We had a fun Christmas this year.  Madelyn still doesn't really understand it, but sure enjoyed ripping presents open!  Tim and our friend, Chuck, helped lead the Christmas Eve service at our church.  Theo was having some stomach issues (I think because of teething) so I stayed home with the kids.  Our service doesn't start until 7pm, the kids bedtime, so it was probably better I stayed home anyway.  I think it's the first year I haven't attended a Christmas Eve service.  Do what you gotta do I guess.

We didn't get up on Christmas morning until about 8.  We know this won't last long, so we're enjoying it while we can!  Ate some breakfast-eggs and cheesy bacon pull apart biscuits (thank you Pinterest!), read the Christmas story out of Luke, then opened some gifts.  The kids received "The Lion King" from my brother and sister in law.  Guess who ended up watching it all morning..Tim and me!  We forgot how good it was.  Madelyn was busy playing with all her new (very loud) toys and Theo took a nap.  

Eventually we got dressed and ready to head to Tom and Izzy's.  Their whole family was there along with another couple from church.  We ate dinner, dessert, sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus!", and did a gift exchange.  Fun times!  Theo took his evening nap while we were there and Madelyn loved playing with all the other kids...and eating!  She did really well.

Merry Christmas to all!

-Megan

Theodore: 7 Months

Little boy,

You are so very calm and content.  We love you.

-You are in size 3 diapers.  Wearing size 6-9 month clothes.

-Still not sitting up.  You'll get there.

-You love to chuckle.  Especially at your sister.  Also when you play your piano.

-Your naps have been great and you've been going down well at night.

-Naps are from 9:30am-11am and afternoon nap from about 1pm-3pm.  Then you take a catnap around 4:30pm or 5pm and wake up around 6pm ready for that last bottle.  You still go down around 7pm and waking up about 8am.

-Eating 8 oz. every 3.5 to 4 hrs during the day. You eat fruit and veggies 3x a day. So far you've had:  carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, avocado, applesauce, peaches, bananas, green beans, squash, puffs, yogurt and blueberries.

-You are such a chatter box.  Love talking to anyone.

-You are getting in 2 new teeth on the bottom!

-These teeth mean you haven't been feeling too great the past couple days.  We've had to give you pedialyte instead of your normal bottle to settle your stomach.  Hopefully you'll be off of it after today.

-Your Gigi came in for a visit and loved seeing how much you've grown.  Not a little newborn anymore!

-You also celebrated your first Christmas!  We went to Grandma Izzy and Grandpa Tom's house to celebrate Jesus' birth and eat some yummy dinner.

Happy boy

Hanging with mommy

At playgroup with Trevor

Hanging with daddy

Chewin on a little rice snack

 First Christmas!

Playing with sis

7 Months!

Love you baby boy!

-Mommy and Daddy

Madelyn: 21 Months

Oh little girl, how we love you!

You are developing quite a little personality.  So cute and sassy.  Sometimes getting you in some trouble!

-Wearing size 18 month and 2T clothes.  Finishing off your size 4 diaper box; moving to size 5 soon.

-10 teeth still.  We'll get you into the dentist in the next couple months.

-You got your first haircut from Miss Julia!  You did such a good job.  Almost everyone in the salon came in there to watch you.  Mommy had to hold your head still because you were getting distracted.  Your hair is adorable.  Cute little bob like mommy's.

-You are scared of the hair dryer, vacuum and the trash/recycle man.  You freak out every time you see or hear these things.  The trash man comes Monday during your nap.  Great timing! :/

-Now a one nap kiddo!  Gives us lots of playtime in the morning.  Napping anywhere from 2-4 hours in the afternoon.  Depends on how much playing you do in the morning.  Your typical nap is from 1-3:30pm.

-You LOVE your little brother.  You'll help us get him ready to go, read him books, give him toys, give kisses and hugs, take his thumb out of his mouth, etc.

-You like tricking the doggies.  Especially Daisy.

-Doing better with your fork and spoon.  You are starting to "not so secretly" give the doggies food.  Guess you think we don't feed them.  We're teaching you to put whatever food you don't want in a little pile on your tray.  You'll get there.

-Still enjoy playgroup and playing with the "big kids".

-No new words, but you understand everything we say.  We'll say something and you'll point to or walk to whatever we say.  So smart.

-Pretty good at playing by yourself.  Once you get tired and want to do something else you clean up all your toys and sign "please" for us to play with you.

-You love playing on our electronics.  You typically play on www.starfall.come (or our app on the iphone/ipad)

-You've started giving eskimo kisses.  We'll say "eskimo" and you'll put your nose to ours.

-You go to bed around 7pm.  Every once and awhile you'll wake up about an hour into sleep screaming.  We're guessing it's a bad dream.  We'll go in there and lay you down and you'll fall back asleep.  You wake up around 8am.

-Gigi came in for a visit and loved seeing you.  You weren't walking last time she was here.  So you definitely kept her moving!

