Getting Ready for Christmas

Let me start this off by saying that Patrick had his two month check up last week and he weighed 19lbs, 2oz. Seriously. I didn't think that was possible but apparently boys grow a bit faster than girls. He is also rolling over and can hold his giant head up really well.

We've been doing some holiday craft projects and decorating. Mary has been very helpful; note her stockings.

We also attempted to take some Christmasey photos with the kids in their Christmas jammies. This pic of the two of them was the best we could get. Then Mary had a meltdown and then Patrick did a little posing for the camera.

Last but not least, Mary has been trying every trick in the book to avoid taking a nap. She pretended to be "fast asweep" on the basement steps but mommy wasn't buying it.

Happy Thanksgiving

This is how Thanksgiving started: woke up to naked Mary in her wet bed. Bath #1. Spent the morning trying to get her to go on the potty and prepping 10 lbs of yukon golds for mashed potatoes. And I sliced my hand with a very sharp knife. No biggie. Don't worry, between the bloody hand slice and potty training, there was a lot of hand washing. Then nap time. Went in to find naked Mary in her poopy bed. Awesome. Bath #2. Decided that it was time to go back to backwards zip-up jammies with the feet cut out for naps and night time (the only thing she can't get off). Took a quick photo of the kids and headed off to "Nutt-Nutt's" house for a really nice and very delicious Thanksgiving. We have lots to be thankful for this year!









The day after Thanksgiving was great. We relaxed, enjoyed our time at home and then decided, along with 20,000+ other people, to go to the zoo lights because it was so nice and warm. Very. Bad. Idea. We did however get to try out the new sit-and-stand stroller which was great.









Here is Mary getting a shoulder ride from Daddy. Pic #1 is the cute one. Pic #2 is the realistic one.

Firsts

Mary had her first haircut this week and Patrick had his first non-gas related smile. Both very exciting and guess which one made mommy cry? Her son smiling at her adoringly? Nope. The golden locks of her first born shorn from her head? Yup! Don't ask about the spread eagle pose...she just kept wanting to sit that way. Must be getting ready for ballet lessons next year.

In other news, Mary still loves Patrick and gives him lots of hugs and kisses. Here's a little cuddle session they had in her bed the other day. And have I mentioned how big he is? He was next to his nine month old cousin the other day and he's only a pound or two lighter than her. They almost wear the same size clothes. Big boy!

Mary's Craft Project

You know that I'm not the crafty type, but staying at home with a toddler demands some sort of crafting every now and then. Mary decided she wanted to collect pine cones, spread peanut butter on them, roll them in bird seed and then put them out for the birds to eat. Step one of collecting pine cones was a very sticky endeavor. (Note: use hand sanitizer then wash with soap and water to get rid of pine sap. Thank you google.) The peanut butter and bird seed steps were fine except that she kept trying to lick the peanut butter off of her hands, thereby eating the bird seed. It's just like trail mix, right?
Then we filled the bird feeder with bird seed, added the pine cones and hung it out for the birds.

Mary then decided, all on her own, that it was time to call the birds.

When they didn't come, she went inside and pulled up her chair, snack and sippy cup to the front door to wait for them.

When they never came, Daddy put the bird feeder out back and it was immeditely ravaged by a swarm of greedy squirrels and birds. Gross. So not a fan of squirrels or birds and we had dozens of them in our backyard at any given time for about 24 hours until the squirrels got so fat from the bird seed that they broke the bird feeder and it feel to the ground, empty and destroyed. Hooray!

I'm taking suggestions for our next crafternoon...let me know if you think of anything that doesn't involve live animals, sharp objects or harmful substances that Mary would probably ingest.

Happy Halloween

Last night was Mary's first official Trick or Treat experience and she had a blast. We met up with her cousin Carter (Batman) and hit their neighborhood. About halfway around the block she started to slow down a little bit but it was nothing a mid-walk tootsie roll couldn't cure. Today we raked leaves while Patrick napped and Mary had a blast jumping, throwing, rolling, etc.

Fall 2011

It's been a busy fall 2011. Mary welcomed her new baby brother Patrick William Martin on September 23rd and she loves being a big sister. She kissess him ALL THE TIME and likes to hold him too, but only while using the "boppy." Patrick is such a good little guy, but he's not so little anymore. He was born weighing in at 8lbs, 7oz and as of today, he weighs 11lbs, 11oz. We're now calling him "Chunk."