Auntie Anne's Pretzels

Did you know that Auntie Anne's will teach you all about the soft pretzel? Well, they do and today that's where our Monday Mom's play group went! It was really cool to see a video all about the history of the pretzel. But even better was the dough rolling and lesson on how to "toss" a pretzel.

From The Rankin Family

Here we are rolling out the biggest pretzel any of us had ever seen!

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We also got to try our hand at squeezing fresh lemonade. I had no idea the strength required to get just a small but of juice out of a lemon. It took so much strength, that our "teacher" had to help each one of us.

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At the end, we each got our own special kid-sized pretzel and lemonade. Thankfully it wasn't one that I rolled. I rolled that dough until it cold roll no more. Seriously, the dough gets stiff the more you handle it! We each got a second portion of dough we rolled so much. But we still got professionally made pretzels at the end of the day. The sure did hit the spot in my "tummy that was growling."

Frosty

We went from spring like weather to seven inches of snow over night! Mom and I had a great time playing in the snow the day it fell, but the snow was to dry to make a "nosemans". So, we waited and waited for the temperatures to climb to make wet snow that we could use. I was patient, and finally on day three with 40 degree temps, I went out with mom to make my "nosemans". Andrew even cooperated by taking an extra long nap today! Here's our finished product.

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I was disappointed that we didn't have a hat and scarf to go with the carrot. Overall, I think it was a masterpiece. I got to wave to it for a couple days each time we drove by. But now, it is melted all the way down and I'm left with a pile of rocks, sticks, and a mushy carrot. This was quite disappointing to me. However, when the "nosemans" melts that means summer is on the way. Make way for the pool.

Baptism

I was baptized into God's covenant family today and my whole family was there to see it! It was a very special day as Pastor Tony Felich baptized me at our church home here in Kansas City, Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

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Here I am with my immediate family. It was a special day for Ainsley too as she was reminded of her baptism. We showed her pictures of her special day. It was all in preparation for going up in front of the congregation with mom and dad. I did really well, except when Andrew started crying, I stuck my fingers in my ears. I also snuck in a few waves to my friends out in the pews. (Mom and dad were wondering if I would view this as one big audience. But no, after a lesson on reverence for Sunday, the Lord's Day, I did just great.)

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Today was also one of those rare days when we could catch a family picture.

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And here is the classic baptism portrait for our family Ainsley has one just like it, though she's a bit bigger than I am in it. I am the first boy to wear this gown which has now been worn by three generations. (Maki, Randall, and now Rankin)

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Smiles

My first "real" smile finally came! February 19th. (And it was at my mom, I know what I'm doing.) Here are some pictures that mom has captured of me smiling at her. It makes her day each time I smile, so I make sure to do it often.

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The Strength!

Check out the strength, and the hair! I'm really working hard at being able to see my sister play with her toys from this angle. What a work out!

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One Month Old!

Can you believe that it's been a whole month since I exited the confines of my mom and joined you all here in this big, big world? Well, I can't believe it and I know my journey has just begun.(thankfully, mom is getting pictures of some of it!

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So far at one month, I'm successfully holding up my head, though I don't enjoy tummy time very much. I'm still working on rolling over more consistently (those first two times I did have been hard to repeat), I'm making real noises (and they are sweet) instead of just crying, and I'm still eating like crazy (I've got mom feeding me about every 2 hours around the clock.)

What are the differences between me and my sister at this age? Well the biggest one is I spit up and drool. Mom really needs to invest in some bibs for me! We seem to be tracking right together with weight and height so far. (We'll double check that in April at my 2 month check up.) Mom also seems to think that I'm a bit more alert and active than my sister was. I'm not a big sleeper during the day and I like to b e where the action is (Ainsley liked that part too.)

Big Rankin, Little Rankin

Ainsley has many favorite books now a days but she really likes Big Dog, Little Dog by P. D. Eastman. (She also calls it Fred and Ted, the names of the characters in the book.) She really likes how each dog has it's own color and their own size things. She's translated this book into what has been going on at our house lately, Big Rankin, LIttle Rankin. Yes, she's handled the transition well but is emphatic about her size things versus Andrew's size things. The fact that she is big and Andrew is small. She has some idea that her stuff is pink and Andrew's is blue, but her favorite color is blue so this has caused some confusion.

She has also really gotten into matching colors lately. So we try to match the color of our clothes to each other, we match random items to what we are wearing, we play the "matching game" (Memory, and let me tell you she is good!), and we match that activities we are doing (if I'm cooking/she pretend cooks, if I'm on the phone/she has her pretend phone. You get the picture.)

Some other little nuisances of hers have come out in the past few weeks. I'm really glad to se eher developing into her own little person with preferences, even if some of them have been trying.

Here's the cover picture to her book, "Big Rankin, Little Rankin."

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Fire Station Number 3

Today, we went to the Jackson County Fire Station, Post Number 3. It was so exciting! We got to tour the station and see all sorts of really cool things. (There wasn't a pole.) We even got Junior firefighter badge stickers.

Here we are learning all about the ambulance. We even got to go inside of it! While we were there, the ambulance made a call so we saw the lights go on and the garage doors go up.

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And here's the fire truck. They were really bright yellow because they are easier to see. Fireman Dale gave all of us fire helmets. I got two, one for my dad. We play Fire Dept. at home with the toy telephones and save things all of the tine. Now, I've got some gear to go along with my game. We went on the fire truck and they showed us all of their tools.

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We also got to watch fireman Bryce suit up. Their gear weighs about 50 lbs. and they have to get it all on in less than 60 seconds. They wanted us to see what a fireman looked like so we wouldn't be scared if one ever needed to help us.

