Holiday Fun

We have been enjoying all the fun of the holidays at our house. Alec loved picking out and decorating the tree and Charlie loves to look at, eat, and destroy the tree.

This is the section Alec decorated. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it was hilarious. About 20 ornaments on about 5 branches.

Finished product

He looks so big to me in this picture

Plotting his path of destruction


Some Daddy love while watching the broncos last weekend


Charlie's reaction to me trying to get cute XMas pics of the boys in their matching jammies




Yesterday we went on a Polar Express train ride. The train picked us up at the Wheaton train station and then we rode out to the end of the line and back. It was really cute, Santa and his elves were all on board, we read the Polar Express and all the kiddos got bells, we sang lots of carols and got lots of yummy treats. A very fun outing for the boys.

Waiting to board

Proudly sporting our bronco gear amid all the Bears fans on the train:)




Alec really liked Santa, after he left he told us, "Wow, Santa's a really nice guy," and he asked him for a Lego Police thing for Christmas. Cheers!

9 Months

Hard to believe, but our little butter ball is 9 months old today. We think he is perfect in every single way and are all pretty much obsessed with him. 9 months is such a cute baby age, and we are constantly smiling or laughing at him b/c everything he does is so cute. I could go on forever, but I'll spare you, and just list a few fun facts about him at 9 months:

* He just got his 3rd tooth, and it's on the bottom, so he has a little row of 3 bottom teeth.
* Just this week he started giving kisses. I'll ask for a kiss and he will come at me with a wide open mouth. It's hilarious. Yesterday we were at a play place with Alec and another little boy came up to check Charlie out and got close to his face to say something, which Charlie must have interpreted as give me a kiss, b/c he gave the little boy a wide open mouthed smooch.
* He crawls everywhere, quickly, and pulls up on everything. He lets go with both hands all the time, but his balance is a mess, so he wipes out constantly.
* He loves food and often eats more than Alec, but he is very particular about what he wants and when, and if he is sleepy or hungry or otherwise put off in some way while we try to feed him he grunts and moans at us like crazy. He has turned into a very noisy and demanding eater.
* He just started waving and I will catch him waving at random objects, like the walls, often.
* He has a hilarious guttural, snorty laugh and he laughs all the time. We will just be driving down the street and he will all the sudden be cracking up. I've been attempting to record it, but it is so spontaneous and unpredictable that I haven't really succeeded yet.
* He has started to babble more consonant sounds, and just recently I have heard d's and g's, but whenever he is sad or really wants to be picked up, he looks right at me and lets out a very clear mamamamama.

He has his 9 month appointment tomorrow, so I'm not sure what his numbers are yet, but he is still a very big, very handsome, and very lovable boy.

waving



Of course Alec (who often refers to himself as "big baby") wanted to participate in the pictures.

Adorable


Right before letting go and wiping out

Could he be any cuter?

Turkey Day

We got home on Monday night from a great visit to Savannah for Turkey Day. The boys and I were there for 8 days, and Matt, Abby and Ross were there for 5. As always, it was a fabulous time. Highlights of this trip included Alec running his first race (and Abby and I clocking our best 5k time ever - 23:30,) putt-putt, Alec getting to play more golf on the real course with my dad, a trip to the beach, a boat ride where we got to feed the dolphins, a holiday boat parade downtown, lots of basketball, football and baggo, and tons of great company and food. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful place to visit and we can't thank my Dad and Retta enough for all their hospitality. Here are a ton of pics, so be prepared.

Charlie charmed everyone all week long.

Alec got some more use out of his knickers, and I had to laugh b/c I had to plan my suitcase usage for the trip based around what bag was big enough to hold my 4 year olds golf clubs.

Running his race, he did great and didn't have any issues with not coming in first, which we were a little worried about.


Charlies loves this jumper, here he is observing basketball.


Turkey Day, I can't get Alec to smile at the camera to save my life

Brotherly love, or a choke out

Watching Mr. Tabasco fry the turkey

Check out Alec in the background




Ready to eat

they both loved Thanksgiving dinner

Cruising around, he is getting very confident and has started to let go with both hands

the beach at Tybee Island

Tuncle Toss and Alec braved the freezing water temperature


More races

Charlie loved cruising the beach, and didn't ingest too much sand



Chasing birds


Seeing Alec with these dolphins was priceless, probably the happiest and most excited we have ever seen him.

This is him watching them jump in the wake of the boat


A little scared

but he LOVED it.


Enjoying a traditional southern meal at Mrs. Wilks boarding house in downtown Savannah


and headed home. Aside from our jet having to turn around mid flight due to mechanical problems and land in South Carolina for hours, the trip was perfect!