Up on the housetop...

Its been a crazy and wonderful December.  Zoe, J, Chase and I have been taking full advantage of all the Christmas activities in town! Zoe has eaten it up!  She LOVEs Christmas lights and always wants to walk around and touch them all.  Her favorite songs are "up on the housetop" and "rudolf" and she can sing them with a little help from me (which is more than I can say for her daddy!)  She actually really liked meeting Santa this year and commented to me when we saw him a second time that he didnt have his black boots like the other day.  Oh, my shoe girl.  She asked Santa for Princess Belle and he delivered! We celebrated first at Gigi and Pops' house with the crazy boys.  Amazingly they all slept untill 8:30!  It was crazy with all those kiddos.  Chase and Zoe got a house for the patio that all the kids enjoyed.  And, Zoe got a Cinderella dress which she insisted on wearing the entire day.  Her first comment after putting it on was "But I dont have high heels!!!"  Oh dear.  And my little Chaser - he got a Radio Flyer walker wagon from GiGi and Pops and promptly took his very first steps on Christmas morning! Crazy!  We had a fun day with all the fam then shifted over to LaLa and Pappy's.  Zoe got a princess tent which she spent most of the morning in (while in her princess dress).  Even with all those new toys she still wanted all LaLa's high heels.  Her favorite gift of the day - her own cinderella high heels.  Favorite quote of the day was when LaLa gave her a white napkin with her snack to which she responded "but LaLa, I want a pretty(colorful Christmas) napkin!" -which is funny because at home, all we have are usually paper towels, but she knows LaLa always has the pretty ones during the holidays!  Chasey just grinned and grinned all Christmas long and was enthralled with all the paper and of course tried to eat EVERYTHING on the floor.  Just in the span of a week he is now trying to pull up on anything he can and just wants to be in the action.  He makes me smile SO much and is my sweet sweet boy.  Such a cuddler too!  Everyone still asks me if he always smiles this much.  Yep.  Chaser, you are going to make new friends so easily! and you are such a big eater! Tonight, Zoe was eating her dinner and Pappy asked her why she wasn't eating her steak.  She said "Im procrastinating Pappy!"  Pretty big word for my not yet 3 year old!  I feel so blessed by the fun times we had over the past month.  What a December!

Long Overdue!

Well, this post is way past due.  But then, thats how everything has been for the last month or so!  CRAZY!  Mid-october we headed to San Antonio to go to Sea World and just hang out and have some family time.  Of course, 3 days before we left little Chaser got sick (103.7 temp) and was not quite his normal self, but we had a fabulous time.  Zoe loved Sea World and seeing all the dolphins and Shamu.  The weather was also perfect so we were swimming outside in the heated pool in October!  We got back and Chaser got an ear infection that didnt want to go away, followed by Zoe getting sick- which means momma did not get much sleep for weeks.  So, thus, my lack of updates!  Tete also came to visit us - yea!  We went down to Waco for Thanksgiving again this year and had a great time.  Its so much fun to have all the kiddos together.  Whenever I asked Zoe what her favorite part of thanksgiving was, she would say "Grayson!"  We took Chaser on his first mini hike.  He is getting so big and started crawling over Thanksgiving. I guess he saw all the big kids and decided he wanted in on the fun.  He can now pretty much get wherever he wants to.  He still loves to EAT and can really put it away!  He eats anything I give him (and as much as I will give him) unless it has chunks.  I think he weighs about 21 lbs now.  And he pooped in the bathtub 3 times this week!  ARGHHH!!  He babbles all the time now too.  Still such a happy guy.  Zoe girl is really growing up, especially with her conversation.  Its like talking to a little adult sometimes when she is trying to reason (beg) with me for something.  I was fixing a toy the other day that she really wanted.  And she said "Mommy, I know you are fixing that for me, but I really want to hold it now."  So matter of fact.  I dont know why, but it sounded so adult to me!  She also remembers EVERYTHING.  Here is one of our recent talks:
Zoe - why did Chasey get a new car seat
Me - because he got too big for his old one - he is getting to be a big boy!
Zoe - oh. silence. thinking.
Zoe -So can Chasey Dance with me now? ( i had told her when he was bigger he could dance with her)
Me - Not yet sweetie, but he can after he learns to walk!
Zoe - I think he is excited about that momma!

