Erin Go Christmas

This year was "Erin Go Christmas" an Irish celebration. Hope you all had a Nollaig Shona Duit! We had super good food and lots of people to share it with! We felt very fortunate to have Alex's family as well as my family here for the day. It was a great Christmas! Next year, Buon Natale!!

Uncle Alex and Delainey: Sewing 101

Aunt Shana & Luke

Christmas Jammies

Grandma B & Luke checking out new toys

Warm wishes from Luke :P

De ja vu

Some strange chemical reaction must happen in these boys' brains when they get together. Whatever it is, it seems to be mutually enjoyable.

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Luke's First Christmas

Luke made out pretty well for his first Christmas. He slept through all the fanfare of gift opening, but enjoyed his presents when he woke. He really liked his sports car from Grandpa, but he needs a few more months to grow into it.

Santa Baby

Luke's Loot

Checking out his new toys

Go Speed Racer!

Luke's new moves!

Well he did it! He rolled! And boy did he hate it-so much so that it might be the only time he rolls. I was just planning on documenting his hatred of "tummy time" and in a fit of rage, he threw himself over. Yea!? It definitely was not a controlled movement. It was pure rage. It was a good 45 minutes before the crying stopped. Bless his heart...Pre-roll

Post-roll

30 minutes after roll!!! Someone's a Drama King...

Hi Grandma Susie

Hope this helps you get through until your next Luke fix!

Tummy time

This is a very rare moment in which Luke enjoyed tummy time. He has never liked it. He would like to nap on his tummy, but I won't let him. I force tummy time daily thinking eventually, he will like it. It always ends the same way, screaming like I took him out in the cold (Paul and Amy know what I'm talking about). I told him his "girlfriend" Ainsley is rolling over and it would impress her to know that he's advanced enough to roll over himself. After all, he's only physically average...At this rate, he will never roll over. But we'll keep trying, much to his dismay.

2 months!

Well Mr McGee, you and I spent your 2 month birthday inside our nice warm house in our jammies all day. It snowed and I had no desire to take you out and risk another cold induced melt down. So, as with all your milestones, we celebrated with a photo shoot! Good times were had by all...well by one of us.

You had your doctor's appointment and you're doing just great. 10lbs 14 oz and 23 inches long! You are in the 50th percentile for everything! Absolutely average. However, I did explain to your doctor that while you may be physically average, you are mentally and emotionally advanced! You had a nice time flirting with the ladies in the office. However once the shots came out, so did your angry face and my least favorite scream (the one where you turn red and hold your breath). There was some insane crying going on, followed by a nice long nap, for both of us!

You're doing so many new and fun things! You are mostly sleeping through the night now. You are definitely a morning baby and love to play before Daddy goes to work. You give lots of grins, from sly like your dad's to cheesy like mine. We love them all! You've really started trying to talk to us, which is definitely entertaining. You've also been working on standing and have even jumped a couple time! We can't wait to see all the fun and exciting things this next month brings...

And I'm spent...

Seriously people...

Am I the only one watching infomercials? The Snuggie is a blanket with arms. And no, you cannot just wear your bathrobe backwards. I've tried, the collar is not comfortable. I must have one! Think of how nice and warm those night time feedings will be. Think of how embarrassed Alex will be when I wear it driving ( I get cold in the car). Think of how humiliated Luke will be when I wear it to his pee-wee football games. And for a limited time, you get 2 for the price of 1! BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!! You also get 2, count 'em 2 book lights! Oh yes, I will have one...and I will wear it proudly!

Why save for college, when you can save for therapy?

We spent this past weekend in Wichita visiting the families and celebrating an early Christmas with Alex's brother Paul and his wife Amy. It was great to see them again and Luke enjoyed meeting his Aunt and Uncle. While we were there, we had Luke's Christmas pictures done. It was pretty funny. They put him in a wrapped box in front of a Christmas tree. He was asleep, and when he woke up, he was definitely surprised to be in a box, and not so excited about it. So of course the next logical step would be to dress him up as a snowman for more pictures. If only he could have seen how adorable he looked, then he might have played nicer. I'm pretty sure when he's older, he will hate me for that snowman outfit. That will probably take up most of his first therapy session.

