Hello, 2015!

Happy 2015! 

I hope everyone had a fun safe New Year...ours was definitely on the low-key side, but to be honest, that's just what I needed! The past week has definitely been very eventful, so I'll take any relaxing I can get. For starters, remember two of my very best friends who were pregnant with the same due date? Well, they had their babies...and on the same day! Talk about some emotions running high! December 30th welcomed Cash first, followed by Gemma several hours later. I love these babies so much already...think they would be mad if I stole one?! I promise to bring them back when they start crying! ;)

Because I was at the hospital so late waiting to meet Miss Gemma (she took her sweet time!), New Year's Eve was a bit of a blur for me...and no, not because of alcohol. I was running on approximately 3 hours of sleep with no time for a nap. However, I still managed to stay awake to see the ball drop, eat some yummy hors d'oeuvres and cash in my New Year's kiss...this is my 12th New Year's Eve kiss with my hubby! Twelve years of smooching on the same man...and we haven't killed each other yet! ;)

New Year's Day, I slept in until 10am (thank you, husband!)...I cannot remember the last time that has happened. We visited the sweet babies and then came home for a completely lazy day. Christian also came down with a little cold, so extra cuddles were in order for all of us.

Did I mention we were super lazy?!

Gavin is getting pretty darn difficult to photograph, as he is always on the go and hates sitting still, but I managed a few cute shots of him on his favorite Christmas present. Totally rotten.

And we finished the evening with a magic carpet ride around the house. Boys are so much fun, but whew! They are exhausting! 

Since New Year's Day, we have all caught Christian's cold. None of us feel too badly, but it's been couch time, medicine & kleenexes galore for all of us. We did manage to escape the house for some Christmas returns, shopping & grocery. Christian stayed with my mom Saturday night, which always makes shopping so much easier. The less needy children at Target, the better! And I'm kind of obsessed with my adorable Valentine's Day finds for the boys. Thanks Old Navy & Kohl's!

AND since everyone finally has their Christmas gifts, I can share our family photos I took back in November. Like I said, Gavin is remarkably hard to photograph, so I consider all of these a complete win. One of these days we'll be able to get in with our regular photographer for some actual family photos, but until then, my cheap little camera will just have to do!

So that's been the start to our 2015 year. It's only 4 days in, and I can already tell it's going to be a great year! Time definitely needs to slow down though, because I'm only 2 months away from throwing my baby boy a first birthday party...and that just ain't right! ;) 

Until next time!

Thanks for reading!

Christmas Eve Eve

On Christmas Eve Eve, we always pack up our gifts, put on our pj's, pick up Arni's pizza and have Christmas at my mom & step-dad's, where I grew up. 

Things have changed so much since our Christmas mornings growing up, but we've adapted to our new traditions and are enjoying making memories with my boys. Christmas will never be the same after the loss of my brother, but we are so thankful for Christian & Gavin. They help us all focus on happier things...and to watch their eyes light up helps us to fill that huge void that will always be a part of our family. Still, I miss him so much and I would give anything for the boys to be able to know their Uncle Cory. Christmas might not ever be the same, but we are making the best of it any way we can. Arni's pizza helps. And Cory wouldn't want us to be sad during the holiday season, as he so loved Christmas. I will take the boys to visit him at cemetery, drop off a picture that Christian colored for him, have one of those good & long ugly cries, and then do what he would want-enjoy our Christmas Eve & Christmas morning with family. 

Back on track though, we attempted family photos...and there were no meltdowns, so I won't complain. Of course, Gavin isn't smiling and Christian looks terrified. And Gehrid has the flu, so he had to stay quarantined away from us. No flu here, please!

Opening gifts with my mom is always entertaining, because she cries everytime. This year was not a let down! Christian passed out our gifts and was very good about being patient and waiting his turn to open presents.

He got a robot dino and was terrified of it at first. Once he warmed up to it, he loved it, but then wanted to hide it from Gavin. Pesky little brothers.

Mimi became Gavin's best friend when she shared her cookie with him. He also became the cookie monster and could spot one from across the room. He's no dummy!

We got home and I had fun putting away all of my new goodies. Momma always gets me the best stuff, and this year was no exception. All kinds of home decor, white dishes, a very nice bottle of bourbon for the hubby and a Home Goods gift card. I cannot wait to use these bad boys!

