This is the way the baby walks...

Over the last couple of weeks, Amelia has been starting to practice her balance more and more. She'll grab onto a toy or whatnot and then let go of whatever she is holding on to that is keeping her balance. But yesterday she started to take steps on her own. While I think we are still a while away from a fully walking toddler, she is well on her way. I can't believe that this time last year, I was still pregnant with her and today she is taking steps. There are times when the infancy stage seems like it will go on forever, but I blinked and now she is walking - where did my baby go?!?!

Horse Rides

While the games I play are tried and true, the kids do seem to enjoy them. I can still play the horse game with Miles who still thinks its hysterical. In fact, it seems we've gotten to the stage of taking turns. I play this with Amelia, then Miles, then Amelia, then Miles, then... then my legs are spent!

More Fun Daddy Games

There is no one more fun than Daddy. I could spend a year trying to come up with the games that Tim dreams up on a moments notice.

...and I suppose it is just fine that we'll have to refinish the kitchen floor.

Best moment of the year

"Miles, who is your best friend?"

"Um.... Mia!"

Pito is such an important friend in my life and I can only hope that my children will have the same relationship that I have with my brother.

Early Morning with the Littles...

While in Santa Cruz, Tim and I decided to spend the night in a great hotel right on the water. After we put the kids to bed in our suite, we shared a bottle of wine and watched a movie. I had this notion running through my head like "look at us! we're the family that can do it all! fun days, hotels and wonderful adventures. We are AMAZING!"

Well, I spoke to soon. Amelia was up from about 11 - 2 and then Miles woke up super excited to be in the same room with us at 5:30 am.

"Mommy?"
"No bud, it is way too early, go back to bed."
"Daddy?"
"shhh."
"Mia. Mia! MIA!!!!"

And then we were all up. The only highlight of the morning was a fabulous sunrise over the Monterrey Peninsula - and it's almost worth it.

So big!

Where did all the time go.

A couple of weekends ago, we went down to Santa Cruz with all the Reeths for a ride on the Santa Cruz Holiday Train complete with caroling and Santa Clause. We got these pictures of the kids and I am just amazed at how much they have changed in the last couple of months. Miles' language has exploded and he is lengthening out. Amelia is on the cusp of walking and starting to grow a neck - it amazes me that this time last year, we hadn't met Amelia yet and Miles only spoke about 50 words.

Christmas comes early!

well not really...

The Sierras are getting hammered by a winter storm that is projecting to close the highway intermittently for the next several days. To avoid the bad roads and closures, we came up to Reno to visit the Reeths a couple days earlier than planned. We got in late last night and completely blew up the kids sleep schedule. They aren't much getting back on track, but I am sitting here at my computer watching Miles help Mamma make Christmas cookies. She is such an amazing grandmother who is pouring love on him while he pours Rice Krispies on the floor and marshmellos into his mouth. He has no idea how lucky he is, but its not really a surprise that she is his #1 favorite person...

Merry Christmas from Amelia and Miles

The Charleston

Disco

Mister Independent

Miles has just taken off in terms of his independence - I think it might be early onset of the 3s. His newest thing is that he is putting himself to bed. Our bed time routine had been that I fed Amelia and put her to sleep while Miles and Daddy watched TV or read books downstairs. Then Miles picks one of us to put him to bed, usually Daddy... until now. Now he declares "I can do it myself" and off he goes up the stairs. Normally Tim follows up after him, puts a blanket on him to kiss him goodnight and closes the gate. Its wonderful to know he is growing up, but it does come with some sadness that my little boy is becoming more independent.

Amelia's Baptism

On Sunday of Thanksgiving, we baptized Amelia. It was a beautiful California November day for such a wonderful occassion, and bruch for 30 at our house. The baptism was in the middle of her nap, but she fell asleep on the car ride down and got enough of a nap to be a gem of a little lady throughout the whole event.

At brunch at our house, Miles was in heaven with his cousins, all his grandparents, and most of his friends at the house. The kids went nuts in the playroom, all played great together and had a ton of fun. The food was wonderful and actually the right amount. I am famous for feeding about 100% more people than usually attend the party, but the only real leftovers were some cookies and other things I shouldn't have eaten over the next 4 days...

Amelia being baptized on the big screen

Amelia and her godparents, Sean & Christine Charmichael

Thanksgiving recap

Daddo and Beebles flew in from Connecticut for another wonderful Thanksgiving. They started their visit with us on Wednesday and we had the chance for a quiet lunch before we picked up the kids. It only took Miles about 5 minutes before he got comfortable with them and demanded a book read-a-thon. Thursday was a wonderful day with cooking, napping and eating. Little Miss Solid Food went nuts on the turkey and stuffing - I still have the weakness for the sinful mashed potatoes.



(of note... I actually really hate not being on top of posting. I know there were tons of stories and things worth sharing, but Thanksgiving was 2 exhausting weeks ago, and I can't seem to remember any.)



All that said, the best part of the holiday was the visit from the grandparents. I love having my kids to get to know my parents. When I was born, I only had 2 grandparents (of 4), and my kids are lucky enough to not only have all 4, but also 2 great-grandparents!

Little Miss Upright...

Amelia likes to stand all the time. Her life is a mix of crawling from one thing to the next and standing up on it. She isn't ready to walk yet and is getting increasingly more profficient at crawling, but I think it will happen soon. She has started to practice standing without holding on to anything, but still lunges with her upperbody first when trying to move forward.... which means she face plants.

Bed head

Amelia's hair is out of control in the morning. I probably should start thinking about her first hair cut, but I am not going to. :) I love putting her hair up in pig tails and barretts - too stinkin' cute!

It's hard to take pictures of kids

...but it makes it all worth the trouble when you do...

True Love

There is a little lady I know who has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. Any guesses who?

Weeks, and weeks, and weeks - OH MY!

Holy cow, its been weeks. Things have been a little crazy around here with Thanksgiving, Amelia's baptism, and early December holiday/shopping and needle pointing activities! (Yes, I am trying to do a stocking for Amelia like the one I did for Miles... neither of which have actually made it into stocking format.)

To get back on track, I actually went back into the old photo files and not only found some ones from the last 3 weeks, but also a bit longer. The next couple of posts (which are out of order when you read it in blog format) are my attempt to catch up. I hope you enjoy!