Our Weekend Away

Joe turned 8 months on Friday and our way to celebrate was to take a trip without him or Libby. With the help of MeMe and Pappy (who took Joe) and Aunt Debbie and Uncle John (who kept Libby), Corey and I were able to go to Gaitlinburg TN to spend the weekend in a cabin with our friends Scott and Danielle. It has been a long time since we have had a weekend away and it was truly wonderful.

Scott and Dani had told us they were going on a weekend trip and when we asked if we could join in another cabin, they asked us to just stay with them. It was so fun. We played pool and soaked in the hot tub. We napped and watched movies. It was great to spend time with our friends and away from our kids. Scott made yummy food (I think his perfectly cooked steaks were my favorite-although the lava cake came close), and Corey and I took a really nice walk in the warm weather.

While away, our kids had a wonderful time too. Libby was DOTED upon by Debbie and John. They played "tennis" (badminton) in the hallway and she ate them out of house and home. Joe charmed his MeMe and Pappy with lots of smiles and laughs. He is into everything, but that grin gets him off easy most of the time. I think the weekend was great all around!

In other news, Libby went to the orthopedic doctor yesterday and it looks like we are scheduling surgery for the end of May (after our vacation). He was really pleased that she is walking, but agrees that it is time to correct the tight knee capsule and get her on the road to walking with straight legs. This is an answer to prayer and also a reason to pray. Keep her in your prayers-they have never let us down!

This is Joe trying to get Libby out of the box with the baby broom. He loves his big sis.

We had another fun-filled week with our kids. It is never boring that is FOR SURE! Libby and Joe have started playing more and more. She is sharing (mostly when we ask her to) and playing "catch" with Joe. There are still multiple outbursts a day of "MINE", but we are dealing.
Libby is obsessed with Joe's bottom drawer where the hats live. AT LEAST once a day she gets out hats for ua all to wear.

Wednesday brought Casey and Sami to the house since my mom and dad lost power overnite. It was hilarious! The kids slept okay - Joe woke up a few times- but Casey slept on the couch and I slept on a recliner because the wind was making a piece of our porch ceiling scrape against the siding right outside of the bedroom. It was SO loud. And at 6:00 am I got a wake up call from my dad saying to go get mom because they had no phones or power. So the day began.

The kids had a great time playing. Sami and Libby are able to play and communicate much better now. Libby entertained everyone with her songs and Veggie Tale monologues (she loves Larry Boy from Dave and the Giant Pickle). Luckily Thursday and Friday were a bit more uneventful and we recuperated a bit from the storm. Saturday Libby went for her first trip without Mommy or Daddy. Gramma and PawPaw picked her up and took her to Charleston to visit her Gigis and Aunts and Uncles. From what I hear it was a great trip. Casey's blog should have some pictures as soon as she uploads them. Corey and I (and Joe) spent the evening in Deep Creek with our friends the Allens. It was fun to sit around and play games without an agenda. Joe didn't sleep great, but we all survived! And yesterday we all were home again. Libby came home with pent-up energy and drew all over the walls (cream of tarter mixed with water gets it off the walls) and Joe was spitting up everything (which he hasn't done in a long time). But we were all together and that is good.

Yesterday was not as good of a day for Corey's parents who experienced some serious plane difficulties on their way home from their cruise (an engine went out on their descent into Atlanta). They are ok, but a little (maybe alot) emotionally scarred. So Becky and Rick, this song is for you - so you know you are loved.

Partners in Crime

Libby doesn't always want to play with Joe. In fact she spends much of her day yelling - "No Joe" or climbing for higher ground when he approaches. But I have witnessed a few incidents lately that are showing me a change that is happening in their relationship. The first incident was on Tuesday. My parents kept the kids for a couple of hours while I went to a Young Life meeting and I was late getting back. It was after both of their bedtimes, so we rushed to get everything into the car. I grabbed Libby and my Dad had Joe. But Libby couldn't see that and she was EXTREMELY upset in thinking that I had forgotten Joe. She kept repeat, "Go get Joe?" and "Where Joe". She was so relieved when Dad put him in the car seat. She said "There you go Joe, go Libby house." It was endearing to say the least.

