Category: Family

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

It's amazing how different Sadie is this time around. When Sean was two months old, she couldn't even be allowed in the same room with him. She was obsessed and would do anything she could to get near him, and when she did manage to wiggle through she would lick his face so much that we were honestly concerned about whether he could breathe. He was almost nine months old before she finally started to relax around him, and we assumed the only thing that really changed was that he was big enough to push her away if he wasn't interested in her attention.

So of course we were very worried about whether we would have to go through the whole thing all over again once Carter was born. To our welcome surprise, Sadie has been amazing this time. We can play with Carter on the floor, and Sadie doesn't bother her. Sadie can sit with us on the couch, and get close without getting in the way. But this photo really demonstrates how different things are this time. Last night, carter was taking a little snooze on Lori before her evening meal. Sadie jumped up on the couch next to them, laid down, and snuggled right in to the baby - all without waking her up. It was heartwarming.

This was the first time that Sean let us put Carter anywhere near him. He's interested in her now, but if we try to put her near him, it makes him nervous and he runs away. It's quite cute. But today, for whatever reason, he was okay with her. He still wouldn't let me put her in his lap, but he did let her rest on the couch next to him. So this is officially our very first picture of our kids together. And there was rejoicing throughout the kingdom!

Here are a couple of cute smiles. Unfortunately, Carter tends to wear a lot of white, and the only time Sean gives Lori the time to grab the camera is first thing in the morning - so most of our pics of Carter tend to be pretty washed out. But still, I think these two really capture her personality all the same. She smiles all the time now, which makes all the work so much more worth it. And this last pic is a little bonus. I couldn't resist throwing it in, because I think it is hilarious. Doesn't she look like Popeye? So far her forearms are regulation size, but we shall see. :)

Sean had a couple of friends (Grant and Reagan) over for a play date today. He actually hadn't seen them in a while, but they all hung out together as if no time had passed. When I came back into the house from the garage, Reagan snagged me and coerced me into reading her a book. As soon as I started, the boys came to join the fun. Later on they all piled into the toybox for a little fun. So cute.

We went to a birthday party today at a place called "Pump It Up". It's an indoor play arena filled with inflatable "moon-bounce" structures. Sean barely met the height requirement, and lucky for us he did. I think he may have mounted another protest if we had not allowed him to join in the fun. He spent an hour running and bouncing around, saying "Whee!" every 5 seconds for the entire time. Even though the bigger kids occasionally knocked him down, and he got beaned with a ball or two (one right in the face), none of this fazed him in the slightest. He was sweaty and exhausted by the end of the party, and gave hugs all around.

Sean loves to draw. I don't me that he likes to draw, I mean that he loves to draw. First thing in the morning, and first thing after a nap, he marches into the pantry, points at his drawing materials, and begs "art? art?". Later in the day, we head outside and he asks for his chalk, so that he can draw on the fence. He probably spends at least an hour or two a day drawing. The coolest part is the way he holds his crayons. Instead of holding them like a typical todler with a crayon wrapped in a meaty little fist, Sean holds his crayons the way an adult would. Take a look at the close-up Lori took of his hand, and you'll see what I mean.

Isn't she cute? She is finally starting to look like someone. I don't mean that she looks like me or Lori, or even like another family member. I just mean that she is starting to look like a little individual, instead of just like one generic baby amongst many. You can start to see her features and personality developing. It's kind of exciting!

Sean had a play date today with his little friend Calysta. And as a bonus, Lori got to actually spend some time with another adult - her friend Kathryn. (I'm under the impression that I don't count as an adult. Heh heh.)

We took Sean Trick-or-Treating tonight - or at least, we walked around the neighborhood in a costume. He did three full laps around the block, but only actually stopped at one house. And I had to trick him into going up to that house by luring him with a peanut butter M&M. But he still had a blast. We don't usually go out walking at night, and all the neighborhood kids were out too, so that made it extra interesting for him. Good times.