We also went to the Christmas parade this weekend - and Zoe and Chasey got to sit in Santa's lap.  She was actually really good with Santa.  She told him she wanted Belle for Christmas.  Whenever we ask her what she wants, its either princess dresses, or a princess.  She is SO girly!  She absolutely loved getting all the Christmas decor out with me.  She didnt want me to get anything out of the bins without her. "Wait for me momma!!"  And she is all about putting the ornaments on the tree - only she only wants the fragile "sparkly ones".  (of course the ones that will shatter)  She also sings along to the Christmas songs in the car.  And several nights this week, we have walked up and down the street to look at all the Christmas lights.  She wants to go to each house to see their lights and touch them.  She is my girl all right!  So glad she will be able to help me decorate as she gets older!  Chasey just wants to eat the tree!   We are ready for Christmas!!! yea!

6 months

Yep, Chaser is 6 months and the time is flying by!  My big boy is wanting to move around so bad I just know he will be crawling before I know it.  EEk!  He practically jumps when sitting he is so eager to grab whatever is in front of him.  His favorite thing to do (besides eating) is to jump in his jumperoo thing.  6 month appt - weighed in at 18 lbs 6 oz (75%) and 25.5" (50%) so slowing down a little bit on the chubometer.  Chase slept his first 12 hour stretch last night - awesome! Happily he is back to waking up around 7:30/8 instead of the wee hours of the morning.  You are such a happy go lucky kiddo!  Im so thankful! And you still smile whenever anyone smiles at you!

Zoe girl is such a hoot these days.  Here are a few or my favorite Zoe words:
"Chasey, you look sooo handsome in that picture"
"Daddy, dance with me!!"
"We are going to ballet after school?  That makes me happy!"
"Mommy, you look so pretty" (which she will tell me when I actually do my hair)
My sweet girl - you are so much fun! (and a little stinker too!)  I gave you your halloween costume today (minnie mouse) and you wanted to wear it all day long!! Oh, and we went to the fair this weekend and you rode your first ride!  You did awesome!  You and Max had a great time together!  Your teachers at school tell me you are quite reserved in class and often prefer watching to doing.  But you take in EVERYTHING you see.  Its so neat to see your little personality come out.  And you are laid back, but also a bit type A like your daddy.  I got the halloween decorations out and you line them up in a straight line on the floor every day.  And if I move them, you put them right back in their "places."  Oh, and Daddy says you have an "olympic" toe point :)

Fall

Fall is finally here! And that means Arboretum time!! yea!!  Zoe, Chase, and I have been probably 5-6 times in the last 3 weeks and its so nice to be able to be outside again!  Of course this means picture time too :)  Its been such a crazy couple weeks.  Chase is on week 3 of his helmet and his head is looking great.   He went through his 6 month growth spirt a little early, waking up in the middle of the night and super early over the past 2 weeks.  UGH. Please get back to sleeping 12 hrs buddy! I started giving him oatmeal this week and he loves it!.  That mouth is WIDE open for the next bite.  Not shocking I guess since he is such a tubby tub.   His little personality is just starting to show so much more.  He loves to laugh and is super ticklish!  I love to watch him and Zoe laugh at each other.  Its such a common thing now that if Chase doesnt laugh at Zoe when she is being silly she asks "Mommy, why Chase not smiling at me?" (Usually because he is hungry!)  He loves bath time too and almost always is happy after a bath.  We started doing Kindermusik a couple weeks ago and he just loves it.  He loves it when I sing to him- though he likes Zoe's voice best. She sings to him in the car if he gets crabby.  He has started to get so distracted when he is eating sometimes I have to sing to him to keep his attention - that or feed him in the dark!  He is starting to be all boy early I think!  The nursery workers always tell me he is such a flirt and always smiling at them when they talk to him.  Mr. Social.  He has started to make all kinds to cute noises, especially high pitched squeals - wonder if he will talk as much as his sister?  :) (HIGHLY doubtful!)

