Christmas 2014

Christmas came and went extremely fast this year!  I spend months prepping and buying and it's all over in a few weeks.  We put the tree up after Thanksgiving, but due to us being out of town for two weeks, we left it up until mid-January so we could enjoy it.  This year, we bought a new tree (7.5ft) and I was very happy with it.  I could fit all of the ornaments on it, with plenty of space to spare.  This was also the first year we had furniture in the living room, so it more cozy.

 I couldn't keep Izzie away from the tree if I tried.  I put most of our indestructible ornaments towards the bottom, but she was pretty good about keeping her hands off (after enough warnings).

Brady always loves the tree as well.  He loves pointing out all the ornaments that are his and he has collected over the years. 

As always, Santa came to our house early because we aren't home on Christmas Day.  As per tradition, the kids went outside to throw magic reindeer food to bring the reindeer to our house. 

 Time to put out cookies, carrots, and milk!

 Izzie took a seat next to the plate and decided to eat the carrots.  She liked dunking them in the milk too (I think she thought it was ranch).

 She had the right idea that the carrots were for the reindeer.  She started feeding her Clarice the carrots she had already partially munched upon.

 Brady loving on Rudolph.

 Izzie's "cheese" face.

 Coming down in the morning.  Izzie bumped her head on the gate prior to coming down, so she wasn't so happy.

 The only item Brady asked Santa for this year was the Paw Patrol tent.  Guess Santa was listening ;)

 Chase and Skye from Paw Patrol were waiting for him in his stocking.

 Izzie got Minimus from Sofia the First in her stocking.

Showing off her slippers. 

Overall it was a very good Christmas for the kids.

Visit with Santa 2014

Every year since Brady's been a baby (minus our year in Disney), we have gone to the same mall for Santa pictures.  They are the best because they do appointment times rather than a standing line.  Last year, we made the mistake of waiting until December, paired with a Friday, and it was a disaster.  Our appointment time was four hours from when we arrived, so I spent most of my day driving around getting other things done while waiting for our private audience time.  This year, I decided we would be going before Thanksgiving in an effort to get in more quickly.  He came on Saturday, November 15, and we decided we would go the next day, as Brady has school Monday through Thursday, and Friday was a madhouse the last time.  That also meant Andy could come as well.  He had never seen the kids see Santa, minus when we took Brady to Disney.  The only hiccup is that they don't do appointment times on the weekends, and it's a regular line.  They open for Santa daily at 8AM, but the mall didn't open until noon, so we decided if we went early, we shouldn't have a long line, especially so soon after his arrival.  We got there around 10AM and walked right in to see Santa!  I was so pleased, we will definitely be doing it the same time next year.

 Brady has never once been terrified and screamed when it came to Santa.  He had been rehearsing all the things he was going to ask for weeks in advance.  He ran right up to him and jumped onto his lap.

 Izzie let Brady go first and that might have been wise because she's got an attitude and won't do anything she doesn't want to do.  I thought for sure this was going to be our first year with a screamer.  She did great!

 A look back at all five (FIVE?!?!?! can you believe it?) visits with Santa.

Izzie's comparison from last year.  It's unbelievable when we look at videos and pictures from a year ago how much she has changed!  Her hair is certainly one of the more visible changes.  It's so long, curly, and unruly now!  She's almost two now and has lost almost all of her "babiness."

The together shot comparision from last year.  Izzie was more smiley last year, but it's so much harder to get them both looking now.  We'll see what future visits hold for our family.

Ten Months Old - Izzie B

Ten months - double digits!!!!  Holy cow, I still can't believe how much she's grown and how much she can do.  This month has been another packed full of firsts.  She saw Santa for the first time, celebrated her first Christmas (both in Michigan and in Pittsburgh), visited New York City for the first time, met her great-Oma for the first time, had her first New Year's, and visited many new places like the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh), and the Crayola Experience (Easton, PA). 

The biggest first she had this past month was that she started walking!!!  Can't you believe that?  Less than a week after she turned nine months, we saw her take a few steps.  Less than a week after that, she could walk across the room before falling down or reaching a piece of furniture.  By the time we made it home for Christmas, she was a pro.  We are still in shock because she's bound and determined to beat her brother out in all milestones by two months minimum.  Brady took his first steps at eleven months.  Izzie is now ten months and walks (sometimes runs) everywhere!  In the past month, she went from walking from a piece of furniture to pushing off the ground to stand and start walking.  She now prefers to walk rather than crawl.  If she falls, she stands right back up instead of finishing her route by crawling.  We have to start babyproofing ASAP.  The overturned chairs and car seat aren't going to work for much longer.

