Tis the season to do everything Christmas in Chicago

We kicked off the holiday season with decorating the house before we headed out for Dallas.  The season is far to short in my mind and I like to come home from traveling and be in the holiday spirit.  With now two little guys we knew we were going to have to take a new approach with the tree.  We tossed anything breakable and went for cloth ornaments only.  It was so cute to see both boys so excited - we knew this was going to be the best Christmas yet!!!

Next up was the CTA "Santa's Express."  When we were explaining to Will we were going to ride on a train that was all decorated in Christmas lights with Santa he was convinced he was going on the Polar Express.  Poor guy just didn't want to take no for an answer so in Will's mind we truly rode the Polar Express.  We all bundled up and raced to catch the train.  We jumped on the jam packed train and took in as much as we could.  We only rode the train 2 stops but it was cute.  Kinda a blur.  I think Will had just as much fun riding the normal brown line 2 stops home :).  The funny part was when Jason and I went out for a date night we happened to catch the holiday train too!  

Next up was the trains at the Botanical Gardens - a favorite of all of ours!  We jumped in the car early and took a nice relaxing ride out to the burbs.  

Sam loved watching the snow fall from the ceiling

Will explaining to anyone who would listen how the train was going to come back "Hey guys it will come right back.....SEE IT CAME!!!"

Then one morning I took the boys to Navy Pier for the Christmas Fair.  I can't remember the name.  I had never been and we got free parking with our Childrens museum pass so I thought we would try it out!  There was a train so obvi that was the first thing we did - 4 times straight!!  Sam was actually super into it too!  Looking out the window and standing up on my lap.  I felt so lucky to have two awesome boys to have such fun outings with.  

Mom and son selfie on the train!

And then we met the big guy!  Actually funny story we went to see Santa at shops at 900 but he got sick and after waiting in the line they sent us all home.  LUCKY for us Macy's was right across the street with no line.  Phew!!  He was a nice Santa but looked tired and probably had high blood pressure from all the annoying parents.  We were a low key family.  They kept asking us to try putting everyone on his lap and Jason or I didnt care.  Will just wanted to talk to Santa and Sam sits where ever we put him.  It was sweet.  Will told us "he held Sam's hand so he wouldn't be scared."  Melt me!  Will was a bit scared by the whole thing but was very brave when we got there and asked Santa for the CTA trains.  Santa looked at me like "hope you can find those because I just said he was gonna get them."  It was a big hit for Will and we talked about Santa alot in the coming weeks.

Will 2.75, Sam 10 Months 

Other notable holiday activities was cookie backing.  I hope I read this post next Christmas before I start the cookie backing.  BUY SLICE AND BAKE!!  By the time Will and I made the dough, chilled it, rolled it, cut the cookies out, baked them, cooled them, made frosting, died the frosting and decorated and iced every single one I wanted to roll over take a nap and not wake up for a week.  Also please note we started this whole process at 4:30pm.  Yikes.  But it was a hit.  Will had a ball and the cookies were super good!

A very Dallas Thanksgiving 2012

It is always such a treat to spend holidays in Dallas in the nice warm sunshine!  We can head out to parks with the stroller and scooter, runs in the morning, play in the backyard and enjoy fun with the cousins!  We did alot of relaxing, playing and spending time with family.  Will was super busy the whole time.  Grandmommy has the best toys ever!  She saved all the boys toys which are always such a hit.  Will digs through the closet in the computer room pretty much all day looking for new stuff.  Grandmommy is so patient with him and just laughs when he pretty much destroys the room.  Sam was Mr. Social the whole trip.  Sitting with anyone that wanted to hold or smile at him.  All the cousins thought it was so fun to plot a huge baby on there lap and Sam just relaxed and took it all in.  So sweet. I always joke the Sam takes the pressure off Will.  3 year olds dont really like to take pictures but 10 month old fat happy babies dont care :)

Sleepy boy on the airplane

Son and Daddy chairs

The boys with Grandmommy and Great Grandmommy

Getting ready for Christmas

Beautiful sunshine

Two EXHAUSTED BOYS!!

