Hart's Wedding

One of Brian's best buddies, Ryan Hart, got married on December 28th in Norfolk, Nebraska. Brian was a groomsman in the wedding so we enjoyed a little couples weekend getaway to attend the wedding. It was about a six hour drive from Kansas City! My mom stayed at our house and watching the kiddos all weekend, THANK YOU, MOM! We left Friday morning around 9:30 and had fun just chatting in the car, listening to what we wanted on the radio and having some extra alone time! Those times do not come too often so we soaked it up! We arrived Friday afternoon around 3:30, freshened up in the hotel and then met everyone at the rehearsal and had a yummy rehearsal dinner at an Italian restaurant in downtown Norfolk. After dinner we went out for drinks with everyone and had a really fun night catching up with some old friends.















Saturday morning Brian had to be at the church for pictures at 10 so I enjoyed lounging around the hotel room, watching tv, reading, and not having to be anywhere! I didn't know what to do with myself! Brian's parents arrived in town that afternoon and we rode to the wedding together. After the ceremony Brian and I hopped on the bus with the wedding party and then enjoyed a fun night at the reception. Hart is a dear friend and we are so happy he found his life long partner in Stacy. We hope to make many more memories with the two of them!

7 Months

Graham man is already seven months old! He has mastered sitting up on his own and is loving being able to sit up and play with his toys while keeping an eye on all of us! We tried a few puréed baby foods but he wanted nothing to do with them so we skipped right over baby food and have gone straight to table food! We let him try whatever we are having and for the most part it has gone smoothly. He loves to eat and will try anything we offer him. So far his favorites have been pasta, peas, and cheese. It has been fun letting him try new things and Lilian has enjoyed being able to feed him too! Every meal she has to offer him some of her meal and has to be the one that puts it on his high chair tray. A few notes about our baby boy at seven months...
Weighs approximately 19 lbs. He is a chunky monkey! Still nurses each morning, takes two 6 ounce bottles at Michele's, and nurses twice before bed. He goes to bed around 8 and is still waking at night to nurse. We are hoping to stop this habit but seem to always make excuses...he had a cold, got out of his schedule due to traveling, basically we are wimps and would rather lose sleep than let him cry! However, I know at his 9 month check up our doctor will most likely tell us we have got to let him cry and soothe himself, which we will eventually! For now, I just enjoy rocking him and staring at him at the wee hours of the night. I am such a mush ball over this boy!
Wears size 3 diapers, 6 month and a few 9 month outfits are starting to fit.
He is getting a little bit more fuzz/hair, it looks to be light like his sister's, but still not much!
He still hasn't cut his first tooth but continues to drool like crazy.
Favorite toys are his obo ball and football, Sophie the giraffe, touch and feel books, and play keys. Loves his jumperoo, sitting up, people watching, giggles, cuddles before bed, his paci, sissy, Elmo DVD, noisy toys, and most of all eating his socks and feet!
He is one happy, happy baby who has stolen our hearts over and over again!

Christmas

Experiencing Christmas as parents is so much fun! The joy on Lilian's face when she woke up Christmas morning to find Santa had come through with her request of Wizard of Oz barbies (and not only did he get her the three she requested but the whole set, man, he worked hard on those!) was the best! The joy of children and their innocence just reminds you of how amazing they are. We enjoyed all the little moments...putting reindeer food on the front lawn, making our Santa cookies, unwrapping a new Christmas book each night to read, it was all magical because we got to experience it through her. We cannot wait for baby Graham to enjoy all those festivities next year, too!

Christmas Dance Recital

Friday, December 20th Lilian had her Christmas dance recital with The Pointe. She has made some sweet friends at dance this year, too. The performance was at Sni-a-bar Elementary in Grain Valley in their gym. The girls danced ballet to "the 12 Days of Christmas." Each girl got to wear a Christmas dress of their choice. It was adorable! 3 and 4 year olds dancing and singing does not get much better! I also loved watching a few of my former students (now high schoolers) dance.