Christian & daddy playing his new Paw Patrol game...he loves it!

And because I'm sure I've received all of the cards we are going to get this year, my Christmas card door...I LOVE getting Christmas cards, so thank you everyone!

My new white dessert stand with my mom's famous cookies on top. 

And then there's this. Let me just tell you about this. Christian has been asking everyone and everything for a Batman robot. I don't know where this obsession came from, but he just needs a Batman robot or he'll die. Well, they make a Batman robot, but apparently it's the gift this year. No one has had it since black friday. And since we are new to this whole parenting thing, we had no idea that when the gift of the year is gone, it's gone. And the only way to get it, is to hope and pray one becomes available at the last minute, or pay double or triple the cost online because people are price gouging. So Dustin has been watching all day, every day for one to become available. We bought him a bunch of other Batman stuff in case we couldn't find this toy, but we knew it was the robot he would be waiting for come Christmas morning. Well over the weekend, Dustin found one. Hallelujah! However, we aren't sure when it's going to get here....so we're praying & hoping & crossing our fingers and toes that it shows up tomorrow. We'll see. If not, hopefully there are enough other toys to distract him from the one thing he really wants. And we learned a valuable parent lesson...buy the toy of the year early!

And that's been our Christmas Eve Eve. Tomorrow is a pretty calm day with just a few last minute errands, but then a jam-packed evening. We have Dustin's family Christmas, my dad's family Christmas and then Dustin and I do our Christmas after the boys go to sleep. 

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and if you're spending it missing special loved ones like us, here's a big internet (((hug))) from our family to yours.

Thanks for reading!

Happy 9 Months, Gavin Lee!

Well our awful, terrible, adorable youngest has turned 9 months old. With Christian, 9 months started my absolute favorite age. They are learning so much, doing new things every day, developing their unique personality....however, I would be lying if I said I was loving every minute with my fiesty 9 month old. He is a handful. And that's an understatement. Let me see if I can think of the words to describe our littlest ginger....Cranky. Fussy. Whiney. Hilarious. Hot-tempered. Loving. Stubborn. Stingy. Mommy-attached. Rotten. Freaking adorable. I love him to the moon and back, but he is definitely keeping this family on it's toes!

His milestones this month include: crawling on all 4's (although he still army crawls when he needs to get somewhere quick), pulling up on everything, climbing stairs (oh joy), throwing a tantrum by throwing himself backwards and becoming ridiculously attached to me.

I'm not sure if it's just his personality or because I'm exclusively breastfeeding him for longer than I did with Christian, but he generally will not let anyone else hold him but me. If I'm in eyesight, he's crying for me to pick him up. He tends to spend his days following me around the house crying for me to hold him or literally crawling up my leg. It's definitely a daily struggle because I have another child that needs my attention as well, and every now and then, things like laundry, dishes and bathroom breaks need to occur! 

Sometimes, he doesn't cry. Sometimes. And on those days he plays with his toys, explores the house, puts anything & everything in his mouth (screams when I take it out), LOVES big brother's room, and goes crazy in his bouncer. 

He hates having his picture taken. LOVES food. He will eat table food, two containers of baby food, puffs, crackers and still be asking for more...which he can sign with his hands!
He has 4 teeth, working on 5. Sleeps from 7:30pm-6am, nurses and then goes back to sleep until 8ish. I can't complain about sleep, he's finally a good sleeper! I am still breastfeeding, and although I tossed around the idea of switching to bottles for the sake of possibly breaking his attachment to me just a bit, I decided I really enjoy not buying formula and the extra 500 calories a day I'm burning. Onward we go!

He weighs in at 18 pounds even (21st %ile) and is 28.5 inches long (58th %ile). He only had to have one shot at his check-up, and cried for 5 seconds...he was showing off for the doctor today. ;) He is still in size 3 diapers and wears 12 months clothing.

I know it seems like I'm complaining a lot, but I promise there are still things I love about him! He gives the sweetest snuggles and is so funny. He loves to play peek-a-boo and chase Toby around the house. He LOVES music...turn it on and he immediately starts shaking his little butt. 

Life might be crazy hectic right now, but we're powering through and trying to making the best of everyday. Soon these days of baby tears will be gone, and I'll give anything to have them little again.

Happy 9 Months, little bad ginger baby!