Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year in 2009!!

We have had tons of fun over the past few weeks and I am sorry that the updates have been few and far between. I plead craziness, but things seem to be calming down around here. Hopefully, after the new year rings in tomorrow, I will have some time to fill you in on all of our excitement over the past few weeks!

Belated birthday wishes to our little Julia!! She didn't get a post on her birthday, but we were just too busy getting ready for her big party!! She had her 1 year check-up and is looking mighty good! She weighs in at 20 lbs, 2 0z and is 29 1/2 inches tall. 30th and 65th percentiles...the doctor is a little concerned about her weight. She would like Julia to be more around the 50th mark, but evidently her doctor did not see her eat a half of a pumpkin pie on Christmas! Julia eats well...she is just really active! She burns it all off!

More to come...

Julia Walking

Alex Making Julia Nervous

Misc...

Spikey hair and a messy pumpkin pie face!!

Ali chewing on a rawhide!

Duke, the shame!! We didn't know that you smoked! Oh, wait...it's a rawhide!

Alex's Snowman

Owen, Alex, and their Snowman

A Visit with Santa

Alex playing peek-a-boo from behind a gingerbread house!

A somewhat cooperative Alex and Julia having their picture taken by the
Christmas trees, fake snow, and presents!

Alex, Julia, Santa, and Mrs. Claus!!

A Day in the Life of Trying to Understand a Toddler (Specifically a Boy)

Example #1:

While building a snowman with Owen yesterday, Alex suggested that we 'crash it in' when we were done building it!! Are you kidding me?? Especially, when 'I' put so much work into it?? Really, can you imagine how much two three year olds were giving me...and then there is the suggestion to destroy it?? I'll never understand!

Example #2:

Alex uses a coaster instead of the spinner and actually 'pretends' to spin it in this realistic way when playing Chutes and Ladders...He then proceeds to hop around the board heading up ladders, down chutes, back up chutes, and down ladders. He is blatantly breaking every rule that exists and proudly declares that 'his way is the right way.' It is enough to give me a headache! As I play by the rules, it takes me awhile to approach the 100 square and then I am so rudely told that since I 'spun' a '2,' I have to go all the way back to the '#2' square! You have got to be kidding me!! Why he can play Candlyland and Hi Ho Cherry Oh by the rules, but not Chutes and Ladders is beyond me (except that Chutes and Ladders is perhaps confusing, but it still aggravates me that he doesn't even try!).

A Big Brother Helping His Little Sister Walk

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!

Alex and Julia taking a ride on the sled!!

He is growing up so fast!!

Helping Daddy shovel the driveway!!