11 Months Michael

Above is a video of Michael and LK playing around with each other.  They do a lot of that these days.  It's more a matter of Lauren yelling in Michael's face to make him laugh and then Chris and I have to say "gentllllle"!  Michael is 11 months old today and here are his stats:

• He is walking along furniture and showing the first attempts to walk away from furniture on his two feet.  We think he'll be walking right about a year.  
• He looooves to get into just about anything that might hurt him...pulling drawers open on dressers and in the kitchen, fingers in door openings where the hinges are, crawling up the steps and thinking he can get back down by falling forward.  We thought LK was a climber, but he has her beat.
• He is about 20'ish pounds and eating some solids.  He can eat puffs, banana, avacado, some soft noodles, without puking....we never know.
• He loves to crawl over to me and give hugs and then crawl away
• In school he is the oldest in his room and he likes to help his teacher with the other kids to make them smile or laugh
• He likes to stick his fingers in his mouth to gag himself.  We can't wait for him to get over that phase.
• He wants to go go go and do anything that Lauren is doing.  Lauren is happy to oblige him with whatever he shows interest in so we still have to watch her closely with him.
• He is working on those upper teeth...still only has the two lower ones through the gums. 

 Happy 11 months Michael!

Lauren is on day 4 of potty training with minimal accidents!  She has worn her big girl underwear at school all day and until bedtime.  Once or twice she had to have a diaper for nap, but she has stayed dry for the most part.  We are so proud of her, and she is too.  There will be lots more trips to Monkey Joes and other fun places as her prize for keeping up the good work.  Lauren is doing very well in the classroom she moved to a month ago.  She loves the independence that the teacher gives her.  For example, she goes to the bathroom with minimal help, gets up and washes her hands herself, pours her milk from a pitcher into her cereal by herself, and has a more classroom-type learning environment.  It is very good for her.  We notice every day how she becomes more her own and now gives us a sweet sweet smile instead of a "cheese" face when posing for pictures.

Yes, this is how I look most of the time....tired. :)

 Lauren is into this thing about making trains with furniture or toys. Chris & MC are riding on the train.

Sweet as pie...2.75 going on 7

11 months old today!

Christmas/New Years

We had a great Christmas this year.  We celebrated with our Fleming/Spannknebel side on the 17th and 24th, and with just Grandma and Grandpa Miller on the 25th.  This year there was an injury in the family.  Margie usually hosts on Christmas Day, but she couldn't so we will wait to start up again next year.  The kids were home Christmas morning to see what Santa brought them.  Michael liked the paper and Lauren really liked opening this year to see what she got.  She opened most of Michael's too. Neither of them minded.  Next year might be different.

For New Years Eve, the Millers/Sandiesons/Schnoors/LaPointes all went to Winterfest during the day.  It was an indoor amusement center with bounce houses, kid bungees, carousel, train, etc.  They loved it and all kids had fun getting together.  So did the adults.  We all got together at our house that night, just the adults, to catch up and relax.  I don't have any pictures of the day/night except for what the friends send me  so I can't post those right now.

Lauren when we told her Santa came...come see what he left for her and Michael!

Her first glimpse of Santa's gifts.

Going through her stocking...some jewelry

Had to get MC the milk first thing :)

Then he decided to get up and take a look at the presents.

We let her eat a marshmallow Santa from her stocking with breakfast.  It's Christmas!

Such a love

Chilling with Grandpa.  Michael really loves watching sports.

Lauren helped with the wrapping paper garbage :)

9 months/ 10 months

Wow, I have been a month behind on this.  Michael is now 10 months old.  I did not get a shot of him in the chair on the 10th month so I've ruined the routine.  Every time I remembered to take his picture, he was ready for a bottle and wouldn't have cooperated anyway.

Michael still just has his two bottom teeth.  He is teething and the doctor said his top two were ready to come in...that was at his 9 month appt.  There are still only two bottom teeth and he is now 10 months old.  Michael, you are doing better with food though!  Just a few gags and no puke!  You've tried banana, puffs, avacado, and not puked.  This is a good deal.  You want to eat whole food so bad, so we hope you are on your way.  He is very chatty these days.  He lights up when Chris, Lauren or I come into sight.  He likes banging things together or against something, and of course anything Lauren wants to play with he is right there to get a shot at it too.  Lauren does the same to him by the way.

2 more months until he's 1.  Unreal!

9 mo Picture:

10 mo Picture:

I'm bringing Preppy Back

Today Michael wore the sweater that Chris wore 33 years ago.  He looks so cute in it too.  He's bringing preppy back.

Thanksgiving

Well our first Thanksgiving as a family of 4 has passed.  It was really nice and we hosted at our house.  Lauren got along so well with Elijah and played with him all afternoon.  Michael got to hang out with the Miller side and get to know everyone a little more.  Michael is pulling himself to a stand now... we are hoping he doesn't decide to walk for a few more months still.  Here are some highlights.

Grandma M, LK, Mommy in our Thanksgiving aprons

Grandma, Grandpa, MC, LK

LK helped put the napkin rings on the napkins. Animated as always.

MC started the crawling maze under the table.

LK went potty at Kohl's so we bought some big girl underwear. She has worn them once, but it is a start!

The first place Michael crawled to and pulled to a stand was the tub. He loves it there.  He is fascinated by the running water.

Such a love.  Love those two bottom teeth.

We started LK in a gymnastics toddler tumbling class.  Today was the first class...she goes on Friday when Nani and Papa watch her. She loved it. 

Tonight LK helped me with the Christmas tree decorations.  Bedtime was dragged out til 8:15 :)

Putting up her stocking with a little help this year.  She is so excited for Santa!

Lunch today with Great Nana...picture quality wasn't good when I enlarged this so it is smaller pic.

Michael is 8 months old

Time is flying.  Michael is pulling himself up onto his knees, and the daycare teacher said he was standing in his crib last week.  He hasn't done it at home, but we lowered the mattress in the crib just in case.  I looked at Chris the other night and said, "how can he be pulling up already?  Wait, he IS 8 months old, not 3 months like I keep thinking.  I guess he'll be walking in 4."  It's just crazy.

Michael has two bottom teeth now.  I tried to get a picture but it is very hard to see it yet.  He is chewing away like crazy so I think he'll have 4 on the bottom soon.  He is wearing 12 month clothing.  Butternut squash and sweet potatoes are his favorite, although, he has tried and kept down peas, apples, combo of some fruits.  He's slowly getting the hang of it.  He has a killer grasp and is very focused.  He will laugh when you tickle near his collarbone.  He crawls fast now and when he wants you, he'll crawl right to your feet and tug on your pant leg with his head butting up agains your legs.  He is such a love.

You can kind of see one bottom tooth in the middle of his mouth in this picture above.

Had to take some pics of him eating on Friday night. He was having such a good time.

 And I thought LK looked so pretty...loved her hair in this picture.