A day of fun

Showing off our crazy building skillz


Ody showing us all how it's done


Uncle Justin playing "market" with the kids


Ansley taking a ride on the cow


Mommy and Ansley looking at the talking tree


Ansley trying to find something to color on


tickle, tickle


One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish...


Ody and Ansley ringing up the "customers"...


...and that customer would be Kayla


"Here Uncle Justin..."


Wow...these cookies look good!


Rocking in her chair on the front porch


Anything to do with water...sign Ansley up!



While we were in Huntsville for the holidays, we tried to get out and do some things to keep the kids busy. We decided to take the 3 older ones to the children's museum there in town. They had a blast! There was this one particular room that they all just loved. I will definitely have to try and find something like that to take Ansley and Ty to here in town.

Mr. Giggles

Ty is such a happy baby. It's kind of funny because everyone that sees him always tells me what a happy baby he is...even strangers. He is a good baby and really is happy the majority of the time. He LOVES it when we talk to him, or better yet, when we sing to him. I love his smile and his laugh...it's contagious...just watch the video and you'll see what I mean.

**don't forget to mute the music**

Doctor update

Sorry this is long overdue. I meant to post this a lot earlier. Ty went to the doctor in December for his 4 month appointment and did great. I took him without Mike for his shots and I was a little nervous but it went fine. I could not watch because I just couldn't but as soon as the nurse was done...I immediately picked him up and he stopped crying. He weighed in at 15.8 pounds (75th percentile) and was 26 1/2 inches (95th percentile) long! I could not believe how much he had grown. He is doing so good and is rolling over like a champ. He is sitting up by himself only for moments at a time but we are getting there. I just can't believe that he is almost 6 months old. He goes to the doctor next month and we'll see how much he has grown since. Ansley went to the doctor in January for her 18 month appointment (can you believe that?!?) and did well too. I took her on my own and was very very nervous about that. She held my neck while the nurse gave her the shots and recovered pretty well. I did not watch this either...I just couldn't. We snuggled afterwards for a bit and she was all better. She weighed in at 20.2 pounds (5th percentile) and almost 32 1/2 inches (75th percentile) long. I was a bit concerned at first because she was 20 pounds at her last check up but she is way more active than she was then and the doc said it was nothing to worry about. He said she was very healthy and seemed very bright. So all around...we got a good report. Ty goes back at the end of February and Ansley doesn't have to go back until she is 2 and is done with shots until she goes to school (yeah!). Just need to get Ty done with his shots and we will be good.

One of Daddy's favorites

I won't say too much because Mike says it all in the video but this is one of his favorite ones to watch. The one thing I will say is she sure knows how to entertain herself :)

**don't forget to mute the music**

Ms. Smarty Pants

Ansley is such a little sponge these days and it's amazing to watch her grow every single day. The amazing thing is that she doesn't just repeat what we say...she actually understands and knows what we are teaching her. I know that going to her little class has helped a lot but Mike and I try our best to do our share. As an example, I will ask her to bring me a diaper while I am changing Ty and she will run over to where they are (which is across the room) and she will get one and bring it to me. Or just today, we came home from school and she had a snack in her little snack bowl. After she was done, she laid it down on our end table and began to play. I went into the kitchen to start making dinner. She came in the kitchen after a little while and wanted another snack (surprise surprise). She almost made it to her drawer that has her snack cups and bowls but I stopped her. I said to her, "No no, we aren't getting a new bowl out...go get your other snack bowl". She gave me a strange look and I really was not expecting her to do comprehend what I was saying...I was just saying it to say it. Next thing I know...she marches out of the kitchen, into the family room, over to her play area, looks at her snack bowl that she had put on the end table, looks at me, smiles and then runs to pick it up! I could not believe it. I didn't give her any direction, didn't tell her where to go, nothing. She brought it to me and I had to give her another snack for that. Anyway, it's just so crazy to us that she understands us and we love it. Here is a little video that I was able to capture her answering some questions...

**don't forget to mute the music**

Our little dancing queen

**don't forget to mute the music**

Oh the places she goes

Ansley is a big time explorer and loves to climb everywhere and into everything... however, the closet was not one that I would have guessed. That's right...the closet. She had a big time sitting up in the closet shelf and I am just surprised that she even fit up there.

Long long overdue

Merry belated Xmas to everyone and Happy New Year!!!

Watching for her favorite guy to come home


Ansley after a long day at school


Doing what she loves...eating a snack


Ansley looking amazed at all the Xmas lights/decorations


Uncle Justin & Kayla playing with Ty


Ty is all smiles


Uncle Justin being silly as always


Ansley having a night cap after dinner


Grandma loving on Ty and loving it


Aunt Tricia and Ansley blowing kisses to "elf"


Kayla wanting to give Ansley some kisses


Aunt Lyn reading Kayla & Ody a bedtime story


All the cousins before the madness begins (in their matching pjs)


