Bottles no more!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! As much as I don't want my baby to be growing up so quickly - this is one thing I am NOT sorry to see go. Early September we started weaning Mackenzie off of her two afternoon bottles - it went fairly smoothly. With the exception of a few times, she took to her cup nicely. Her morning one was by totally accident. It was over our Christmas break when she woke us up far earlier than she ever has and bad mommy and daddy hadn't made bottles the night before. Luckily, there was a cup left over from the afternoon prior - so, I gave her that until I could get the formula made. Low and behold, she didn't skip a beat having a cup. So, once the formula was ready - I filled up the cup and away we went with yet another bottle! Well, when it was time for that evenings feeding Josh said - since she wasn't phased by losing her bottle in the morning - why don't we try going with a cup in the evenings, as well. It worked. Not even a fuss. Of course this is far harder on Daddy - as that was his guaranteed snuggle time with his baby girl. Bye bye bottles... I will not miss cleaning you!

Just a few random pictures!

Carter and Mom being silly!

Again!

Iron Man at his finest.

More end of December pics - click here!

Christmas Twenty Ten

Our Christmas celebrations started when Nana, Granddaddy & Auntie Ramie arrived on Friday, December 16th. We all headed to the kids school to see Carter and his friends sing Rudolph in their Winter Wonderland Performance. Friday evening after the kids went to bed we unloaded all of the presents from Nana & Granddaddy's car - so much for going light on the presents.

We spent Saturday opening presents and playing... lots and lots of playing.


Saturday evening we enjoyed a very non-traditional Christmas dinner.... steak, salad and potatoes - delish! I'll take that over ham any day.

The following Thursday Grandma and Auntie Mallory joined us for round two. We opened gifts, ate and drank well into the evening hours! Mom, Mallory, Josh and Carter played numerous rounds of hungry hungry hippo. Just the sound of it brought back all kinds of great childhood memories. So much fun!


Josh, Carter, Kenzie and I enjoyed a nice quite Christmas Eve at home - just the four of us. Carter and I decorated cookies for Santa while Josh and Kenzie relaxed.


Before bed we all said farewell to Henry - till next year.....

On Christmas morning Carter played in his room for almost thirty minutes before we think he realized Santa was scheduled to come the night before. When it clicked he was like most kids are on Christmas morning! Overly anxious to see what was under the tree. A tradition in our family was always the kids could open their stocking stuff while Mom & Dad had their coffee... Josh and I decided we would continue that tradition. Carter had a blast opening his - and of course even helped Mackenzie with hers.


Now it is time for the good stuff.....

Dinosaurs!!

In all honesty, Santa took it easy this year. The kids just don't need anything... really, have you seen the playroom?!? So, instead of a lot of gifts (the picture is deceiving), we put money in their college funds!

On Christmas evening Mem & Pep joined us for one last Christmas celebration. They were last, but certainly not least. We had a good ol' time eating all kinds of yummy munchies along with some good ol' fashion meat pies.


Carter was super excited to get the boat he 'really' wanted... I think he thought Santa forgot - turns out he just brought it to the wrong house!

We had an added bonus - the morning after Christmas we woke up to about 7 inches of snow in Apex. It was beautiful. Dad and Trish stayed an extra night and we had a blast playing in the snow... well, some of us played - others slept.

Now I'm really glad I bought that sled when I did......

Our house snow covered. Beautiful.

2010 was certainly a year to remember! Here's to hoping Twenty Eleven brings everyone health and happiness.

If you want to see all (yes, there are more) of the Christmas pictures - click here!!

10 months.

Gosh, our baby is already 10 months old. It is so hard to believe. I feel like it was just yesterday we were heading to the hospital.

9 month stats - November 30th, 2010
Weight - 20 lbs 9oz - 75th %
Height - 29 inches - 90th %
Head - 17 1/2 - 75th %

6 month stats here!

Girlfriend may possibly be thinning out... though, if you saw her you would say otherwise!

* Kenzie took her first step with no help of furniture or a toy on Saturday, December 4th. She took several more every night that week... then several over the weekend. However, I think her record is 6 steps at any one given time. She is not quite chasing her brother around as we had all suspected would be happening by now!

* She has the signs mastered for more and milk. Her favorite words are Bubba, Dadda, Momma, Da (for Kirby dog) and something along the line of ta-ta for Carter.

* Mackenzie loves to wave and point. She will wave at your when you are coming and going. If she sees something she likes - she will point at it.

* I have been trying and trying to put a bow (or anything to keep her hair out of her eyes) in this girls hair - but, she wants NOTHING to do with it. I put it in; she pulls it out. It is a vicious circle.

* We are still sitting on only 4 teeth; I'm not sure how that is possible, as I thought for sure several more were getting ready to pop through. I guess the restless nights a few weeks ago were solely head cold related. Even with only 4 teeth she has been enjoying cheerios, spaghetti noodles, rice and bread along with a wide varity of level 3 baby foods... the chunky ones!

Carter and his friends sing Rudolph - December 2010