beauty captured on my iPhone

Its true...you take less pictures of your 2nd child than you did your first one.  Its inevitable.  I've decided its not because you don't care, notice, or love any less, its just that your hands are full with two kids so its harder to pick up the camera.  There are days I feel guilty that I'm not taking as many pictures of Greta as I did of Hudson.  I even leave the camera out on the counter so its easy to grab at any moment.  Yet, I still don't have as many pictures.  But I do have my iPhone.  It goes nearly everywhere I go.  I take pictures and send countless number of texts on any given day.  I try to send a picture (or sometimes two) of the kids to their grandparents everyday.  This is good encouragement for me to keep taking pictures, even if they are just ones from my phone.  Plus, its fun to share small pieces of our day with them.  It also allows them to "see them" on a consistent basis.  I have also fallen in love with Instagram.  Thanks to my Aunt Marilyn who got me started last year.  Its a great place to share photos and be a small part of other peoples lives and share some of your most precious moments captured through photographs.  Here are a few of my recent favorite pictures of Greta, my beautiful baby girl, captured with my iPhone.   

Lil' Swinger #2

We have very few pictures of Hudson in the infant swing, simply because he was never a big fan of it.  Yet, we have gotten some miles out of it the 2nd time around.  Greta likes her swing, especially if we give her something to chew and suck on while she swings.  Lately we caught a couple fun expressions of her in the swing so I thought I would share them here.  Lil' Swinger #2...

ISU Cyclones

We had a lot of fun cheering on the Iowa State Cyclone basketball team this season.  Roy went to a handful of games, took Hudson to a game and his dad to a game.  My sister and I attended a game together too on Valentine's Day.  It was an exciting season, even though things didn't end as we had hoped.  Yet, we will remain loyal fans.  Let's Go State!

Dressed as "twins" on a Saturday...

Hudson thinks Cy is pretty cool and always tells us that he doesn't talk, just gives high-fives.

Little Miss Greta looked pretty cute in her cardinal and gold on game days.  

Ready for some Hilton Magic...

Hudson chose "mixed up" popcorn for his treat at the game with Daddy.  

Hudson got an ISU shirt from Mimi and Bapa for his birthday.  

Have I mentioned how fun it is having a baby girl?!  Complete cuteness!  

We made a family trip to Ames when my sister was here and we enjoyed lunch at Hickory Park.  

Cutest little Cyclone fan...

Greta @ 4 Months

We got Greta's 4 month pictures taken on March 1st.  What a little honey!  We grow more in love with our baby girl every single day and thank God for the gift of her.  

During the month of February Greta...

...experienced her first snow storm

...celebrated big brother Hudson's birthday

...wore her pajamas during the day a lot (we don't seem to leave the house during the cold winter days all that much)

...became interested in rolling

...is a slobbery mess a lot of the time (LOVES to suck on her hands)

...grabbed at things, hanging toys and chew toys

...grew some more hair, still with a big bald spot in the back

...likes to stand up tall

...usually takes 30 minute naps :(  

...found her voice and loves to talk and make new sounds

...is happy and content when she is awake 

...loves to look around and wants to be "involved"

...is wearing size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothes

...got a yucky cough from big brother :(

...always sits on Daddy's lap during dinner time 

...laughs at big brother and always wants to watch what he is doing

...goes to bed well, but wakes up 30-45 minutes later and wants more snuggles from Mommy

...weighted 13 pounds 13.5 ounces (38%) and was 24 1/2 inches long (44%) at her 4 month check up

...sleeps 10-12 hours most nights

Train Party - Wrapping Up

I have a few more random pictures to share before wrapping up the train party fun.  

Hudson wanted to do an art project with his friends, and name trains is what we came up with.  Notice on the 2nd picture that Hudson is learning to write his name.  

Hudson also wanted to read a train story when his friends were over.  

The annual Pop Quiz was entitled "How Well Do You Know Our Little Train Engineer?"  

Opening gifts at the party with friends...

Showing off his pile of presents from family...

Enjoying the opening gifts part of the party while Cousin Milly supervises.  

Cousin Clara and Hudson having fun with his new flannel board...

Train Party - Food

Since Hudson had two parties, we prepared different food for each of them.  I saw the idea on Pinterest of making a "food train" and it worked perfectly for serving.  Plus, it was pretty cute.  :)  I made a train track for the train to "ride" along the counter.  Choo choo...  

At the friends party the food train pulled grilled cheese sandwiches shaped like trains...

veggie straws in the "log car"...

celery, carrots, and hummus in the vegetable car...

clementines in the fruit car...

The birthday boy, enjoyed his special lunch, "picnic style"...

We made the railroad plates, which were an idea I got from my friend Tiffany...

Rice Krispie treats with train toppers for a birthday treat...

Four candles to blow out this year...

The fueling station for the "little trains"...

For the family party Roy smoked some meat on his smoker and we had Bar-B-Choo Sandwiches served with Toot Toot Beans...

Station House Salad tasted like coleslaw and Stop Light Fruit included green grapes, yellow pineapple, and red strawberries...

And Conductor Chips to wrap things up...

We borrowed this big "water tower" from a friend and it worked out perfectly...

Hudson requested having a "mixed up cake" so Aunt Ang baked a marble cake with chocolate frosting...  

A sweet treat to celebrate our sweet little guy...

As you can see, no one went home hungry...