Just for fun...

I got a new camera (Christmas present from the boys) over the weekend. Here are some "test shots" with the new camera. You'll notice my FAVORITE subjects posed for me!!!

N riding his bike... it was 70-something degrees that mid-December day!






The boys at the park (another beautiful day). Matthew was chasing ducks - nearly into the lake - it was scary!!










Shake it, baby!







My future rock star. He wears this guitar with such a serious face and says "rock, rock". Gotta love that kiddo!

18 month stats

Today was Matthew's 18 month check-up! I LOVE hearing how "big" he is! For the record... his head circumference is 20 (above 95%ile), height is 33 1/4 (75 - 90%ile) and weight is 29 lb 7 oz (75-90%ile). Woo-hoo!
Here is our update on him:
He can run, knows over 10 body parts, is an awesome sleeper, feeds himself with a fork and spoon, throws a ball, and many other things.
Here are his "words" at 18 months: Dada, Nicholas, jacket, down, crackers, shoes, socks, hi, trash, dog, duck, rock, car, Dora, yes, Mama (JUST started, I debated whether or not to include it), and he USED to say bye-bye and night-night.

Christmas through the years...

Feeling all nostalgic today... so here are pictures of the kiddos at Christmastime through the years.

1st Christmas... Nicholas is almost 1!








2nd Christmas... Nicholas is nearly 2! Favorite memory: you whispered "presents... Santa" in bed every night! You loved Christmas trees... pointed them out everywhere... said "more lights" all the time! You played your piano-playing snowman and went CRAZY - dancing, running around the room while Jingle Bell Rock Played. You asked for more presents, even when Christmas was over. The night before your birthday (January 3) we tried to explain what your birthday was... you looked at us and said, "Santa Open Presents?" You were SO EXCITED to leave milk & cookies for Santa - we left it in the fridge to keep it fresh & had to check in the morning!



3rd Christmas... almost 3! You are telling crazy stories now... a memorable one is that you saw a princess who had a magic sword - then she had a bubble (she was floating on it) and it popped - then it came to you - the princess cried and you cried. (Odd story)
We also just told you about the new baby... "I LOVE BABIES" you say! Here are your names for the new baby: Curious George, Trash Truck, Trash, Tyrone, and Ashley (pronounced Ash - a - ley).






Nicholas' 4th Christmas (almost 4) and Matthew's 1st Christmas (6 months)
Now you know your birthday is nine days after Christmas, so December is full of birthday talk too! You started reading...
Our big news this year is your BROTHER - it is still exciting for you - you LOVE it when he smiles at you and you help out all the time. Matthew is a bundle of love!!!
Our favorite Nicholas joke:
Nicholas: What is a pirate's favorite letter?
Mom: "R"!!!!!
Nicholas: No, that's not it. My favorite pirate letter is "E"! (this letter changed frequently!)


Nicholas' 5th Christmas (almost 5!!!!) and Matthew's 2nd Christmas (18 months)
We have yet to see what wonderful memories you boys will create this year, but I have no doubt it will be memorable...

Here Comes Santa Claus!

Here are some adorable pics from the weekend. My boys lovin' on each other before church yesterday & our time at the neighborhood Holiday Party with Santa! (Matthew did not enjoy)

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

Oh the Texas weather is frightful (can you hear me singing??)! Okay, so the weather isn't really that bad. It was "cold" last week (for Texas, not necessarily compared to MO) we had "snow" on Friday (debatable), and we had our first "hard freeze" of the season (brrr... 20 degrees!).
Nicholas is thrilled with the hat-wearing, snow-filled (ha!) weather and wants more! In fact, his prayers last night included a "thank-you" to God for the snow and a request for more! :)
Enjoy the pics - Nicholas in his Bears hat, patiently waiting for the snow (which came during naptime, for 15 minutes);Matthew trying on Nicholas' ONE glove (who knows where the other is), and SNOW in Texas!