Because we hadn't tortured him enough, we decided to go to Botanica to see the Christmas lights. I wanted Luke to go because he likes looking at lights, of course he would enjoy it. Per usual, he fell asleep in the car. Imagine how happy he was to wake up to a blast of freezing cold air. As soon as the car door opened, the screaming and gasping began. Nothing calmed him down. We had the car seat cover to keep him warm, he didn't appreciate it either. I kept trying to force his pacifier in his mouth, mostly to muffle the screams, but it was dark and I was working with a little hole in the cover and it seems I was trying to force it up his nose. Again, not amused with me. While in line for tickets, we decided it was probably not a good idea to walk him around for an hour looking at lights he obviously didn't care to see. As soon as we turned to walk back to the car, the crying stopped and he was sound asleep. It was traumatic for all involved. I would like to apologize to Amy and Paul, I hope you get to go back and see the lights and I'm sorry you will be included in his second therapy session. Let's just hope he doesn't have flash backs next time he sees Christmas lights.

Luke in the box

My little Frosty

Smitten

I have had some questions regarding the "Smitten". For those of you who are unfamiliar with the brilliance of the Smitten, let me explain. The Smitten is composed of three pieces- a pair of mittens and a mitten for two. This allows a sweet loving couple to hold hands, while still staying warm! BRILLIANT!! Now I have requested a Smitten for the past 3 winters...alas, no Smitten for Zoeby. Apparently Alex does not understand how fantastic it is- or he just doesn't love me. Of course now with Luke hangin' around, a Smitten isn't very practical for us. I imagine it's hard to push a stroller with just one hand all the time. Alex is off the hook this year...However, I still want a Snuggie.

Thanksgiving photos

Just some random photos from our Thanksgiving!

Delainey & Luke

Grandma's babies

Not real sure what's going on here...I think he's just "touching" not "shooting".
Reece loves HIS baby!

Attempt at a "second cousin" photo. This was actually the best shot!

The Fam

Let it sleet! Let it rain! Let it snow!

Oh the weather outside was frightful, but we managed to have a good time. Alex and I ditched the kid for night of dinner, shopping, and Plaza lights. It was harder than I thought leaving Luke, but I managed to do it without tears. Of course the guilt of not crying when I left him did almost bring me to tears. It's a no-win situation. However, it's amazing how good a full nights sleep feels!

The weather was awful. It would alternate from rain to sleet to snow and was just plain cold! Fortunately, Alex and I love that weather. It reminded us of our honeymoon- a very cold, rainy, snowy spring in Prague. We braved the weather, periodically ducking into stores and coffee shops. (If only we had a Smitten to keep warm) I pretty much finished my Christmas shopping and added some items to my list, ahem, Tivol. Actually, I think I added it to my five year anniversary present list. I suppose I can survive another four years for fantastic diamonds :)

All and all, it was a wonderful mini-getaway for Alex and I and we thank my parents for taking such wonderful care of our baby! I can honestly say I never worried about him being taken care of. I worried about him forgetting me or worse remembering and hating me, but that's all. He didn't seem too emotionally scarred, or spoiled so we were pleased!

Not Me Monday

Last week, I did not spend my birthday at home watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the reunion show. I was not thoroughly entertained. I also did not eat cheesecake, I'm on a diet.

Like everyone else last week, I did not gorge myself on wonderfully tasty goodies on Thanksgiving day. Likewise, I then did not gorge myself on popcorn at the movies that night. That would be crazy. Who needs to eat a tub of buttery, salty goodness after stuffing themselves with turkey and all the fixins? Not me, that's for sure. Nope, I'm still on that diet...

I did not finally get rid of my maternity jeans and buy new "real" jeans yesterday. I had not been wearing them everyday, procrastinating buying new pants until I lose weight. (That diet's not going so well...see the above entries) Those pants were not hanging off of me and constantly falling down, causing my dear husband to either make fun of me, or pull them up for me. And they were not oh so comfy...I will not miss them dearly.

