Christmas Tree Time!!

I LOOOOVE the Christmas season!!!  I love the lights all over the place - on the trees and on wreaths and hanging from houses.... We debated a little bit about getting a small tree to put on a table this year, so that Jake wouldn't be pulling on the ornaments, but I just couldn't do it.  I had to put up OUR tree, so that's what I did today while Jake was taking a nap.  I knew that when he woke up - he would be totally amazed....and I was right!!  Here is his reaction ....  Of course now I will be starting the "just look," "don't touch" phrases, but....I just love the magic of Christmas - and I can already tell Jake is loving it, too :-)  AND....depending on when Cole arrives, the tree could be up until the middle of January or beginning of February - haha :-)

Pulling out the Clothes...

Can you believe that Jake used to fit into this when he was first born??  The clothes look SO SMALL right now...

And I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of laundry to do, BUT at the same time SO THANKFUL that there IS this much laundry to do, b/c it means that Cole will have lots of nice, warm clothes for the next 6-9 months...  There's a lot to be said for having another boy ;-)  

Just In Case

In case anyone missed it, the Eagles won today 27-24 over the Redskins.  That means, as expected, the Eagles swept the Redskins this year.  The Redskins gave it a valiant effort, but in the end, the best team won.  Jake was extremely happy and he continues to chant 'E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!' in his Jake language.  I guess there is always next year for the Dead-Skins.  Go Eagles!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT JUL!!!!! :-)

This is what Jake thinks about Jul being a quarter of a century today...

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY AUNT JUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)  We hope you're having a really great day!  We miss you - and love you very very very very very much!! 

Celebrating Aunt Jul's Birthday

Last night, we got to celebrate Aunt Jul's birthday...she will be 25 tomorrow - OLD! :-)  It was fun to be able to celebrate with her (and she blew out all the candles all in one breath...amazing)!  

Loving some of Mimi's Sugar Cookies

They were decorated like fall leaves and turkeys....wish I had a picture of them, but we ate them TOO fast ;-)

Thanksgiving Dinner

After Thanksgiving lunch, we headed to Mimi and Papa Dee's house for the afternoon and then for Thanksgiving Dinner.  It was fun to spend dinner with them and Uncle Matt and Aunt Jul and Aunt Beverly and Uncle Craig and my cousin Wes and his wife Nikki and 3 boys Nicholas, Dustin, and Jeremy.  Jake definitely thought he was 4 instead of almost 2, b/c he just followed them around and played and played and played (he forgot for a few hours that he had a cold).  The boys are SOOOO good with him - and include him in what they are playing.  It was fun watching them all together.  

Love this Precious Face

Thanksgiving Lunch

They say turkey makes you tired....I guess Jake is living proof of that, b/c after 2 bites of turkey, he was OUT (again, didn't help that he wasn't feeling that well).  He did eat some pears....but he spent Thanksgiving lunch asleep in his high chair (his LOSS for sure, b/c he missed out on some yummy food - meant more for me, though) ;-)

Some Cooking of his Own...

Here is Jake doing some cooking of his own in the "kitchen" that is in Gram and Poppy's basement....  He is getting something out of the oven....

flipping a hamburger....
tasting a sandwich Aunt Becky made for him...
and using the microwave....
Maybe it's time for him to start preparing his own dinners at home ;-)  

Thanksgiving Week

We had a fun week with our families in VA.  We only spent about 48 hours at each house, but it was still great to be there for Thanksgiving (and such GOOD GOOD food...our Moms sure know how to cook)!!!!!!!  We enjoyed some fall weather, too - and Jake got to play in the leaves at Gram and Poppy's house.  Unfortunately, this was the only time he was able to really be outdoors, b/c he woke up on Wednesday morning with a head cold (booo)!!  It's ironic, b/c he had a really bad cold over Thanksgiving last year while we were driving across country.  I guess it's something about this time of year!  For the most part, though, the cold didn't hold him back TOO much....and he still enjoyed all of the attention ;-)

And Today...

Well, today has been full of a doctor's appointment and laundry.  Cole is doing really well - and sounding good!  Jake was really sad to see Chris leave for work after my doctor's appointment, and kept hugging him and wouldn't let go, so I had to snap a quick shot.  Too bad he doesn't understand that Chris will be home early this afternoon - and that we are headed to VA for Thanksgiving tomorrow!!  Yay!! :-)  

FUN VACATION!

We had a really great time this weekend in Orlando....lots of great pictures - and even better...FUN memories!!  

This was Jake as we left Sea World yesterday - passed out cold!  So, since he got a 10 minute nap on the way to the car, he didn't sleep ONE WINK the whole 5 hours home (can you believe that)?!?!?!  
I got a picture of the Christmas tree on the way out.  I love Christmas trees - and I LOVE Christmas time, so it was especially exciting being at Disney World and Sea World after it was already decorated for Christmas....as if the place wasn't magical enough already....

Shamuuuuu

The last thing we did before heading home was the Shamu show, which was really exciting (again - very over stimulating for Jake), but he was also pretty tired, so he really just stared in amazement!!  

Alligators and more...

Alligators are by FAR Jake's favorite.  Gross.  BUT he also enjoyed seeing all the other animals like the penguins, sharks, stingrays, sea lions, seals, etc. etc.

Dolphin Show

Jake enjoyed the dolphin show...I think it was almost a little TOO MUCH stimulation for him, b/c there was so much to look at constantly, so he seemed almost more confused than amazed!

Sea World

When we first got to Sea World, we let Daddy ride a really fun roller coaster (way jealous), BUT Jake thought it was pretty cool - watching it go around and around...and I'm pretty sure he understood that Daddy was on it :-)  He was laughing and pointing away...