Rachel, 28th Birthday and New Years

Well...for the last couple of days Rachel (one of my besties) was here to play with our family. It was so nice to have someone to talk to and play games with. She is amazing and I wish that we still lived super close so that we could hang out every once in a while. Although we didn't do anything too exciting (weather and a new baby to damper the cool things that you can do in bumpin' Meridian) it was fun just to hang out. We did go to the mall where I convinced her to buy clothes that were on super sale (not much convincing was really needed)...Brooke slept the whole time we were there. She has been sleeping a lot lately and drinking a ton too! I think she is going through a growth spurt. the trip ended with quite an explosion out of Tori's lower extremities which involved a diaper over her stretch pants and a plastic bag under her tooshie in the car. It was too extreme to change before we got home. YIKES! And of course Rachie was the one who discovered the treasure (sorry Rach!).
Our New Years Eve was spent celebrating Jason's 28th birthday. He requested an oreo pie crust filled to the brim with chocolate peanut butter Tillamook ice cream. So his wish was granted and boy it was really tasty! I must say that Rachie probably thought we were the most dead beet married couple, because after we watched the 30 Rock marathon (10 o'clock) we were wasted. I slept off in on with a feeding here and there until midnight rolled around. Rachie has already given up on us and went to bed herself. I did spend my first hours of the New Year with Brooke who didn't go to sleep until 1:30. But she slept until 5 and then went back to sleep and is still sleeping at this moment.
We miss you already Rachie! Come back soon and maybe we will be more exciting!

Tori decided that the bassinet is her new play area. She is way too big to be sleeping in there!

The "big sister" sporting all of her "pretties"

ahhh!!! She looks a little like Mr. T!

The happy girl in the cutes outfit...Jason picked this one out!

She is talking here! She coos a ton!

Ahhh...with the little jacket on.

Look A Like

Tori and Brooke

Before, During and After Christmas!

I know what you all are here for, the pictures! Well, we'll get to them in a second. We had a wonderful Christmas season. Before we celebrated Christmas, we celebrated our 5th anniversary! I cannot believe it! Like always we used Jason's birthday meal at Tucano's and we went to Target to buy each other presents and also do a little Christmas shopping. Jason got me a frame set with 10 matching picture frames so that I can make a collage and a rotary cheese grater for all of the different Parmesans that I have. I got him a Wii sensor sleeve and two shirts. We also got to go to Borders (which we loved to do a lot when we were living in Utah), but we have been avoiding (because we don't have money to spend on books) and treated ourselves to new books. :) I love books!
We finished our Christmas shopping a few days after the weekend and it was nice that we could take the kids along and they didn't even know the difference. Tori helped us pick out what she wanted. Tori and Brooke both got gift certificates to Target from their Aunt Michelle and Grandma Frann. So we spent those too.
Christmas eve we just hung out as a family. First, we went to IHOP for breakfast because I had been salivating over their holiday pancakes any time I saw their commercials. Then, we went to Walmart to get our Christmas dinner (a roast!) and then hung out! We also delivered gifts to all of our neighbors (we made hot chocolate gift baskets). We froze our tookissis off!
Christmas was fabulous. We woke up (the baby slept until 7am!) and after everyone was fed, we opened presents. We had quite the haul. Tori got some toys: an Aurora doll, stuffed Dumbo baby, stuffed Daisy duck, a new baby with a carrier, a Sesame Street medical kit, a Sesame Street school bus, an Elmo blanket, and an animated dinosaur. she was in heaven with all the new toys, so thank you aunties, uncles, grandmas, and friends for the great gifts!
It has been nice to have Jason home and to relax and have fun with our little family. Jason got two new Wii games and 2 new board games so we have been having some fun playing with those. We sure missed our family (tears were shed and christmas music was extra depressing), but here are some pictures for you to enjoy until we see you again!

Having a little fun with my sunglasses.

This was taken yesterday. I think that she is about 71/2 or 8 pounds now. We went to Carter's to buy new pajamas for Tori who all of the sudden is growing like a weed and is almost stretching out of her 18 month pajamas, so we got Brooke all dressed for the occasion.

Ahh...sleeping.

Brooke's little hands

Ahh...just seconds before Brooke spit up on her pjs, Tori was holding her hand. Tori just learned to say Brooke the other day. She calls her "Bru, bru". It is quite cute!

A close up.

Her new toys. She loves them. The Target gift certificates bought her the little Sesame Street bus. She loves the baby and notice that she has a necklace on with the tag still on and the matching bracelet dangling from her throat. She also has Ernie clutched in her little right hand for safe keeping!

She loves Burt too. We wish that we would have bought her a stuffed one, but instead she will just have to carry around the Burt thermometer from her medical kit! Brooke sleeping on Tori's new Elmo blanket made by Grandma Frann.

All tuckered out after we delivered our Christmas goodies.

Like Tori, Brooke loves the lambs in the bassinet.

They make her smile and coo!

Jason with the little munchkin. A super cute shot of Tori in her Christmas Eve sweater.

A cute one with Daddy!

And last but not least...pajamas and bow! :)

Gingerbread with a chance of peace!

One handed, so it will be short! Gingerbread: you will see the picture later. Peace: 2 nights of Brooke sleeping in her bassinet. Solution: Putting a blanket under the cushion of her bassinet so that it is elevated, being wrapped like a mummy with one arm free and being lulled to sleep by songs of twirling lambs. :)

A cute one of Brookie!

The blur! Tori has turned into an extremely active toddler. She us always on the run (usually with something that she shouldn't have in her hands!)

Ok...so I had to get a picture of this! Tori is now experimenting with the thought of life without clothing. I am trying to nix the idea!

Mmmmm...gingerbread from Grandma Frann! She devoured it!

Tori loves to massage my feet...which is really rubbing with a bit of pinching.The next one is a great one of her eyes! So unique!

Nothing like kicking up your feet on a Sunday with a spoon of peanut butter and the Muppets!

A very warm bath is now welcome! Brooke now likes to hang out in the tub!

More pictures

Another week...nothing too exciting here. I did go to my first three hour block of church yesterday. that was cool...I was holding out because the baby is so small and all of the flus and RSV, etc. but I went anyway. It was great to talk to people and even better to have someone to talk to while breastfeeding! That was the best. Breastfeeding really isn't my favorite so far. I hope it gets better, or this mama might quit early. I was hoping to go 6 months like I did with Tori (but I pumped with her). I have debated just quitting and pumping, but there is so much work cleaning all the parts and then there is all of the bottles. Plus I don't think that I am producing enough milk as it is. Ugh!!! And the discomfort of it all!!! Anyway, enough of my complaining...here are the kids!

I just had to put some pictures of Tori in this little cardi...and she also has all of her hair in pigtails! Her hair is getting so long!

This is one of her favorite pastimes. She loves to lounge in the swing (so does the cat). The one who really belongs in the swing (Ms. Brooke) really isn't that fond of it!

Ha ha...I know this is blurry, but I caught one of her smiles on camera. She started smiling (occasionally) last Thursday.

All bundled up. We wet out for a night on the town. She stayed hidden in her seat the whole time nice and cozy like.

I love her hair after a bath.Totally fuzzy.

This is what she looks like right now! I took these just minutes ago!

What a snuggler!