Red Car

Grandma Terry sent James a fun, red car for Christmas, and it hasn't left his side since he opened it up!  Thank you so much, Grandma, he LOVES it!

Blue Eyes and Tools

James had such a fun time with his Gramma Sue, Grandpa Jim, great-grandparents and all his aunts and uncles while home for Christmas.  We stayed with my parents and that made for lots of special times with his Gramma Sue...which he pronounces "Bow-due"....we're working hard on pronunciation, but I think it's just going to take some time :) 
We always enjoy our time at home and really wish we lived closer!  My parents, siblings and their spouses are so great, we always have so much fun together.  At least we're fortunate enough to get some time each year to spend together...I hope that continues :) 

 James was such a big, messy help in the kitchen :)  GrammaSue always has a job for you!

 They set up the nativity scene together and James played with that thing all week.  It had so many fun things like animals, pitchers, a fire, wagons, etc...it was hours of entertainment...some broken ears off the sheep, but we glued thoses suckers back on :)  

 Here's where he gets those blue eyes!  (also from his grandpa Steve...we'll take that pic next time we're in WA)

 Steven and I had a chance to get away for a date night, we celebrated steven's 32nd birthday.  I wanted to snap a pic of us....it took us like 10 shots to get one with his eyes open, and he was getting a little tired of taking photos.  well here you go, Steven, next time you want to be a smart-alec, remember how i can capture it forever on this wonderful blog.  :)  hehee! 

 Christmas morning!  James passed out all of the presents, and felt like such a big helper, it was adorable.  He found so many for himself, too and had so much fun opening his gifts this year. Two is definitely my favorite age so far...he's so expressive, entertained by everything, has so much to say, and loves being the center of attention. 
 Running back to the pile from handing out a gift...it was so exciting!  I had his cute little Christmas morning PJ's on him...then of course, they got a little soaked overnight...so this is the result.  oh well, still cute :)

 Opening his tool bench from grandma and grandpa!

Loves to hammer! 

Christmas Traditions

Traditions.  We want to have some in our family.  Deciding what they are going to be is the hard part!  Now that James is starting to understand and enjoy these festivities, we tried to get them started this year.  Since we were in Indiana at the end of December, we made an early weekend our "Christmas Eve" in Savannah as a family.  We each opened one present, which happened to be some super comfy pajama pants that I made for us all (thank you Pinterest!), had some yummy snacks, and snuggled up on the couch to watch the Polar Express.  We were amazed at how mesmerized James was at the movie...he didn't take his eyes off the screen the entire 2 hours! 
Then Christmas morning I made my mom's caramel rolls, we opened presents and had a fun day together playing with all our new toys!  Maybe next year we'll start some additional things to incorporate the true meaning of Christmas a little more.  I have vivid memories of my parents having us do kind things for each other, writing them down at the end of the day onto pieces of "straw" paper, and making Jesus' manger full of love and kindness...stuff like that.  I want to do an advent devotion where we light the candles each night and read scripture together.  Still not sure how much we're going to promote the "Santa" thing, but we'll play it by ear!  Anyway, we did have a wonderful time together as our little family of three and know our traditions will develop over time. 

Family Photos

We were all together this Christmas and finally took advantage of the situation and snaped a few photos!  Luckily this girl got an amazing early Christmas present from her thoughtful, wonderful, awesome husband......a new camera!!  yippie!!  more on that later!  These were some of my first pictures with it, not too bad. :) 

 My parents, Jim and Sue

 Greg and Sarah (brother and sister-in-law)
 Anna and Scott (sister and brother-in-law)

 Me and my two guys <3...and the cars that never leave this kids hands!

Birthday Party

We spent a wonderful week and a half in Indiana for Christmas and had a great time with my family.  We left Savannah at 10:30 on Saturday morning and planned on driving just as far as we could and finish it up on Sunday.  Well, James was a perfect angel and we were feeling great, so we drove the whole 14 hours in one day instead!  In fact, we only stopped three times the whole trip!  Sunday, my mom planned a little birthday party for James and invited our family over to celebrate.  She made this adorable Thomas the Train cake for him which was delicious!  :) James was spoiled with wonderful attention, gifts and balloons...living it up!

