Christmas 2016

Christmas has come and gone! We spent a quiet day at home, pacing ourselves during present opening. Matt slept in surprisingly late, only stirring around 8:45 am. As soon as I walked into his room, he asked, "Is it Christmas?" He was very happy the answer was finally yes.

Matt and Andy both did very well with presents, especially books. Matt and Jon both got a lot of games, too. Matt is still working on learning that the rules of games are more than departure points for doing what he wants, but he is enjoying playing his games, even if it's by his rules.

Some of Matt's favorite presents are his take apart crane with its battery-powered drill, his mini Thomas train set, his wooden dinosaurs on wheels, his games, and Andy's books. Andy especially likes his new car. The boys like all of their cards and presents, and we thank everyone for thinking of us at Christmas.

Enjoying a quiet moment before his brother awakes and the unwrapping begins

Stopping to read a book

Playing with his new trains

The astronauts prepare for takeoff

Getting ready to count his chickens

Flying the plane from the busy, busy airport

A tired Andy tries out his new hat

Another reading break

Watching his big brother play trains

Andy playing with his new car and teether keys

A tired, contented baby

Happy 5-Month Birthday, Andrew!

Today Andy is 5 months old. He is fast approaching 19 pounds, wears clothes in 12-months sizes (and they're not exactly huge on him!), and has 1 tooth with another oh so close to joining it.

Andy is very interested in becoming mobile these days. If we set him down on the floor on his back, he will twist and turn and rock and roll until he has moved around in most of a circle. Just recently he started pushing his back side into the air when he is on the ground. It's going to be a little bit before he can get his knees underneath him and then push up simultaneously with his hands, but he's working towards it. Andy is also getting better at sitting up, although he can't get himself into a sitting position yet, and he's still working on sitting up unassisted for any length of time.

Andy has really improved his fine motor skills. He can move his fingers independently, and he is getting much better at not only grabbing things but holding onto them. As any typical baby, he loves to wave whatever is in his hand around before letting go so it either falls to the ground or flies off to the side. But it is fun to see him actually playing with toys and moving one step closer to being able to join big brother in playing cars, etc.

Andy is also very interested in talking. He has an increasingly wider range of sounds he can make, and he now moves his mouth in imitation of us speaking. He certainly hasn't gotten any less vocal lately.

Andy is feeling much better after his ear infection this past week. He bounced back from that quickly once we started him on his medicine. Now if we can only get that second tooth to come out!

Here is the 5 month old posing in his new wagon:

The wry smile

The surprised look

A slightly suspicious look

Christmas Preparations

Christmas can't come fast enough for Matt; he has been asking if it's Christmas yet every day since Thanksgiving.

Here are some of the things we did leading up to the holiday:

We went to the Enchanted Village, an annual display at a local furniture store. Matt was not impressed; he said it was too dark and the music was too loud. To be fair, there were many things to look out and very few to touch, so it wasn't too exciting for a three year old (or even an infant, who napped during our visit). We didn't stay too long, but I did get a few photos of Matt looking around.

Checking out the Santa display

Looking at the boy on the bicycle

Watching the "decorating" of the Christmas tree

Our playgroup had a brunch at a friend's house. We attempted to get photos of all the kids, but the best we could do was most of the kids looking in mostly the same direction. I've already posted the shot of Andy at the gathering, so here is Matt:

Taking a quiet moment to do a puzzle

Building with friends

Becky, one of the moms at the party, took this great shot of Matt.

The toddler story time did a Christmas tree craft.

Matt is enjoying decorating his tree.

We then headed over to Bass Pro Shops to see Santa (photo posted on our Christmas Eve post!). We stopped to see the fish and turtles and try out a few of the activities while we were there.

Attempting to drive the remote control truck

Digging in the ball pit

We did a Christmas countdown or Advent calendar with Matt this year to help him with the questions of "Is it Christmas today? Is it Christmas yet? Why is it not Christmas today? When will it be Christmas?" He did a great job putting the ornament on the tree daily.

Counting how many days are left

The last baby storytime at the library before Christmas included jingle bells to accompany "Frosty the Snowman."

Andy gripping his jingle bell

Matt jingling his

Matt coloring snowmen

Andy listening to the high school chorus that came into the library to perform

Our tree went up earlier in December, but due to illnesses we finally got around to decorating it the week before Christmas.

Matt hanging up ornaments

And here are a few more of our activities around the house:

Andy checking out his "Baby's First Christmas" reindeer

Matt listening to The Night Before Christmas, as read by Grandma

Matt reading a lift the flap book (always a favorite format!)

Merry Christmas Eve!

Before our holiday preparations really get going, I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Both boys agreed to see Santa this year. Matt was not sure about approaching Santa, but he finally agreed to pose for a photo with him and Andy. When Santa asked Matt what he wanted for Christmas, after a pause and a repetition of the question, Matt answered, "Toys." Can't argue too much with that!

Without further ado, here are our Santa photos:

The official photo

A close-up of the official photo

 My shot from the side

Andrew's Week 21

Andrew's last week or so has been rather eventful. He cut his first tooth over the weekend (one of the bottom ones)! I suspected it was coming, but it seemed to have popped out without too much trouble. But then he started feeling off on Monday, and Tuesday morning he woke up early sick. After a quick trip to the pediatrician, where Matt was very helpful, it turns out our luck of avoiding ear infections and avoiding a doctor's visit for anything except well visits for Andy has run out. Poor baby has an ear infection in both ears. Luckily treatment started helping almost immediately, and he is well on his way to being back to his normal, happy little self.

At the doctor Andy weighed in at 18 8.8 pounds. I ended up swapping out his 9-month clothes for the 12-month ones this past weekend. He probably could have gotten another week or two out of the 9-month, but a lot of the pants were riding up his leg, and with the colder weather I figured longer pants weren't a bad thing!

Over the weekend Andy discovered he can make a "Bffvvvv" sound. He is very pleased with himself over his expanding vocal range and convinced he's really talking now. In fact, one of the signs he was sick was that he wasn't chatty - or grabby. (Matt didn't mind the lack of grabbing!)

Here was our past week:

Watching big brother play hockey at sports class on Tuesday

Playing with blocks

At our playgroup's holiday brunch on Wednesday 

 

Talking to the baby in the mirror

 Posing

Showing the baby the elephant

Tired baby on Thursday

Waiting for Matt to finish gymnastics clas on Friday

Catching a nap

Watching the snow on Saturday

Making silly faces

Definitely teething on Sunday

Enjoying his new warm overalls on Monday