Cousins - Will 2.5, McKenzie 4, Caleb 4, Colt 6, Grace 6

Sam 9 months - Will 2 years 9 months

21 lbs 3 oz


Sam's Likes:  Sammy boy you are officially on the move!!  Sam is crawling and pulling up and really enjoying all these new adventures.  His favorite thing to do is pull up to the train table and try to play along.  He is also eating up a storm.  All finger foods now with nothing off limits.  Sam has slept through the night 1 or 2 times but for the most part get up 1 time per night.  There was one week when he got up 3 and 4 times so we had to do some sleep training back tracking.  Little buddy asks for very little during the day I hate to hear him cry at night.  I am a total sucker.  But we did let you cry one night and it went on and off for 1 hour - but I think it was worth it as the second night I barely remember you crying.

You started saying your "dada and baba" just before your 9 month doctor appointment which was hilarious because we were tracking you up to the final hours for the silly work sheet!  You love screaming and talking.  You also started waving.  Sometimes you watch your hand open and close and somethings you swing you whole arm.  The motion is always what you do with we make the bell noise for the pretend trains that cross in our house all day.  You love to crawl over to one of us and climb up to be held or sit on us.  You also do this to Will.  You love to play in Wills crib and pull up and watch him while we sing songs.  You always giggle when he puts his hand through the crib rails and tries to push you down.  So loving :)

Still such a little bear cub

The first official "pulling up"

Favorite spot to be standing up

Movie to Liam

Dislike: Getting your nose and face wiped off.  Getting dressed.  Getting diaper changed.  You also don't like being put down right after you wake up from a nap or in the morning.  You like to be held and cuddled and slowly introduced back into the world.  I think its awesome.

Will Update - You have grown so much in this last month - you want to be very independent but also a baby at the same time.  Toddlerhood is a hard, confusing, frustrating and silly time for you.  You want "big big big big" hugs and snuggles.  After you had hand foot and mouth and it hurt so much for you to suck your binki we put it away and you haven't asked for it since.  As happy as I am that we got rid of your binki its always sad to end an era.  You loved your wubs (which you ended with the giraff, red dog which was brand new for Sam, and 2 frogs which were both Sam's as well).  But they are gone and you are growing up.  Going to sleep has been a little harder for you at night.  Lots of stall tactics such as sleepy goes on and off, pants go on and off, diaper goes on and off and on and on and on.  We made a schedule for you to try to get you back on track which you loved.  I think you are literal and want order like your mama :)  You love to play schedule with me and always make sure it is known that it is "just pretend" - this is not reallly sleeping.

You love when your brother takes his nap in the morning because you get to do crafts with me.  We have made turkey pictures, bird houses, glue sticks, paint, markers, stickers and on and on.  You love doing projects and you love more when I make one right with you.  You also love to bake.  When I ask "do I have any helpers?" you always scream with such excitement "WILL DOES!!"  You love helping with Tacos, pizza, cookies, smoothies and anything that involves cutting "that are very dangerous."

You still wear a diaper (size 5) and have zero zero interest in wanting to be potty trained.  We have put big boy pants on your here and there but you are not a fan.  Its not going to fun when that day comes very very soon.

You have so much energy lately and just want to run run run all over.  I am adjusting your activities for the winter to accomodate :)

Funny things you say: "No thank you sammy" (which is what I say to Will when he is doing something bad), "I dont like that choice", "Sammy that is a big boy thing you can't have that", "That would be Grrrrrrrific" (from Daniel Tiger), "thats my bestest" and constantly naming his best friends of the moment, "so cozy cozy", "all by my SELF!",

Using his toy tools to help Daddy - he was so excited he was shaking.  It was also about 9pm at night :)

A bit scary seeing him swing the hammer 

Headed to school with Bob Bob

Two peas in a pod after "running" all over the turf.  Such a snuggle bug

Busy making bird houses

I was busy making dinner and I looked over and Will had gone into the fridge and helped himself to hummas and carrots.  A few days later I opened up the hummas and there were chewed carrots in there.  Thanks Will :)

Here is a video of a night playing choo choo's.  I love the little voice that is non-stop.  So many thoughts in that little head.

