Christmas Morn

Ah, Christmas! Here and just about gone already?! Really, where did this year go?

We are having a great Christmas Day. I was up with Soren at 4am and she went back to sleep around 5:15. I did not. So that gave me a chance to enjoy the quiet before the storm! Turned on the Christmas lights and waited somewhat impatiently for the boys to stir. The boys have had nasty colds, so i was happy they were sleeping. But i was also ready to get the party started. (Am i turning into my father in this area, perhaps?). I talked to Erin and they had already finished their Christmas unwrapping and it was nice to have a conversation with her without one or both boys constantly interrupting me (since being on the phone is an instant "Mommy Magnet" for them).

Anywhoooo. 6:40am arrived and the boys got up and very excitedly descended the stairs. Santa had indeed paid a visit! I clicked on the fire (love that option) and let the gift opening begin. The Wii was first to be opened and they (including Doug) were surprised and excited. Lots of Wii accessories and games were opened, too. Darling gifts for Soren. Fun toys for the boys. We are so spoiled. So many generous gifts and great relationships in our lives for which to be grateful.

Here are some pictures of our day...And a couple from the night before...

This is how we use our wrapping paper tubes...

Does this require explanation?! All i can say is Keegs wasn't impressed with his Christmas pjs. He opened them and basically said, "What the crap?! I don't want no stinkin' jammies!" When it came time to put the pjs on, he first took off for a few laps around the kitchen and dining room. Click to enlarge to check out Soren's amused (bemused?) expression. Is she thinking, "What have i gotten myself into?"

It is nearly impossible to get a remotely decent shot of these three together.

Very excited with his new art supplies!

So cute!

This puppy's gonna take some assembly!

A decent shot!!

She is all i really wanted for Christmas.

So yummy.

The fully assembled castle 3 hours later! So much fun! Now we need to learn to talk like knights, i suppose!

Oh, and we haven't even gotten to the stockings yet. There was so much received i've been happy to just let them play with and enjoy what they've already opened. Stockings are my favorite thing. I love all the little gifties stuffed inside. My mom always made them so special and i've really enjoyed doing the same for my little family. So we will enjoy that tradition a little later today.

Picture Post

Click on the pictures if you want to enlarge them!

hanging his stocking and looking so old! when did this kid get so big?!

he had a little help hanging his stocking...

the completed stockings hung by the chimney with care. i finished Soren's before she was born!

Chubbylicious!

ornament hanging night. like all the ornaments on the bottom branches?

Keegen's turn this year to put the star on top

they are so excited about Christmas this year!

a darling baby. Thanks, Jaime for all the cute headbands!

if not her binky, then her fist. If not her fist, then these two fingers.

Keegen's holiday program

his hat was too big--an adult hat that i safety pinned hoping the extra material would stay on the BACK of his head. But no.

Belting it out, baby! Our video camera was out of disc after two minutes which is a shame because he had me in tears at the end (laughing hysterically, that is).

You can't get enough of her, either, can you?

Bode at his pajama/Christmas party having a blast.

Smooooooooooooch!

Keegen Douglas

We recently had an FHE about service. How we can help others. How this includes serving the people in our own family. Yada yada.

Keegen has taken this lesson to heart. He'll often tell me how i can do something for him since "it's service."

Case in point. We take our shoes off in the laundry room and the boys know they are to "hang them on the hooks" (hang their shoes on the rack in the closet). Keegen is much less a rules follower than his elder brother. He came in the other day and said,

K: "Mom, why don't you hang my shoes on the hooks. That's called service."
M: "No, Keegen. Go hang your shoes on the hooks."
K: "But Mom, if you do it, it's called service."
M: "Keegen. Knock it off and go hang up your shoes."
K: "Mo-o-om! If you don't hang my shoes up, i'm going to change my happy face to a grumpy face!"

To which, i had no response because eventually? He makes me laugh. I can only assume that this totally ticks Bode off, who gets/got away with nothing.

Also, a lovely, brief conversation with Keegs in the car...

M: "Keegen! Get your finger out of your nose!"
K: "Then MOM! DON'T.LOOK.AT.ME!"

Oy.

He's fully aware that the above Russian doll is completely off limits, but was unphased and very matter-of-fact when i caught him and asked what he was doing. And my response? "hey! Carry on!" (since he was totally self-entertained which NEVER happens. I need more "off limits" items...).

Christmas Reconnaissance

Chunky Monkey

At 2 months, Soren is:

• 13#1oz (90%) and 22 3/4" (50%)
  
• smiling, sort of laughing (kind of sounds like she's scoffing), making lots of throaty noises. She's trying reeeeally really hard to talk
• still loved by her big brothers--especially Bode
• more interested in things around her. She focuses on the toys when she's in her bouncy seat and under the play gym. She swats at the toys above her
• sleeping incredibly well at night. In bed for the night no later than 7pm and sleeps till 3am (last night i woke her up at 3:45 'cause i needed a little relief)! She's up again for the day by 6 (7 today. Yeehaw!).
• a pro road-tripper. She did awesome to and from our Utah trip (phew!).
  
• a happy, rolly baby and i'm really enjoying her!
  

Halloween

we made balloon bats and pumpkin people

we carved pumpkins...

We went trick-or-treating. This is the one good picture we got of the boys. Soren is in the pouch on my chest. i'm actually fatter now than when i came home from the hospital. I'm enjoying a LOT of kitkats and butterfingers and cupcakes and now the boys' candy!! Mwah-ha-ha-ha haaaaa!!!

Soren One Month

You:

• are a champion nurser. You love it. You live for it.
• weigh 10#8oz. (see above note) and are 21 1/4" long. Short fat proud of that.
• smile! So very fun.
• can focus your eyes on things/people.
• still eat every 2-4 hours. Your longest typical stretch at night is 4 hours.
  
• are very happy in the Moby Wrap. When you won't settle down to sleep during the day no matter how tired you are, the Moby Wrap puts you right to sleep.
• thankfully, can sleep through the noise and chaos of our house during the day.
• love to sleep on my or your dad's chest. I love it, too, and love that your little body fits right below my chin to my waist when you tuck your legs under and stick your bum up in the air.
• will only sleep on your tummy. No back. No side. No swaddling. No tummy? No sleep.
  
• have these luscious rolls filling in all over your cute little bod.
• are adored.
  

the girl and her accessories...

i didn't say i wanted my picture taken!


aaaaaah. binky.


woah! Where'd you come from??!

Party of Five

Here's what's been going on in pictures...As always, you should be able to click on the photo to enlarge it.

Pre-Soren

"she's fresh, she's so fresh...

Keegen meeting Soren

You can almost hear him saying in his high-pitched, soothing voice, "Don't cry, Baby So-Wen."

getting ready to go home.

it's like pink camo. where's the baby?

our welcome home banner. check out Bode's drawing of a hospital!

Yay! We're home!

she has lungs and knows how to use them.

she occasionally opens her eyes...

And, just because. Watching Saturday morning cartoons.