Christmas fun

Again, it's been too long since I have blogged! Here's the catch up for the last month!
Bridgette-
She has really attached to a bean bag baby version of tigger. HOWEVER, she is convinced that it is winnie-the-pooh. So she asks for her "Baby Pooh" and we carry it with us everywhere. It is too funny. She loves the book "Donald's Christmas Gift" and calls it "Donald's Surprise". We read it over and over again. She wants me to tell her stories still at bedtime, however, now we don't even make it through "3 Little Bears and Goldilocks" until she is snoring. :) She also really likes the story of Pinocchio and calls it "Pino-cin-ock".
Aunt Mal and Uncle Robert are in to play with us for Christmas and we have really run Mal ragged. Play-dough, bounce house, playroom...all over the place.
Mason-
He has gained weight and grown taller. He is now 18 lbs and 26.5 inches long. He is wearing 9 or 12 month clothes depending on the maker. He is still nursing every 2 hours ATC and it is exhausting, but I love him and will continue to nurse him when he is hungry. He is holding his head up really well, sits up with support with no problem. He babbles a lot and loves to be lying on his back. Ceiling fans fascinate him. He had another cold (Thanks Bridgette) but is doing remarkable with it. A little saline, humidifier. He is good. :)
we did start some cereal on him this month (to try and encourage less freq BF), but it did not extend time between AND he has battled constipation since. So, I will hold off again for awhile, and start him on some fruits and veggies like I did Bridgette. He really liked eating and really paid attention to it much more than she, so he probably is ready for solids.

Ok- on to Christmas. We had a packed event! On Christmas eve, we went to Newport to celebrate with the Buda/Sparks family at Gmom's house. We had a terrific dinner, followed by gifts, then a candlelight church service. My personal favorite. Mason and Bridgette really had a ball. Bri got a Dora power jeep and a elephfun (I think) butterfly game that we have played nonstop. Mason got the cutest outfit to look just like Granddaddy when he is on the farm--can't wait to debut it.
Bridgette has loved opening the Advent Calendar and seeing what was inside. She loves her Baby Jesus and the farm animals included and this has been a source of anticipation and fun for us at dinner time.

Christmas morning was just like any other morning for us. Bridgette noticed the presents, but sat down to watch Dora and drink her milk without any fuss. We waited for the Marley GPs to come over before presents. We opened gifts and laughed for over an hour, then made a DELICIOUS brunch. Then Santa left another special present up in the playroom--a climbing dome. Unreal amounts of fun here. Bridgette played and climbed and swung until she nearly fell asleep haha. Then we went on to celebrate Jesus's birthday at GB and Grandpa's house in Parrottsville. We always have an Italian feast there. this year was no exception--the food was outstanding. We opened gifts and played a white elephant game that really had us rolling. Mason had so many fun toys and bridgette got books, princess dresses, movies. Outrageous.

So, this morning has been dedicated to cleaning up! and playing hard with lots of new toys. We have had a splendid holiday. trav is unfortunately back at work. :(

4 months old!!!

My sweetest little boy is 4 months old today! As much as time has flown, it also seems like we've never been without him. We are so blessed. His little personality is so happy and passionate- he can be really happy and really mad too! His gorgeous smile just melts me. I am very in love with him. He is focusing on everything and everyone. He LOVES to watch football and ESPN haha. Seriously he seems memorized when that's on. He talks a lot. He grasps things and reaches for toys. Everything to the mouth! He is drooling a lot, but no sign of teeth-thank goodness. :) He can sit supported with no problem, and he is trying to sit up on his own. he has done it once so far! He loves to nurse and is growing like a weed. He has started to wake up every 2 hours at night for the last couple of weeks to nurse. He is voraciously hungry each time. Wears me out, but he seems to be doing very well, so I will just grin and bear it. :)
Bridgette is still very in love with her brother. She looks for him always and plays with him so sweetly. He always "needs" a toy and she supplies it of course. She is growing into such a sweet little lady. She says please and thank you regularly. She knows our mealtime prayer and recites it so sweetly. She loves to play with us but does great on her own too. We are working on sharing haha. She is definitely going to be like her mommy and love Christmas. She carries around Baby Jesus at home sometimes and talks to him. She loves to sing Jingle Bells and Happy Birthday Jesus. I love that little girl so much.
Daddy has been home so much lately and has had so much fun putting up Christmas decorations with us. We all watched Elf the other night and laughed so hard while putting up the Christmas tree and eating cookies. Truly a priceless evening.
We have all recovered from a terrible GI bug, and poor baby Mason had an ear infection during it. He has stopped his antibiotics, but his little tummy didn't like them much--mommy's been doing a lot of laundry.... Hopefully he will get better quickly now. Otherwise, he is in good spirits.
Merry Christmas!!!