Christmas 2010

I know I already posted this picture under Gage's 9 month update, but this is how I want to remember Christmas 2010. It was a long month of December getting ready for Christmas, decorating, shopping, planning, and wrapping. But it was well worth it. Christmas Eve our family went to the Candlelight service at church and then gathered at our house with Mark's mom, dad, and grandfather. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then the kids opened a couple of gifts. They had been dying to open something.

Keaton picked this present knowing it was a binder for something. He was so happy when he opened it that he now had a binder to organize all of his Pokemon cards. He spent the rest of the night filling his binder. He is such the organizer. And he got Lego Atlantis Cort got a SpongeBob puzzle

And a Hero Factory Lego set

Nana and Papa gave Gage a Buzz Lightyear scooter.

He had so much fun playing with it that night.

Cort couldn't wait to build his Hero Factory.Keaton organizing his Pokemon

We awoke Christmas morning to find Santa had been good to us!!!

Keaton and Cort couldn't wait to see what he gave them.

Gage ready to check out the loot.

Trying to take it all in. I think they were still half asleep.

Keaton got a new bike and a Tony Hawk helmet.

Cort got a Pogo Stick and Lego City set.

K & C helping Gage check out his new toys from Santa.

Papa, Grandfather, Nana and Aunt Kerrie joined us for brunch. But first we opened presents.

Aunt Kerrie taking Gage for a ride.

Too much excitement for Gage. He fell asleep during brunch in his high chair.

Keaton and Cort couldn't wait to take their bike and pogo stick outside.

Cort had no problems figuring out his pogo stick. He was a natural.

The day after Christmas we spent at Mark's mom's house with Grandfather, Adam, Julie, Kayla and Ryan.

Cort got more Legos! And he loves them!

Nana gave Keaton a picture frame for all his sports pictures.

Gage took a nap with Aunt Julie.

Two days before Christmas, Mark's grandmother passed away at the age of 93. This Christmas was filled with many memories of a great lady. On December 29, 2010 we celebrated her life at a memorial service. This is a picture of Grandfather, also 93, with 5 of his 6 great-grandchildren. Ryan, Kayla, Keaton, Cort and Timothy on his lap. We did not bring Gage to the service.

My parents visited the weekend of New Years and we celebrated Christmas all over.

Keaton and Cort both got a new blanket for their beds from Gee and Papa Dan. It is just like my blanket, but a twin. Now maybe my 'soft blanket', as they call it, can stay on my bed. They were always taking it off and curling up on the couch with it or making a pallet with it. They loved the 'soft blanket'.

Cort got a penguin pillow pet. He told me last night he named it Winter.

Gee and Papa Dan offered to babysit so Mark and I hit the town for New Year's Eve. We rang in 2011 with Melinda, John, Dan and Nicki at La Parmigiana with a delicious Italian meal then rocked it out at the Taylor's playing Rock Band. Yes, we are still cool!

New Year's Day we finally got around to opening Gage's Christmas from Gee and Papa Dan. Gage was taking a nap the day before. Keaton and Cort had been waiting a week for Papa Dan and Gee to arrive so I couldn't make them wait one more day.

I think Gage is saying to Cort,

"Want to help me open it?"

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.

2011 is already full of changes. This time last year I was pregnant and I ended the year still weaning Gage from breastfeeding at 9 months.

I think 2011 will be a year filled with many decisions to be made. We have already decided to pull Keaton and Cort out of afterschool daycare. Mark will pick them up from school and they will stay at home with him. Since he works out of the house, they will easily entertain themselves, work on homework, watch TV, play Wii or catch up on some rest. Gage will remain in full time daycare. I am really praying this change will overall be better for the kids and our family this year.

It has been 9 months!

Okay, technically it has been more than 9 months since I am so behind on my blogs. Here is Gage's 9 month update.Gage started pulling up this month. One of the first times we watched him pull up was on this basket of laundry. You can tell he is concentrating. And you will notice we moved the coffee table out of the living room. This gives him more room to play and crawl without bumping his head. Keaton and Cort miss the table because they sat and played at it a lot. Oh, who am I kidding, they ate snacks there, breakfast every morning, and sometimes dinner.

See mommy I can pull up on the couch now!
He still loves his bouncer

Still no teeth. The bottom 2 are cutting but have not grown any yet.Oh how he loves his Keaton and Cort. He loves that they entertain him in the car or while mommy is cooking dinner. Keaton and Cort even fight over his attention.

One night, K & C were upstairs playing Wii and Gage was downstairs with me. He was happy, just playing. Then the boys came downstairs and he was so excited to see them. It was like he was saying, 'where have you been?' He crawled up to Cort, pulled up on his legs, and gave him a big hug. Another time, I picked him up from daycare when the boys were already at home. He was looking all over for them and started fussing when we got in the car. He was so sad they were not there.My little monkeys.

Speaking of monkey, that is that name that I call Gage. I didn't give it any thought, but it has seemed to stick. If I think back, I called Keaton Bug and Cort Boo. Gage's 1st Christmas!

Can we open a present, please?

On our way to Christmas Eve service

We had to drag out the baby gates. Mostly to keep him away for the Christmas tree and presents.

Let me out!!!

AAAAAAAAA!!

Nana gave Gage this super cool ride for Christmas. He loves it and it wasn't long before he was pushing it and taking steps behind it. Just another milestone achieved!

I love Buzz LightYear!

I forgot to put up the gate, so look where I found Mr. Gage....

Gage at 9 months

Weight 20 lbs 14.3 oz (50%)

Height 29" (75%)

FOC 18.27" (75%)

Wears size 12 months

This is my view a lot. I am sitting in the rocking chair with Gage standing at the ottoman. Such a sweet little head.

If he could actually talk he might say, 'Why are you taking pictures of the back of my head?'

He definitely has the baby talk down. He babbles a lot :

Da-da-da-da

ya-ya-ya-ya

A-tah

Little man loves to laugh. He loves his brothers clowning around with him and he has developed a comedic side himself. His daycare teacher tells me some days Gage will be babbling away to his classmates and when he stops all the other babies start laughing. He must be telling jokes. When they start laughing, he laughs. Then he starts babbling again, stops, they laugh. Wish I could get it on video.

Keaton with daddy at 9 months

Weight 22 lbs 2 oz

Height 29 3/4"

Cort at 9 months

Weight 20 lbs 3.25 oz

Height 28 3/4"

Still Here?

Yes, I am still here. Wow, it has been a month since my last post. Which shows we have been super busy getting ready for the holidays. We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's although we lost a dear family member, Mark's grandmother. Gage turned 9 months old and you wouldn't believe what he is up to these days. And I am swamped at work with changing computer systems and closing year end. All this being said, I promise to post some new pictures and updates as soon as I can.


Stay tuned!