The perfect Christmas card picture

I have tried so hard this year to get the perfect picture of the boys in front of the tree. I wanted a great picture to go on the Christmas card and to even frame for the room. But, alas, with 2 small boys a "perfect" picture is impossible and if you get a good one you got lucky. Here are some of my attempts this Christmas...

I love this one!



But, at least we got a couple of decent ones...

Rice Cereal, Rolling over & not sleeping

Luke at 4 1/2 months

We are back in baby food mode at our house. Luke got the ok at his last dr's appointment to start on rice cereal. So last week he got his first taste. Naturally he spit most of it out on the first bite. In fact, he spit most of every bite out! But, he has done better each time since. We are going at it slow, he might have a bowl every other day. But we are working up to everyday. I can honestly say I forgot how had it is, and how much time it takes!
Luke after his first bite of cereal.
Luke after his 2nd bowl of cereal. Yes...that is a bottle of water. I got the ok to give about an ounce.

Luke is also rolling over, back to front and sometimes front to back as well. If you put him down he will roll over with in a matter of seconds! In fact rolling over is waking him up at night. We have gone from sleeping 4-5 hours at night to 2 hours! It is killing me!! But I am hoping that adding in rice cereal will help him start to sleep better. It would be nice to sleep all night again!
Whether he sleeps well at night or not, he is still about the cutest thing I have ever seen!

Update on the boys

It dawned on me the other day that I have not done a great job on keeping everyone informed of what my little ones are doing. Seeing as how that is the purpose of this blog, I need to get on it!


Let's start with Will. Since the day he turned 2, he has been a big bundle of independent energy. I do my best to keep up everyday, but it is a struggle, especially since I have Luke to look after also. Everyday he asks to go outside and kick soccer ball or swing or slide. Luke is finally old enough to sit in the baby swing on the swing set, so that helps us to be able to go out and run off some energy.

Will is a sweet little boy, but we have hit a point where we are seeing some defiance and crying fits when he doesn't get his way. Welcome terrible two's! Time out is a major correction tool in this house, and Will spends a lot of time there some days. This is a trying time, but everyone tells me that it will pass and to stay consistent with our correction strategies. I honestly have to pray for patience everyday!!

I say all that to also say how much fun Will is right now. He is learning so much everyday. He is talking so well and is starting to talk in sentences. It is so nice, he can actually communicate with us and tell us what he needs or how he feels. He likes to say:
*Mommy, what doing?
*I did it!
*I find it!
*Ride in mommy's/daddy's car.
*I go outside...kick soccer ball.


Now for little Luke. Last week we went for his 4 month doctor visit. He now weighs 17 pounds! He is wearing 3-6 month clothes and a size 3 diaper. He is only nursing right now, but the doctor says he is ready to start on rice cereal. That will be a whole seperate post. Wow, I can't believe he is big enough to start eating solids!
Luke is our little bundle of joy. He laughs and smiles all day long. He is such a happy baby and he loves when Will plays with him. I think they will be good friends one day!

Luke at 4 months!!

What! How can my baby be 4 months old! This little boy is growing so fast! Here is a little update on our little chunky monkey!
*He is rolling over all the time. If you lay him down, he will be on his tummy in a few seconds.
*He likes sucking on his hands and is starting to find his feet to play with.
*He has the best smile and the cutest laugh!
*He loves the bathtub! You will get wet if you are bathing him!
*He loves to be held. He is not as content to be put down like he used to be.
*He likes to be walked when you are holding him. He doesn't really care to sit down.
*He likes sleeping right next to mommy, just like his brother!! He does sleep in his bed, he just prefers to be with me.
*He is wearing a size 3 diaper and 3-6 month clothes.
*He is super sweet!

Thankful

I try to reflect daily on all the things for which I am thankful. I praise God every day and thank him for the provisions and gifts that he has blessed my family with. This past year alone, He has shown up in such a huge way. He has provided us with a nice home to live in, renter's to live in our old home, a job to help make ends meet, food in our pantry every week, clothes to wear, cars to drive and good health. He has blessed us with a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to truly follow Him. He has given us an awesome church family and a sense of community that we have never known. He has given us close friendships. He has given us a family who loves and supports us. He has given me a loving husband and 2 wonderful little boys. God is good! For this, I am thankful!

Give thanks to the Lord, His love endures forever...Psalm 18:1

Halloween 2010

I'm a few days late with this post, but better late than never. This year we did Halloween "community style" and it was so much fun! We went with a bunch of friends and their kids from church, there must have been 40 of us overall. To say we overwhelmed a few homeowners would be an understatement!
The whole crew of kids minus a football(Luke)and Baby Gaga.
Will checking out some oh his stash.
Luke with the stash of candy. Notice the 1 piece of candy that Will said Luke could have!




Our Halloween was even more special when Luke decided to roll over for the first time. Oh my, he is growing up too fast!

Chattanooga Choo-Choo

The next stop on our trip was to Marmie and Poppy's house. We got to have family dinner with my side of the family on Sunday evening. We also got to spend time with Oma, my Gran. We had fun just hanging out with my family. On Tuesday, my parents and Mike and I took the boys to the Choo-Choo. Will was in heaven! He LOVES trains and to get to see real trains was so cool to him. We also went into the model train museum. Will was fascinated and we stayed there for at least an hour.



While we were there we also got some pre-Halloween pictures. Will is going to be a UGA football player and Luke is going to be a football.



We had so much fun hanging out with family and look forward to our next trip home!