Photo A Day- August 23

Our two precious kiddos in the bath- I took a picture because I am determined to keep up with my photo each day this month, but also because clean children are the only thing I accomplished today.

Sink Baths!

Kenna has obviously seen me do this to her little brother quite a bit:
because this is how I found two of her babies, two different times this week:
Like Momma, like Kenna. It's pretty sweet (and a little scary) to see how much my big girl imitates me. Anything Momma is doing is something to be joined in with me and then emulated later on her own. I'm learning quickly that my kids will probably remember very little of what I say, but the things they observe me doing are becoming part of who they are. It's so amazing to be such a big part of their learning and growth, but also a sharp conviction to me that I need to be constantly at work being the kind of person I want them to become.

And speaking of sweet, this little man is almost too big for his bath in the bathroom sink anymore! It's almost time for kitchen sink baths (where he can sit up but still be mostly contained) and he has even sat in Kenna's big bath a handful of times now (with lots of help!)
I love his silly grunts and growls and little boy noises, and little thoughtful faces. And I'm SO thankful for that fatter, healthy little belly in the bath! Such a sweet boy!

Bathing Beauties!

A few nights ago we let Finn join his sister in her big bath! I guess it isn't technically right to call a boy a "beauty" but he was pretty stinking cute and they had a ball together. Kenna loved the company and someone else to splash... Finn looked like he was not quite sure what to think, but as usual, was his happy, good-natured little self!
Anyone who has known Matt since his YMCA days especially knows what a lighthearted and fun-loving a personality he has, so these next few pictures won't surprise you! He decided Kenna needed even more extra company in her bath!
I love seeing how those personality aspects have carried over to his parenting... there are so many times that I'm doing the mom thing and thinking about cleaning up the mess after or not wanting to be too silly/too wild/too whatever that I unintentionally stifle a little bit of the fun. I'm so glad that Matt balances out that part of me because Kenna absolutely loves lots of wild sillies with her Daddy and just completely glows in his attention!
I love that he is such a hands-on (or bath-in if you will) dad to our wild ones and can only imagine how much better it will get as Finn gets bigger and more able to get in on the action. Oh my crazy family- I love you so much!

Waterbug.

Kenna LOVES water. If there is water somewhere, she is sure to not only find it, but strip everything off and jump in (this includes rain, even if only a sprinkle!).

During a really warm rainy day a couple of weeks ago, I had a very antsy toddler on my hands. So I filled up a rubbermaid container with water on the porch, added some dish soap for bubbles, and put all kinds of "scooping" toys in it (bucket, shovel, large spoon). Next thing I knew she had stripped off her diaper and gotten in it like a little bathtub. I had to take a picture because of how perfectly she fit!
It makes me sad to think that she won't fit in it like this next year when it is warm enough to do this again, but happy to think there will be two babies splashing around together next summer! The major upside was that the dish soap was slightly apple scented and Kenna and the entire porch smelled awesome when she got out! (ps- I have also seen this done with a bag of sandbox sand instead of water to make a little tiny sandbox! You can just snap the rubbermaid lid on and protect it for next time.)

We have never bathed Kenna and the dog together like this before because we weren't sure if the dog (or Kenna for that matter) would go a little crazy with unexpected bathtime company. But when Matt and I were both home to supervise and Kenna and Pontouf both needed a bath, we thought sure why not. Kenna thought it was awesome to get to dump water on someone besides herself, and Pontouf just sat and looked demoralized as she always does in the bath:
Poor Pontouf has been demoted from "practice baby" to "dog." And there again, when there are two babies I doubt we'll let the dog join in!