We had a great Christmas this year.  It's definitely a lot more fun when you have kids of your own who get so excited about it and believe in all the magic of Christmas.  Isla had a lot of fun this year.  

First of all, we got Elf on the Shelf so that she would be better behaved, etc.  When we brought out the tree, the elf appeared.  As soon as she saw him, she named him "Weesie".  Not sure where she came up with this name, but that is the elf's name now forever.  Every morning she got so excited to find Weesie.  He was in a different spot everyday!  

We took Isla and Wyatt to visit Santa Clause.  Last year Isla cried.  This year she was really excited and sat on his lap and told him what she wanted, which was Woody toy from Toy Story.  Wyatt sat on his lap for a few minutes before he started crying.  

Isla was soooo excited for Christmas. She watched a lot of different Christmas shows over the month before Christmas.  Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Elf on the Shelf, etc.

Isla checked out our fireplace and wondered how Santa would be able to get into our house b/c of the glass.  I told her that he would figure out a way and magically come down the chimney.  She was also afraid that the Grinch would steal our tree and presents.  Very entertaining some of the things that come out of her mouth and I can only wonder what goes on her mind. 

We put out milk, gingerbread cookies, and carrots for Santa and the reindeer.  The next morning she was so excited to see that Santa ate and drank everything.  

On the monitor, we heard Isla say, "It's Christmas" in a very quiet voice.  It was so funny. Isla was sooo excited to see what Santa brought and couldn't wait to get downstairs. Wyatt just wanted his bottle.  Isla saw all of the presents and the mini cooper and just was beyond herself.  We opened the stockings and then all of the presents.  She was so happy that Santa brought her Woody.  She really thought that Santa brought her everything, so we just let her think that.  Why not?  You only get a few years where you believe in Santa and I will make sure those years are magical :)

My parents were able to come visit for a few days before Christmas and after Christmas as well. They spent a few days with Jeremy and Caiti in Pennsylvania for Christmas too.  Isla and Wyatt opened all of their presents from their Nana & Papa a few days before Christmas so that was fun. As soon as my parents put the Christmas presents under the tree, Isla could not stand it.  She wanted to open them so bad. She kept trying to lure everyone by the tree.  She was finally able to open everything and loved her Jessie doll from Toy Story and all of the other gifts.  

We had a great holiday!

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 21:17 in "General" category | Post Comment

Isla has had a busy year this year (2011).  Not only has she become a big sister to her little brother Wyatt, she has learned and changed so much. 

Isla is in a new preschool class that started this fall.  She has Mrs. Marsha and Mrs. Shelle as her teachers.  She loves school.  She would love to go everyday if she could.  She has made friends with all of her classmates and particularly likes Austin and Anders (two twin brothers).  They seem to have the same affection for her as well.  She does many projects in school for all of the holidays.  She had a Thanksgiving pageant that we missed when we drove to Florida.  She would sing all of the songs that she learned all of the time, which was fun.  She also had a Christmas pageant, which John, Wyatt, and I attended.  They sang many Christmas songs, but Isla must have had stage fright because she didn't sing much in front of all of the families.  She would sing them all of the time at home too!  They had a play in which she played an angel.  She was so cute and loved seeing us watching her.  

In the fall, Isla played soccer.  She really liked it as well.  Although we missed quite a few practices with all of the rain, she still had fun and got to run around.  They received a little trophy after their scrimmage with another team.  She did well, but needs to listen to her coach better.  She seemed to get distracted easily with her friend Cameron.  They would run around together and just have fun.  Not sure if she'll be the next Mia Hamm, but she is getting exposed to a sport, which is all that matters.

This winter she started basketball.  Her friend Irelyn is on her team along with a lot of other boys.  I think she is one of the youngest on the team.  She has the same coach as soccer, Coach Jesse.  She is having fun and likes to go, but still trying to learn how to dribble and shoot the ball in the basket.  Again, I don't think she will be the next Lisa Leslie, but she is getting exercise and exposure to the sport.

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 21:03 in "Our Baby" category | Post Comment

Wyatt turned 10 Month's Old on December 23!  

Wyatt is a very happy baby.  He is always smiling.  If you wake him up out of a dead sleep, he'll smile and won't even be cranky one bit!  He's a sweet little boy.  

He started taking 1-4 steps on December 13. He'll walk and fall down forward or backward, but he keeps trying.  He keeps getting better and better.  At the end of December he is taking more than 10 steps at a time before stumbling. He is catching himself when he falls better as well. He can cruise well and wants to get into everything! He is going to be a climber and into everything!!!  Did I say he is going to be into everything???  It is crazy how they say that each child is different.  It is so true for Isla and Wyatt, they are so different from each other.  Isla didn't start walking on her own until she was 15 months!  Wyatt is 10 MONTHS!!!  Crazy!  Isla was a serious child and Wyatt is pretty laid back!  

Wyatt loves to do the Warchant.  He is starting to do the chop along with the humming the warchant.  He loves the renegade doll that does the warchant and the FSU fight song.  Both Isla and Wyatt do it together all of the time.  Wyatt recently started putting up both hands in the air when we say "touchdown".  So cute!  He is saying many words;  dog, dada, mama, nana(food), nana(sally), ball, hi, and woody(toy from Toy Story). He says, "mmmwah" for giving kisses.  He mimics everything.  He loves to sing when he hears music or hears Isla singing.  He loves to dance.  He does the "Beyonce bounce".  

