Monday... Mondays

On Mondays I get to stay home with Leo! I love Mondays :) One of the things we do is visit the Brandt Girls - Kristin, Emily & Claire. It is such a treat, Leo usually gets time with Claire's on her activity mat, Emily plays with the bugs that are on Leo's car seat handle, and Kristin and I get to catch up - oh, and I get good advice from an experienced Mom! Fun for everyone. Some days we even walk down and get coffee from Locavore... Dawson Taylor coffee... yum. Oh and the egg baguette sandwich! Here are a few pics from a recent Monday.

Emily, Leo, and Claire all playing on the mat!

Leo telling Claire that he too has a parrot that looks like this one... and asking her this one's name.

Silly Em's getting some tickles from Mom.

Christmas City #2

The Christmas Tale continues...

We caravaned to Twin with my Brother leading the way - well most of the drive, Kevin pulled into the lead position just about Wendell after a good effort of extra "paddling" on Drew's part (had to be there, but let's just say adults play pretend games too and it's still funny!).

My parents house was full of Christmas cheer, lots of lights for Leo to stare at and decorations to catch his attention. My Mom (Grandma Emmie, Mary, and Papa Steve) were excited to see Leo and how much he's grown just since Thanksgiving. We spent Christmas Eve with Lisa and Chloe,

Kevin, Drew, and Mom made dinner....
then we watched Chloe sing Christmas music from her school program and opening her gifts. She was very excited to hold Leo, and pulled her Mom (Lisa) aside to tell her that Leo sitting next to her on the couch did not count as holding him, he needed to be on her lap. Hilarious :) So we arranged for a photo opp. in front of the tree. (That's Pixie sneaking into the photo)

I love this photo...

Kevin invited my family to play our new found card game - "Hand & Foot" - two and a half hours later I think all would say they had a good time. I was the lowest scoring player... seriously pathetic showing on my part, even for a self admitted horrible card player. But I enjoyed the banter and conversation we all shared.

Look at this cute shirt that Uncle Drew gave Leo for Christmas..

Little family photo...
Christmas morning after Leo woke up (ok and me too, Mom sleeps in as long as Leo does... maybe because Mom wakes up during the night when Leo does. I'm just sayin') and we opened presents. Here are a couple PJ (pajama) pics..

And all the pups had a good time too... Here's Honda napping on the kitchen floor, and Jezebel just wishing she was allowed to step into the kitchen.
Lucy and Izzy in front of the Christmas tree.

Sunday we headed back to Boise. Leo and I are fighting runny noses and sinus congestion. We are settling in and enjoying this last week of 2010 together.

As I looked at photos from this time last year, and the tiny bump in my tummy as I closed out the first trimester of my pregnancy I am overcome with gratitude. I love our baby - Leo, my husband, and our beautiful, loving families. I feel incredibly fortunate and blessed.

A Tale of Two Christmas-s

Our first Christmas involved a trip to Florida to spend some quality time with Kevin's family. Leo was a champ on the flights. I strapped him in the Moby carrier and we cruised through the airport. Leo took his morning nap on Mom on our way to Denver and then played and napped on the way to Tampa. Kevin's Mom (Grandma JoAnn, or RaRa, & Grandpa Jo, or Papa Jo) were waiting for us with smiles. The most difficult part of the travel for Leo was sitting in his car seat on the way to Venice Florida. But he worked through it, as we all did, and we enjoyed our first sushi dinner of the trip.

Here is a photo of Leo and RaRa in a cute Christmas outfit.
and Papa Joe... who totally had the secret bounce rythmn that would put Leo into a peaceful sleep when needed.

Leo and I took a walk one day to help him take a nap... Kevin snapped this photo on our way back to the house.
Oddly the weather in Florida was nearly as cold as Boise when we landed but warmed nicely into the low 70's. We ate sushi everyday - much to Kevin's delight - enjoyed some delicious Italian food - much to my delight - and played "Hand & Foot" with Kevin's grandma Irene, then later with Ryan and Melanie (Kevin's brother and wife). This is a card game, it involves risk, strategy, and the ability to add (which under pressure I learned requires me to peel off my socks and use my toes.... pathetic, I must invest in flash cards!)

This was the first time Ryan and Mel got to see Leo. We've been showing Leo pictures and telling him all about them... so I think he recognized them both. Smart kid :) Here's a pic of Melanie holding Leo after he's been swaddled, she wasn't so sure he liked it... thought it seemed a bit confining - I agree but Leo still seems to find it soothing.

Melanie also introduce Leo to Pooh... not sure if he is whispering to Pooh about how pretty his Aunt is, or giving him a slobbery kiss, or both! I think both.


Kevin, Ryan and Leo hanging on the couch...

Fresh fish, fresh air, and family fun. It was a great trip! Here is a pick of a delicious fish dinner JoAnn made... so good.

Kevin introduced Ryan and JoAnn to the game Angry Birds... it's a Smartphone App.... fun for some but Melanie and I are not fans...

