My, What a BIG Boy!

We took Blake to the Dr today for a check up. He has a cold again and we wanted to be sure that it wasn't anything more serious... Anyhow, the boy weighs 15lbs 5oz! That's 3 lbs more than LAST MONTH. I know he never misses a meal, but seriously!

He reached for a toy for the first time yesterday, and has started to babble quite a bit. He will stare at you with his big blue eyes and give you the sweetest grin. I love this phase... Really, I love all of the phases (except the first 2 months.... those are hard) each one seems to be just a little better than the last.

Speaking of which, Avery is in a very assertive phase. I had to laugh this weekend when I was trying to get her ready so that we could go to the park. She kept dinging around and wouldn't do as I asked her to do. I was trying to get her hair done, and in frustration I said to her, "Would you please get your butt over here?" To which she sweetly pointed to her doll house across the room and said, "How about I put my butt over there?" It was hard not to burst out laughing. Of course I had to apologize for saying "butt" and explain that I hadn't chosen my words very well. But she didn't mind!

This morning I woke up to the sound of her throwing her pull-up away in the garbage in my bathroom. I lifted my head up to see her walking out of my room waving sweetly at me. A few minutes later I could hear her in the front bathroom, so I got up to see what she was doing. There she was completely dressed - shoes, socks, pants, undies and a shirt - and ready for school. Such an independent girl sometimes. And to think - Just a few short weeks ago, she wouldn't even get out of bed without me coming in to get her!

Go Sooners!

Just a quick post - yesterday after Avery's nap she was asking for a snack. She said, "I would like some apple slices in a baggie, some grapes in a baggie, and a cup of milk. Go Sooners." The "Go Sooners" was almost like the "amen" at the end of a prayer. Jeff and I died laughing! At least she is rooting for the right team!

Christmas

I have tried to post this now 3 times... So, let's hope that the third time's a charm!

Christmas this year was so fun! We woke up to snow falling heavily and the first white Christmas I can remember in over 20 years! Avery took her sweet time getting up. (I was awake at 7:15 just waiting!) She finally rolled out of bed at 8:45, came out into the hallway dragging her new camara she had gotten the day before from Papa Tim and Grandma Sheila, her slippers, and her blanket, and simply asked, "Is Santa here?".

Avery had made Christmas easy this year. When she sat on Santa's lap she simply asked for a book and a ball (Jeff and I were thrilled! We could handle a book and a ball!) Of course as the day drew nearer the request became more specific - a pink pok-a-dot ball and a pink book, plus a babydoll. So, of course we were able to accomodate the request, and add in a few of our own!

The dollhouse she received was the highlight of her day, and she spent most of the time playing with it and the family that came with it. Unfortunately, the dollhouse overtook everything else that was there, including the lovely letter that Santa left for her thanking her for the cookies that she had left for him. She didn't even notice the pink book and ball until much later! This is what you would have seen if you walked into our living room for most of Christmas day:

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner at my mom and dad's house that both kids slept through and enjoyed having a very quiet day.

On Christmas Eve we read a great book that tells the story of the Jesus' birth. It was a nice way to remember the true meaning of the season, and we plan to make it a family tradition to read that book every year. After Jeff was done reading Avery pointed to Blake and asked if he was Jesus. Silly girl!

The Lip

I had to share this picture of Blake. He has this wonderful knack of jutting out his bottom lip just before he screams. This has been the case ever since the minute he was born. When he was only half way out the Dr suctioned his mouth and nose and we waited for his first cry. The cord had been wrapped around his neck and I remember it seemed an eternity before we heard it. I kept saying, "Cry, baby. Cry!". And then, he jutted out his bottom lip as far as he could and let out a scream. We laughed so hard - my mom and Tammie could hear us through the wall! And so, everytime I see the lip come out, I have to laugh and remember how quickly you can go from feeling the worst pain ever, to absolute elation at the sound of a newborn child. I hope he never out grows this habit.

OK - maybe he should out grow it at some point, or he may never marry!