Starting on solids.

Today we started feeding Katie solids.  (She is almost 5 months old.  With Mike we started solids at 4 months.)  She has shown a interest in eating (she tilts her head up at you when you eat or drink) recently, so we decided to give it a try.

We started with 1 tablespoon of whole grain rice cereal mixed with 1.5 tablespoons of breast milk.  She downed it like a champ.  Initially we leaned her back when feeding to help her swallow but noticed that she was trying to sit up, so now we have her fully upright and she will still lean forward to get the food into her mouth as soon as possible.  Of course, half of it comes right back out of her mouth, but we are making progress!

Our big girl looking so small in the highchair. Excited for dinner time.

Ready to eat.

Resolutions

So - my typical New Year's Resolutions usually fall by the way side after a month.

I think my goals for this year are very reasonable and hopefully by sharing them with you, will help me stick to them. Here there are in order of importance.

1- Make more time for ME!  (I've already started this be making a hair appt. for 1/6 (going back to my natural lighter shade and a cut) (also getting my teeth whitened on 1/17.  A happier me means a happier family.

2- Eat more fruits and vegetables.

3 - work out 3 times a week.  Can include, yoga, pilates, weight training, running.

4- run in a marathon  (you know the old saying "you only regret what you don't do."  I know that if I don't run in a marathon while I still can that I'll regret not doing it later.)

Okay - Wish me luck.  I'll share pics. with you and update you on how I'm doing.

New Year's Eve

We can't believe another year has gone by already.  A new year with a new baby.  She was practicing sitting up.

Our New Year's Eve was pretty typical (I think) for parents of a toddler and a new baby.  We finally broke open our bottle of Champagne (from Napa 3 years ago) and had that with some strawberries (we didn't want our evening to be completely pathetic) and were in bed by 10 (which we were excited about!)

Perhaps next year we'll spend New Years Eve in NYC at Times Square (if anyone want's to babysit our kids.)

Sitting pretty.  She always has a tendency to lean to the right.

Briefly sitting by her self.

The money shot.  Check out her chubby thighs.  She has about 4 luscious rolls. :)

I wear my sunglasses at night.

 Lately Mikey has been obsessed with his sunglasses. I can't find any that are small enough for him. The ones he has on in the pictures below are for age 3 and up and he constantly has to push them back up his nose. He sure is cute (we say that everyday.)

What are you looking at?!

These have a monkey on the side.  He also has a blue pair.

Youtube

Wish I would have realized how useful Youtube was sooner!

So, whenever we are out and about and Mikey sees a construction site, every type of truck (fire, ambulance, maintence, etc.), buses he goes crazy talking up a storm and requests "more trucks."  He LOVES everything trucks!!

So we found videos on youtube of construction sites, and diggers, bulldozers, excavators, combine harvesters, lawn mowers.  He sat still for 90 mins. watching and watching and watching.  It was awesome!



We also discovered that youtube is a very helpful learning tool.  We have used it to learn numbers, letters, colors, animals, months, shapes.  If you can think of a nursery rhyme, they have it on youtube.  Same thing with books!  On of our favorite books is called Goodnight Moon.  There is a video on youtube that reads the book and makes the pictures come alive.  Mikey is absoultely mesmerized.
Here's a few links where you can see what we have been watching.

Super Simple Songs and Twenty Trucks are our favorites.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Construction Trucks

Watching the Digger.

Both kids content for a few minutes.

Christmas Day - Santa Came!

This was our first Christmas as a family that we shared in our very own home.  The last few years we spent Christmas at my parents home. It was nice to sleep in our very own beds and make some of our own traditions.  Scott and I had a lot of fun playing Santa and were more excited than the kids on Christmas morning.  Christmas is definately all about the kids. 

Mikey loves his crane and train set and puzzle.  Santa also brough him some big boy underwear.
Katie received clothes and books and some hair pieces.
The kids also got various presents from relatives and a generous check from Great Grandma.
Scott received the usual and I received a laptop, 2 pair of running shorts, new sneakers and a new winter jacket. We also received money which is the best gift!

We didn't go crazy this year since the kids are still very small and we are moving very soon! (Look for a future post!)

We decided to forgo Christmas Eve mass since it was at 4:00 and 5:30.  Right about the time when we start dinner and it would upset our nighttime routine.  Plus on X-mas eve mass is always so crowded.

On Christmas morning we had yummy homemade cinnamon buns, went to 8:45 mass (hardly anyone there), came home and started opening presents about 10:30 until noon. 

Santa came!

Santa ate the cookies and drank the (almond) milk.

Santa's letter to the kids.

Mikey doesn't like Katie invading his space!

Excited to start the day!

She gives the best smiles!

Fun, looking at this picture it reminds me that on Christmas morning, Mikey was definately in a daze for a few hours.

Our 8 foot tree with presents underneath.

Mikey received a fire truck book from Daddy Santa.

Excited to see what is in her stocking.

She has some socks, a chew doll, bath toy, and hair accessories.

Scott got razors, toothbrushes and a wallet.

My big boy!

A quick snap before heading to church.

Playing with his crane and train set.  Whenever we leave the house he says "bye crane."

Busy working "picking up dirt with his crane."

Dear Santa

We had a lot of fun decorating and writing out our letter to Santa this year.  Mikey did all of the decorating and we made sure to leave out cookies and milk for Santa.

Mikey and I working on Santa's letter.

Always the busy boy.  It's hard to get him to stop focusing on what he is doing to get a good pic.

Our Christmas Letter to Santa.

Milk and Cookies for Santa.  (Note:  Santa was NOT allowed to eat all these cookies!)