YAYE for snow!

We bought Jackson a sled yesterday, and boy did he have a great time. I think his smile was frozen to his face! I took him up and down the sidewalks, because they had yet to shovel our walks. He had a great time going up and down the hills. I think I had a little too much fun myself. It surely was a chore getting him bundled and in the sled, but well worth it :) 

Layer 1...

 Layer 2, 3 and 4..and the finished product!

Unfortunately, Luke was out of town the last couple of days, so he wasn't home to experience the first sleigh riding.. and I wasn't able to snap pictures, and pull a sled at the same time. Since we have lots more snow today, and Daddy is home, I will be sure to get some of him having a good time... Until then,  pictures of his first, not so delightful, snow tasting will do..

 Not really loving the taste of this white stuff..

"No, Mom, it doesn't taste any better the third time you shove it in my mouth.."

What a happy, happy January 16th..

We started our Monday with a new...NEPHEW! 

Jessica and Nick welcomed a healthy, adorable baby boy into the world. Anthony Evan Tracy weighed in at 7lbs 12oz and 20in long! Anthony was named after Nick's mom, Antoinette, who would have just loved him. His middle name, Evan, is after Luke's grandma, Evelyn.  

He is going to be well taken care of by his big brother, Dominick.

 We are so excited to add another boy to "the pack", and it is hard to believe that Jackson is a big cousin. They seem SO far apart in age, but in a few short years they will most likely be in Kindergarten the same year, and eventually wearing a cap and gown at graduation the same year. Weird to think about. Mema and Papa better stock the cupboards, because they are going to have a lot of hungry boys running around! :)

We ended our Monday with the sale of our house! WOO-HOO!

No Monday blues here!

New Year...New "Do"...

Jack's hair has always been wild and crazy...we've tried a number of styles on his mop...

We've tried combing and parting...

..and brushing

He has tried the receding look...

..and bald

..even going "el natural" (ie- bedhead)..

But, we've finally found his style..

a nice, spiked fohawk :)

one problem..I don't think he likes it much!

Bailee makes everything better, even a crazy hair do!

Mr. Independant..

Jack has turned into quite the "little boy"...Initially I was going to write "Jack turned into a little boy over night", but then realized that nighttime is still the time where he acts like a newborn :o) I thought I should blog about all of his little changes, which together, have turned my little baby into a big baby!

Of course, some pictures will help me...

 Holding his own spoon = not so successful. 

No longer letting mommy feed him (sigh)

Jack seemed pleased with himself, though..and that is all that matters





 Doing actual "activities"
..here he is lead drummer

Eating REAL finger foods!

Oranges and chicken noodle soup were on the menu!

"Wait until you pick me up out of this highchair and see everything that I dropped in my lap!"

"I suck the juice out of the orange, and then spit the rest out!" :)

Bye, bye baby bathtub..

sitting up in the real tub

Tubby time is Jackson's favorite part of the day!

He even gets hydrated while getting clean (he sucks the water off his toys- gross!)

7 months old!
Now, if he could onlyyyy get the memo that big boys don't fake cry to get their mommies in their bedroom at 3am..and then stay up and stare at their mommies for 2 hours..
We woke up to this sign in our yard this morning...our house is officially on the market.

The great news is that 12 hours after sitting down with the real estate agent,  just to discuss the selling process, she showed our house...a lady fell in love and already made us an offer! Can you believe that?  The bad news is that we don't have orders yet, and won't until February 6th..so we can't give her an official move in date! SO, this weekend, the woman is looking into renting and we'll find out on Monday if she is going to sign the papers! It is all going WAY TOO FAST! I am excited about our next adventure, but sad to leave our first house! It is so beautiful, and I will miss looking outside the windows at the mountains! I will NOT miss all of the square footage and cleaning, though. Bring on a smaller house, please!

Just in case you know someone looking for a 4bdrm townhouse....

Goodbye, 2011...you were so good to us

HELLO, 2012...

But, first..we must reminisce December..

...as it was our most fun (and busy) month to date! We have been so busy doing every Christmas/holiday activity that we could possibly squeeze into one (too short) month. To be honest, it felt like a Christmas on steroids - haha! Here are some of the many things we have been up to....

rainy day fun w/ Bailee..

we took Jackson on a carriage ride around downtown Bellefonte!

we think he had fun, minus the fact that he had to wear his snowsuit ;)

the horses were beautiful! We love downtown Bellefonte! It is so quaint, and each year they have a Historic Christmas Celebration, which we enjoy!

"um...didn't I already see this dude?"

"this time, I am not nearly as excited"

santa's reindeer...so cute!

the year that Jack got to open his presents twice. Once when they came in the mail, and again on Christmas morning...this was fun until he decided to pop one of those peanuts in his mouth, and I almost had a heart attack.

loving the feel of the (fake) needles!

he also pulled a light off of the tree and attempted to eat it...  Christmas taught us that we cannot take our eyes off our little man.. and so it begins.

 We decided to have our own "W" Christmas celebration....with just the three of us... we pretended it was Christmas, the Saturday before "the real deal", and really enjoyed starting our own family traditions. 

on Christmas Eve we decided that "the elves" would make a special visit with a Christmas story, ornament and matching Christmas PJ's for everyone!

"they" even brought mommy and daddy some new sleepwear! Yeehaw!

the first of many years to come.. 

he looks thrilled, right? not so much...

well, until he figured out that he could eat the wrapping paper (his diet for the last week and a half- wrapping paper and tissue paper).

"YESSS...I love the red polka dot kind"

apparently the basket is edible, too...

So, we read a Christmas story, left Santa a treat ..and off to bed we went... 

there was just one little problem...we didn't have any cookies...so, we left Santa Jack's famous Mum Mum's and dissolvable puffs... (and just for the record, that is 1% milk..not breastmilk ;))

Santa's hand must have been tired...
This letter surely made me tear up!

Merry 1st Christmas, Jackson!

"all for meeeeeee??"

Jack got a big boy carseat, but seems more interested with the ornament he pulled off the tree

Where in the world did that baby go!??

of course Bailee had to join in on the fun!

the cat didn't come with the toy ;)

Deep breath..phew. Following our little family Christmas, we organized a holiday lunch for all of Luke's soldiers. We were able to receive some donations from around State College, which helped us put on a hot luncheon. Honey Baked Hams, in State College, donated TWO 10lb hams! It surely helped us out, and was hopefully appreciated by all! Luke and I made some of the sides and desserts, so we were busy every night after Jack went to bed. It was actually a lot of fun! We just played Christmas music, and baked. Some how baking puts you in the holiday spirit..it must be why there are always baked goods coming out of your ears during Christmas..everyone loves to do it! The  day after our Christmas party, we drove home for the holiday weekend. The pictures should tell the rest...

"Oh really, Mom, you thought that I was actually going to sleep well in Sayre? muahaha" 

my new wheels!

my new weights from Uncle Patrick and Jenna (.2lbs)

my other new set of wheels!

driving and reclining all in one day!

"you better hold on to me, Jenna...or I like to face plant!"

this is my favorite picture!

yes, he is standing ( my life is over)

this should make anyone smile! 

so long Christmas 2011...

FYI- the only reason this is so long is because I am really, really putting off unpacking ALL of the bags/presents (all of which filled up the entire box of Luke's truck)...