Holidays 2013

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas, starting with Brady helping us pick out the tree.  Santa (and family) were very good to Brady giving him lots of new toys and things to play with.  This was Brady's second Christmas, so he understood things a little better and was able to unwrap presents on his own.  He also enjoyed going through the stocking from Santa.

Pick this one Mommy

Our family - Christmas 2013

Santa came!

 A farm from the Seminara Grandparents

An easel from Grandma Reggie and Jeff 

A train from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Terry

Stylin' in his new Elmo backpack

Checking out all the loot in his stocking

Christmas night we flew to Boston and spent the next week with the Muzzey family enjoying good times, good food, and good snow.  We stayed with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Terry, but got to see Grandma Reggie and Jeff, the Uncles (Erik, Chris, and Paul), as well as some of our extended family.  We enjoyed our second Christmas with the Muzzey family, with Brady getting all sorts of cool things to play with and the family having fun with the Christmas Yankee swap.  The rest of the week we made the most of the snow.  Dad and the Uncles skied fresh powder at Sunapee while Brady enjoyed sledding and building a snowman with Grandpa.

 Thank you Uncle Paul for helping me open my presents

Opening one of his own presents

 Playing legos with the Grandparents

Getting some help from Uncle Chris too

Jumping with Uncle Erik and Uncle Chris

Reading with Grandma Reggie

Enjoying some cards against humanity

Grandpa helping build a snowman

Brady decorating the snowman

Learning some good life skills haha

Having a blast in the snow

Sledding with Daddy, wheeee!

 Love this snow stuff

 Grandpa pulling Brady in the sled

No time for pictures, must play in the snow!

Happy holidays everyone

We also made it up to Rumney NH to see some of the extended family including Mom's cousin Angela and Aunt Rose.  Angela and her family live in the Jaquith grandparents old house and did an amazing job with the renovation from the kitchen, porch, and rebuilding the back of the house from a shed to an office and storage.  It looks great!  Next we stopped at Aunt Roses to see Great-Grandma, Rose, Uncle Skip, Aunt Diane, and Grandma Reggie and Jeff.  Uncle Skip and Brady had a great time playing together throwing balls, playing in the kiddie tent, and exploring the upstairs.  Brady was so wiped out after all this playing he barely ate dinner before he fell asleep for the night.

Brady (20 mos), Mommy, Pepper (21 mos), and Cousin Angela

Great-Grandma (90 yrs young), Mommy and Brady

Mom and Dad enjoyed an early New Years parents only getaway to the Mount Washington Hotel in northern NH.  This is a 112 year old hotel, and with 8" of fresh powder the hotel and scenery were amazing!  We did it up going on a sleigh ride, eating at the historic main dining room, and enjoying some nonalcoholic libations in some of the other historic rooms of the hotel.

 The majestic Mount Washington Hotel built in 1902

The lobby decorated for the holidays

The clouds cleared and the old man showed his face

The hotel after dark

Mom and Dad in front of the range

Brady stayed with the grandparents but Dos (#2) got to enjoy the hotel

Winter came early to Texas this year giving us a day of sleet and snow and closing daycare (it was already and off-Friday for Mom and Dad).  That kept us inside most of the day, but when we ventured out to build a snowman we were disappointed to find it was ALL ice.  We built an iceman instead.  Brady loves playing outside in the snow, running around, knocking down icicles, and throwing snowballs (ice chunks).  Only in Texas is it 80 degrees to start the week, and 20 degrees to end the week!

Mom and Brady (19 months)

Moms flowers frozen in ice 

 Enjoying the ice in his new gear

How can I build a snowman? 

Playing with Indy

It has a been a chilly rainy November in Texas, but all the better for getting in the holiday spirit!  Brady enjoys watching the Polar Express, and Mom and Dad have watched Christmas Vacation more than once.

Here are some photos of the family getting ready for the holidays.  Looking forward to having Grandma Reggie, Jeff, and Uncle Erik down for Thanksgiving (and catching the Pats game in Houston).  And later in December, spending Christmas with the Muzzey family in NH.  Hope to get Brady out in the snow for some sledding and making snowmen!

