26 weeks

26 weeks and some change.
Feeling good.  Feeling big and I look a lot bigger than last time but I am actually measuring a couple of cm smaller.  Go figure.

Boy #2 is moving like crazy and I can feel it a lot more as this time the placenta is in the back.  Shane felt a foot or knee or elbow or something this evening.

Calder is pretty cute about the belly.  I think he likes that someone else has a belly that sticks out like him.  He runs** over says, "belly" lifts up my shirt and either gives it a swift poke or a sweet kiss.  That pretty much sums up his personality.

Tayler is excited when she gets to feel the little guy move but mainly she is just very curious as to when my belly button will start sticking out.  With Calder it never did.  Every week she reads the pregnancy book to find out what is happening and last week in the picture the belly button was sticking out.  I don't know why she is so fixed on that but I think it is pretty funny.

**Calder started walking at 18 months and talking at 19 months.  He is 19 months now and does nothing but walk causing a path of destruction in his wake...so...the run is more of a fast walk with a little bounce but it is so cute and we are so happy to see him walking finally!

Snow

We get snow so rarely here.  Even one inch is a big deal!

Christmas Morning

I really took a break from taking pictures this Christmas.  Which is kind of sad.  We did not get one whole family shot.  Maybe we will take some fakes.  I do know Shane's family got a bunch so maybe they will share...please!?

Here are the few I got of Christmas Morning.

This is my all time favorite of Calder coloring...the lighting is awful but look how cute his little feet are!

 Checking out the loot Santa left.  A workbench for chubs.  Belgian Waffle Iron for T and Espresso machine for Mom and Dad.

 Teenagers are hard to catch on camera!  Cute Christmas PJ pants, always present UGGs and a dog.  She was also very excited about the Fleece sheet set she got from Santa...so cozy.

Christmas Lights!!!

I have declared looking at Christmas Lights our newest New Family Tradition.  It was so much fun!  This year we went to a place on Big Valley Road in Poulsbo that does a lighted walking path.  Calder was a little bit spooked of the toy train.  Which, was hilarious.  He couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.  He kept laughing with a totally distressed look on his face and then loosing it and reverting to sticking out the bottom lip (I'm so glad he hasn't yet forgotten how to do that).  After we got past the train he was not so nervous anymore.  Who knew a train would be so scary?  Tayler had a good time too as there was a lot to look at.  Shane and I want to go back tomorrow night and do it again.  And that means it was fun because Shane rarely wants to repeat. 

 Calder is making sure no sneaky Christmas Trains are approaching from the side.

How to not freak out when you visit santa:

DO NOT LET GO OF YOUR SISTER.

No matter what.

If she tries to sneakily hand you over to that Jolly Old Elf.  

HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.  

She might try again.  

DO NOT LET GO!

It is important to look calm and serene at all times.  

EXCEPT if your big, protective, loving sister tries to pass you over to some guy with a beard. 

If that happens immediately go into panic mode so that she GIVES UP. 

Your parents will not be able to capture any of this on camera because it happens too quickly
(in fact the pictures they do take will be slightly fuzzy).

Big sisters are pretty protective of their little brothers.
They will immediately decide it will be better to just stand next to Santa while holding you.  

Big sisters are cool like that.   

These two kids of unequal age sure love each other.  

The big guy on the right? 

Not so much. 

Christmas Card Outtakes

 

We tried to get some pictures to make a Christmas card this year (some would say I am behind...but it isn't Christmas yet so I consider myself ahead).  I always like to do a new picture close to Christmas because I feel like everyone looks so from any other time during the year.  We had some okay pictures but it is always a challenge with the self timer.  Here are a few that did not make the cut!

In other news, we continue to get ready for Christmas.  Decorating has been so slow this year.  What with the walking mess (calder) that I am always cleaning up after or trying to pick stuff up before he finds it.  But, it really is starting to look like an Elf exploded in our house, so, success!

Buns in the Air

It cracks us up how Calder sleeps.  Buns in the air!  Immediately when we put him down he turns over, tucks his hands in and hikes his buns up.  This picture does not do it justice because it is normally much higher.  So funny!