Look Who's Four Months Old!!!

It's our sweet baby Jack! And yes, I have to say it every month... I cannot believe it has already been 4 full months since this sweet little baby came into our lives! I honestly feel like I just posted his 3 month update! And I'm sure the next month will go by even quicker because of the holidays! But on Sunday Jack became the big 4 months! I am a little disappointed that we couldn't get in for his well visit until December 22nd because I am dying to know how big our big boy really is! He is super long, that much I know for sure! But I can't wait to find out his percentiles!

So, for now, we'll just have to make due with other ways he is growing up! Not a whole lot has changed in a month really! He is still the same happy, smiley, laughing boy he has been. Still a great sleeper (even at naps now), and great eater... obviously! Now, if only he could get some hair.... He seems to have my slow growing roots poor kid! At least he's a boy though! And for the life of me I can't really tell if he's going to be blonde or have more Olivia's color of hair. Some days I swear he'll be a toe head, and then other days I'm certain it will be darker! I guess only time will tell!

He has finally gotten some better control of his noggin and is enjoying his Bumbo seat.

(I feel horrible I cropped Liv out of this picture. But it was so good of him, and not so good of her.... eyes half open, looking drugged.... she'll forgive me one day I'm sure! It's a shame too b/c she was actually looking at the camera and slighly smiling!)

He is liking to stand more and more, and is really close to rolling over from his back to front! He was SO close last night, I took some pictures only to upload them and realize, it just looks like he's lying on his side. But I promise, in person, he was so close to doing it. He just needs to get over that shoulder! He's got the hip in gear!

He had a hold of his sleeve and he was really tugging at it, like c'mon, move already!

So, all in all, he is doing great, and we are enjoying his sweet disposition! As soon as we go see Dr. B, I'll be sure to update, as I'm sure you are all sitting on the edge of your seats! :)

Christmas Parade

Denny, Olivia, Jack and I went to our first Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children's Christmas Parade yesterday! Our friends, The Lewis', go every year and when she told me about it I thought, what a fun tradition! With some guidance from Stacy (and a reminder from Allison), we decided to stay at The Magnolia Hotel the night before since it is right next to the Adolphus and obviously on the parade route! It made things so much easier the morning of the parade! I am really SO glad Stacy shared this tradition with us because it was so much fun!!! As we drove into downtown Denny and I were remarking on how we never leave our bubble of the Plano/Frisco area and it's sad because there is a big, wide world out there and we just never think of exploring anything outside of our bubble. We felt like we were in another country or something. It has been so long since I've been to downtown Dallas!

I will say the check-in process was not perfect. We couldn't get in front of the hotel to valet because there were so many people also wanting to check in so, after circling the block, we self-parked at a garage down the street. Sounds simple, but when you've got a pre-schooler, a baby, a pack-and-play, 4 camping chairs, and all of our bags, it was quite humorous watching us waddle down the block and into the hotel!

The Nelson's also decided to join in on the fun and were there as well. So after we were all checked in (in neighboring rooms no less), we headed out to dinner.

On our way, we ran into Santa in the lobby! Olivia was being a little shy and would not sit with Santa, or stand by him, by herself. So we both got to tell him what we wanted for Christmas! :) Olivia's big wish list item this year is Emily from the American Girl collection.

Allison and sweet baby Beck, Jack's BFF!

The Lewis Girls

The hotel had milk and cookies for the kids, so of course, we had to partake! Olivia never turns down a dessert!

After milk and cookies we called it a night and went up to bed! The next morning we were up early and the guys went to set our chairs out to ensure us good seats for the parade. They did great, we were the 2nd row right outside the hotel! The Magnolia also had a great breakfast buffet, so we chowed down, then bundled up and went to our seats!

Here is our little Jack all bundled up and having fun, well, enjoying himself at least!

Olivia was so excited to see what was coming next in the parade!

I love this picture! Jack looks so scared! At the time a marching band was going by and he did not know what to make of them! Hard to believe that he actually slept through most of the parade!

My sweet girl!

And a few of her favorites...

My Little Pony's Pinkie Pie

Rudolph

And last but not least, Santa!

It really was so much fun and something we will look forward to doing every year! I highly recommend it to anyone who lives in the area with kids! What a great way to kick off the holidays!

