Children's Museum

While we were visiting family for New Years we took Levi down to the Children's Museum.  There were 5 adults there to watch one little toddler, but we had so much fun!  The second floor of the museum is called the Tot Spot.  At first, Levi was a little unsure of things and I think overstimulated, but he warmed up to things and ran from one toy to another.  Some of his favorite things were:

The musical instruments and mirrors at eye level,

He ran into this mirror and we all got a good laugh!  (After we made sure he was ok, of course!)

the toy car and truck, but especially the gas pump,

the sun-catcher flowers that spun,

the little baby obstacle course.  It had a ramp, some stairs, and some hills for them to navigate.  He was so proud of himself when he ran down the ramp!

And any button he could find!  He loves buttons and switches so much, so to have so many buttons at his reach that he was allowed to touch was so exciting for him.  :)

This area had light switches, toilets to flush, and curtains to open! 

The favorite button of all was the "horn" button in the cars.  The babies would fight over them!  

Another favorite (of both Levi and Mat) was the Flow Works area outside.  They had boats, floating puzzles, and pipes to create waterfalls.  I'm not sure who had more fun...

Christmas

My Christmas break this year has been a whirlwind!  Levi and I spent the first part of the week of Christmas with my parents and grandparents.  I loved having some time to relax and catch up with them (and play LOTS of Scrabble with my mom and Gigi), and I know Levi loved having grandparents and great grandparents here to spoil him.

Later in the week Mat came over and we headed over to his parents' house.  We loved being there with them too and enjoyed getting to see the whole family.  This was the first time I really felt like Levi actually played with his cousins.  He would follow them around, and he loved hugging them- especially when they had something he wanted, like Chex Mix.  :) 

Levi loved Christmas, and all of the Santas in his life were very good to him this year.  I know he will love playing with his new toys, but he was like most one year olds this year and absolutely loved pulling the tissue paper and wrapping paper off all of the packages.  

We were home for a few days- just long enough to do laundry and repack- and then headed back to Pops and Grammy's house to celebrate Christmas with my family.  Blair and Kyle were there with their new puppy, Scout.  Levi liked Scout, but I think he was a little confused about having a dog that was his size.  :)  We had another weekend full of lots of food, another visit from Santa, and more time to just enjoy being together as a family.

Mat and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such loving families.  We loved having so much time to spend with them this year!

14 Months

Dear Levi,

You are at such a fun age right now!  We love watching you explore the world around you.  Here's what you're up to right now:

• You say ma, da, do (dog), whoa, sometimes jo (Geroge), and every once in a while I've heard you say bye, but your favorite word is still no.  I think you're also starting to say "that".
• Mindi and I think that you think Aubrey's name is no.  Everytime you see her, you say it.  :)  
• You love your stacking cups and any lid.  When I get your snack or my water or really anything else with a lid, you grunt and scream until you get the lid and have the chance to put it on correctly.  

• I love seeing how much you are understanding now.  The other day, you were playing with a Lego tower I had built.  It kept falling apart as you walked around the house, and you were very frustrated trying to get it back together.  I told you to bring it to me and you tried but couldn't get all the pieces in one trip.  You brought me 2, then went back for a few more trips.  Eventually, you got them all to me.
• You also love shoes.  When we were getting ready for church on Sunday, I put your shoes on and then started cleaning up your room.  You walked over to your closet, picked up a different pair of shoes, walked over to me and sat down.  Then you pointed at your feet and handed me the new pair of shoes.  Apparently Mom did not pick out the correct pair of shoes!
• You still pat our shoulders when we pick you up.  We will miss that precious phase when it is gone.

• You love George.  You love his kennel, his toys, "chasing" him around the house, and chewing on his bones.  Recently, you've started taking his things to him.  When we're reading your alphabet book you and get to the picture of the dog, you look to George's kennel and then to the back door.  You know where to find him!
• You've also recently become more interested in reading.  You'll bring me books and actually sit and listen to the story (well, at least most of it).
• You love the Christmas tree.  You point to it, and you try to see tree.  You haven't quite got it yet, but I know what you mean.  You've broken a few ornaments, but we carefully selected the ornaments that would be within your arms' reach.  :)  The first thing you want to do when we get home is go plug in the lights.  You love it.

• I think we've finally making strides in the sippy cup arena.  You haven't had a bottle since before Thanksgiving, but you went on a little strike and refused to drink anything for a while.  You're doing much better now though!  
• You and Brooklyn are becoming great friends.  You even give each other kisses!

We love you so much little guy!

For Old Time's Sake...

Here is a picture of Hunter (my cousin) with Levi this past Thanksgiving.  Hunter is 10.

And here is a picture of Hunter and I from Thanksgiving 2002 when Hunter was 2.

Thanksgiving

This year my grandparents rented a house for the entire family (32 people-including seven kids 5 and under!)  to spend Thanksgiving together!  We shared bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and even a stomach bug, but it was such a fun weekend filled with great food, lots of laughing and a great football game to top it all off.

My mom is a hard worker...this is what she did the entire weekend.  

Well, that and chase after Levi which I think she enjoyed.  Thanks Mom for all of your hard work!

Here are some other favorite pictures from the weekend:

 Mom and Meemaw

Deep in conversation... 

My mom was prepared.  She even brought these sticky bubbles for the kids that were easy to catch! 

Like Father, Like Son

Pouting on the dock 

Isn't that the cutest hat you've ever seen?  

Holt, Hunter and Amy showing their Aggie pride.  There were 35 of us there watching the game, and the Longhorn fans were greatly outnumbered.  We enjoyed the game- so much so that we woke Levi up.  He stayed up and played with us for a few hours (until about 12:30!) and then happily went back to sleep.  

We have so much to be thankful for this year- especially this little guy!  

Family Pictures

My friend, Megan, has her own photography business.  She is amazing and recently took some great pictures of our family!  I will share a few of them here, but I'm keeping some secret until after Christmas.

I'm adding a link on my sidebar for the next time you need some family pictures.  :)  

Thank you Megan for capturing some great pictures of our family!

50 Free Christmas Cards

Mat and I have never sent out Christmas cards before.  Last year, I had just sent out birth announcements and decided that was accomplishment enough with a newborn, so I didn't send any out.  This year though we have a precious 1 year old (and some GREAT new family pictures...more on that later) that we want to show off to all of our friends and family!  I found THIS promotion from Shutterfly, and I have already started a couple of different cards- it's going to be tough to decide which one makes the final cut!

Shutterfly has lots of great designs, but here are a few of my favorites:

We've got some great new family pictures, and it's hard to just choose one to put on a card.  This collage card would solve my problem!

I love this one too...it's not very "Christmasy" but it's very "me"

I love that this one gives you room to add a little note about the things going on with your family.

I have also started a photo book of the posts I wrote each month for Levi.  I can't wait to see the finished project.  I know it will be something I cherish forever.

These photo calendars would make great gifts.  You can even add personalized dates with small pictures.

Check out the special deal for bloggers and get your free cards!