Impromptu photo in front of the tree at the mall - Brady 19 months (1.5 yrs)

Fenway "enjoying" her holiday outfit

Foxy trying the hat on

Daddy and Indy getting in the spirit

This was a busy week with a quick weekend getaway, Halloween, and the Red Sox winning the WORLD SERIES!  Mom and Dad have been working hard so decided to take a little road trip to Arkansas for some rest and relaxation.  We originally planned to go to buffalo river, but shortened the time on the road and stayed at Denby Point on Lake Ouachita.  It was a really beautiful park with big pines, oaks, and maples all in their fall foliage colors.  The sides of the lake were pretty rocky, long flat rocks, and Brady had a lot of fun throwing rocks in the water.  We were going to do some hiking but it was rainy.  Instead we explored the park (the large trees provided a good canopy), drove around the lake, and enjoyed the scenery.  Brady had a lot of fun in the RV, playing outside, and sitting in his camp chair.

Our site 

 Special treat - breakfast donut

 Helping Mom and Dad grocery shop

Hanging out with Mom 

Check out this stick!

Mid-week we had Halloween.  This year we went as superheros - the Avengers!  Similar to last year, we went around to our close neighbors to trick or treat.  Our street was pretty quiet this year (older neighborhood I guess).  Then we drove over to see some family friends and played with their kiddos.  Brady was the youngest and of course had a blast running and squealing with the big kids.  Bad for Mom and Dad, we ended up with a bunch of candy we don't want to eat.  I'm sure our co-workers won't mind us bringing some in.

 Ironman and the Hulk

 The Hulk and Captain America

 Hulk SMASH!

Even Hulk's get sleepy

And the Boston Red Sox beat the St Louis Cardinals to win the 2013 World Series!  Last year we were the worst team in baseball, look how far we've come.  We're happy to represent Red Sox nation and root them on from Texas - congratulations Red Sox!!!

The champs with Big Papi (MVP) at the center with goggles

Great city, great atmosphere, great team!

Brady had his 18 month (1.5 yr) checkup last week.  He weighed in at 24.8 lbs (25%), 31 3/4 in height (30%), and 47 1/2 cm head circumference (50%).  The doctor was very impressed with his talking and sign language, his overall happy demeanor, and how much fun he was having stacking and unstacking blocks.  This was his 4th and final PCV vaccination, and he also got the flu shot.  Initially he did ok with his shots, a little crying but was easily distracted.  He went down fine to bed, but about 2 hours later he started moaning so we went to check on him.  He got to the point he was literally shaking, like he had chills, and was groggy.  At that point we didn't know if we should call 911 or take him to Cooks Childrens.  His temp was 102.4 deg.  Mom held him and wrapped him in a blanket, Dad gave him some Tylenol, and pretty quickly he responded become more responsive to the pictures Mom was reading him in his books.  That night Daddy kept a close eye on him, having him sleep on his chest until morning.  Since he was still running a low grade fever (100.4 deg) the next morning we kept him home from daycare.  He did fine all day, bouncing back to his usual self but it was a little scary.  And a good reminder for Mom and Dad to pay close attention to the doses in these shots and effects on little toddler bodies.  

Happy fall everyone!

Brady's school photos - 1.5 years old (Sept 2013)

 Checking out a pumpkin patch

What's this Daddy?

Our little guy continues to grow up.  Some of his favorite things now are pointing out body parts including eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, head, hair, chin, hands, fingers, buns, knees, feet, and belly.  He's eating a lot and for a long time (he can eat for like an hour straight), and he's growing taller.  You have to be careful with pots on the stove because he can reach the handles.  He loves stairs, but now instead of crawling up them, he wants you to hold his hand and he will step up the stairs (you're still going to do 75% of the work).  His communication skills are very good, he understands what you're asking him to do even though he can't always form a recognizable response.  He still gets the mail with Mom, he responds to stand up/sit in the tub, he helped Mom unload the washing machine and load the dryer, and in general will come when you call his name.  

This week he started doing something new.  We have always read him two books before bed.  The last two nights, after we finish his books he points to his crib and says nigh-nigh.  I guess he's ready for sleep!  We ask him to give us a hug and he will then we lay him down.  Last night when Mommy told him she loves him, he said it back with sign language, it was really sweet.

Grandma and Grandpa Seminara fly in today for the weekend, we're getting excited to see them!