Thanksgiving in Austin

Thanksgiving this year was a little different for us! Every year since Denny and I have been married we have traveled to Houston for Thanksgiving. His parents host dinner and there are usually at least 20 people there... all family! It is so much fun to see everyone and catch up, so I was wondering what in the world we would do this year since Bumpa and Gigi have moved to California. So when they told us they would be spending the holiday in Austin (the UT/A&M game was on Thanksgiving Day) we jumped on board! We will make any excuse to visit our favorite place!



We decided to drive down a little early, on Tuesday, so we could spend some time with some of our friends that still live there! We were so grateful that our drive went really well! Both Jack and Olivia were great! Seriously, it could not have been any easier! Until we actually got into town! :) Denny and I were using his Garmin navigation thing and decided that we knew well enough where we were going that we didn't need to listen to Ms. Garmin! What a mistake! Basically, we took a wrong turn which costed us about 20 minutes we did not have! It was way past Jack's time to eat as it was, and he had a dirty diaper! Not fun! So, moral to this story... "The machine is never wrong!" (For all you Office fans out there! Denny and I laughed so hard! We had just watched that episode of the Office and kept repeating that quote!)


Once we arrived all was well and we freshened up, and fed Jack, and headed out to a friend of ours new home! We visited there awhile and then went to Chuy's for dinner with Nad and Elizabeth, Owen and Lisa and their daughter Laney, and Noodle. It was so crowded and after the wait for our table I was too busy feeding Jack, so I took zero pictures... I am so sad!


That night Owen and Lisa were kind enough to let us stay with them! So the next day we went to check into our hotel room and get settled in! We stayed at the Embassy Suites at the Arboretum! And for any of you with children that travel to Austin, I highly recommend it! They have a small pond which is home to some beautiful (and huge) coi fish, as well as 2 swans, Butch and Sundance! That was pretty much the highlight of the trip for Olivia. And as I type this I am remembering that again, no pictures!!!! UGH! Where was my head!?!?


Anyway... after we unpacked a little we decided we all needed naps! When we all got up, sweet little Jack was not quite ready to wake up! He had been sleeping in my arms (it was so great!) and I laid him down on the bed to see if he would wake up...... I just thought this picture was cute... and check out those chubby thighs! I could just eat them!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once we were all finally awake we went down the the Co-op to purchase some Longhorn apparel for the game the next day! Here in the parking lot they have erected this ginormous Bevo statue.

And after the Co-op we met up with Bumpa and Gigi, and Ryan and Nicole, for dinner.

Jack was in such a great mood at dinner, he would not quit smiling!


Our other one was pretty happy as well! She had Gigi all to herself at the end of the table! She had been patiently waiting her arrival!

The next day was Thanksgiving and we had decided to go to Threadgill's to get our turkey and dressing! It was packed!!!! So thankfully Denny and Bumpa went early to put our name on the list and Gigi and I came later with the kids!

Ryan and his girlfriend Nicole also joined us. Aren't they quite the handsome couple!?

Olivia was not in the mood for lunch, so she just colored!
And Jack slept!

After lunch we once again went back to the hotel to rest! Then it was off to the tailgate for the game!

Adam and his girlfriend, Diedre came up for the game! I am really sad I didn't get to talk to them more, so I look forward to doing so at Christmas!

Sweet little Jack hanging at the tailgate before the game!

Believe it or not this is our FIRST picture of all four of us since Jack has been born! Isn't that sad! Hopefully there will be more in our future!

Ryan, Denny, Adam and Alex - all the brothers! Kevin was definitely not forgotten, he was in our hearts and our minds! :)

The Graney/Stungis Clan!
And another rarity... the entire family! Wait... who is that jerk that jumped into our family photo? Of course, it's Owen! Not to worry though! I have already "cropped" a version of this picture so that it is truly just family! Sorry Owen! :)

WOW! That is one l-o-n-g post! I hope I didn't bore any of you to tears! But we had such a wonderful time with all of our family and friends, which is what Thanksgiving is all about! I hope we have started a new tradition... at least every other year! :) And I hope you and your families had a blessed holiday as well!

7 Things You Never Knew!

I was tagged by my wonderful friend Julie to post 7 things about me you may not know! As I am thinking about things in my head I am quickly realizing that I divulged too much on my 100 things about me list a few months ago! Darn it! This will be one tough to-do!

1. I was on the cover of a magazine. Albeit the Methodist Hospital Magazine from 1977, but still, I was once a cover girl!

