BumbleBee

I would like to introduce you to BumbleBee.

BumbleBee is our vacuum.

Named after the yellow and black Transformer, BumbleBee is beloved by our Natey. It is really quite a STRONG attraction. He follows BumbleBee all over the house, crying when it is turned off and put away. Natey has personally inspected every single part of BumbleBee, and often checks on him in his cabinet when BumbleBee is not in use.

BumbleBee has his own song, too. And of course, having your own song has always meant you're a part of the family. So, I'm glad you all could meet our newest member.

Christmas 2008

What a wondrous Christmas this year! As a family we are beginning to establish our own traditions... making Christmas cookies, looking at the lights in Sleepy Hollow on the Ormsby's golf cart, Christmas songs with Bumpa, finding treats in our advent calendar, making our own special Christmas cd, spending Christmas Eve with family and playing at Mimi's and Papa Boy's, Mimosas & Pomosas and family on Christmas Day...

Four is the BEST age for Christmas wonder, and Luke was filled with joy. He has begun to understand the concept of giving, and was eager to help with the shopping, make drawings for people, and call family members to sing a surprise holiday tune. He saw every single Christmas special aired on TV. He sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer over two million times, and always at the top of his lungs. He showed his brother how to open presents, and practiced his sharing skills (still needs some work). He made me also wish Christmas could last forever.

Baby's first Christmas was also a success. Natey was an angel with the Christmas tree, the stockings, and the fireplace -not a broken ornament, torn stocking, or burned finger in sight... and getting to know my Natey over this last year, this is a Christmas miracle.

It truly is a wonderful life.

Christmas Traditions

We are blessed with many great family traditions. One of our favorites is on Christmas Eve, when Bumpa and Jamie break out the guitars and sing Christmas hits. This year, Nate and Luke played the drums in their own way... Listen to me-like a giant dork- say, "Dance it Natey, dance it!" Next year, Bumpa must learn the Hula Hoop Song, by the Chipmunks!

Santa Train

We checked out the Santa Train at Irvine Regional Park last night- the kids had a great time! This is Luke, Owen, Zeke, Shyla and Kylie hanging at the North Pole.

A Heart Full of Joy

The other day Luke was in his bedroom whining and fussing. I went in to see what was the matter and he said, "I can't get the grey shirt! I need the grey shirt!" I told him the shirt he had on was perfectly fine, but he looked at me and replied, "But I want to look just like Dada, Mama." So, we replicated the exact outfit Scott was wearing and as we are discussing which hat, which blue jacket, etc., I hear Scott from the hall, "Oh, my heart is so full of joy!"

So these are my handsome boys, dressed alike, and my heart is also full of joy.

The Little Comedian

Last night Nate and I were doing the dishes while Luke and Scott were finishing dinner. We have a flimsy plastic cutting board, and I had just rinsed it and put it in the washer when Natey grabbed it for himself. Walking across the kitchen floor, he suddenly starts laughing hysterically. I look over and as he is walking, he is mushing his face up against the cutting board. Scott and Luke also see him, and soon all four of us are laughing hysterically, as Nate continues smashing his face against the plastic and strolling across the tile. Finally, with a flourish, Nate drops the cutting board on the floor, and starts clapping. What a comedian!

The Blue Balloon

Beginning Sunday morning, Nate had several days of horrendous diarrhea- I'm talking 10-12 diapers and 7 or more outfits each day. Despite this, he'd been in really good spirits, no other ailments or ills, so I didn't worry too much. Until I saw the chunk of blue balloon floating in the Pamper.

That's right, my child swallowed a chunk of balloon. When you're a parent, you expect the unexpected. But generally, you don't expect a chunk of blue latex to make an appearance in your kid's poop.

In the ER, the doctor told me that the digestive tract will produce diarrhea to rid the body of the foreign object. Since he's firming up now, I'm hopeful that there's no more balloon in there. Or nickels. Or legos. Or...

Hangin' Tough as America's Next Top Model

Okay, so this was the first season I watched America's Next Top Model. I guess the stay at home mommy thing has finally sucked me in. Luke watched the finale with me and he too was riveted. Now, he models like a pro, which I am thankful for since for six months straight every time the camera would click on out would come his tongue...

He also has started dressing himself and often, me. For Thanksgiving he chose the outfit in the picture, including the hat and a single black glove. First he said he was dressing as a prince (I think it was the blue blazer), then he called himself "Dr. Jones" (as in the Dr. Indiana Jones, University professor- it was the hat). Personally, I think he looks like one of the New Kids on the Block.

So the picture here is him "modeling" his Dr. Prince Jones McIntyre Wahlberg outfit.

Going to the Finals

YEA!!!!! Our Daddy is headed to the CIF football finals!!! Go Daddy! Beat Oaks Christian!

Where's Natey?

Nate started walking on the day he turned 10 months. Two weeks later, he's almost running.

He's talking quite a bit ,too, saying "Mama", "Dada", and "Maaa!", which is his highly punctuated name for our dog, Molly.

Nate is a happy, happy baby who laughs and smiles all the time. He loves to eat, especially homemade french fries and morning waffles. His favorite game is peek-a-boo, which he plays any time the opportunity presents itself. In line with this, his favorite words are, "Where's Natey?!" Upon hearing this, he launches into squeals of delight, hiding himself as quickly as he can. He has figured out how to put blocks into the holes of his toy giraffe, and he does this over and over. He is a dancing machine. In short, he is a total joy.

The Christmas Playlist

Now that I am home and have a little more time on my hands, I have discovered iTunes and Limewire and the fun of accessing songs for holiday play lists. Since I was about to kill myself if I had to hear Ghostbusters or Thriller one more time (from our Halloween cd), we made our Christmas cd. Now Luke is singing Rudolph, the Hula Hoop Song, and Frosty. In the back of the car I hear him singing, "Frosty the Snowman, was a Jolly Roger soul..."

Always a pirate.