Chuy's Parade

After a wonderful Thanksgiving with my parents, we decided to catch the Chuy's Christmas Parade in downtown Austin. I've seen my share of parades, but never with the "big balloons" like this one!!! Nicholas just loved it, but Matthew was pretty scared the whole time! Here are some pics of the parade. Enjoy!

Miss You Like Crazy!!!

Ahh... it's finally time for Thanksgiving. Hard to believe when it is 75 degrees down here in Texas! I've been thinking for the past few weeks about all I am thankful for... it doesn't take much searching to find out how fortunate my family & I are!
Today I am thankful for all the things from my past life that I "miss like crazy":
My Friends & the friends of my kiddos
Music with Mar
Storytime at the Library (with the GOOD librarian)
Tunnel Voyage
Kid's holiday parties at Tot's
Deanna Rose
N's old preschool & teacher
Jack Stack
La Fuente
WCCUMC
Any bounce place, free place, or water park with Becky
Crown Center (especially with the free kid's events)
Our favorite parks (Lowenstein! Fireman Park!)
did I mention my friends?
Although life in Texas is wonderful, I do get homesick. Just a shout out to KC & all its wonders.
Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! I am hoping we get to enjoy our traditional dinner outside, if the weather holds!

Family Picture Preview

The family pics aren't edited yet, but here are some favorites.

Fight for Preemies! Prematurity Awareness Day

November 17 is Prematurity Awareness Day.
My baby is a preemie. I have learned over the years that while my story brings tears to MY eyes, we were so lucky & blessed from the very beginning.

My pregnancy was slightly abnormal - abnormal AFP test results, ultrasounds to check and monitor progress of baby, non-stress tests twice per week (or more) but nothing too out of the ordinary. No one knows why my little guy decided to come early.

At 6 pounds 4 ounces, many wondered if my dates were wrong. I was almost sent home because there was "no way" I could be in labor. Haha.

Nicholas had trouble breathing on his own (hence the vent.) and had not yet developed the sucking reflex. We knew pretty early on that he was a "healthy" preemie, but that we would be going home with supplemental oxygen and a heart/apnea monitor. (after we could get the little one to just EAT!)

For me, the hardest part was mourning the birth/first year that I never got. I wasn't able to nurse my baby (pumped for 6 months instead), I wasn't able to "show him off", we couldn't leave our house for 5 months (even to visit family!), "newborn" pictures were millions of NICU shots, I "got in trouble" for holding my newborn too much, our "normal" was so different. The heart/apnea monitor beeping all the time, filling up too quickly so the man had to come & download our information SO FREQUENTLY (sometimes daily), the deliveries of oxygen - those big, nasty tanks, delivering precious oxygen to my little guy.

My friend, Kara, says it so much better than I. (click here for her amazing story)

Like Kara, I think the hardest part was getting adjusted to our new "normal".

Enjoy the pics today - Nicholas as a newborn, Nicholas with Daddy in the hospital (1 1/2 to 2 weeks old at that point), Nicholas on his due date (see the sign), and Nicholas today.

We are so blessed to have such an awesome kiddo and thankful for all the medical advances that allowed us to be in this place.

Addition...

Jason didn't think the 17 month comparison pics were valid. Here are some other Nicholas pics to compare to Matthew...

Boy Comparison!!

Here are my boys both at 17 months... (actually Nicholas was 17 months + 1 day, Matthew exactly 17 months). Just wanted to post a comparison to show that they may have SOME similar features, but my boys (to me) are as different as night & day!!!
We just can't believe Matthew is almost 18 months old and Nicholas nearly 5! Where did the time go????

My Little Builder

On Wednesday, our MOMS Club went to Home Depot for a tour and craft. The tour didn't hold Nicholas' interest so much, but he loved building! With pre-cut wood, a hammer, screwdriver, and instructions, he went to town! He was a natural at hammering, needing almost no help! Go Nicholas!