Gingerbread

We decorated a gingerbread house this year and Ewan really had a blast. . . well, after I finally relaxed and stopped nagging him to stop eating all the candy- I mean, really, what kind of mother expects her 2 year old to prefer decorating the gingerbread house with candy to actually eating the candy!!! Sheesh!! Anyway, we started this tradition last year with a gingerbread tree- I am amazed at the changes that take place in one year!!

Gingerbread tree 2008

Gingerbread House 2009- um, he is "smiling"

Remember me???

Well, December has proven to be a very busy month in our home. Let's see, lots to update, Liam got his first tooth, is sitting up unsupported (still put the boppy behind him as he occasionally falls back), started transitioning from sitting to tummy and back, and even started crawling!!!! Liam is also eating primarily finger foods-already (we're talking meatloaf, bread, green beans, peas, cheerios, pancakes!!) and takes 2-3 naps a day. He basically sleeps through the night, although, recently he has been waking around 4:30-5 am for a feeding and then goes right back to sleep until 7:30-8 am. He loves our playdates with his cousins, Blake and Mia Claire- he just adores little Mia Claire and is fascinated by all the playing Blake and Ewan do!! He also loves to nap in either Mia Claire's or Blake's crib!! He simply adores his big brother and only Ewan can get Liam to laugh uncontrollably- it is soooo cute!!

Ewan, Denny and I were all sick with a nasty cold in the beginning of December and then Liam, Ewan and Denny all had the stomach flu over Christmas!!! Let's just say it was an unforgettable Christmas!!

Ewan is just getting to be such a big boy- he is in a "big boy bed" that daddy made for him. he took right to the bed and sleeps great in it. He is also potty trained during the day and we have started working on overnight- and he is doing great!! He loves to boss around his little brother and is not quite sure what to do now that Liam is mobile and getting into all of his favorite toys!! He is trying very hard to share and just adores little Liam- every day he spends "quality" time with Liam, hugging and kissing him and showing him toys (especially the toys that aren't Ewan's favorites!) Ewan loves trains with tracks, trucks, cars and dinosaurs. Oh, and fireman- every day he tells me he is a fireman or that he wants to be a fireman!!! He also loves to sing and can sing the entire first verse of "Away in a Manger". He loves to listen to music "about when Jesus was born" and continues to develop his joy of books. He is beginning to learn how to dress himself, although this is definitely NOT one of his favorite things to do. He has a great time during play dates with Blake and even got to go to tumbling class with Blake- which he LOVED!!! He is still a great sleeper- although he is more frequently playing when he should be sleeping during afternoon nap time- which is making me wonder if this nap may be nearing it's end- I REALLY hope not!!! Ewan also got to decorate a gingerbread house, play in the snow and leave cookies and milk out for Santa!! He was very much into Christmas this year, despite all the illnesses!

Much more to come in the way of posts as we have taken lots of pics during our very busy month!!!

Bye Bye Binks. . .

Ewan has had a pacifier, "binks", since he was 5 weeks old and last week, it was time to say goodbye. We began the process a few months ago, deciding that once all his binkies broke (3 total), it would be time to be all done. We explained to Ewan that once his binks broke (as he would bite holes in them), then it was time to throw it out so the trash man could pick it up and take care of it for him (he has a slight obsession with trash trucks!). So, last week, the last binky broke and Ewan had a very difficult time saying goodbye. It also coincided with him getting sick (of course!), which made it ever more difficult for the little guy to part with his precious binks. As I walked him over to the trash can, he bravely held my hand, opened the lid, placed binks in the can and said "bye bye binks" in the sweetest voice and then looked up at me with his arms outstretched and just began to cry and cry the saddest cry I have ever heard. I truly felt for my sweet boy as I held him tightly, realizing that we were letting go of something that comforted and soothed him since he was a tiny newborn. The next few days were quite difficult for Ewan as he learned to fall asleep without his binks, but, thankfully, with a longer bedtime/naptime routine and lots of extra snuggling he has done a great job making the transition. And, I have to admit, it was kinda hard for me to say goodbye to that stinky binky as well. . .

I just love these boys. . .

Pumpkin Bums

Little Miss Mia Claire and Liam had matching sleepers for Halloween this year, so Katie and I just had to get some pics of them together. Aren't they sweet? They are going to be such buds. . .sweet Mia will be well protected by her big brother Blake and cousins, Ewan and Liam!!!

I'm so thankful for. . .

May 13, 2009 Liam Dennis July 6, 2007 Ewan Wesley

Wordless Wednesday

No words. . .

THE BIG BOY BED!!!!!

Ewan recently graduated to the big boy bed which he is quite excited about!! He is sleeping great in it, although the mattress is on the floor right now. Denny is making the actual bed and it should be done any day now!! Hopefully, Ewan will make that transition just as easily as he did to the mattress on the floor! I cannot believe my baby boy is out of a crib-he is just growing up way too fast for me!!

We purchased his mattress from Overstock.com- here it is still in the box- Ewan was pretty excited about it (I asked him to smile and this is the face I got!!)

Setting up books and snack on the new mattress- yes we played on it in the living room all day!

That box became LOTS of fun- Blake and Ewan playing

A triceratops and a baby. . .

Ewan was a triceratops this year for halloween, as he is thoroughly obsessed with all things dinosaur right now. He was pretty excited about the prospect of getting candy simply for dressing up like a dinosaur! He was quite timid at each house as he grasped my hand tightly while he softly said "trick or treat" and ever so carefully picked out his piece of candy. . . but as soon as we walked away, he would look up at me and yell "I got CANDY!!!!" It was so sweet and I really enjoyed every second! Of course, the best part of the night for him was getting to actually eat that candy. . .never mind the fact that his mother and father stole quite a bit of it over the days that followed! Liam simply wore his little pumpkin sleeper and was too too cute, although not too thrilled about getting his picture taken!!!

Excited about CANDY!!

Chomping

LBI!!!!!

So, what do you do when you plan an October vacation to the beach and a nasty storm comes through? Play in the pebbles in front of the beach house!!! We went on our first vacation as a family of four and had a GREAT time!!! Even though we had a rainy start, the weather was beautiful for most of the week! Although it was chilly, we had a great time introducing Ewan and Liam to Barnegat Light, where Denny grew up vacationing!!

And, of course, a random pic of Liam having lunch in the beach house!!

Ready for a chilly day on the beach!!

First beach day!!!

This is what a 2 year old little boy looks like when he sees. . .

THIS!!!!

We went to the lightbouse one afternoon and despite the chilly weather, we had a great time! Ewan found a cool stick (every little boys dream!) and looked for shells with daddy, Liam hung out in the Ergo sling checking out all the sights and sounds.