December so far...

Earlier this month we headed to the mall to see Santa.  Our mall here in High Point is... umm... well... it seems like it is about to close down.  Lots of the stores are empty.  So we were some of the only people in the mall on a weekday morning!  We took full advantage and let Colin run around =)  As always, the escalator was a huge hit!

 

If you follow my other blog, you have already seen this picture of the kids with Santa:

 

Addison was definitely not happy... and Colin had this fake smile the whole time.  =)

Then... Colin made me cry...

 

he made me read this book.  I literally couldn't finish it. 

We also took a day and went to see Garet's sister.  Her son, Sam, was playing basketball so we got to cheer him on!  It was a lot of fun!  

 

My parents also decided to come for the day!  I LOVE that we can be a day visit for some of our family!  I thought Addison was going to skip her afternoon nap, but I gave her to my dad and BOOM this happened =)

 

I had planned on making some Christmas cookies for the trash guys and the mailman.  I made the dough earlier that day, then I recruited some help to cut them out. 

 

Colin did a great job!  I think he really enjoyed helping! 
Here is the behind the scenes shot... I think Addison wanted to help too...

Then Grandmama took over the baby and we sang some Christmas songs!

 

This past Thursday, Garet and I took the kids to High Point University.  They had this awesome Christmas Celebration!  It was really neat!  And it was all free!  When we drove in, the kids were handed golden tickets (to later "cash in" for a picture with Santa).  There were guys on stilts...

 

... this guy totally freaked out Addison. 
There were guys that were juggling and doing little magic tricks.  One guy pulled a quarter from Colin's ear.  That was a huge hit with him!  They had bouncy things...

 

One of the buildings had a huge Christmas tree that we got this shot in front of =)

 

 There was free hotdogs, chips, water, cookies, hot chocolate...
The arcade was open and all the games were on... for free.  Colin got to drive a race car!

 

(Garet had to push the pedal).  Colin LOVED this!  He has always pretended on these games... we've never actually put money in them.  So the fact that he actually got to drive it... well it was probably the highlight of the night.  He even wrecked.  And the car flipped.  He thought it was awesome!

 

Outside there was music, horse drawn carriages, and [fake] SNOW!

 

We had so much fun!  We even got to go touch one of the horses while he was taking a water break:

 

It was even more amazing that the weather was nice!  I am talking 60's during the day, so it wasn't freezing.  We have been having so much fun this December!  And we still have more fun stuff on our schedule! 

Rainy day...

This was actually written on December 9 =)  Guess I got behind!

 

On Monday, it was raining and gross outside.  I packed up the kids and headed to the Children's Museum!  It is "members only" that day, so we there weren't too many people there.  It is a great place for Colin to get some energy out that is outside of the house! 

 

We played some golf...

 

 After many attempts, Colin picked up the ball and put it in the hole.  Then said, "I MADE IT!!"  =)

 

They had this new thing there...

 

 You put a ball in the tubes and they roll down.  It was SUCH a hit!  I actually (kinda) recreated it at home with cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, paper, and ping pong balls.  He loves it =)
Colin got to drive a big rig...

 

He also drove a police car... and put on the hat!

 

That night we all cuddled on the couch.  And Colin grabbed Addison's hand... precious.

 

Seven months...

I am keeping track of all the updates on Addison at the top of the blog... it is an easy way for me to click and look back on what was going on.

 

Addison is seven months old today!  Time is flying!

outtake

Food: We are still breastfeeding.  She eats 3 meals a day.  So far she has liked pretty much everything.  I have given her a couple Cherrios, but believe it or not, she doesn't put them in her mouth.  She just plays with them.  Since she never took a bottle, I have started giving her a cup.  So far, she just plays with it. 

outtake

 

Sleep: She takes 2 naps a day.  The morning is shorter... usually between 30 minutes and 1 hour.  If we are out and about, this nap is done in the car, or carseat.  The afternoon nap is longer... usually between 1 - 2 hours.  She takes this one at home every day.  It is done at the same time as Colin's. 
At night she sleeps from 8 pm - 6/7 am.  She usually still wakes up to eat once.

happy girl

Likes: Colin.  Suzi.  Eating.  All her toys so far.  She loves the ones that make noise or have lights.  Being outside.  "talking".  Being held.

I will take that mom.

 

 Dislikes: Driving.  She will either fall asleep or scream in the car... this has actually gotten a bit better the past week or so (she will play with a toy instead.)  Other people holding her.  She is a mommy's girl. 