I did not leave my 7 week old son overnight with his grandparents while his daddy and I spent a terrific night on the Plaza. It did not sleet. It did not rain. It did not snow. It was not freezing. It was not fantastic anyway. I did not think about him every second and want to call to check on him. I did not go with the intention of buying new pants for myself and only buy Luke adorable little things. He does not need new clothes, his pants aren't the ones falling off.

Here's hoping this week goes better for that diet...but I think we all know how this is going to turn out.

Is there tryptophan in formula?

Like Grandpa, Like Grandson

So many outfits, so little time

Luke had three Thanksgiving outfits and only one day to wear them. We rotated outfits roughly every six hours. I think he enjoyed it as much as we did. He had a very nice first Thanksgiving at Aunt Shana and Uncle Earl's. He once again had a great time playing with Reece and Delainey. He loves watching them! My entire family was able to get together this year. There were 26 of us for dinner! It was so nice to see everyone and introduce Luke to the family. We had so much to be thankful for this year! Hope you all had a wonderful day as well!
Outfit #1-Thank you Aunt Loretta & Uncle Wally

Outfit #2- Thanks Aunt Brandy

Outfit #3 - Thanks Grandma Susie

Happy Birthday to me

Today is my 32nd birthday. Thanks for all the cards, emails, and phone calls! I don't feel too much different than I did yesterday-except my back does hurt. I can only assume that is attributed to my advanced age...For my birthday I got a super cool camera that's WAY too advanced for my skills. Luke is super excited about all the photo shoots we've had thus far and all the ones to come! No big plans for today. Luke and I are planning on venturing out for some Christmas shopping and then Alex & I will have a nice quiet dinner at home...until my new favorite show The Real Housewives of Atlanta comes on at which point I will ditch my husband and baby. It's the reunion show, can't wait to see NeNe and Kim battle it out! Of course, I have discovered a new show "Repo" that may take over the number 1 slot. It's insane, and I'm pretty sure it's staged, but man is it classy! I highly recommend you check it out, but don't watch for more than 5 minutes. I don't want it to be my fault that you'll never get those 30 minutes of your life back. I'll take full responsibility for 5 minutes, but no more. It is amazing the shows you discover when you are home so much of the day. I really really need to go back to work soon...

Enjoy some pictures with the new camera!

Lovin' the Bumbo

Smiley Mc Gee

It honestly was cold this day! I wasn't just torturing him for a photo op

And photo shoot over...

Not Me Monday

Okay, so at least I remembered it was Monday this week! Let's see how last week went...

I did not stay in my pj's until 4pm almost everyday. I did not then take a shower and get ready so that it would seem I had been dressed all day before Alex got home.

I did not dream that Alex was taking care of Luke, causing me to leave him crying in his bed for 15 minutes. I did not curse my husband for allowing him to cry that long making me get out of bed--only to realize it was 10am and Alex was at work. It was soooo real! And I was soooo mad at Alex! Poor guy.

I did not spoil my baby this weekend just because he had a little cold. I did not give the okay to let him sleep on our chests or in his car seat to ease his breathing. I wouldn't do that because, obviously, that plan was bound to backfire and ruin our sleeping plans. He loves sleeping in his carseat, and will not sleep anywhere else now.

I did not stumble around Hy-Vee crying after calling Alex because I heard how stuffy and congested Luke sounded. I obviously did not forget to take my Zoloft most of last week! Fear not, we're back on track!

I did not secretly enjoy leaving Luke with his dad while I went shopping. It was not so much easier without him. Even though it was not enjoyable, I still did not tear up at Baby Gap because I felt guilty. Again, Zoloft.

I think that's about it!

Smiley McGee

Cheeks McGee, you've been trying out some new smiles this week. You have about 4 distinctive smiles that range from "I'm somewhat amused, but too cool to let on" to an all out cheesy grin. Of course, I'm partial to the cheese! I love watching your personality change every day. These little moments of smiley time make those moments of sleep deprivation worth it all! Cool hand Luke
Mayor McCheese

The Bumbo

Luke gave his Bumbo Seat a try today. He loves sitting straight up which means someone pretty much has to hold him up for him to be happy. The swing doesn't do it, neither does his bouncy seat, the car seat comes close. Imagine my happiness when he loved his Bumbo! He really enjoyed being able to talk to all the animals on his mobile!