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P.S. I even let mom know I needed to go potty in the middle of our tour! This was a huge accomplishment, I didn't forget and have an accident.

It Can Be Done!

It's been a momentous week in the Rankin household. A couple major events occurred that mom thought might never happen. Many of you know as a baby mom and dad were never successful in getting me to accept a bottle. However, Andrew seems to be a bit more easy going on this front and took his first bottle this weekend. A full two ounces without any complaint. We even have a picture to prove it. Now if we can only keep up the trend once in awhile. (Perhaps this child will even take regular milk when the time arrives.)

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And the BIGGEST NEWS of all is! I'm potty trained! Mom started off about a week ago doing afternoons only. Once I got the hang of that it was an easy transition to a whole day. We've made numerous trips to the store, to Papa and Gigi's, a restaurant, and even a day without mom constantly reminding me and all have been successful. We've had a few accidents, but overall it's been a huge success. I'm still in a diaper at nap and bedtime, but mom's really proud of me. I'm usually dry after nap and go on the potty but with all that's going on, I think it's safe to say I'll stay in diapers at nap for awhile. Mom can only hope and pray that Andrew will be as easy as me on this front once he's ready.

From mom: Potty training really was a breeze once Ainsley made up her mind that she was ready. The process did take some incentives: blue jelly beans, a sticker chart , a new toy when the stickers are all gone, and a special lunch with Papa. It was all worth it though. I'm really thankful we only had two in diapers for a few weeks.

Spent and Sick

It's been a tough start to the week for me, Mom and Ainsley gave me their cold by accident. So, I'm congested, coughing, and mom isn't getting much sleep. But I sure am, which will hopefully make me feel much better faster! I also got my very own Penguin humidifier, it's just like my sisters. I already want to be just like her!

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It sure was nice to just chill in my bouncy seat all afternoon and it felt pretty good top have my feet out in the air.

Library Graduation

It was a sad day for mom today. After taking me to library toddler time for the last 18 months, I have graduated. It has been a wonderful experience for me as this is where I began to learn to count, the ABC's, how to listen to stories, met many of my current friends, and how to sing many friends.

At our graduation party we made ice cream in a can with rock salt! It was so cool and the can got so cold. we also got to take a picture with Miss Jean nd all my graduating classmates. And though I'm not smiling, these are my true feelings...I really am sad to leave toddler time!

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Now that I've graduated, I'm moving on to story time. In this program I'll be listening to stories with other kids without my mom and doing a craft! Hopefully I'll make some new friends and gain some more independence. Many thanks to Miss Donna, Miss Jean, and Miss Sharron for the countless hand stamps, coloring pages, and taking the time to help instill the love of reading in me.

Two Weeks Old

My how the time does fly! I'm already two weeks old.

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Mom has been diligently trying to get me on a schedule and so far it's working, but just slightly. I'm successfully sleeping about 2 to 2.5 hours a stretch at night. That means mom feeding me around 11:30, 2:00, 4:30, and 6:00. During the day I'm up for long periods and then sleep for long periods. Ainsley finds this kind of mundane and constantly tells mom, "Andrew can't sleep all day!"

She's figured out my cries, which are only for diapering and feeding times. The feeding cry is easily recognizable as it is accompanied by a snorting/grunting noise. So far, I seem to only have food aversions to garlic and onions. Mom sure did forget how quickly a newborn can go through diapers! Thank you so much to all of our friends who have supplied us with diapers over the past few weeks.

Overall, I'm a really happy baby and haven't given anyone much of a problem. Much to mom's surprise, I am a cuddler. She's very excited about this, but it sure is hard for her to resist the temptation to just let me sleep while she holds me.

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Looking Handsome!

Here's our favorite picture so far of our sweet boy!

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Happy 3rd Birthday

We had my last and final birthday celebration today! It was complete with a Thomas the Train cake and pastel balloons. My whole family was here to celebrate with me! We also celebrated my Aunt Katherine's birthday. (Just think, next year we'll have my birthday, Andrew's, and Aunt Katherine's birthday to celebrate!) I got a lot of great presents and am thankful for all of them. I have been a very blessed little girl already this year. I've made it to three and I have a brother!

And yes, I've started potty training! We're only practicing in the afternoon right now. It's about all mom and I can handle. Once I get that down, we'll move up to mornings as well. So far so good, I've only had one accident and we've done it three days! Mom wishes she could post a picture of me in my training pants, but that wouldn't be very modest of me. But, she says it's the cutest thing to see me running around the house in what I call "underwears." You'll have to take her word for it, or come help us potty train to see for yourself.

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Look how much I've changed in three years!

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Just born.

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One year old.

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Two years old.

Rain or Shine, She's our Sunshine

Ainsley never seems to disappoint when it comes to bringing a smile to anyone's face. This has become increasingly true since the arrival of Andrew. She has so many stories to tell us that her voice is constantly hoarse. She dresses up, reads us stories, and has an imagination that would give everyone at Disney/Pixar enough material for a century. Here's just a couple of pictures that capture her increasing love for life and Andrew.

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Thanks for the new rain jacket, Aunt Marigene! It has room to grow and matches my lady bug rain boots for this coming season!

Here I am reading a story to Andrew. I have my Mickey Mouse book memorized along with a few Dr. Suess books so Andrew won't tire of story time. Mom took me to story time at the library and Andrew couldn't come. I told him, "Don't worry, we'll take you one day." It was nice to have some one on one time with mom though. (Thanks Aunt Trish!)

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And here I am at scheduled "tummy time". This is my favorite part of Andrew's day. I constantly am asking when tummy time is. Mom thinks it's because I can actually get down on his level, or perhaps it's because someone finally let him get down to mine!

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