Princess Kayla after opening some dress up clothes


Ansley lovin' on her Uncle Justin


I guess Santa thought Grandma was good this year too


Uncle Jason getting in on the action


Here's my little man just sitting & watching...not making a peep


Tricia opening her beautiful diamond ring...someone was GOOD


Ody being patient and waiting to open up one of his MANY gifts


Kayla and Ansley just waiting to tear open their next gift


Grandpa helping Ansley out with one of hers


Ansley opening up a BIG gift


Playing with one of her favorites...Elmo



I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have posted anything. I feel like time has just flown by. I meant to post something a few weeks ago but I just never seemed to have a chance to sit down and do it. I promise that I will keep up and try not to get behind again. I hope everyone had a wonderful Xmas. We were definitely missing those we weren't able to see...we certainly had you in our thoughts. We spent Xmas in Huntsville and I saw my brothers (and sisters) and my neice and nephew which was nice. It has been a while since I have been able to spend time with them. It was definitely crazy and didn't go exactly as I thought but it was really nice to spend time with family. Jason, Lyn and Ody are doing great. I can't believe how grown up Ody is and he is just so smart. He has so much energy and is becomming a little man. Justin, Tricia and Kayla are doing so good too. Kayla is so smart and sweet...she is just too cute. She has so many curls! I just could not get over it. I wish Ansley had some of those curls...they must come from the Ashbrook side of the family. Tricia looked so good...especially for being 9 months pregnant. I couldn't believe how small she was and was such a trooper. Anyway, it was nice to have the kids together because they don't really get to see eachother. Ansley and Ty are doing awesome. Ansley was sick over Xmas (again...for the second year in a row) which kind of sucked. She had fever for 6 days straight and I was starting to get worried. On the 6th day, her fever finally broke. She really didn't eat anything those 5 days and she didn't need to lose any weight to begin with. She is doing much better now though. She is completely back to normal, eating so much and is just back to her happy self. Ty is growing so much. He is such a good good baby. Everyone that is around him always tells me how good he is which he really is. At Xmas...he didn't cry once and barely made a noise. He was just very easy and good. On Xmas morning, we spent a good while opening presents and he just sat in his bouncy chair and never made a peep. Anyway, here are some pics from before and during Xmas...and I will post some more very soon. I know it is very very belated...but I hope everyone had a wonderful Xmas and Happy New Year!

Yep...it's that time of year

My two little reindeers


Ansley with her new "hat" that daddy made


This face can always brighten my day


No need for toys...she's a cheap date :)


Here is my little man...all smiles


Playing before we head to school


I wonder if Julia would consider moving in with us?


Playing in her box having the best time ever


Getting to be such a big girl


Ty sitting up like a big boy in his chair


Capturing a rare moment when they both will sit still


Ty being alert and cooperating...


Ansley...not so much


Ansley being a sweet sissy


Ty enjoying his saucer...can't believe he can use it already


Ansley teasing Ty with his bottle


...but being so helpful and feeding him


Need those wipes mama?


Trying to get some play time in before nap


So, sorry about the lack of posts lately...it's been a little crazy. Ansley is just becomming a big girl and her daddy and I are hating it. She is talking up a storm and just into everything. Her latest words are belly button (yes...she is still into her belly button), bye (with a very Southern draw...don't know where she got that from), outside, dog, ball, etc. We have been working on Grandma, Grandpa, Nanny and Pappy. Although she is getting to be a big girl...she is still so sweet and very generous with her lovin'. There is nothing better than her walking up to me and planting a big one on me or giving me a big hug for no reason. Mike absolutely loves it when he comes home from work and she runs (literally) to the door to greet him with wide open arms. She is doing great and is just so much fun.

Ty is such a great baby. He is sleeping in his own room now and going from about 7:30pm to 7:30am. He has been doing this for about 2 months but he was needing a diaper change here and there but that has now ceased. Anyway, he is all smiles and laughs and we love it. He has been rolling and reaching for things...so he is doing good as well. We go for our shots on Thursday which I am not looking forward to. I am very interested to see how long he is because he is almost as long as Ansley and that is crazy since Ansley is long herself. He really is such a great baby though and is so stinkin cute.

We are doing good. We are just trying to get ready for Christmas which is almost upon us. I can't believe how fast the year flew by and that I have already had Tyson. This time last year...we were in Orlando with one 5 month old and now we are back in Memphis with a 17 month old AND a almost 4 month old. Mike is doing good and is really just the best daddy. He is so good with both Ansley and Ty and it is amazing to see. He's come a long way from just a few years ago when he asked our friends when their baby's eyes would open :) Things are picking up at work and I am staying busy with my beautiful babies. I can't believe 2010 is almost here. I just hope and pray that the new year brings new great things.

My sweet little man

Well, Ty is growing like a weed and I just can't believe that he is already 3 months old. It's just so crazy. He really is doing so good. He has been sleeping from about 7:30pm to 7am...which is nice for me. He has gotten up a few times during the night wanting a diaper change but will go back to sleep. He is holding his head up so good and is almost sitting up with little assistance. He smiles all the time now and is laughing which makes me smile. Ansley seems to really like having Ty around and is always trying to be sweet and "help" me when it comes to him. She is very interested in diaper changes, throwing his diapers away, feeding him, changing him, and it goes on. I think she is a great big sissy and will be even better as he gets older. I definitely think they are going to have the twin comments because Ty is already up to Ansley's neck...so that should be interesting.

That was then, this is now

We came home the other day and took Ty out of his car seat...but in the meantime... Ansley decided she wanted to sit in it. Even though she fills the car seat out now much more than when she was born (which is obvious since she weighed right at 5 pounds at that time)...I still can't believe that she fits in it at all.

17 months old


Hard to even remember that she was this small