The next incident was no less adorable only frightening as well. I was working the other morning and I heard Libby talking to Joe. This is not uncommon, but she was rooting him on to do something. So imagine my surprise when I came into the family room to see Libby on the landing cheering Joe on as he climbed his third step. He has been pulling up on EVERYTHING but this was his first unattended climb. I was scared, but not so much so that I missed the photo opportunity. Here is Libby enticing Joe up the stairs. Here is Joe's delight at being able to play with his big sis. He is a handful-doing more earlier than any of us expected, but with Libby's help, Corey and I may be in for a whole new level of chaos!

Favorite things

So everyday we are learning the favorite things of Joe and Libby. It's amazing what these kids love. For instance, Libby LOVES to feed Joe. I let her help one day when we were leisurely eating breakfast (not our normal insane rush to finish so I can get back to work). She was great. Granted Joe was covered in the food, but both kids were happy and enjoying their meals. I used bribery to get Libby to finish hers. "If you take a bite of pancake you can help me feed Joe." So now a monster has been created and she wants to feed him every meal. She'll see me bring over his food and say "Mommy, help you Joe?" It's great and awful-great that she wants to interact with her brother and awful because it makes every meal a marathon and a mess!

Joe is also discovering his favorite things. One of which is the vacuum cleaner. He will crawl right up to it and pat it. He can push it while he is crawling. I thought the noise would frighten him, but it doesn't. He happily crawls along while I sweep. He desperately loves his sister and tries to be wherever she is. It is not reciprocated most of the time.

Other favorites:

Libby loves the CD player and the farm songs CD I found in her closet. She loves Yo Gabba Gabba and can sing almost every song on the show. She loves to be pretty "like a princess" and dress up. She loves to play with her doll house especially with the Daddy who often goes to the potty and takes a shower! She loves walking around (to the glee of everyone who has ever known her or heard about her).

Joe loves baths. He is psycho in the tub-splashing and laughing. He loves Yo Gabba Gabba too. He loves Peek-A-Boo and his Daddy's silly faces. He watches the cats every move when he decides to come around. HE loves people and wants to be around them all the time. He loves food and Baby Mum Mums.

We are growing and figuring out what being a family of four is all about. Joe is a great sleeper and Libby is doing ok these days (although she is being a bit of a pain to put to bed lately). Corey and I are "storing" my mom and dad's pool table for them-it is a hard job! And are excited to watch the Steelers in the Super Bowl. We've been busy and tired, but we are enjoying watching them both grow and change and develop. More later!

Better

This week brings less snot-which is a wonderful thing when it comes to kids! We are getting along much better despite the VERY COLD weather. We haven't been out much-mainly because of the snow and extreme temperatures. Pappy visited on Saturday and that was fun. Libby was laughing so hard that no noise was coming out of her at all. Pappy tends to have that affect. While he was here, Corey got in some ping-pong time and I was watching/talking from one of our recliners. I managed to tip it all the way over and Libby was SO concerned. She kept saying "Mommy, you ok?" The funny part is that everyday she reminds me of the story. "Mommy fall in da chair. Are you ok Mommy?" And then she kisses my head and says "All better now." Too cute!

Libby and Joe are able to play more together which is fun. Joe is getting around better and better-he is even starting to pull up onto things-my leg, the bouncy chair, the stairs (thanks mom for showing him that one!). Here is a video of the kids playing in Libby's room. As soon as Joe gets close she references the times that he pulled her hair and also when her cousin Sami pulled her hair (I think she is slightly traumatized).



As for milestones, Joe is racking them up quickly. He can crawl with his belly off the floor now. He can get himself to sitting and pull up on some objects. He makes a lot of noises, but nothing like Mama or Dada yet. He can eat biter biscuits and Baby Mum Mums. Libby is doing great as well. She is walking alot of the time now. She chooses to walk to her destinations without prompting. She loves to color and climb, to sit on the counter (bad habit) and play her keyboard. Her vocabulary is ever-expanding and she is easier to understand. Here is her rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...

Tagged

My other mother (aka MeMe or Becky) tagged me.

Anyway, here are the rules.

1) Choose the 4th folder where you storeyour pictures on your computer.