Building a tower with legos

Right after your new haircut...very proud!

Sitting on mommy and daddy's bed playing a game

"before" pictures of your haircut

Running around!

Playing with bubba and daddy

Trying the Santa hat on Theo!

21 Months..so big!

Love you so much sweet pea!

-Mommy and Daddy

Madelyn's First Haircut

Madelyn went to see Miss Julia today for her first haircut!  It was getting a little long and stringy.  So in for a cut we went.  The whole family went to take pictures and be there for moral support, ha!  Madelyn did fantastic...well besides when the hair dryer came out.  She's not a big fan.  I think because it's so loud.  We took before and after pictures.  She looks so much older.  We saved a little clip of her hair for her baby book too =)  (you're welcome Auntie H).

Before

During

After!  (picking out a new clip)

At home-decorating her tree

-Megan

Gigi's Visit

My mom came for a visit last week. We went to see Michael W. Smith while she was here. It was so good! He sang a lot of his Christmas classics including his song "Friends". Tim joked before we went that maybe he would sing it. I never guessed that he actually would! Ha!

We also did some shopping, went to see Santa, played with the kiddos and puppies and hung out. It was good to have her here and to have extra help around the house!

Gigi and Madelyn at Target

"Gloria" by MWS

"Friends" by MWS

-Megan

Thanksgiving

We stayed home this year for Thanksgiving.  Enjoyed spending time with each other and relaxing around the house.  MJ enjoyed some yummy turkey with all the sides.  Everything had to have gravy on it!  Theo had some pureed green beans and carrots!
Tim and I went out shopping on Friday and even caught a movie, "Lincoln".  I liked it.  I'm not a huge history buff, but still enjoyed it and was able to follow it!  Grandma Izzy and Grandpa Tom came over to watch the kiddos!

First Thanksgiving!

 Eating-she loved gravy on everything!

Cheese!

-Megan

Theodore: 6 Months

Dearest Theodore,

You are becoming such a big boy and so alert of everything around you!

-You weigh 16lbs and 26" tall

-You are in size 3 diapers.  Wearing size 6 month clothes.

-Working on sitting up still!

-You and Madelyn laugh together all.the.time.  It's so cute.

-Such a happy baby and so content.

-Your naps have been great and you've been going down good at night.

-Your naps are typically from 9am-10:30am or 11am and afternoon nap from about 1pm-2:30pm.  Then you take a catnap around 4:30pm or 5pm and wake up around 6pm ready for that last bottle.  You still go down early-around 7pm.

-Eating 8 oz. every 3.5 to 4 hrs during the day. You eat fruit 3x a day and veggies 2x a day. So far you've had:  carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, avocado, applesauce, peaches, bananas, green beans, squash and blueberries.  We'll probably start you on puffs and cooked macaroni soon!

-You talk non stop.  Especially when your sister is asleep and it's just you around!

-You celebrated your first Thanksgiving!  Weren't able to eat any turkey yet, but enjoyed some green beans and carrots!

-Still sucking that thumb, but not as much.

In your bumbo

Before church

Hanging out with Mr. Clint

Playing

Miss Isabel getting some babysitting practice

Playing some more

Hanging with sissy

Love this picture

 Your dedication

Sleepin

6 months!

Love you sweet boy!

-Mommy and Daddy

Madelyn: 20 Months

Sweet Madelyn,

You have had a fun and busy month!

-Still in size 18 month and 2T clothes.  Also still in size 4 diaper; about to move up to size 5.

-You now have about 10 teeth!  They just keep popping through.  Almost all of your 2 yr back molars are poking through.  The last one is working it's way in!

-We've been trying to drop your morning nap, but you are still pretty grouchy in the morning without it.  We just take it day by day!  Your afternoon naps are still pretty good.  Normally about 2 hours.  You go to bed around 7pm and wake up between 7:30am-8am.

-You still walk everywhere!  We love to watch you and your new found freedom.

-Still eating pretty good and trying to use the spoon and fork by yourself.  Still pretty messy, but you have a good time.

-You love playing with your friends and hanging out in the nursery at church.  You take looong naps on Sunday afternoons because you are so worn out!

-Still babbling a lot to yourself.  Saying "mama" and "dada" very clearly.  When one of us leaves the room, you say our name hoping we come back soon!  You're still reading a lot to yourself and love when we read to you.

-You love on your brother all the time.  Giving him kisses and hugs.  He loves seeing you too!

love your water!

tried to keep you awake on the way home from church with snacks, didn't quite work

a cookie from the bakery at the store!

fun with daddy

playing!

silly face

practicing "trick or treating" with your buckets

Giving dolly a hug

sweet smile

soo big!

cleaning up

cleaning up some more

helping mommy with bubs

giving bubba kisses

holding hands

playing with the camera!  careful kid!

bubba sitting in your new bean bag

A few pictures courtesy of your Auntie H...

Happy 20 months!  We love you so much!

-Mommy and Daddy