Here kitty, kitty

Ellie and Charlie are big into pretending to be cats (or dogs) these days.  Daddy served up some (almond) milk in saucers for them – such a fun daddy!

Charlie on stage

The kiddos had their Christmas program at school last week and I'll post more video and pictures soon, but I just had to share this little gem...

We’ve arrived

Keanan is three months old and although he still has his moments of fussiness, he has reached the super fun stage where just making eye contact with him makes him break into a smile so wide that it looks like a big belly laugh is just around the corner.  He “talks” constantly and he loves his brother and sister – he smiles anytime he sees them, which makes Ellie’s day (she proudly says ‘Hi Keanan, it’s your sissy.  He smiled at me, mom!  He smiled at his sissy!”).  Just in the last week, he has grown/changed so much – he’s started reaching for toys, shaking rattles, etc.  Even the third time around, we’re amazed by these little milestones and convinced that he must be a genius to be able to bat at a toy in such a cute manner.

The photographer dropped the ball on this one, but you can see our smiley boy:

How can he possible be old/big enough to sit in this chair already?!

I can’t decide who he looks like more – he has Charlie’s dimples, Ellie’s cheeks.  I think his eyes are shaped more like Ellie’s and maybe they have a similar nose too?

Sometimes the shirt says it all

This is one of Jackson’s old shirts and it is so perfectly fitting for Charlie right now (it says “This is my time out shirt.  I wear it all day long.”).  He’s just such a stinker!  To say that he’s testing boundaries is an understatement.  His favorite word is “no” (it’s truly his default answer – he says “no” to absolutely everything, and only sometimes changes his answer to “yes”…if he realizes something wonderful is being offered to him and nothing is asked in return), and if you mess up and give him any indication of what you don’t want to do, he’ll immediately do it…twice.  That’s all challenging enough, but the worst part is that he’s really rough with Keanan – he squeezes and shakes his arms way too hard; jabs him in the eyes, mouth, nose, and ears; lays on top of him; etc.  Oh well, I suppose that’s life with a spirited two year old and I’m blessed to be his mommy and to get to be with him every day – can’t imagine someone who wasn’t biologically programmed to not throttle him being in charge of his care on a daily basis!  In the quiet moments between pulling out my hair, I still see my sweet little boy in there…the monstrous two year old just tries to hide him…but I adore him nonetheless!

Terrifyingly hilarious

Keanan's first real laughs...

Galyon visit

Jamie, Alex and Aubrey came down last weekend for a last minute visit.  It was SO nice to see them…but the visit was much too short!  I just wish we lived closer – I love my sis so much and the cousins have a blast together.  I hope they grow up being the best of friends, even if our visits are never often or long enough.

We wanted to take advantage of the fabulous weather, so we spent a lot of time outside.  The kids tore up the driveway on a variety of vehicles.

Alex on Ellie’s bike:

This picture is for Gaga – she loves seeing little kids on 4-wheelers!

Daddy, being the awesome daddy that he is, got up on Saturday and made pancakes with Ellie, Charlie and Alex.  And then we got to witness a Galyon girl eat her weight in pancakes – I really think that Aubrey might be a Hirst – she, Ellie and Charlie ate pancakes faster than we could get them on the plate.

A rare quiet moment:

On Saturday, we had family pictures taken for Christmas cards.  Alex didn’t want to be left out, so she got all gussied up too.

That’s one cute clown-in-training!

I want to go on record as saying that I know I’m going to coddle Keanan and he’s going to be spoiled rotten.  But look at him – can you blame me?  He’s just so darn cute!

The big kids are pretty sweet on him too!

More pictures

A lazy Saturday morning:

Hillary gave Keanan his second bottle.  It’s probably not surprising given his general affinity for food, but Keanan sucks down bottles like a champ!  Neither Ellie nor Charlie took bottles, so this is a very new thing for me.

On his two month birthday – he has discovered his tasty hands.  He’s not quite coordinated enough to be a thumb-sucker (yet), but he’s giving it his best shot!

Ellie and Charlie just love cuddling Keanan.  Unfortunately, they’re a little over enthusiastic at times, but it sure is sweet to see them all snuggled up together.