Zoe girl is 2 going on 5.  She has a definite opinion on - well everything!  Little girl is starting to demonstrate her independence too (is that a nice way of putting it?). And she is QUEEN of procrastinating - especially for bed.  "One more prayer to God!!" And her imagination is going wild!  She loves all her pretend play with Mickey, Minnie and Daisy as well as her other babies.  And she loves for J and I to come into her room so she can do our hair, put necklaces on, put us night night, cover us up, etc.  And she sings all the time- usually to herself.   She is so good at playing with Chase (or Chasey) and is always picking up his toys for him without me asking.  Any typically she is really gentle though every once in a while she will push him over because she things its funny when he rolls. Her very favorite thing right now is ballet.  She came home from it the other day singing "God our Father, God our Father, once again, once again, we have come to thank you, amen!"  And then she points her toes (a "ton due" apparently) and says "Hallelujah!"  SO cute.  Lets see, the other day I asked her when she got so smart and she said " mmmm.. Tuesday!"  Oh dear.  And today, when we were on the way to paint pumpkins she said randomly "mommy, u bring that blue thing (smock) to the paint so I dont get paint everywhere on my dress?" Yep - got ya covered Zoe girl.  The things she remembers astounds me too.  Things that I don't even realize she noticed.  She will randomly talk about her birthday party (from last year).  She loves school and is always excited to go.  Her teacher told me the other day that she showed her little friend a lot of empathy when the little girl was crying for her momma.  Apparently she was saying "you love your momma?"  "you love your daddy?" and trying to help her feel better.  I think she told her that her mommy would be back for her too.  Such a sweet girl.

Chase's New Fashion Accessory

As Zoe will tell you, we are all about accessories here in our household.. Chase got a new "hat" last week.  Essentially he slept in the exact same position (despite my attempts otherwise) for the first 2.5 months of his life leaving his head a bit flat on the right side.  Its not horrible, but could cause jaw problems, etc, later along with just looking a bit odd if he happens to have short hair or eventually go bald. So, we opted for this lovely piece of equipment.  It does make me sad to put it on him and I hate that he has to wear it (23/7) but I am thankful that he is otherwise healthy (definitely not lacking nourishment!) and that this is a very temporary thing.  We hope and pray to have it off before Thanksgiving.  He is adjusting really well to it and doesnt seem to notice it much though it does get in the way of his peripheral vision, especially his right side.  I think its bothers J and I more than him.  He has been squeeling and squeaking up a storm this week and just loves to be tickled!  And his most favorite is his sister.  He just LOVES to watch her and she can make him laugh more than anyone else. If he cries, Zoe starts singing Jesus Loves Me to him.  He loves that.  Speaking of Zoe, today she told me "I want to put my purple dress on instead of this one with orange momma..  maybe it make my boo boo feel better"  Love that girl.  So blessed.

