Are you ready for some April pictures from the crazy Barntsen fam?! Oh GOOD!
These two. Couldn't love them more.
I love this...he's stuck and she's just reading to him.
One of my best friends, Amanda, and I were able to attend Beth Moore in Eden Prairie - what a conference! I took lots of notes both on paper and in my heart and walked away feeling refreshed. I loved worshiping along with Amanda and also loved being able to see her little guy Fletcher at MOA on their way out of town!
Almost every night when I'm nursing Conrad, I'll hear the pitter patter of little feet and sure enough his door will swing open and Gwendolyn will come over and lay on my legs with her head on his lower body. She doesn't say a word (she knows it's quiet time). Once daddy follows up the stairs a few minutes later, she'll whisper good-night and just like that, walk quietly out the door again to go get ready for bed. I love the sight of her little silhouette coming in the door.
Nap time shenanigans.
You know those really yummy candied pecans you can buy at the fair or at some malls? Well I realized you can make them at home! They are fab on a salad. Or by the handful. :)
Best daddy ever.
I just realized I can never get rid of this chair. It holds too many memories of snuggling these kiddos.
Easter 2014
Daddy's took Gwendolyn on a date (she now asks when they can go on another one...) to dinner and the musical Shrek at the local children's theater. They didn't have the best seats, but they had a wonderful time. Naturally, we had to snap a few pics before they left for Applebee's.
Aunt Becca FLEW into town for Conrad's big 1st birthday party. I know. What an aunt! First things first upon her arrival at the airport - pedis and shopping!
We were all pretty pumped she was here for four days!
Daddy likes to give Conrad a ride on Sissy's back. I love this picture....it's like Conrad is asking, "dad - you sure you got me?!"
Gwendolyn:
Sometimes I wish there were two of her.
Grandpa and Grandma went to China! They stayed with us on their journey home, and brought Gwendolyn the prettiest of dresses with matching shoes and authentic fan.
(It's super fun to be the lucky duck who gets her for her morning snuggle time.)
She may have her winter coat on, but darn it - we were going to blow bubbles in that sunshine!
We decided to try out the Easter egg hunt at our Rainbow grocery store. The advertisement said it started at 7:30 am, that there'd be over 4,000 eggs hidden, and free donuts. Um, you had me at donuts.
Well...we literally got there at 7:35 and it was OVER. Kids were going through a check out line picking up what looked like prizes. One of the managers caught my eye and I asked if it was over and he felt so badly that we had missed it that he gave Gwendolyn three bags of candy (far more than she ever would have found on her own) AND radioed for the Easter bunny to come up front who then gave Gwendolyn a stuffed rabbit. Can you say favor?! It was hilarious.
We then got some groceries and headed to McDonald's for breakfast. I love fun Saturdays!
She was trying so hard to carry all of her eggs that were hidden all over the house. It was so cute. She got Peeps and painting stuff in her Easter basket.
She created this barricade and asked me to keep Conrad away.
I wish I had matching green rain boots and rain coat.
Coloring with Matthew and Kate after "library school."
After nap snuggles with Grandma.
Nap time with Aunt Becca. Is that not the cutest?!
Becca is great at braiding hair so Gwendolyn had a braid in her hair the entire time she was here. Ha.
Morning snuggles!
Conrad:
First time in a cart sitting up front like a big boy.
I love how his mouth stays open when he's just thinkin' about things...in this case where his breakfast was.
It's fun to ride on daddy's shoulders! And pull daddy's hair!
Yep, still carrying him around in that carrier. (Last day was May 13th *tear)
He can be such a cheeser sometimes.
Thankfully his habit of pulling up the top part of his tray and dumping his food on the floor was short-lived.
His hood stayed up throughout his entire nap. He wasn't happy when mommy left the room to go grab her camera.
Gwendolyn was 10 months old in the picture on the left in January 2012. Conrad is just about 12 months old in the pic on the right. Basically twins, right?
p.s. this umbrella stroller rocks. Another great research find by my hubby.
He was off and crawling on April 14th!
And then I found him standing up in his crib for the first time on April 18th - what a week for this baby!
Thankfully they had recently been washed in preparation for his first birthday party....
(can we talk about those legs?!)
I'll give you ONE guess who made (most of) this mess...
Snack time in the church nursery.
Snuggles after Easter lunch at our friend's Dana and Rosa.
Working on the step and pulling himself up on the ottoman...
Is there anything cuter?!
IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY!
He loved our family "happy birthday" song.
Squeezing just ooooooone more day out of our favorite pants.
He mastered the step!!
Our one year old getting ready to go to his party at Miss Kathy's house.
Love this view.
What a fabulous, joy-filled, busy, exciting month. We're SO blessed beyond words by these two kiddos and our friends and family. Can't wait to share pictures from his 1st birthday celebration!