2. Although not as flexible as I once was, I am proud to admit that I can still do the splits at the ripe age of 31!

3. In college we were at the infamous greek kickball tournament and as we were riding from one field to another in the back of a pick-up truck, the driver gunned it, and I fell out, hit my head, and lost my memory for several hours. It was a little like Groundhog Day, but I was repeating myself more like every 2 minutes, not every 24 hours! Denny and I met a good year later and when he heard my story he was shocked to know that I was "that girl".

4. I love board games! Scrabble, Yahtzee, Taboo, and Pente are some of my favorites!

5. I have never been waterskiing or done any sort of water sports. I love being out on a boat, but enjoy just being a spectator!

6. In college I studied abroad in Cuernavaca Mexico for 2 weeks. I even lived with a host family. Sadly though, there was no studying.... at all. A friend of mine and I took our taxis to school every morning and then promptly got another taxi to downtown to shop and hang out. When it was time for school to get out we returned there to get our taxi home! Luckily it was not for credit hours! When I later told my dad about my truancy I justified it by explaining that I had used my spanish in the "real world" setting which was much more valuable than anything I could have learned in class in 2 weeks!

7. I don't like sushi or mushrooms, which are many people's favorite foods! Thankfully Denny is in agreement.

Allison, Amy and Mel - you have been tagged!!!!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

At least in Olivia's room! This weekend we went out and got her a pink tree for her room! She was so excited to get it up and decorate it!

And what good is a Christmas tree without any presents underneath it! So we went to wrapping some gifts for her friends! She picked out this beautiful Disney Princess wrapping paper and for the most part she wrapped them on her own!

Olivia spent a lot of time picking out a gift for each of her friends! So, needless to say, she canNOT wait to hand them out. She has already asked me if hey could not be Christmas gifts because she wants to give them now, she doesn't want to wait until Christmas! She is just like her daddy!!! Hopefully she won't spill the beans to her friends about what she got them! :)

Gigi Clause

Quick sidenote: Blogger is seriously irritating me these days! It continues to post my pictures in complete reverse order. I figure if I try to be one step ahead and load them in reverse it will be the time it finally posts them in the order I upload them. :) Just a small disclaimer!

Anywho.... Olivia (and Jack too) has been incredibly spoiled by Gigi lately! Gigi and one of her good friends made Olivia tons of different pillowcases for her bed a few months ago and every now and then she will send one or two in the mail as a surprise to Olivia! We have everything from hearts, ballerinas, and Disney Princesses to witches and turkeys! They are so fun and Olivia just loves them!!!

Well, yesterday we received a package from Gigi Clause and Liv was the lucky recipient of 2 advent calendars, a Cinderella ornament, and her personal favorite, Santa's Workshop!

Yes, you do see correctly. My difficult picture taker is actually LOOKING AT the camera AND smiling!!!! This just might be the best picture she's taken in months!!!! So it just had to make the post!

Jack also got an ornament for Baby's First Christmas! He was busy eating and thus did not make the photo session! But he was very excited none the less!

Once Olivia had opened all of her goodies she said, in her most adult voice, "That sure was sweet of Gigi wasn't it?" And it definitely was! Thank you, thank you, thank you Gigi for all of the gifts! You are so thoughtful to always think of Olivia! We can't wait to see you in 5 days!

3 Months and 90 Years!

Jack is sharing his three month birthday with his great-grandmother today! His sweet Mimi is 90 years old! I don't know which one is more remarkable. I can't believe it's been 3 months since we welcomed this sweet and happy boy into our lives. Nor can I believe that my grandmother has walked this earth 90 years! She has seen so much change in her life. It is crazy to me that when she was born, 1918, their main method of transportation was still the horse and buggy!

I have posted some random pictures of Jack from the last few weeks, and a special one of him and his Mimi!

Snuggling on his Daddy's chest and making that precious kissy face!!!! Mimi came out to visit a couple of weeks ago and Jack got himself some good lovin'!
A couple of Sundays ago I had picked out this outfit for Jack to wear to church. I was rushing around as usual and had Denny get him dressed. When I went in to check on them, I found this cute 0-3 month outfit was just a tad too small for him! He had never worn it before and Denny snapped the tags off before seeing if it would actually fit! The funniest part is Denny thought it was supposed to be capri pants!!! I don't know if I'm more scared that he thought it looked good, or that he thought I would really dress my boy in capri pants???