All 3 playing the game - caught in the act... they didn't feel guilty tho!

It was a great trip. We had a few days to recoup before heading to our next Christmas destination.

4 Month CheckUp

"Textbook growth," "following the curve perfectly" - two quotes from our Doc. Leo is 15lbs 11.8oz and 26inches. His head is perfect, his disposition is fantastic, eyes, ears, heart, all good! Leo handled his shots so well, he almost didn't cry at all. It was sort of a delayed reaction after they took the needles out. But he was easy to soothe and happy by the time we got him in his car seat. The Doc says despite all the drooling Leo is not teething, he said many think that is the case but usually no teeth until later (7mo.). So that riddle is solved!

New things Leo loves - making raspberry noises. AKA blowing spit bubbles. He sticks all things in his mouth, did I mention drools like mad, laughs, tracks you with his eyes (one of my favorites, ok all of these are my fav's). He also loves watching Pixie play with her throw toys. He will watch her run back and forth. When she sits close enough he reaches out and touches her ears, top of her head, and her neck. He has a pretty good grip so I always say gentle and will lightly unclench his fingers. Pixie is so good with him, she just sits there... and sneaks a lick or two on his tiny hand.

November has been another full month, time just keeps flying by. Kevin's mom, JoAnn, came and visited for a few days. She watched Leo for us on Saturday night while Kev and I went to see Harry Potter - The Deathly Hallows Part1 for my birthday! What a great movie, the special effects were fantastic I can't wait for Part2. Leo did great with Grandma JoAnn, he had lots of fun looking out the window, playing on his mat, rocking and in general enjoying his grandma's attention. We made a trip the The Children's Toy Store - great toy store. Here is a pic of the boys testing toys...



Then we headed to Twin Falls for Thanksgiving. My brother wasn't able to make the drive down from Seattle because of the crazy snow storms - we all missed him! Kev, Leo, Honda, Pixie, and I all drove down. I had made a gluten free blackberry pie for Kevin's dessert... it was so beautiful when I took it out of the oven. I told myself that I should take a picture and post it on my blog. So proud I was. Well the pie didn't look so good after being wrapped in plastic wrap and packed in the truck for the drive to Twin. The filling became quite "wet" and I referred to it as the soup pie. Disappointing. Kevin and I had another chance for date night in Twin Falls, my parents watched Leo while we went to dinner. Grandma Mary & Grandpa Steve enjoyed some serious raspberry blowing, bouncing, snuggling, and cat napping (something Leo is fantastic at - falls asleep for 5 minutes!). It was a really relaxing time. Leo did great, as did our furry girls!

As we prepare for Christmas I'm faced with the dilemma of Christmas cards.... maybe I'll snap a few cute pics of Leo and putting something together!

Monkey Matters

Little Leo is enjoying his Tuesdays home with Kevin. This week they sent Mommy a few images of their play time. Leo wanted to show Dad (and Mom)that yes, he can fit the Monkey's whole hand into his mouth - not just the finger tips.

Aside from Monkey Business, the boys also raked the leaves in the backyard into a pile... and watched as the wind blew them around! Leo loves to be outside. When we go for walks, Leo will turn his head and crane his neck to look at the leaves on the trees - he loves the different colors! It is so amazing watching him discover the world around him.

Another favorite for Leo this week is looking in the mirror. He will smile and kick his feet when we stand in the bathroom looking at our reflections. Leo recognizes Mommy and Daddy, but is wondering who that cool little kid is with them...

There is a lot of singing in our house... and I am not a good singer :) But we sing about just about anything. There are a few regulars that are sung many times throughout the day (and night), the "I Love Leo" song, the "Lullaby & Goodnight" song, and last night was a new and special rendition "You've got Good Parents" sung to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend." Leo liked it! Serenading him gets lots of smiles, coo's, and foot kicking.

Happy Halloween

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......


That's right Leo was a Bee for Halloween. A sweet little bumble bee. We celebrated with the Rausch family and other friends. Thanks to our hosts for a delicious potato bar and the fun!

Visits & Visitors

October brought visitors from near and far. Kevin's sister Donna made a trip from San Francisco and Kevin and I had our first date night while Donna spent some time with Leo.
Donna brought Leo a new toy, it's a dog that barks, pants and makes several exclamations (Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!)

My parents made a Saturday visit from Twin Falls. We enjoyed an afternoon with them and then Kev had to make a trip to a Doc in the box after lunch because he had an allergic reaction to something he ate!
And I made a trip to Twin Falls. Leo finally got to meet his cousin Chloe and Aunt Lisa!

Leo enjoyed a bath at G. Emmie's and Pappa... he splashed his feet!

And he even got his usual warm towel wrap-up at the end!

Leo had some good "hanging" time... good stuff.

Leo's first camping trip

Before I went back to work we took our first family camping trip. We went along the Owyhee river, Kevin got in some fishing, Honda some swimming, Pixie time treading water, Leo and Mom enjoyed the fresh air!








And when we told Leo it was time to pack up and head home....