Zoo Lights 2009

With a zoo map in tow we are ready to go!

Brrrrr it was cold outside. Good thing we have our hoods up!

Papa Minor treated and sent us all on the carousel. This was your second time on one and this time you loved it!

This was our second year going to Zoo Lights with the Jackson & Minor Families. We hope we make it every year to come. Jack you were at home with Nana E because it was your bedtime and so very cold! Next year you will be sure to make an appearance. We sipped hot chocolate and talked to a talking giraffe! All the lights were beautiful and it was so cute to hear you say "Ohhh Mommy it's boootiful"

Christmas

Mommy had to work on Christmas day but Daddy took you to Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Mikes house to celebrate. I guess it was too much of a good time for you Jack. You fell fast asleep while Nana fed you.

We celebrated Christmas a few days later at Nana E's house and it was perfect. I think you enjoyed celebrating a week of Christmas rather than cramming it all into one day! I know I did. I was so fun to watch you get so excited over all the presents. You were a great helper passing out the gifts. Even if you did help open a few!

What a mess! Paper and ribbon everywhere but what a fun way to make a mess!

Santa's little helper!

Christmas Shanagins

This was not an easy shot to get! One minute Luke would go left and Heidi would sit then Heidi would break right! I was determined to get your picture in front of Nana's beautiful tree!

Graham on the left and Jack on the right. Only a handful of days separates you in age. You two couldn't be cuter!

I have a picture of Pops holding Luke up to his first Christmas tree and I thought it was so cute we should do it with Jack! I love how you were mesmerized by the lights.

We were busy learning names before all our family came to town. Now you have great fun pointing people out in pictures. This one was a little harder as the Jackson Family were in full snow gear! You concentrated really hard and eventually found everyone!

A visit from Santa

Luke you took a few minutes away from stealing veggies from the veggie tray to come meet Santa. It didn't take much persuasion as Santa had PRESENTS!

You weren't too keen on the idea of sitting on this merry guys lap but you did climb up next to him and have a little chat. You wanted to know what your present was but Santa didn't spoil it he said "Well you have to open it to find out!". So you did just that and were so ecited to find a Thomas tree ordament!

You were also so lucky to get a candy cane! I think you can see how much you liked it here.

Now it was time for Jack to visit with Santa. You were a bit wary and kept a close eye on Mommy and Daddy. We managed to get a few cute shots with you and Santa before it was time to eat-again.

Luke's second visit to the ER

Oh my what a day we've had. Lukers I sent you downstairs to watch Mickey while I put Jack down for a nap. You've gotten into a habit of waking him up the minute I put him down so I thought it was a good idea to distract you with Mikey this time. I listened as you went down stairs, heard you turn Mickey on and everything was quiet. Well it was quiet for a minute and then there was screaming.

I quickly put Jack in his crib, prayed he would go to sleep and ran down the stairs to find you with blood dripping from your head. My heart was racing and the adrenaline was flowing. I tried to stay calm but I could feel my face getting red and there was a quiver in my voice. I looked at the cut just below your eyebrow and knew instantly you needed stitches.

I called our sweet neighbor Sally over to sit with Jack until Daddy got home and off we went to St. Joes, in rush hour! It felt like it took forever to get you there. I was so nervous because you bumped your head and you kept trying to nap in the car. You told me that you fell off the couch and hit the table. You kept saying "bad table, bad table". I managed to keep you awake until we got to the ER and checked in. Then you were very interested at everything going on at "the doctors house" as you called it.

You were so brave. You hardly cried at all except when they really got in to look at your cut. You didn't even move when they started your IV. I was so proud of you. The O2 sensor on your toe bothered you the most! You even wanted to keep your IV and wouldn't let them take it out! The child life specialist brought you a Mickey Mouse doll as we waited for your sedation to wear off. You were ready to go home before it did and kept trying to walk but your little jello legs wouldn't hold you. So I did. Your stitches didn't stay in the full seven to ten days. In fact by the time they were due to come out only two were left! You sat so still while Mommy took them out for you and applied steri-strips. You were such a trooper through the whole thing. It broke my heart to see your pretty face split open and your little eye swollen shut but it didn't seem to slow you down one bit!

Before and After

On our way to the ER

Three days later

Fun in the loft

Mommys sweet boy!

Currently we spend a lot of time in the loft. The majority of the toys are up here and lets face it I'm not ready to let that pure baby skin of Jacks get all dirty on the tile yet!

Jack you sometimes fall sound asleep amongst all the fun Luke and Mommy are having. This time it looks like Luke gave you a couple of toys to keep you busy should you wake up. There were a few more coming to you but I didn't think you needed so many while you slept!