5 months and starting Fall

Well, its been a busy end of summer and start of the "school" year.  We spent Labor Day weekend down in waco with the fam and spent 6 hrs a day, 3 days in a row on the boat with 6 adults and 5 kids under 5!  Wheww!  Crazy but fun!  This was Chase's first outing on the boat as well and he did SO well and loved cruising!  He even got a little farmer tan :)  Im glad both my kids like the water!  Chase (or Chaser or Chasey) as he is know to us has grown into quite the little charmer and is just full of smiles and laughs.  His disposition is so happy and I love that he loves to smile so much!  We had our first Kindermusik class today and he just grinned and smiled through the whole thing.  I think he is really going to enjoy this special mommy time! J always says "Chase smile on demand" and Chase just smiles right back at him with that double chin! He can now sit up for extended periods without falling over and likes this new view of the world.  He is now eating 5 times day and down to 2.5 naps. yea! Sleeping like a champ.  Zoe had her first day of school this week and already has her teachers playing 'babies" with her.  We also had her first day of ballet clas and she LOVED it.  She walked out and said "Can we do that again momma?"  It was so adorable to watch all those little pink clad ballerinas!  She did really well and was very intently following her teacher (like was right behind her whenever she moved!)  and listening to what she said.  She has since shown me how to go "back and forth like this momma" and "flap your wings like a butterfly." like they did in class.  I am constantly entertained by our conversations.  The other day she told me "Thats actually pretty good momma!"  Thanks Zoe.  She loves her little bro and asks where he is if he is not with us.  She likes to hold him and sing Jesus loves me to him. "awww Chasey he so sweet" "he so sweet to me"  This weekend we took her to this event where they had country western dancers and that night when we said our prayers (her new best stall tactic) she said... "thank God for pink clouds (sunset), havin fun, and dancers wearin lipstick..."  She was enthralled.. "those dancers had red lipstick and bows in their hair, and boots!" she told me today.

4 Months and Summer!

4 months and 2 1/2! - wow- cannot believe it!  Do i start every post like that? hmmm.. anyway, my little sweet boy is growing SO fast! He is 17 lbs. 1oz  (90%) and 25.5 " (70%).  We are slightly down on the chubometer :)  You forget how fast they change at this age.  He can already sit up by himself which is totally crazy - future Olympian?  His eyes are now more of a dark green color.  His cheeks are just as pinchable as ever!  Chase you are such a happy boy and always give your momma lots of smiles!  He is even giving me lots of laughs too.  I love that he smiles back almost every time I smile at him.  After being around so many other babies as Zoe has grown up, I realized that she was a really happy baby and is still such a happy little girl.  I was so wanting Chase to be the same and he is!  Now dont get me wrong he is a wiggle monster and NEVER wants to be still, sit, be read to, period - unless he is outside, sometimes he will watch for a little while.  He is much more active and opinionated that Zoe, but I am just so thankful for his happy demeanor.  I call him my sweet boy and he is.  He is sleeping fabulous now from 10:30 - 7:30 when I wake him.  Chase - you rock!  Momma needs her zzz's.  His absolute favorite thing to do aside from when i talk to him or sing or giggle at him is to watch and interact with Zoe.  He LOVES her.  It is pretty much the most adorable thing ever.  And Zoe is so sweet to him.  Zoe walked up to him the other day, gave him a sweet hug and said "I love you soooooooo much"  I am so thankful they have each other.  Chase is all about his hands these days too and either has them in his mouth, or grasped together in front of him all the time. Its such a cute pose.

Zoe girl is so much fun right now.  2.5 - my favorite age yet!  She is SO smart and remembers EVERYTHING.   We went to Chase's checkup this week (and she was very adamant that it was "Chase's checkup, not my check up, not mommy's checkup)  The doctor (lady) walked in and Zoe blurts out "You have pretty shoes on dont ya!"  Cracks me up.  She finally pee peed in the potty (once) so now she has Daisy, Mickey, and Minnie, her constant companions.. I wonder how many diapers they have all had on!  She gets Donald when she poo poos but has show little interest other than talking about it.  Zoe is all about doing art and playing "games"(all these homemade games matching, numbers, etc)  right now.  She will sit at the little table and color, paint, stamp, and glue away actually staying pretty clean.  She is very orderly in how she does things and will line all her items up very neatly (she must get this from Justin - you kow its not me!)  She will glue pom poms on paper and very carefully do a dot of glue, followed by a pom pom over and over again - making it just right.    Love you my sweet Zoe girl!

Zoe at 4 months