Merry Merry Christmastime

I put together this long list of things we "had" to do through the holidays and we did 2, okay maybe 3.  We didn't do everything on my list of must-dos but we definitely got in the Christmas spirit when we could!

 

One weekend in December we met Nana, Brandon and the boys in Grapevine at Bass Pro for a Santa visit.  We saw Santa all right... from afar!  We got there at 10 am and received a 2 pm Santa time.  Thanks but no thanks from the mother of children who need naps!  We did enjoy some of the other fun things they had to offer and of course, family time is always worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iced In

Back in December we had Ice-ageddon.... like inches of ICE for days.

 

This is what your winter gear looks like growing up in Texas... whatever you can find and just add some cowboy boots!  It helps if everything is pink.

 

 

The little guy looked on from the inside ...

 

 

 

ICE Angels...

 

What else to do when you are stuck inside... cookies of course!

 

 

 

 

Cookies and apron required.... pants optional!

A Prosper Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of year, hands down, and this Christmas we found an event that will become tradition for us for many years to come, our new town's Christmas Parade and community event. It was a little spur of the moment and a lot cold but we were so excited Ash, Landon and the girls could join us. 

 

 

 

 

 

The parade was great, just long enough and within arms reach.  Oh, did I mention it was cold?  Look at these two cuties staying warm!

 

 

 

We knew there was a parade but really were not sure what else we may find.  We were walking main street and came upon Santa's Mailbox.  Addison colored her letter to Santa asking for a kitty pack-pack (back pack) and scissors.  Yep, scissors were on this girl's Christmas list.  Santa didn't bring either.  Next year, Santa better do better! 

 

 

As we were writing our letters to Santa a line starts forming by us which we quickly learned was to visit with Santa... free!  Take your own pictures and a short line!  Sign us up!

 

Santa looks a little scary but he was a very sweet Aggie and I am pretty sure Mrs. Claus was Mrs. Aggie as well.  Addison completely surprised us and was ALL about him.  Marched up to his lap like she was 10.

 

 

Luke was sleeping so this was the best we got of him with Santa for his first Christmas.

 

But these two cuties stole the show!  Mrs. Claus even got a picture for herself!  Seriously, the most precious gifts ever.

 

I hope Logan and Aiden can join us next year for a fun tradition in the making! 

Meet Muffin

The warmer temps have me anxious for Spring to arrive and has me motivated to get our winter and Christmas up on the blog!

 

We started Elf on the Shelf this year and Addison named her elf... Muffin.  Yep, Muffin - the little boy elf.  Anyways, we had some fun moving him each night, got lazy and lacked creativity other nights but all in all... a tradition we are already looking forward to next year!

 

Muffin arrived after a LONG trip from the North Pole (aka. deep freeze) to the most precious 2 year old we know....

We watched the movie and read the Elf on the Shelf story.  Addison was a little unsure at first but over the first couple days, she fell in love.  

 

 To this day, if I buy "snow" covered donuts at the store she thinks Muffin brought them just for her.  Josh and I still find ourselves every now and then telling Addison "Muffin is watching!"... oh lordy!

 

Muffin may have to arrive with a skirt or a dress on next year and magically turn into a girl and bring a friend for brother... who knows what Santa has up his sleeve!

Happy Hearts Day 2014

Luke: 8 Months

8 Months!  8 months little guy.  I say it every month...you are the sweetest, little chubby guy I know.  You bring so much joy to our everyday.  We live for your smiles first thing in the morning.  You wake up the happiest baby around.  Another month has flown by and yes, I am starting to plan your first birthday BUT before that comes, here is what you are up to at 8 months.

 

 

 

At 8 months you...

• are eating 8 oz at every feeding, 5 feedings a day (whoohoo!  We are down 1 bottle!)
• are also doing really great with a 3 meal routine.  That is recent in the past couple weeks.
• LOVE just about any fruit and your favorite vegetable is sweet potatoes and corn. 
• prefer all your food warmed just a little bit.
• are doing so great with your cereal now.  We had great success with apple cinnamon rice cereal.  We stuck to a few Gerber premade cereals that had cinnamon in them for a few weeks and you will now eat the flakey rice cereal mixed with breast milk and sometimes a little fruit.
• breast milk only through 8 months.  It is a bit bittersweet for Momma but you got your first formula bottle this past weekend.  About a month ago you bit me trying to breastfeed so that was an end to that as it might have been the worst pain of my life.  Your sister never did that.  I was pumping 90% of the time the past several months so this was not much change for you.  Stress, travel, etc... this supply is coming to an end so we are working our way through our freezer stash and mixing in some formula bottles here and there to make the transition.
• have 2 teeth on the bottom and the two top almost through.  Teething like crazy and these top two are a little brutal, poor thing.

 

• had another ear infection this past month and we found out you are allergic to Augmentin the not so fun way.  It's been a couple months of the ongoing childcare cold that both you and sister get from school.  I am ready for warmer temps just to get those little noses to dry up!
• LOVE your sleep at night.  Your bedtime routine is dinner around 6, followed by bath (sometimes reversed), and then your last bottle started by 7.  You are usually in bed sound sleep by 7:30.  We won't hear from you until 7:00 am earliest but you usually sleep until I have to wake you to get you to school during the week.

 

 

 

• let me rock you to sleep at night.  That is our time together and I look forward to our snuggles each night.  I will rock you as long as you will let me.
• are still working on your naps.  We can get you to take a good 2-hr nap usually on the weekends.  You sleep maybe 2-hours combined at school during your day amongst several smaller naps. 
• STILL have your umbilical hernia but it is slooowly making its way back in.  We do see improvement but you definitely have more than just a regular outie belly button.  Dr. G says we will see about fixing it if you still have it when you are 1 years old.
• can move everywhere and amaze us the places you take yourself with your rolling and army crawling. You really are SO strong just haven't quite figured out how to get that belly off the ground.  You are not crawling yet but you want to be on the move so bad.  You sit up so well on your own and rock forward to place your hands on the floor as if you are about to just take off crawling but end up nose-diving to the ground.

 

• are enjoying your walker and exersaucer more these days than your jumper.   You can move just about anywhere and out of any corner in your walker.  You may just walk and not crawl!
• LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your big sister.  It melts my heart to see you two play together.  You would play peek-a-boo for hours if sister would play with you.  We get the best giggles from both of you when you play.  Addison loves surprising you just as much as you love to see her sneak around the corner.
• started taking a wubbanub this past month.  It is more of a comfort when you are sleepy but nothing you actually need to go to sleep.  I think it may make your teeth feel better since this round of teething has been a bit tough.
• are wearing 12 months and some 18 month clothes.  Not kidding. You are 8 months old and wearing 18 month onesies and rompers, 12 month pants.
• are still in size 4 diapers but I pulled out your sister's leftover size 5s just last night. 

 

Everyone told me about this Mommy/Son bond when I was pregnant and now I get it.  You are a Momma's boy and I love it.  I am excited to see what this next month brings and what you weigh at your 9 month checkup!  Keep smilin' little guy.  You light up our life!