Tummy time on his Aquarium gym, he loves this thing! Which means I do too!

And lastly, in his bouncy! Give him a few more weeks and his feet will literally be hanging off of it!

Jack is still in that "easy" phase (don't worry, I know as soon as he is mobile I'll be in trouble, so I am relishing this phase!)! He sleeps alot still it seems like, and he is easily entertained! It makes it so much fun! When he isn't sleeping or eating he is usually smiling, laughing, squealing, and talking! I think he has his daddy's personality! Just content doing anything, anywhere!

He is blowing raspberries all the time now and loves to be tickled! He is most talkative right before he falls asleep, or after his bath. For a baby that hated to be naked when he was a newborn, he sure does love it now! He is getting squirmy during his diaper changes and grabbing onto everything... the toy on his carseat, my hair, my necklace, my shirt, his diaper cloth... you name it! And he is desperately trying to find his thumb, or really anything to suck on. Presently his fist seems to be doing the job just fine! It is so funny to watch him try and control his hand. It looks like he is trying to will it to where he wants it.

So, Happy Birthday to two of my favorite people!!!!

Trick-or-Treating

We all had so much fun trick-or-treating this year! Of all the neighborhoods we have lived in, I have never seen any of them celebrate Halloween like this one! Not only were there so many families out, but almost every house had their lights on awaiting trick-or-treaters! It was just a bustle of activity and it was so much fun! And the weather could not have been better! It was just perfect outside!
We started out at our block party and had dinner there. We were excited to meet a lot of new people! There seem to be a lot of little girls around here that are very close in age to Olivia, which will be so nice when she starts school next year! However, much as Denny and I were enjoying ourselves, talking to new neighbors, Olivia was beyond bored and ready to get down to business!

Our own beauty!

I love this picture... Olivia just looks so small! I am usually remarking at how big she looks. So it's nice to see that she really still is just a little girl! I know I will one day look back at this picture and not be able to imagine her being this small.

Jack was dressed in his Halloween pj's/costume! And in his carrier of course! He seemed to enjoy the fresh air as much as we did!

After much trick-or-treating we decided to head home and try to pass out some of our candy. Olivia was SO excited to hand out candy... her excitement was just precious!

(If you look carefully you can see our UT flag in the background... the wind had turned it upside down. I think it was a sign of what was to come the following evening!) :)

My baby girl snuggled in my arms... that does not happen near often enough! And look at my sweet boy smiling in the background! I am such a proud mommy!

We hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

Halloween Parade and Party

So... back to Halloween! I can't seem to keep up with blogging these days! This is such a busy time of year and there are so many fun, picture worthy activities! So, forgive my tardiness!!!

Olivia had her Halloween parade and party at school last Friday. The parade is fun and really cute. All the kids are dressed up in their costume, and their classes walk around the outside of the buildings and they get treats along their route. They also get to stop and pose for all of us loving parents who patiently await our child's class!

After the parade we went back up to Olivia's classroom for her Halloween party! They had donuts and juice and made a Halloween visor!

Again, I'm not sure why, but blogger is uploading my photos in reverse... This is getting really frustrating!!!! But here they are...

Maci and Olivia enjoying their Pumpkin donuts!

Olivia's class

Maci, Olivia and Matthew during the parade, and their wonderful teacher, Mrs. Casey

Olivia attempting to pose for me!

The Seven Year Itch

On Monday Denny and I celebrated our 7th anniversary! Way back in 2001 we got hitched at Park Cities Baptist Church and then danced the night away at City Club. I can remember every detail of that day so clearly! I specifically remember not being one bit nervous, which is very unlike me! I also remember Denny's best man, his brother, Kevin's face being battered, bruised, and covered with make-up! As well as Denny's dad's beautiful prayer, my dance with my dad, and of course Denny and I sharing our first dance! What wonderful memories! In the last seven years we have had our share of heartache, but we have also been tremendously blessed and shared much joy! There is no one else in the world I would have rather gone through all of it with other than Denny!

We didn't really get a chance to celebrate on Monday, so last night, our friends, Matt and Julie were kind enough to watch Olivia so we could grab a bite to eat at TruFire, a relatively new restaurant in Frisco. (They have the best mac and cheese! I urge all of you Frisco-ites to try it!) It was so nice to have a complete conversation without being interrupted once! A big thank you to Matt and Julie, we definitely owe you!