Dislikes: Going to bed and us shutting the door.  Lots of new fears and you like to point out if something is pretend.  Also much more cautious about new places or activities.  If other kids are doing it you will join in no problem but not if you are alone.  Like a bounce house.

Pumpkin Farm 2013

Lots of build up for Halloween this year.  Although I tried to get will to be Daniel Tiger he wanted to be Mater from cars - yes the Tow Truck.  Seemed a bit odd to me but he was so into it I couldn't say no!

Because the boys were sick we were a bit late to take the "farm" trip so by the time we got around to it we all were a bit chilly but we still had fun!  Lots of animals and things to do we barely scratched the surface.  Will crashed on the way home.  He still wasn't himself after getting sick - very tired all the time but getting better everyday!

Feeding the goats carrots

Boys at the farm - A bit chilly

Corn sandbox - Will would have stayed all day

Finally Mom in a picture :)

Sam 8 Months - Will 2 Years 8 Months

Sam 8 Months
20 lbs

Will 8 Months

Sweet brothers - not sure why will always has his clothes off :)

Well this month we were kinda a sick group - the boys both got taken down by hand foot and mouth.  Sam had it very mild so I was very thankful but I can't say the same for his poor brother.  It was awful.  So not alot of fun adventures until the end of the month.

Sam- This month you got very good at sitting and you love playing with the little people farm.  You will sit up and push all the animals around.  Its so sweet.

He also is starting to figure out finger foods much better but when he got sick we took a break.  I think he has sores in his mouth that hurt so it was mostly nursing this month.  

We spent alot of time in the house so Sam got much better on all fours rocking back and forth.

You are still just as sweet as can be.  Your expressions are priceless and you smile at everything.  Here are some of my favorite faces.

And those giggles.  Melt me.  Its so fun to watch you become more and more interactive every month.

Dislikes:  I know you dislike being sick.  You didn't cry on and on and on but you were just sad and I held you alot.  You wanted NOTHING to do with the bottle and so I didnt even try and that was probably the last time you took a bottle.  

Will - This was not a fun month for you.  HFM was awful.  The worst I have ever seen my poor baby get sick.  Thank goodness for the Curious George Movie, Cars and the iPad.  But even that didnt do the job some nights.  I slept with him out on big chair and just tried to keep him calm.  It was awful.  You also have been having an awesome time at your Little Beans class - first big boy on your own class.  Very exciting!

Asleep on a stroller ride - poor baby

So not Will :(

On the mend and off on the scooter!

ALL ABOARD!!!!  Lots of time in the house = getting creative

Feeling like his goofball self again

Scoots!

Well we finally did it.  After 5 days of "picking up his toys" we got Will a scooter.  He had wanted one so bad and would eye them every time we were at the park so finally we gave in and ordered one.  He was unstoppable and FAST.  I was shocked how good he was on it and how fast we all could travel.  He spent over 3 hours on it the first morning he got it.  Here are some action shots!

Babysitting Sam

As Sam has gotten more and more expressive and excited by everything Will does, Will has become more excited about Sam!  It is pretty much the most amazing and heartwarming thing to watch.  Will is ask me to "put Sam over here to play" and "put Sam in my crib while you go get my water."  That one is hilarious to watch.  I basically leave Sam in Will's crib ALONE for a few minutes while I go fill Wills water cup.  I actually feel totally trusting of Will that he won't hurt Sam but he does tend to get a bit excited with his jumping.  Sam just laughs.  Its so sweet.  When I try to take Sam out Will always asks for 1 more minute!

Here are pictures from the many babysitting moments of Will and Sam :)  Thanks Will I will pay you in gummy bearies someday :)