Thanksgiving 2009

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and family gathering at the ranch last week. We were all missing my grandmother (Memaw) but know she would have been proud we carried on the Thanksgiving tradition at the ranch. Below is what I want to remember about this Thanksgiving.

1) Dylan and Layla had their first spend the night in the same bed. I left them alone once Dylan had fallen asleep and after I left I could hear Layla singing herself to sleep in the baby monitor.

2) Family dance party - Layla insisted on this and it was a lot of fun. River liked dancing with his Aunt Angela, Juliet loved dancing and my mom tried to teach Layla and Dylan how to twist.

3) My mom decorating the Christmas tree and mantle and Dylan and River undecorating the tree and breaking the ornaments.

4) Having 5 kids all try and sleep in the same house and 4 1/2 in diapers. Trying to take care of 5 kids in general!

5) Chasing moo cows with Dylan and Layla.

6) Me and Melinda both loosing our cool due to sleep deprivation - can you blame us!

7) My dad loving to burn the trash and work on anything he could find. Craig putting my dad's nice pillows in the fire.

8) Steven being obsessed with having fire wood and fixing the log splitter.

9) Dylan want to hunt for dinosaurs in the woods and thinking he saw baboons and ostriches!

10) Steven and Craig deer hunting - me grabbing the kids when we heard the gunshots when Craig shot his deer. Steven accidentally shooting 2 deer.

11) Having a fire in the fire place when it was not cold outside just so we could make smores!

12) Mom walking with Levi over her shoulder and Melinda suctioning Levi's nose.

13) Dylan wanting to sing Happy Birthday because we had candles lit on the Thanksgiving table. Dylan and Layla blowing out the candles.

14) Dylan telling River to share.

Most importantly it was great family bonding. I am thankful for each member of our family and it was neat to get to spend several days with them. I am looking forward to many more holiday celebrations.

Tis The Season

Tis the Season is a holiday party at Dylan's school. Steven and I took Dylan and he wanted to play with the animals in the navity scene the whole time. He also sat on Santa's lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas. We had practiced earlier in the day and I am pretty sure he told Santa he wanted dinosaurs and trains. Dylan also enjoyed playing in the fishing pond, wonder where he gets that from. Below are a few pictures from our evening.

Two Month and Two Year Check-ups

First of all thanks to my mom for going to the doctor with Dylan, Levi and me this morning. It would have been wild without her. Both boys were well behaved but even then can be a handful when they both have to get shots, etc. Both boys received a good report and their stats are below:

Levi - 2 months

Weight - 13 pounds, 9 ounces - 75-90%
Height - 24.5 inches - 90%
Head - 16 inches - 50-75%
(He is longer and weighs more than Dylan at two months but his head is smaller)

Dylan - 2 years

Weight - 28 pounds - 50-75%
Height - 90-95%
Head - 20 inches - they did not give up %

Thank God for my sweet, healthy boys!

Hospital Stay & November Birthdays

Well November did not start out too well for us. Levi came down with a fever and due to him only being 7 weeks at the time had to stay at Texas Children's Hospital for the weekend. They did several tests on him (blood, urine and spinal tab) and everything checked out fine. It was very difficult for Steven and I to see our little man getting poked on and in general being so uncomfortable. They think he just had a cold but kept him until his fever went away. We are very thankful that everything turned out OK and Levi is feeling much better and glad to be back at home with both of our boys.

The weekend Levi got sick we had to cancel Dylan's birthday party. Luckily he is too young to get upset over it. His cousins and Zimmerman grandparents still came in town to celebrate with him. Dylan enjoyed staying with his Nana all weekend and playing with his cousins. Thanks to my parents for taking such good care of Dylan while we were at the hospital and everyone else who helped out.

Well in November we have a lot of birthdays to celebrate - Dylan, my mom and dad. Dylan loves birthdays, presents, birthday cake and blowing out the candles. He has even gotten good at singing Happy Birthday! Steven's brother also had a birthday last week so Happy Birthday to Bryan! He is at Clemson so I am sure he found time to celebrate. Below are some pictures from the month and of the birthday celebrations.

Happy 2nd Birthday Dylan

Today was Dylan's 2nd birthday. At 2 years old we are so proud of him and of course think we have one of the cutest smartest two year olds ever. Dylan can now count to 15 (I think) in English and 10 in Spanish, he speaks in some complete sentences and is full of energy and curiosity. He loves to watch Dora, color, play trains and kick ball. He enjoys going to school, swim lessons, Tyler's house and the park. He is still not a big eater or sleeper but loves junk food and milk. He is still a momma's boy, an arm rubber and is not too ready to grow up because he still asks and gets him pacifier a lot. He has made a lot of potty training progress and mostly poops on the potty although sometimes does not make it in time. Dylan is not too sure about being a big brother or sharing all the attention yet but does enjoy having Levi sit by him in the car. I am sure I am forgetting many of his accomplishments this year but wanted to be able to remember him at this fun age. I am combining his and Levi's doctor appointments so we do not go to his two year check-up until November 18th.

This morning we gave him a tricycle and he wore a birthday boy shirt to school. He was very excited that it was his birthday and was singing happy birthday before school. I sent cupcakes with him so his class could celebrate with him at snack time. Nana picked him up at school (she is his preferred ride home) and she gave him his present when they got home. She gave him a basketball hoop. It was tough but with a little assistance from me she got it put together and they played hoops outside. His sweet cousins Layla and River also called and wished him a happy birthday - mainly Layla but River was trying.

For dinner we took Dylan to the Aquarium downtown for dinner. Steven's dad and Stephanie met us there. Dylan was excited as soon as we drove up and he saw the waterfall and dolphin fountains. His excitement continued throughout dinner as we were sitting very close to the large aquarium which has tons of fish, shark, turtles and sting rays in it. Every time the shark would swim by he would scream "there it is!" It was a very fun birthday dinner and I think Dylan had a very happy 2nd birthday and we have not even had his party yet.

Firetruck Party

Wyatt, a boy in Dylan's class, had a firetruck birthday party. Dylan was able to climb around inside the firetruck, act like he was driving and spray the water hose. It was a very nice party, beautiful weather and great for boys who love trucks!

Fall Festival and Halloween

Dylan's went to a fall festival for little kids at his friend Tyler's school. Dylan really enjoyed the petting zoo and riding horses (pictures below) but somehow came home smelling like animal poop so he went straight to the bath tub! Dylan really liked the duck and kept grabbing his beak and neck - poor duck.

On Halloween, Steven and Dylan carved a pumpkin and then we went over the the Getz house to celebrate with them. Dylan had a great time playing and trick or treating. Nana bought him a dragon costume which he enjoyed wearing and was good at telling people what he was dressed as. He would also roar when asked what a dragon says. Dylan was not too sure what trick or treating was but once he realized there was candy involved he was very excited about it. We had to hide his pumpkin basket at home or he would eat all the candy in one sitting. He loves sweets!