Oh that smile! It could and frequently does melt hearts! You are still a little bit small for the activity table and can't quite walk around it yet but you still enjoy trying to put all the reachable toys in your mouth. Who can resist that jazzy tune the keyboard plays too!

November Happenings

My sweet little Jack and those baby piggies!

When Daddy gets home from work you are so excited to see him. Sometimes we wait and watch by the window for his car to pull in and sometimes we meet him in the driveway. None the less you always run and jump in for a hug! Thank goodness Daddy has two big strong arms because before we know it two boys will come running in for hugs!

Such a handsome little boy you are.

Things are starting to calm down around here. We have all settled better into a routine and things are running rather smoothly. Luke you are accepting that Jack is hear to stay and have become a great helper running for diapers and burp cloths. Boy do we need burp cloths often! Jack you are like a little fountain of spit up. I sure hope you outgrow it soon!

Jack 3 months!

Hard to believe it's been three months already! Nearly all your baby hair has fallen out and some new blonde baby fuzz is coming in. You eyes are turning hazel like Daddy and Lukes and you skin is beautiful and creamy. I'm not ready to leave you and head back to work but I know I have to. Just don't grow up to quickly Jack I don't want to miss a thing!

What a hairline! Where do all these crazy cowlicks come from?

Just chillin with Daddy. Another computer buff in the making. You'll fit right in!

I'm not sure what outfit this is for the day or how many baths you've had but you are cute as can be! You continue to grow despite all the spitting up you do. The doctor said it's normal. Although I've changed to bath towels rather than burp clothes at feeding times! At 15 weeks you started turning over from back to tummy! They say that's the harder way to go. Such an over achiever already!

Lukers

Luke you are turning into a little boy right before my very eyes. It seems like just yesterday you were learning to walk and now you run, skip and hop past me. Don't even get me started on your vocabulary! Daddy frequently says where did he learn that word?!? You love watching shows while you do your breather and love it even more if someone sits with you. Sometimes you even do them on your own!

You still love to help with the laundry. You pour the soap in, put the clothes in the wash and then help me get them in the dryer. Now if I can only teach you to fold and put it all away!

You also love doing puzzles. You started out just watching us do them but you've gotten very good at sorting out the pieces and doing them on your own now!

What a spooky bunch!

Luke you weren't quite sure what all the fuss was about surrounding this Halloween thing everyone was talking about. However you got in the spirit quickly! We had a busy day starting off with a party at the Dinoffria house. It was a little warm so we decided to not put you in your skeleton outfit until later in the evening. Good thing Grammie and Pops sent you a t-shirt to wear so you were still in the Halloween mood! There were games and pumpkin painting and lots of goodies to eat. By the time we left you were pooped!
You and Daddy got very creative!
After naps we headed over to Will and Cate's house for a little more spooky fun! We had dinner and went trick or treating. Your first time ever! You had a great time getting ready and taking pictures with your baby brother Jack.

Getting into character!

Ready-Set-Go!

You had such fun going from house to house trick or treating. You loved to ring the doorbells and were so polite asking for candy. More treats please! You even helped quite a few people with closing their doors. Not to mention opening them and walking right in a few!

Mommy I hold Jack?

Luke you have been asking all day to hold Jack. I thought it was time to give it a shot! You were so excited to get to hold him. You sat in the green chair ready with the boppy hardly able to contain yourself. You were so gentle has you held hands and talked to Jack. You even rocked slowly which was very impressive. You should see how fast you've had that chair going!

After a while you got a little squirmy but it was a success and you frequently ask to hold Jack again.

My little boy has such big hands next to my baby boy. Hard to believe how fast time flys.

All clean from a shower, sitting so big with Jack but still my baby Lukers.

Brothers

Everyday I look at you two I can't believe you are mine. I never thought two little boys could make me so happy!

It is so fun to capture these moments on film for others to see. Sometimes I feel like everyone else gets cheated because I get to spend so much time with you boys. Luke I look at you and think you are such a little boy but then seeing you with Jack you seem so big already! It seems like just yesterday Luke was born and now we've added Jack to our family. I couldn't feel more blessed.

Look out Jack this is one of many moments to come where Luke is going to get you!

Slight regression noted

Oh my Lukers. You don't quite know what to think of this new little guy that is taking over the playroom. With all this baby stuff around you just can't seem to help yourself! You are obsessed with the baby swing. If it's off you want it on, constantly. You love to push the buttons to make the speed alternate and switch the music from nature sounds to classical. If Jack isn't in it you want him in it and if he is you want to take him out!

Luke I absolutely love this picture of you. Your facial expression says "duh Dad I know don't poke the baby" which is just what you were doing! You are having a great time getting to know your brother and all the baby things that come with him.

Once a monkey always a monkey! Thank goodness you are at a weight where you don't go crashing down when you test out all the baby gear!