AJ's first birthday is just one week away!

Two in the Tower

Last week AJ was able to join Charlotte in the kitchen tower for the first time. We were getting ready to make bread. I got a new Nutrimill mill (see it next to Charlotte in the background) and Bosch mixer for Christmas from Nanny and Papa. We love both of them. I think we're pretty much 99% converted to making all our own whole wheat bread. We still buy pita and bagels occasionally. I've been making 4 or 5 loaves at a time and freezing them. The kids love it.

Snow White

Dave took Charlotte to see Snow White a couple weeks ago at a local highschool. She chose an afternoon with Daddy over me. I think it was some good father daughter bonding time. Charlotte was a little overwhelmed by all the kids and people there but is still talking about it. She can't wait to go to another play.

Welcome home present....

Unless you live in a hole, you know that the mid-atlantic is getting pounded with a huge snow storm. This is the biggest snowstorm DC has seen since 1922! We currently have over 2 feet and it's still coming down for a few more hours. My mom and dad were due to return from a carribean cruise this afternoon. Needless to say, they are stuck in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a little while. I could think of worse places to be "stranded". I wanted to post this picture of their car for them - it's parked at our house. They also have snow covered car parked at Dulles. Welcome home!

More pictures soon...back to shoveling for now.

Updates

Okay, it's time for some updates. January has been a long cold month, but AJ and Charlotte are enjoying their indoor time.

1. First and foremost, AJ is walking. He took his first steps at church a couple weeks ago. This week he took 15 steps across the room. He walks more and more each day. Now he can carry things all over the house...sweet!

2. Charlotte went to her first birthday party at "Old McDonald's" to celebrate Kelly's big #3! She also went to her first play with Daddy (I'll post a picture later) to see Snow White. It was great for her to have alone time with each of us last weekend.

3. Memme and Poppy were here briefly before their carribean cruise (can we say jealous?!). They got to see all of AJ's new skills. They'll be back for Superbowl next weekend.

4. AJ is signing and talking! First word was "uh-oh" followed by "hi" and "all done". First sign was "all done" and his current repertoire includes all done, phone, socks, bath, eat, more, home, hear, music, danger, hot, and probably a few more that I can't remember. His signing has really taken off.

5. Let's not forget Charlotte - her big accomplishment is that she dresses herself from head to toe every day now. We lay out her clothes at night including socks and she puts them on first thing when she wakes up. It's wonderful! Now I only have to get AJ dressed (and me, of course) and do Charlotte's hair. She is so proud of herself. She puts on her PJ's, undies and socks after bath now too. We moved some underwear and socks down to a level where she can access them herself and she couldn't be happier. Win, win for everyone!

6. Now for mom and dad news....no we're not having another baby :) But the house hunt is ON! We're staying in the Springfield area but it's time to get a single family home with a garage, more bedrooms and more space for our growing family. We're in no rush because we're going to keep this house as a rental. It could take us a while to find the right house so we'll keep you updated!
It's a good time to buy but there isn't much on the market at the moment. We're hopeful for spring!

7. Just remembered that AJ is clapping and waving bye-bye too. It's so cute!

His first birthday is in TWO weeks! Crazy.

Christmas - Part 2 - Springfield

We celebrated Christmas with Dave's family on New Year's Day. We usually do it the weekend before Christmas but mother nature had other plans for us. Here's the gang feasting on Nanny's famous mexican food. The newest member of the crew is Missy's boyfriend, Doug (orange shirt). Ha, ha - "Melissa and Doug"....get it?! He was a trooper and blended in just fine. He even got some gifts!

Cute little Evie hamming it up for the camera. AJ, as usual, stuffing things in his mouth that won't fit.

Dave and AJ - their half grins crack me up.

Pam and Ken - such a cute couple and married the longest of anyone except Nanny and Papa, of course!

Charlotte and her Papa.

Nanny and Bryn. Doesn't Bryn look like Cindy Lou Hoo from "The Grinch That Stole Christmas" with her hair sticking straight up?

The present distribution begins...

Charlotte and one of her favorite cousins, Austin. She always talks about him for days after they visit.

All this activity will make a girl tired!

Finally, Santa arrives!

Everyone is so excited and asking Santa lots of questions.

Charlotte had to show Santa her new mixer. When she opened it, she said "this is what I've always wanted!"

Kellen, Robbie, and Charlotte were so cute lined up in front of Santa. I think Kellen was confused on his holidays when he got dressed that day!

Charlotte gets her turn with Santa. Little did Charlotte know that he would give her a coffee maker and blender to go with her mixer!

So excited! She's been telling everyone about her new appliances ever since.

Like a good big sister, she went up to get AJ's gift (some trucks). He was sacked out on my back in the Beco.

AJ is awake and we can take a picture of all the cousins.

From left to right: Finley, Austin, Robbie, Kellen, Bryn, Connor, AJ, Evie, Charlotte

Christmas - Part 1 - Va Beach

Yes, it's the middle of January and I'm just now getting around to posting Christmas pictures. My mom has regularly reminded me of this fact. We headed down to Va Beach on Christmas Eve just in time to eat Gammie's homemade mac n' cheese, nap and get dressed for church. We usually go to Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve so we can stay in our PJ's till 1pm on Christmas day! Charlotte was so excited to see baby Jesus and wanted to sing Happy Birthday to him.

That night after dinner, we did in fact sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Mom made cupcakes just for Charlotte! This child is spoiled rotten, folks.

Santa figured out that Charlotte was at Memme and Poppy's house, thank goodness. Maybe it was because she made a point of telling him this fact when we saw him at the mall a few days before Christmas. After sitting on his lap and having a nice chat with Santa, she yelled to him as we were walking away, "Hey Santa, I'll be at Memme and Poppy's house!" Charlotte was most excited about her new baby doll and named her "Jacob" after her best bud. However, this past week she decided to change the name to Jillian because "my baby is a girl so it should have a girl name."

The chaos of present opening. I think we stretched it out for about 5 hours. AJ had a take a nap during part of it.

Charlotte got a new PINK scooter from Memme and Poppy. She loves it! She's also modeling her new slippers and hat.

Uncle Brian scored a home run once again this year with his gift of a Tinkerbell dress up outfit.

Her favorite part is the little green shoes!

AJ enjoyed all the wrapping paper, of course! Baby's first Christmas!

He got a new airplane which he loves to push and watch the propeller spin.

Charlotte eagerly waiting for Christmas dinner to be served.

Poppy grilled the steaks out in the rain. Brian treated us to filets from the organic butcher in Mclean. They were amazing!

A quick shot of the group before we give thanks and start our feast.

Following tradition, Brian made Christmas dinner again this year. He decided to use recipes from "The Palm" in Wash DC. He got a Palm cookbook this year for his birthday. The menu included green bean shrimp salad, grilled filet mignon, sauteed mushrooms, fried asparagus, hash browns, Caymus wine, and brownie cheesecake! Most of us didn't have dessert because dinner was so good and filling. It was all amazing. Thanks again, butch!

Dave and the kids having a good time. It was a wonderful weekend together with family!