 

Addison is such a blessing!  She is so loved in this little family of ours!  She is great at sitting up and has started scooting backwards.  She likes to pull herself up when she is holding my hands.  And LOVES to stand and look around.  She has figured out how to get from sitting to her belly, sometimes it is graceful... sometimes I am just thankful she is on the carpet!  She has 2 teeth.  She is a great baby!  Really happy!  She is still in mostly 6 month clothes, but I just graduated her to 9 month pjs because they fit lengthwise better.  She is SUPER ticklish!  Her sides, back, feet, neck... it is adorable!
Love this sweet baby girl!

Colin-isms

(I have started keeping these all together on a page at the top of this blog. It makes it easier for me to click back and see what Colin was up to. These are mainly so I don't forget any of these precious moments...)

Colin has started saying, "Hold on, let me get situated."  (like when we are going on a walk and he was getting "situated" with his wagon)

I was bending over putting something away and Colin said, "I see your little tushy!"

Addison sneezed while Colin was in front of her and he said, "Addison blessed me!"

Colin hit himself in the head with something he was swinging, when I noticed he held up his hand and said, "Don't worry about it Mom!"

He told me, "I'm going behind the couch.  Don't watch me.  I'm going to pick my nose."

I told him to hand me another car (we were lining them up) and he told me, "be patient."

 

Colin called me a "beautiful rescue vehicle"  =)

He watches Clifford and asked me why Emily wore her pink shirt all day?  I thought this was so observant - she wears the same thing all the time!

He has started saying, "It's okay mom... sometimes people make mistakes... is that right?"

He loves Addison and told her, "I will take care of you Addison"

Reading to her =)

Thanksgiving...

We spent Thanksgiving this year with Garet's dad.  They live in the mountains in Virginia and it took us about 3 hours to drive there.  On the way Colin insisted that he was NOT tired.  But, alas, I was right again...

 

I actually forgot my good camera (crazy right?!) so you get an overload of iPhone pictures =)

 

The first night we were there, Garet's dad showed us this "Blueberry Moonshine" that he had gotten.  So, of course, we had to sample it =)

 

They live in the "valley" versus "on the mountain"... so the next day we drove to the top of the mountain to see what it looked like up there.  We knew that it was snowing and the slopes were open, but, wow was it cold!!

 

They said it is always about 10-15 degrees colder up there. 
And we could hardly see where we were going! 

 

I am totally fine just hanging out inside! 
Garet and his dad hung out in workshop too... they made a stool for Colin!

I love it!  (this is before it was painted)  I think it is amazing that Garet went to him with an idea, and boom.  It was done. 

 

Addison and Suzi hanging out...

 

Barbara tried to do a craft with Colin... but the glue just wasn't cooperating. 

The kids were both battling colds (and now so am I...) so we tried to have down time.  Colin has this awful cough!  While we were there, Colin discovered Snoopy.  And LOVES him! 

 

Thanksgiving morning =)

 

Addison and I hung out inside while Barbara went to an exercise class and the boys got a fire going outside.

 

 Oh, surprise!  Colin playing with cars and trains! 

 

The fire stayed going all morning and into the afternoon...

 

... so Colin got all bundled up and helped throw sticks into the fire.  He's such a great helper.

 

Addison and I bundled up too.  We spent approximately 5 minutes out there.  If you look closely you will see the drippy nose.  Hers, not mine.  

 

After we had lunch, everyone else went back out to roast some s'mores!  Don't worry I got Garet to make me one too =)  It was such a pretty day! 

 

During nap time Barbara got everything ready for our Thanksgiving dinner!  When Garet went to get Colin from him nap, he took this picture:

 

Sweet, precious boy!
This is the only picture I got of our kids on Thanksgiving.  Guess it sums them up!

 

Barbara did an awesome job at making Thanksgiving dinner!  Here is Pop with Addison:

 

The high chair Addison used was Garet's dad's and his sisters growing up.  I love that!!  We did belt her in though =) 

 

 After dinner and the kids were in bed, we got out desserts!  Here is Garet with his apple pie...

 

It was such a great visit!  We had so much fun... since the kids were sick, and didn't seem to be getting better, we left a day early though.  On the way home, Colin was looking through Garet's pictures on his phone.  Seems that he figured out how to take some of himself... Garet found a few that looked like this afterwards =)

 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!