Texas Aunts

LOVED having my Aunt Carla & Aunt Kurly come visit us! My mom and her sisters flew in the day Atlanta shut down due to icy weather - luckily they finally made it in and had a great weekend visiting, eating, meeting friends at Carla's baby showers, and playing with Hannah & Luke - who love them so much! Looking forward to seeing you all in Texas soon!




Hannah enjoyed playing beauty salon with Aunt Kurly - who wouldn't want a tiara?! Hannah even made sure her great aunt had a great magazine to enjoy! Too cute!

9 Months Old Luke!

January took forever to come to an end, stuck inside, too cold to play, bad weather to travel, stir crazy...and then when it finally did, too many things happened all at once! (More posts to come) Our sweet boy is all over the place! All Luke wants to do is pull up and cruise around - ALL DAY LONG! He gets mad and frustrated when he cannot just get up and follow us around. He will be walking soon, very soon. With both bottom teeth, the top two on their way, and a ravenous appetite, Luke has been trying all kinds of food lately! He likes avocados, bananas, bagels, cheerio's, sweet potatoes & swt potato fries, tortillas, eats all fruit & veggie combo squeeze pouches, and Gerber snacks of all kinds - especially the ones that look like cheetos puffs! He even got to sample a fry from Chick-fil-A - Hannah loves to share...

Our big growing boy is 20 lbs, 29 1/4 in tall, wearing 9 mth -12 mth clothes, but fitting into 12-18 mth just fine too! Luke takes two naps a day, loves his bathtime, and is worn out and ready for bed around 7pm. Not a night owl like his sister! He is a good sleeper and usually sleeps until about 6:30-7am (unless he is cutting a tooth, then he wakes up!) He can "wave" although he just holds up his hand (looks more like he is waiting for a high five!), responds to his name when called, and likes to copy any sound Hannah makes, or any animal like sound he hears as well. High screeching, laughing, yelling, grunting, muhmuhmuh are the sounds he makes the most - and recently crying is the most frequent due to his falling over or crashing into something when he looses his balance, poor guy!


Luke follows Hannah and/or I around all day, he gets into her toys and we are working on sharing or giving him something to play instead of just grabbing what is in his hands...BUT he adores her despite any toy she yanks away and loves any leftover item she offers him, I am sure that will change in the future! Luke "helps" me with laundry by taking out and throwing everything from the drying on the floor, loves to get into the bottom of the pantry and "sort" snacks, and he will empty any bucket, basket, or container not to mention take everything off of a table extremely fast! Hence, the "gate" or "pen" or "secure" play area was purchased!



Daily life is busy busy keeping up with Luke (& Hannah too) but I wouldn't want it any other way! Bring on February, and gasp, 10 MONTHS! How did double digits get here so fast?!?!

Mayhem

Luke's latest nickname...MAYHEM!

Sweet little boy...

To this...!!!

Happy New Year 2014!

Write it on your heart, that everyday is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

8 Months Old Luke!

Where to begin...8 months has been the most challenging month so far! Luke cut both bottom teeth the week of Christmas, started to crawl (crab style like Hannah did), and pulls up to his knees. All day long he is either fussing over teeth, or frustrated over not being able to move or walk. Restless at night, he wakes up all night long...sore muscles, growing pains, and teething pains all at once! Luke has been a great sleeper up until now...hopefully we will find our way back to better sleep and adjust to the changes. Size 4 diapers, and just barely in 6-12 mth clothes, Luke is a big boy! Has a big appetite and loves ALL veggies, fruits, puffs - he is doing great with a sippy cup (still working on it), and can drink out of a regular cup too! He loves play time on the floor, walking in his walker, jumping in his stand up exersaucer, and being carried in the Baby Bjorn. He loves our cell phones and ipads and remotes...sigh, gonna be trouble! He does sit well in his high chair - although he may outgrow it quickly and get moved to a booster seat at the table. Luke still "sings" himself to sleep, copies any noise or sound Hannah makes, and can get quite loud too!


So many changes this month - time is flying by! Proud of you Luke, keep learning, growing, smiling, crawling, playing, eating, and laughing! And work on sleeping a little bit more too!

Luke's First Christmas

I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour,
Which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2: 10 & 11






After attending Christmas Eve mass with Carla & Daniel, we all headed back to our house for a delicious meal of chicken tortilla soup and tamales, and of course opening our Christmas pj's - a family Christmas tradition. Lots of love to Carla & Daniel, enjoyed our evening with you so much! We all headed to bed early, but Hannah made sure to set out a plate of treats for Santa!










On Christmas morning the kids woke up to lots of surprises from Santa, stockings filled with treats, and lots of presents from Texas from Nana & Papa! Christmas was just not the same without them...we miss you and love you both so much! Hannah absolutely loved her Princess Castle (thx Nana & Papa), and immediately put on her Princess Aurora gown! Luke just liked the paper and bows, but loved watching his big sister open everything!









It was hard convince Hannah to leave...but we managed and left all our toys & gifts (and quite a mess too!) to head to my in-laws to open gifts and eat lunch. Hannah loved her Princess Candyland game, and once again Luke liked the paper & bows! Mike's Aunt Tricia gave Hannah her very own camera, which she absolutely loved and wouldn't put it down the entire time we were there! Thanks so much to Grandma & Granddad Pillsbury for our lovely gifts!







Our day was not over yet! We then headed over to the Town home to have Christmas dinner & exchange gifts! Gracelyn & Hannah were soooooo silly & both were just so excited for all the toys & Christmas gifts, it was hard to get them settled down! What sweet God-sisters, they loved sitting at their own table to eat, they kept saying "Cheers"! Thanks for a delicious dinner & wonderful evening Jay & Dana, Merry Christmas everyone!