I'm TWO!

Steven James:  Two years old today!

33.2 lbs

36 inches tall

Size 2T-3T clothes

7.5-8 shoes

Size 4 diapers...I think we need to move to 5's

• Loves his Daddy more than words can express.  Likes me when Daddy isn't around, then I'm chopped liver when he's home :)  
• Sleeps 7:30pm-6:00am (usually 5:45am), and takes a 2-2.5 hour nap around 11am. 
• Loves to play with trains and cars, push the stroller, build towers, read books, take baths, brush his hair, wrestle Daddy, paint, color, and play outside.
• Says lots of words, and a few are actually decipherable to the untrained ear. 
• Has 2, 3 and 4 word sentences.  usually about food, "More cheese please, mom"
• Timeout actually works now.  He will sit on the step and not move until I come to get him.  YES!
• Has no interest in potty training yet.  Sits on his little "Cars" potty with all his clothes on and thinks that's pretty fun. 
• Helps me unload the dishwasher and knows where most things go
• Climbs on everything.  Especially the couch and then likes to body-slam himself into the cushions when we're not looking....he's going to crack his skull
• If there isn't a bruise, scrape or bump on his head then it hasn't been a very fun week.  :)
• Loves to spin and then fall down.  Ring-around-the-Rosie if we'll play, but just as happy spinning and falling by himself, then giggles like crazy. 
• Loves to get and give belly busters
• Tells me when he's ready for a nap, says "Pillow and Binkey" and heads for the stairs.
• Wants Daddy to snuggle him at bed-time...not mommy.  :(   doing great in his toddler bed. 
• The only fruits and veggies I can get him to eat are bananas, peas, sweet & regular potatoes and smoothies.  drives.me.crazy.  he won't even try anything.  this is Steven's fault!
• He would eat "toast" with peanut butter at every meal if I let him...and yogurt. 
• Gives good kisses!  Will pucker his lips, and make the kissing sound against your cheek, or the teddy bear's.  :)
• Knows how to unlock my Nook and find the puzzle and sounds apps!  wow
• Loves Mickey Mouse, Cars, the Polar Express, and any animated movie.  He's really starting to respond and laugh at the shows.  Too cute!

 Come on, mom...are we done yet? 

Diaper Man, Vaseline, and Silly Faces

 Who dresses this kid?  :)  hahaa.  Dressing him in PJ's that match is last on the list of priorities in this household...but having fun IS on the list!  James really wanted to play "Diaper Man" this night.  We giggled. :P

One day after his nap, I hear James walking around upstairs.  I call for him to come down, and he makes his way down the stairs and into the kitchen where I'm making lunch.  He peeks around the corner with a big smile, and I see all this goo on his face and hands.  VASELINE.  ugh.  I like to blame this one on my mother.  My siblings will attest to this story....growing up it was the ongoing joke that mom rubs Vaseline all over her face and then kisses us.  She claims it's the world's best kept beauty secret.  She says she just puts it on her lips...but we know the truth.  She rubs it all over her face...and I mean ALL over.  eewwwwww.  yes, you can say it. ewwwww.  it is gross. 
Anyway, back to the story....I do own a jar....I guess my mom wasn't completely crazy, it is a fantastic moisturizer and I do use it on my lips ONLY!   However, I do not rub it all over my face and then rub my face all over my kids.  Nonetheless, James found my Vaseline on my nightstand and got into it.  All over his hands, face, up his nose, and on the stair walls.  not fun.  By the time i found my camera to snap this picture, he'd been waiting for a while not allowed to move, and the fun had worn off.  The Vaseline is no longer on the nightstand.  :)

Just being cute.  He has so many silly faces.  I love this one!