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 20:50 in "Our Baby #2" category | Post Comment

Wyatt had his 9 month appointment.  We found out Wyatt had an ear infection at his 9 month appt.  So his 9 month shots had to wait, but he eventually got them after he got well.  

Wyatt weighed in at 20 pounds 13 oz., 28" long, 44 3/4 cm head circumference.  He was in the middle 50 something percentile.  Very average on all his measurements.  

Wyatt started waving and clapping during the month of November.  He is growing so fast. His second bottom tooth popped up on Nov. 2!  

We drove to Florida for Thanksgiving to spend the holidays with my parents.  Wyatt and Isla did great on the trip!   

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 20:45 in "Our Baby #2" category | Post Comment

We had a great time with Halloween this year!  Isla had so many things going on at school with Halloween and as a family we had a lot of fun as well.  

We took a family day to Kersey Valley Farms.  We went around in the corn maize and took a tractor ride around the farm as well. Isla got to ride on the cow train a few times, which she loved.  The driver was going pretty fast and she loved every minute of it!  

We also went to the pumpkin patch a few times to get pumpkins as a family and Isla went with her preschool class as well.  It's such a great place to take pumpkin and fall pictures.  

For Halloween Isla dressed up as a witch and Rapunzel.  She had many costume changes this year!  We went to the pediatrician's office for a Halloween trick or treating night.  It was a lot of fun and Isla found it odd that the office looked so different from what she was used to!  Wyatt dressed up as "Bruce the Shark", said in a Australian accent from the movie Finding Nemo.  Isla was Rapunzel, which her Nana made her special.  

Halloween night we walked around the neighborhood and trick or treated!  It was a lot of fun an very chilly.  Wyatt was layered lots under his pumpkin costume, which was the costume Isla wore on her first Halloween.  Lots of fun! 

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 20:39 in "General" category | Post Comment

Wyatt turned 8 month's old on October 23!  Unfortunately, he got a double ear infection :(  Poor guy.  He just doesn't catch a break with getting sick! He's gotten sick so much more than Isla did at this age.  

Wyatt's first tooth appeared on Oct. 21.  The bottom right tooth!  So cute!  

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 20:37 in "Our Baby #2" category | Post Comment

Wyatt turned 7 month's old on September 23!  Wyatt is starting to talk!  He said "Dada" for the first time on September 14 and "dog"!  Wyatt said "mama" on September 27! He is starting to talk talk like his big sister Isla!  He had many firsts during August/September.  He took his first flight on an airplane to Florida!  He did great!  

Posted by Sybil P on 01/02/2012 20:33 in "Our Baby #2" category | Post Comment

Wyatt turned 6 months old today.  It's hard to believe that he is already a half of a year old.  He had his 6 month visit, which included all of his shots.  The doctor said he is perfect.  He weighed in at 17 pounds 4 oz. (48th percentile).  His length was 26 1/2" (56th percentile) and his head circumference is 42.5 cm. (19th percentile).  He is growing!  He was in tears for awhile later in the day after his shots, but I gave him some tylenol to help him feel better.  His poor lil legs are sore :(

He is a cute little boy and loves to giggle at his sister. He loves it when she plays peek a boo with him.  He is trying to crawl, mostly rolls around to get where he wants to go while on the floor.  He loves his exersaucer.  He isn't into eating real food that much, so hopefully that will change soon!  

Posted by Sybil P on 08/23/2011 17:59 in "Our Baby #2" category | Post Comment

Wyatt was 5 months old on July 23rd.  He is growing too fast!  I want him to stay a baby for a little while longer, but I guess he just wants to grow up and catch up with his big sister.  

Not sure how much he weighs, but he is surely looking like a little chunky monkey!  He is a good sleeper so far.  He goes to bed around 7:30 give or take some nights and sleeps till about 7:15 or so.  He naps about 2 hours after he wakes up like clock work and then takes a long afternoon nap at about 1-2 p.m. for a couple of hours.  

He eats every two to three hours.  He eats cereal and fruit in the a.m. and has some veggies at dinner time.  He is quite vocal when he doesn't get the food fast enough!

Isla loves to talk to her baby brother and make him laugh.  She calls him "boo" and constantly says, "hello there my little famous wyatt boo tess". Not sure what this means or where she got this saying.  It is quite comical.  She also says Wyatt boy James Petrey. Funny stuff.

Wyatt is a happy baby. He is always smiling and he giggles a lot.  He screams, screeches, when he doesn't get attention or if he is hungry. He hasn't really started to say any words or sound like anything yet, but hopefully soon!

Posted by Sybil P on 08/04/2011 18:46 in "Our Baby #2" category | Post Comment

Isla has been asking us for awhile now to get her ears pierced.  We tried to get it done a few weeks ago, but when we told her it might hurt, she said she didn't want to do it.  Her friend Irelyn has her ears pierced and when Isla saw them in her ears it made her want them even more.  So we asked her today and she wanted to get it done.  We went to the mall because it was the only place we knew of where you could get ears pierced.  We went to the piercing pagoda. She picked out the diamonds (her birthstone) that were in the shape of a flower.  We also got a second set of earrings (pink hearts) for after the 6 weeks that they need to stay in her ears.  She sat on my lap while the two ladies pierced her ears.  She did a jump when they did it and then she cried.  I couldn't help but cry too because she looked so sad and was crying because it genuinely hurt. Poor thing. I told her it was the price of beauty :)  I gave her a lollipop, which cheered her up.  She did great and she really likes them now!  She is growing up way too fast!

Posted by Sybil P on 07/02/2011 17:52 in "Our Baby" category | Post Comment