeing this movie and I really enjoyed having some alone time with this sweet and sassy kid. 

Devin and I were even able to sneak in a quick date.  Though it was more of a threesome with our sweet little babe in tow.

Tessly at 3 Months

Tessly tried out the pool for the first time this month.  She loved being in the water and just kicked her little legs around. 

In the mornings, Tessly wakes up and lets out one loud, quick wail.  When I come in to get her this is what I find...

She has learned to grab hands, toys, and faces this month.  It is so fun to see her reach these little milestones.

The medicine that Tessly takes for her acid reflux causes her to become constipated.  So rather than having small daily poopy diapers, she has major blowouts every few days...

Hangin' out in the Bumbo...

Besties holding their baby sisters...

 Baby girl definitely gets lots of love from her sisters...

Tummy Time

We call this the "sweet spot" because it is the sweetest feeling when she lays her head against your chest like this. 

Preschool

Although it can be difficult at times, I have really enjoyed doing preschool with Quincy.  She is already showing progress and I feel lucky that I get to be the one to witness that.  

Utah

As we have watched our sweet baby growing this month, we became sad that so many of our family and friends still hadn't met her.  Devin, being as thoughtful as he is, decided that I should take a quick trip with Tess to Utah.  Her first trip via airplane, and she was a rockstar.  As we got on the plane she was 'talking' and people were getting out of their seats to see her.  Then as we started to take off, she went right to sleep.  It was perfect. 

I had asked one of my best friends from Sandy to pick me up at the airport.  As I sat waiting in the pick up zone, little did I know that all 3 of my besties were running through the airport looking for me.  Screams (and rawrs) erupted as we finally reunited, scaring the crap out of Tessly.  We spent all of the next day together, clear into the wee hours of the morning.  These ladies are the most wonderful friends, and I relish the time that I can spend with them.    

I was also able to visit Jess, my best friend from college, who was so sweet to schedule a hair appointment for me.  I needed a drastic change, and she is the only one I would ever trust with that.   

14 inches later and I feel totally liberated.  

Then I had a day with my family.  My sisters and their families came to meet Tessly in the morning.  I also got to meet my niece, Scarlett, for the first time who was born 2 months before Tessly.  It was such a great morning hanging out with them again. 

Later that night my grandparents came over for dinner.  I was so happy that I had a chance to visit with them during this trip and that they were able to meet Tessly. 

Grandma Johnson

Aunt Cathy

Grandma and Grandpa Wayment

Then I had a day with the Payne family.  I am so lucky that I have in laws that I love as much as my own family.  

Grandpa Payne meeting Tessly for the first time

Meeting the Lingwalls

We were so fortunate to have Ryan, Sara, and kids in town at the exact same time.  Although the reason for their visit was sad, I was glad for the chance to see them.  

And before we knew it Tess and I were headed back home.  I couldn't have asked for a better trip and we are so grateful for all our friends and family did to make it possible.  

Halloween Fun

Decorating Halloween cookies...

 Over one weekend we went with our good friends, the Villamizar's, to a pumpkin patch.  It was such a fun day and all 6 girls were so great! 

Sofia and Addie

Victoria and Quincy

The girls before going into the haunted house.  They were all so excited and determined to go...

And after... 3 out 4 girls terrified and crying! 

My beauties...

Pony rides...

Face painting...

And pumpkins...

Also, sometimes I have to feed Tessly standing up.  It is quite the feat, and my arms are like jello by the time she's done, but mothers do almost anything for their children!

While Tess and I were in Utah, Devin took the girls and 2 of their friends to another pumpkin patch and then to the Ward Halloween Party.  He is such a great dad!

Grandpa Wayment came for a visit the day before Halloween so we all painted pumpkins together.  It was a fun night.  

Halloween Parade at Addie's school.  Quincy absolutely wanted to be a part of it and I love that Addie is so willing to include her.  

Our Frozen Trio.  Elsa, Olaf, and Anna.  (Special thanks to my mom for helping me make the Olaf costume!)

Trick or Treating was so much fun.  The girls loved it (except when there was a scary house which Quincy refused to go to!) and Tessly was her sweet, calm self the whole time.  

 It's even more fun when we go with friends!

What a month!  We are so blessed to have had so much fun and so many wonderful opportunities!