Lucas: Art, Legos, & Other Fun

What's our little boy up to these days? He is outgrowing the "terrible" threes. Tantrums are starting to be less frequently seen visitors at our house and the word "yes" is falling more and more frequently. We love it! Lucas is sweet and funny and we are loving watching him grow. 

He is turning into quite the artist. Markers, paint, crayons, or stamps. Coloring books, workbooks, or self-made pictures. He loves it all. The new stamp set he got for Christmas was quite the hit on a no-school morning.

 

Lucas' newest obsession: Legos!! Matt and I love it and are happy to sit with him for hours building (even though Lucas already really doesn't need our help). He builds by instruction and makes up his own creations. So much for 7 and up!

 Lucas has also started ice skating and by lesson three is able to stay upright on his own two feet and even glide a little bit. Day one did teach almost exclusively how to fall.

And other fun: Hiding with the iPad.

Cuddling Morris

And cuddling Baby Sister

Haley - 9 Months

I love 9 months! Of course I love my kids at all ages but 9 months is so fun: personalities emerge, mobility increases but is not quite to the point where they can outrun you or reach the high shelves, babbling turns into a form of communication, and love for mommy is at a high point (I won't pretend I don't love that). 

Our little girl is sweet, curious, adoring of big brother, always smiling, and just a joy to be around. 

She's getting so big but is still my little baby. Big enough to give big wet kisses, and little enough to snuggle perfectly in my arms.

 Big enough to be silly, and little enough to giggle at everything.

 I am feeling more and more how quickly the baby in her will slip away. I am excited to find out what she will be up to as she gets bigger but am savoring every moment I can get with her baby-self now.

I've already seen how fast the baby years can pass. Just look at my big boy. It seems like yesterday he was 9 months old and now he's already a big four!

And what's Haley up to? She wants to walk. She really, really wants to walk. Of course, since she'd love to keep up with Lucas. She's a side-stepping fool and cruising along furniture at high speeds. 

She loves her and Lucas' new kitchen.

She still loves trains.

And of course reading.

Christmas and New Years Visits

One of my favorite parts about our Christmas Holidays is getting to see family and friends. 

We love getting to spend time with cousin Graham. L and G are starting to be best buds. 

HK can be fun too.

Cam and Lucas thick as thieves.

Aubs and HK opted for a more safe and less rowdy girls' time.

We finally met Baby (not so baby anymore) Nate.

And visited Baby (still a Baby) Kate.

Who Ya With?

This year we have definitely been proud to say "VU"!

Trying to teach HK the VU sign

Our Dores have had an amazing year with its first 9 win season since 1915! As one of our friends so nicely put it, "It's weird to think that your kids are growing up in a time where Vanderbilt football doesn't suck." HK must be our good luck charm!! (has nothing to do with a new coach and a newly invigorated team).

LP Stadium at Bowl game time

We made it to the Music City Bowl this year and we headed out New Year's Eve in the freezing (and sleeting cold) to watch Vandy win 38-24 over NC State's Wolfpack.

Cheering on our Dores

Fun day with family and friends.

With our favorite former Mr. Commodore

Bundled and cheering for our win

Haley - 8 Months

Haley's newest accomplishment: standing! She now wants to stand all the time. No lying down, no sitting, just standing. Haley also started crawling this month but every time she gets on all fours she realizes that she actually wants to stand up which results in the downward facing dog. We will have one toned yoga baby. Crawling is not high on her priority list. We have gotten a few seconds of free standing out of her already (usually followed by free falling). She is so proud of herself!

Proud/happy face! (Usually followed by clapping)

 Haley is still such a good, good baby. She is always cheerful, easy-going, and all smiles!

I love this age! Small enough to snuggle and be my baby, but big enough to be developing the personality of a spunky little girl.

Can time slow down just for a minute?

Until then I am just going to cherish each moment.

 

Lucas Turns Four!

On December 5th our little boy turned 4. He is oh so proud of his new age and will share it with anyone and everyone: " Hi, you remember, I four now." As his mommy, I can't believe that he is already four and wonder where all the time  has gone. I feel so very blessed to have such a fabulous, energetic, smart, little rascal as my son. He makes us laugh, he keeps us on our toes, and he teaches us so many things. 

We knew that this year Lucas' birthday would have to be a big deal (he's only been talking about it since this summer). I planned and thought of one thing after another (and discarded one idea after another) but finally I came up with the perfect plan for a four year old thanks to a friend giving me the tip (key element: the party was not at our house!).

We had a pirate party at Shipwrecked Playhouse in Cool Springs: pirate ship + ball pit + lots of toys + most importantly his favorite friends + no clean-up for mom = perfection.

Can't go wrong with a train table!

Our little pirate

Our favorite twins Anna & Ella

Car races

Ellie and Emma all dressed up

Emma caught in action

Bennett and big brother Carson in the ball pit

Ship Ahoy!

Also exciting for us parents: the separate play area for the little ones. 

Little brothers Peter and Christopher hard at work 

Will out for a ride

JD exploring the ball pit

HK unsure of the ball pit... but if JD is doing it...

 Pirate Cupcake Cake!

On Lucas' real birthday, we celebrated again (just with the four of us this time). 

Every four year old needs to take some milk shots on their birthday.

And with the past year have come so many passed milestones and so many new skills and loves. At four Lucas can add, he can (almost) write his name, he does workbooks with excitement, he loves to color, he loves to play ball, he loves to be wild with daddy, and read book after book at bedtime (and after bedtime). He will eat almost anything (except nuts and honey), always asks for seconds at daycare, and is a grand helper in the kitchen. He still sleeps in mommy and daddy's bed way more than is pediatrician recommended and has learned to sleep without his Morris (since Morris is no where to be found - a fact that makes mom want to cry). He loves his sister but would rather not share with her. He is outgrowing Duplos and has started seeing the joy of Legos. He can almost swim but is still a timid bike rider (even with training wheels). He will talk to almost anyone and will climb up anything. He loves school and all his friends. He is 90% the sweetest boy ever and 10% full of stubborn tantrums. He has started playing board games and is getting more and more skilled during his precious few minutes of iPad time. He makes us all laugh daily and knows 12 different types of knuckles. It's a long list but encompasses only a select few things of our sweet boy. I love him dearly and am so thankful for him. 

Love you my happy four year old!