Laughing and Mine

Yesterday, Abby did the cutest thing - she laughed! For the first time, actually. Yeah, she sort of laughed a little in her sleep, I called it more of a chortle than laugh, but yesterday, as I bounced her on my knees, she outright laughed. She's getting such a personality. She SO wants to roll over, and is almost there, but can't quite get it. I'm not sure if it has something to do with her fluffy bum, due to her cloth diaper, or if she just needs a bit more humph to get over, but either way, she's trying very hard.

Oh, and the other day William discovered a "new" word - mine. Everything is "mine" now. When I tell him to stop messing with the DVDs, he says "No, mine." Lovely.

Christmas

We have been getting our Christmas things out since Thanksgiving...a little at a time. Yesterday we got out tiny, 32 inch light-up tree out and William fell in love. He'll sit in front of it and say, "Christmas tree....Christmas tree..." and want me to sit next to him to "watch it". (It's one of those trees where the lights change colors.) Even Abby is pretty mesmerized by it. We put out lights on our porch, as well as candy canes at the bottom of the stairs. Each night, or when it gets dark, William reminds me: "Candy canes on...lights on." He never forgets.

He's not a huge fan of Santa, as one time, when we went into the Do-It Center, I suggested we look at the trees and lights. There was this tall, stationary Santa...well, I unknowingly parked the cart by it, and suddenly the thing sprang to life, moving this way and that, singing Feliz Navidad. William freaked out. Big time. We couldn't leave the store fast enough. So now when we go into the stores he always panics a little, saying "No Santa, no Santa."

A neighbor down the way a little bit also put up lights...and a HUGE blow up penguin. (I didn't know penguins were Christmasy, but whatever.) William, Abby, and I had walked to Sophia's house to drop off some Knoor (chicken seasoning) and exactly as we were walking out the door the neighbor girl plugged in the penguin and the thing sprang up on her porch, lighting up and everything. William completely lost it, screaming. Huge tears ran down his cheaks. He was so scared I had to run Abby home so I could come back to carry William. (The girl felt bad, so she unplugged it so we could walk by in relative peace.)

Other than that, it's been fun watching William enjoy Christmas this year! I'm hoping we'll be able to get out sometime soon to look for other lights in the neigborhood...as long as there are no singing Santas or inflatable penguins!

Stuff

My neighbor watched William tonight so John and I (and Abby) could go on a date. It was nice only having to deal with one child, fussy as she was. She just hates to sit in her seat - she wants to see everything!

Abby's new headband she got from my neighbor. So cute!


I got this great idea from a blogging friend and William absolutely loves it! I put little bits of all sorts of goodies in the compartments. He thinks it's great!

Oh....and a shot from yesterday. This was the adorable outfit that she wore for her 4 month pictures. She fussed while getting her pictures taken, but was ALL smiles as soon as we got home. Grrrr.....

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving, and I hope you all did too! We all "slept in" this morning...well, till about 8, since we were out late last night shopping. John put our turkey on the rotisserie, and I made sweet potato souffle, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls & butter, and sparkling cider. This year the food was timed impeccably, with everything being cooked and finished at the same time. With two small children that's not an easy task.
William really liked the sweet potatoes.




Then again....




Abby enjoyed being held the entire dinner. She likes being in the middle of the action!


Our two kids, for whom we are very thankful! (The stork is completely incidental.)

Shopping

I wiped out William's shopping cart (he played outside with it this summer) and brought it in the house for him to play with. He loves shopping for his nummies with Herbie, his doll. (Mom, we all want to know where the name "Herbie" came from!) This morning I put Abby in his cart. My intention was to put her in it when she was first home from the hospital, as she was SO small, but I never got around to it.
Giving Abby kisses. They both adore each other!

Singing

William has been learning a LOT these days. He's like a sponge...he's constantly picking up new words and songs. Some of the songs he knows are BIBLE, Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Rock-a-bye Baby, and A-B-C-D. We are also working on catechism questions, although when I ask him "What else did God make?" he usually responds with "Noah". Here's a short video of William signing. We usually have "piano lessons" everyday, where we sit at the piano and sing. I'm working on other songs with him, and he's picking them up, so I'll post them later.

Sunday

William absolutely refused to be photographed, so it's just me and my favorite little gal.


Wide eyed, that's for sure!