Reindeer, Santa, and Presents...Oh My!

Our first official Christmas as a family started out with a bang. Literally. I was awoken this morning not by my infant babe, but by the sound of the wind knocking our power out. At 3:50am. Great. Of course that woke Riley up, but he quickly went back to sleep. We got up at 6:15am when the power was restored. Thank God! Riley couldn't want to see what Santa had brought...

Dawson, on the other hand, was not quite as eager...

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Dawson and Robin had done a fantastic job decorating the tree while I was taking care of a sick little one...

Riley was so excited with all of his presents and Dawson had to help him open his gifts....



Dawson was elated to receive a Nintendo DSi...



After a quick breakfast with just the four of us and naps, we enjoyed a late lunch with my side of the family. Of course, the grandparents came armed with more gifts...


We spent the rest of the day playing with our new toys, enjoying each other, being together, and being silly...

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

My Sick Baby

I haven't posted anything in over a month. Since going back to work and putting Riley in daycare, it has been one sickness after another. Hand, foot and mouth disease, numerous colds, ear infections, bronchitis, stomach virus, you name it-we've had it. Poor baby. I feel terrible knowing that he feels so rotten. I just want him to feel better and be back to his normal happy, smiling self. I miss my sweet baby. While we are sick, here's what we've been up to...

10 Years Old and 5 months Old

Dawson's birthday was November 6 and he was 10 years old. I can't believe it. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday he was coming to live with us and he was so little. He didn't even have his front teeth! He was barely 6 and practically still a baby. Here are some pictures from his tenth birthday.



Riley also celebrated an important milestone. He's 5 months old! Riley, this is what you are doing at 5 months:
1. You eat about 40 oz/day.
2. You love sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, bananas, and apples. That's all we've tried so far. Basically, you love everything we've given you to eat thus far. I can't wait to try you on new foods.
3. You are wearing size 3 diapers.
4. You are growing so tall! You are currently wearing size 9-12 month clothing because you are so long.
5. You are starting to love your toys, especially stuffed animals and textured books.
6. You are scared of the squeezy fish toy in the bathtub. However, you love your bath and will play and squeal forever in there.
7. Your hair is still reddish-brown and your eyes are a steely blue/gray.
8. You sleep all night long (9-11 hours) in your crib.
9. Your daytime naps are still hit or miss.
10. You start daycare on Monday and I'm so nervous.

Halloween 2009

Here are my cute boys dressed up for Halloween. Dawson was a soldier and Riley was a duck. It was raining, so Riley didn't go trick-or-treating, but he got dressed up anyway. Our town does trick-or-treating on the square and it sure didn't take Dawson and Robin long to figure out it was too wet to stay long.

Family Fun in Florida

Since we had to postpone our annual summer family trip to the beach, we decided to take advantage of our fall break and head to the beach. We go with my parents every year in June, but Riley was due mid-June so I knew we wouldn't be able to travel for a few months. It was so nice to spend time with all of my family together. Riley was an amazing traveler. He slept well, ate well, and was in good spirits most of the time. It was a little cool, so Riley definitely didn't enjoy any water except his bath. We ate at all of our favorite places and took several long naps. Heaven!