Thanksgiving

This year we went to Lynchburg for Thanksgiving. It was nice. Joey was in town, so Allie had a built in playmate. We had dinner Thursday evening which was yummy. (thanks Mom!) Hunter watched from his exersaucer. Yes, even the exersaucer came with us to Lynchburg. The day after, Friday was my birthday and Allie, Hunter and Brian gave me my gifts. We had cake and apparently Allie thought we should do more...her comment was "this is a boring party" Well, guess that's what happens when you turn 33.

Papa on baby duty

Joey and Allie romping together! They love to call each other "stinker pot." It's a special uncle-niece relationship!

Family photo time! Happy Birthday to me :)

We did take Allie to Amazement Square, which is a children's hands-on museum in town. Really fun place for kids to go! Then, Friday evening Brian and I got a night out with dinner and a movie YEA!

Allie LOVED the zip line at Amazement Square. She seriously has NO fear. I know she must have done this 3, maybe 4 times.

Saturday we headed to the Hokie game, which was cold, but fun. It was a fun weekend and the kids did awesome!

Hunter's A Growing Boy!

I can't believe it's been a month since our last update. These 2 little ones are keeping us busy, especially with all the holiday fun we've been having lately!

Hunter will be 6 months old on Friday the 17th. That's just really hard to believe. Time has flown so fast. He started eating rice cereal on Nov. 23rd. He did enjoy it, but not to the extent that I remember Allie going crazy over her 1st bites. Of course he eats like a champ! He has now moved onto veggies and fruits. So far he's had peas, and apples. He's moved into his high chair and seems to really enjoy eating up at the table with us.

Daddy gave Hunter his 1st bites of rice cereal

Then it was Allie's turn. She was SO excited to feed Hunter. When Hunter spit out the bite Allie gave she was a little upset...took it personal! She thought he didn't want to eat the food she was giving him. But after we explained "that's what babies do", she got right back up and fed him some more!

Check out his high chair...such a big boy!

He had his 6 month well check on the 8th of December. I actually took him in early because I've been concerned about his skin. He has VERY sensitive skin and dry patches all over his body. We are constantly putting lotion on him from his forehead to his ankles. His Dr. said that he has eczema. Not sure what it's caused by, maybe sweat, maybe detergent. We are trying different things out to see if anything will help his skin. So far, nothing really has made a big difference, so we just continue to grease him up!

His stats: 18.7 lbs (75%) and 28 in. long (90%).

This is a new trick (rolling on his side) that he started to do right after Thanksgiving. He tries so hard to roll over, and occasionally does it, but nothing consistent yet. Even though I can't wait from him to make that mile stone, I know things will change once he can move!

Oh, one more milestone is that he cut his 1st bottom tooth on December 3rd! Wow, it's been a busy month for Hunter!

It's party time!

Halloween was a big holiday this year. Allie absolutely knew what she wanted to be with no changing her mind or flip flopping costumes. 1st was her Halloween parade at Preschool. 2nd she went to her playgroup Halloween party, and finally she hosted a "big kids" Halloween party at our house. All this happened before we even did any trick or treating! Here are a few pictures from those fun parties! OH....for those of you not familiar with Allie's new love....she was Iron Man for Halloween! She loves superheros!

Allie's class picture at Preschool (Allie is in the front row)

Allie and Joshua at the playgroup Halloween party Tessa hosted.

Hunter joining in on the fun!

5th year picture of the kids in their Halloween costumes! (Chase as Elvis, Tessa as Tinkerbell, Allie as Iron Man, and Joshua as a builder)

Flashback - year 2006.

All the kids at Allie's party. This was so much fun! We did crafts, played, ate pizza and cupcakes, played pin the stem on the pumpkin and even had a piñata!

It's Superhero Time!

So, if you have read the "It's party time" post, you have read that our daughter loves superheros, and since about August, or maybe even before she has wanted to be Iron Man for Halloween. She LOVES Superheros. We are not sure where this passion of hers has come from, but it sure is strong. Iron Man seems to be her favorite, but Spiderman ranks high too. So, we bought her an Iron Man costume probably in early September. I have definitely gotten my moneys worth on this costume, because there's not a week that goes by that she isn't wearing it. She does wear her mask around the house, but on Halloween night, she choose to go without the mask.

Before the trick or treating began, Brian, with Allie's help, craved a great jack o' lantern!

Check out her candy holder...Iron Man mask!

Hunter was a little brown bear. He strolled with Brian the whole time we were out, and finally didn't see what all the hype was about and just went to sleep.

It wouldn't be a picture with Daddy without a silly face!