Before Christmas, we met up with friends at the mall and since it wasn't very crowded, I decided she could play.  This was the first week she was walking, so I think she'd have more fun now, but she had a blast!

A gift she received from our friends, the Reeses, was a baby doll.  It was the first one she ever had and it was almost instinctual.  She knew just what to do with it and loves it!  She carries her around and picks her up when she cries.

The baby came with a bottle and Izzie decided the bottle was for her instead.

We spent almost two weeks in Pittsburgh for the holidays.  While I was there, Izzie and I met up with a group of ladies who had had babies in March (one was late Feb).  We had all met via the internet because we were all due in March.  I've made friends and met ones from this group who live outside of Detroit and now the ones in Pittsburgh.  It's so great to meet them in person and it's fun to see the babies interacting.

We spent two days down at Andy's parents' house and the morning we did our present exchange, Buks decided to have some fun and fashion his own headband since I always send pictures of Izzie with headbands on.  He's always good for a laugh.

Both kids really cleaned up this Christmas, and I learned from past years and didn't get them as much this year, knowing they have many people who buy for them and won't know (or really care) where they all come from.  Coming home from Pittsburgh our car was packed to the ceiling with their gifts.  Their birthdays are so soon after Christmas that there is a long drought with no gifts, so I usually put some away and then throughout the year, bring them out so they have new things to play with.  Izzie is pictured above with her new baby stroller from her Nana and Dubby.

Actual Christmas morning in front of my mom's tree.

We had to cut our trip home unexpectedly short because of snow that was due to happen in Detroit on New Year's Day.  We drove home on New Year's Eve to beat it, so Izzie wore her outfit that day so other people could see it.

Both kids made it to midnight (Brady's fourth year in a row).  He was pretty tired and wasn't loving the glasses, but loves them now.  He puts them on all the time and yells, "Happy New Year!"  They'll be a great keepsake for him.

We did end up getting the 7-9 inches of snow predicted on New Year's Day.  Fortunately Walmart was open late on New Year's Eve, so we managed to stock up on some food.  Our neighbors invited us over to spend the day watching football, and Brady was more than happy to play with his friends.  They were all cuddled up watching Despicable Me 2 (Brady's current favorite).

Because we were snowed in, we decided to open some of the new presents and reorganize some of the toys.  Uncle Chris Trapuzzano (we have an Uncle Chris Tramposch too, so it can get confusing) got Izzie this great Disney Princess Castle and she fell in love immediately.  It came with Cinderella and Snow White, so I have a feeling the Easter Bunny will be bringing the rest of the gang.  It recognizes the princesses and they talk when placed on a certain spot.

Brady got into it too.  He thought he could put his Little People knight on the spot where the princesses talk, but it wouldn't fit, so I guess the princesses are a special size for it.  He has fun making them keep his Buzz Lightyear outside the doors.

While reorganizing, we decided to bring up some new things for Izzie.  This kitchen was Brady's and she loves it too.

Brady got some new tool gear from Buks and was looking cool.

She won't have another weight check until she reaches 1 year, but if her clothes are any indicator, she's growing.  I've now washed and she can wear almost everything that's 9-12 months size.  Things that look huge on the hanger fit her really well and I hope I get a decent amount of use out of them.  Certain brands run differently, so there's even one store's clothes where the 6-12 month shirts were too snug and I stepped her up to the 12-18 month ones I had on hand.  It surprised me until I thought about it and girls apparel tends to be more fitted and the cut will vary by brand.  She's still in size 3 diapers where I expect she'll stay for a while yet.  I think Brady was 16 months before we stepped up the the 4's.  She cut two new teeth before she turned ten months.  Instead of getting the middle two top teeth to match the ones on the bottom, she got the ones on either side.  She'll look like a jack-o-lantern if the middle ones don't pop out soon.

Trying to get her monthly owl picture is next to impossible now that she's on the move (as seen above).

Andy think she looks so much older than she is in this one.

Always going to Brady.  He loves to catch her.  The other day, we were watching Hook, and after that, Brady kept saying to her, "I'll catch you, Izzie, and I'll never let you go again!"  He's so cute.  Now that she can move and carry things, she takes everything Brady has.  He has learned that he has to wait until she's not looking to steal it back or she will shriek!

Ten months worth of comparisons.  She's come a long way in that time.  I can't believe that first birthday is in two short months!  Time to get serious about party planning, but Brady's comes first so I'm going to be busy.