2) Select the 4th picture in thefolder.

3) Explain the picture.

4) Tag 4 people to do the same.

Here is my pic

This one is from Libby's 2nd birthday party. She had just woken up from her nap and was ushered downstairs to see her slide and a room full of balloons. She was WAY more excited about the balloons than we expected and we had some of them still blown up until November I think.

I tag Ashley Iliff, Casey Vanderbilt, Danielle Taylor, and Ashleigh Burdette

Sick

Our poor kids have been sick all week and thus no posting. It's just a cold, but they are both pretty stuffy and unhappy about it. Last week, we took Joe for his 6 month check-up and he was 20.5 lbs (87th percentile) and 26 inches long (50th percentile). He is definitely evening out after that major burst of gain. But since then, both kids developed a cold that they can't shake.

With their snuffles, we haven't really been out of the house except to go to MeMe and Pappy's and Grammas. At Meme and Pappy's the kids got to open some belated Christmas gifts from Aunt Nancy and Uncle Chris-Libby's favorite being the GIANT crayola crayon bank. It is 3x as big as she is and she likes to carry it around everywhere.

Yesterday a couple of my friends came by to watch the football game and Liz brought her puppy Max. They came last week too, but I didn't post any pictures so here are some. Libby LOVES Max and is really gentle and playful with him.

A New Year in so many ways

Happy New Year to everyone out there. Our new year was very uneventful and wonderful. Corey went to a conference for 5 days and returned on New Years Eve. Libby welcomed him home by walking ALL over the place. We have video of her up on her feet for over a minute. She could kick a ball, pick up a ball and throw a ball without falling down. It was absolutely AMAZING! Corey said it was the best welcome home gift ever. Second only to Joe being able to sit up on his own most of the time.

Corey pretending to be mad about putting the bed together

Corey was exhausted and I was exhausted so our new year was boring-we went to bed early and slept 10 hours! For us that was a wonderful celebration. The day brought some changes to Libby's room-we transitioned her to a toddler bed. She was excited during the process and when it was complete she laid down on the pillow. However, at the end of the day she was MUCH less excited. She is an easy put-to-bed child. Reading a story and saying our prayers and then into bed without a fuss is a typical night for her. The new bed must have been a little unnerving for her though and she cried. Corey went in first and she said "No white pillow" which sounds like "No wipe piwoah". So Corey ditched the pillow and rocked her for a bit. She still cried a little and we decided if she was not asleep by 9:30, the crib was resurfacing. But at 9:25, she was asleep and slept straight through. Her nap the next day brought a few tears, but she slept again. Finally last night she waved nigh-night to Daddy and went to sleep with no crying. The only strange thing is that she rarely tries to get out. In the morning I still find her sitting with her blanket in her bed.

Libby and Joe both got to sport their wintry duds to go to MeMe and Pappy's house on New Years as well. They kept the kids so Corey and I could go to lunch and piddle at the mall and Town Center. The kids got Mickey and Minnie hats from Corey's Aunt Deedee and Uncle Danny since they just visited Disney Land (or World) over Thanksgiving. Libby loves it and it looks great with her new coat and boots from Gramma Candy.

Finally, a few pics of Libby today. She let me braid her hair and she walked for the camera!

Christmas Part 2

Joe and his PawPaw (see the resemblance?)

The second half of our Christmas adventure was spent with my family. On Christmas Eve, Corey and I hosted my brother and two sisters and all their families-since mom and dad's kitchen is still a work in progress. It was so much fun! We let Libby open her present first-a little house that she loves! And then we ate and opened presents. Some of the highlights were a WVU hat for Joe and Libby's Yo Gabba Gabba guitar. But everything they got was wonderful-to put it in a post would be too long even for me. So if you got a gift for us-trust me we love it and will use it! This is my sister Casey and her gift from me-which I made, I wish homemade gifts didn't take so much time and I would do them more often.

My mom and sisters stayed at the house to watch our sleepy kids so Corey and I could go to church. We were beat, but it was a really great service and we are both glad to have gone. Afterwards, our friends the Allens came over and we sat around the tree until much too late. It was really great to spend time with our friends-just talking and enjoying Liz's Christmas present-a puppy named Max.