Back home checking out all her candy

Til' Next Year!

Just a Glimpse

Here are my 2 babies on their 1st Halloween.

This is Allie at 5 months

This is Hunter at 4 months

More Halloween pictures to come soon!

Hunter's Baptism & Pumpkin Farms

Hunter was baptized on October 24th. Granny, Papa and Mimi were all in town. He looked so cute, and did such a great job as Pastor Chris baptized him and walked him around the church. After church, we spent the afternoon at Great Country Farms. Allie really enjoyed herself there!

Granny and Mimi trying to get Hunter dressed.

Family photo after the service

Hunter was so tired, before we even got the car, he fell asleep.

The 2nd part of our day was spent at Great Country Farms.

Look at all those cute animals.... (Allie, Papa, Teresa, Mimi, Granny!). I won't get a picture like this every year!

Mimi and Allie fishing for gems

She was so excited about riding the cow train

Right before we left Allie found a ladybug. Ladybugs are one of her FAVORITE things!

What's been happening lately

I thought I'd share what we have been up to since the Fall started. It's been a busy 2 months! We have been to many pumpkin farms, which Allie loves to do. She is back in school and loving it everyday. Allie has really started to show an interest in spelling words other than her friends names. She can write any letter and also write the letter just by me giving her the sound it makes. I'd say she can do this for almost all letters, probably with just a couple exceptions. She seems to be interested now in learning how to spell 3 letter words. One of the new things she enjoys is reading to me (or Brian) when it's bedtime. She also starts the book off by saying "written by", and for a while was ending books with "by PBS kids. org!" Can you tell what channel she watches on TV?? Allie's truly growing up to be a sweet, polite, caring little girl right before our eyes. It's so hard to believe that in less than a year, she'll be off to Kindergarten.

Our little, Big Man as Brian calls Hunter is growing like a weed! He had his 4 month appt. on Oct. 18th, and here are his stats. He weighed 16.5 lbs, which was in the 75% for weight and was 26 1/4 in. (90%) for height. He rolled for the 1st time on Oct. 7th, which Allie and Brian witnessed. He rolled 3 times for Rhonda a few days later in Lynchburg, but as much as I do tummy time with him, he's yet to roll over for me. I guess all in good time, right? We love watching him laugh with his big smile, listen to his coo's and love on him. We especially love to see how much Allie loves her little brother.

I'm still behind in posts! Look soon for updates on Hunter's baptism, and Halloween, which is tonight! For now though, enjoy a couple snapshots of the kids!

Tummy Time at 3 1/2 months old

At a Pumpkin Patch

Brian and Hunter!

Enjoying a snack after soccer!

Columbus weekend - Part 2

In my previous post I'd mentioned that Rhonda kept Hunter while the rest of us were at the game. Rhonda is a cousin in the family. When she was little my mom babysat her, then when I was born, Rhonda babysat me. So, I thought it only fitting to ask her to keep Hunter. Gotta keep the babysitting circle going! She was so nice to say yes, and actually rearrange her work schedule to keep our little guy. Hunter was great for her, and her mom Eunice for the entire day. He even rolled over for her, which I still have yet to see him do. Hunter also met Great Aunt Ann and Uncle Terry, and Papa's friend's Tom and Helen while visiting Lynchburg. Here's a few more snapshots from our weekend.

Great Aunt Ann gets to meet Hunter (Terry is watching football with Papa!)

Hunter getting some Granny loving

Thanks a bunch Rhonda!

Papa's good friend's Tom and Helen meet Hunter (and visit with Allie)

A Day in Blacksburg

Over the Columbus weekend the family traveled to Lynchburg to visit Granny and Papa and also go to the Virginia Tech Hokie game. Brian and I took Allie with us to her 1st game. Granny also came with us, while Hunter stayed back in Lynchburg with Rhonda. (more about that on another post..).

Allie was so excited in the car, she had us playing every game you could possibly think of or make up! By the time we got there we could tell she was a little tired, but with a little food in her at the game she perked right up! She loved the "gobble, gobble" the Hokie bird makes and knew that meant 3rd down. She watched and score board and even gave a high five to the stranger next to mom when the Hokies scored a touchdown. She lasted much longer than we even hoped for at the game, making it to almost the end of the 3rd quarter. Allie did awesome at her 1st Hokie game.

1st look inside the stadium, once we got to our seats

It wouldn't be a football game without popcorn, right?

Glad Granny got to come with us!

Leaving the game..

excited after a little shopping

Daddy bought Allie a jersey! Now they match :)

Not as talkative on the way home. She sure did have a blast!