Christmas Day took Corey to work and me and the kids to my parents house. It was a day that we all spent in our PJs, eating cookies and opening the rest of our gifts. I got some really great kitchen stuff and Joe got some MUCH needed clothes (all in 12 months or 12-18 months). Libby and Sami looked too cute in their matching PJs and they played with toys together. There was some fighting, but overall the day went off without too much trouble. Libby and Joe took a much needed break with PawPaw and the DVD player. And afterwards, PawPaw took his own break. It was all really great. And being together is always good. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Part 1

These posts will be long, but there is so much to tell! We've had an extra busy holiday season already and it is only Christmas Eve. There have been 2 birthdays, 2 Christmas sessions, 1 anniversary and Joe's 6 month birthday. It all begins with Pappy's birthday. We celebrated with dinner at Meme and Pappy's house. The whole family was there-so lots of kids running around. Libby and Aubree played while Mia and Joe watched from the sidelines. Dinner was great, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Pappy's favorite part was having all his grandkids together. See MeMe's blog to see more photos of that celebration.

After Pappy's birthday, our Christmas journey began. We left for Webster Springs to visit Aunt Debbie and Uncle John on December 20-which in one day was our 5th anniversary, John's birthday (no age disclosed!) and Joe's 6 month birthday. As usual, Webster was a laid back trip. We all rested and enjoyed the company. Libby had a great time opening her presents and Joe's too. He helped on the bags! Libby was tickled to get her first tricycle and also a whole set of baby play things-high chair, bed, stroller! I was tickled by the adorable outfits both kids received. Joe liked the paper, and the keyboard!

Libby was basically attached to John the whole weekend. They put together all the toys and played. As a surprise for all the grandkids, John and Deb bought a set of tents that connect with a tunnel. Needless to say Libby was in it all the time. She even had a picnic lunch in it! Joe even liked it-he crawled through the tunnel with minimal assistance from Mommy.

Corey and I had a great time too. It's always wonderful spending time with people who genuinely love you and your kids. John and Deb wore themselves out playing with Libby and Joe. We left on Monday morning stuffed to the gills with toys for both young and old. We had an ok trip until we got about halfway home. Joe decided to hate the car at that point! No idea why he started crying, but it was basically non stop for the rest of the drive.

We all survived though and got ready for Christmas number 2. We headed back out to MeMe and Pappy's house last night for pepperoni rolls and fun! I love our tradition of Collassesno's pepperoni rolls on Christmas-it's easy and stress free for all of us! So we ate and then geared up for presents again. Libby and Joe entered with adorable outfits that only lasted for about 10 minutes. We couldn't get a good picture, but there is always tomorrow. Libby got an awesome doll house that has entertained her all morning and Joe got some fun toys for boys-baseball and basketball toys and of course some drums. Daddy got his leatherman tool and I got a bunch of really fun stuff-of which my favorite is Christmas music and a beautiful teapot! (Libby called it a P pot).

Afterward, we all sat around and were entertained by the kids. Joe enjoyed wrapping paper in a box and Libby was into everything! My favorite part of the evening was Libby pretending to have hiccups. She would breath out and wave her hands in the air-then say "Hiccups!" Then we all had to have the hiccups as well. It was too funny!

We still have my family get together tonight so there will definitely be more posting!

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! It is a special time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus-our Savior! Enjoy!

Traveling near and far

The kids and I headed to Charleston over the weekend with my mom. We visited my grandparents and their newest addition - Pepper.
We also visited my sisters, helped make Christmas cookies and admired Kerri's new kitchen which is beautiful.

Libby and Joe were great. Libby had a sleepover with Claire and she was great. I think Claire could get Libby to do anything-she is so in awe of her. Joe and I bunked up with my grandparents and he slept great. While there he started scooting forward on all fours. By the time we got home it was almost a crawl-here's the video to prove it!

The only not fun part of the trip was the drive home. We drove my friend Melissa home so I sat in the back with the kids. Libby watched DVD's but Joe was less easily entertained. He cried a good bit, but we made it home without too much trouble. Now we are all just gearing up for Christmas-it's almost here! This is Libby in her zippy PJs. She wouldn't let me take them off!