Christmas Eve

This year we had EVERY member of the family present for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It was fantastic! We all stayed at my Mom and Dad's house (even though Chris and the boys and I live in town) It was so fun all being under one roof. We got up Christmas eve morning and had a HUGE breakfast. After that had digested some we went sledding...I didn't sled due to the fact that I had surgery a little over a month before, Grandpa also sat out the sledding because of recent surgery/injury...but we made ourselves useful all the same. Grandpa shuttled people from the bottom of the hill to the top and I took pictures and watched the baby's. Every one had such a great time!

Luke and Tianna made it to the bottom

Mom enjoyed her ride...grandmas can have fun too!

Chris and Aden riding....Aden didn't like it so much

Still not happy about it.

Laura swooshes by...

..Eric catches air on his way down....check the gap between his back and the sled!


Mary and Tianna had a major WIPE OUT!

A close up of the wipe out...in case you missed it on the animation

Courtney zooms down.....and you can see Tianna and Mary still recovering from their spill

Dale had a nice tumble in the snow as well!

Speaking of wipe outs....This is Chris totally "eating" it check the saucer flipping over him!

After every one recovered from sledding with some Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate....got showered and changed and warmed we did a little Christmas nativity. Mary brought some cute little books that told the story of the Jesus' birth and had a song for each little part of the story. It was so much fun and the kids really got into it....some were willing participants (Tianna did such a good Mary...VERY reverent) and others were bribed (Notice the skittles all down Aden's face) and yet others were cute little by standers that we still have some control over...Adelia made the cutest little lamb and Raleigh played the part of a newborn seamlessly :D.

One Month Old

I couldn't help but document the one month mark of the life of this beautiful boy with a mini photo shoot.

SNOW!

When it snowed in the beginning of December Aden was itching to get out into it. Because I had a brand new baby and because Chris was plowing said snow, he had to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house and play with Aunt Laura to get the experience. But his reaction tells me it was worth the wait :)

Dear Santa,

This year I must have been very good because I have every thing my heart could possibly want. I have two beautiful boys that are healthy and all a mommy could ask for, a husband who loves me very much, and family close by that I love to be around and who make my life so much easier. Plus all the material things that I could want or need :). So this year I don't need anything at all. Thanks for all the goodies from years past,

Monica

This is Aden and Raleigh getting to sit on Santa's lap at the City Christmas party this last week. Aden had a blast and I was so proud of him sitting on Santa's lap and getting his picture taken! Raleigh, well he slept through the whole thing....what do you expect from a three week old? :)

Raleigh's First Bath at Home

One part of the first week that I didn't put in the last post was Raleigh's first bath....that needed it's own post. So Grandma and Auntie Laura came over to help with the first bath. Grandma did Aden's first bath at home so I thought it only fitting she did Raleigh's too!
Aden helping mommy clean the sink for Raleigh's bath.The calm before the storm...He liked this part of the bath...
Aden was super helpful.This part was not his favorite.But he was calm for some of it.Espeacially when he got out.This is the face of a clean little boy...who likes having his clothes back on.

The First Week Home

So all those waiting for me to post pictures of all those who came to the hospital or visited shortly after....sorry it isn't going to happen. There are just too many and well the blog uploads photos painstakingly slow and one at a time....so if you want to see those pictures they are on my facebook page. If you are not yet added as my friend just add me and we will go from there :).

I wanted to get a picture of Raleigh in this outfit because it is one of my favorites from when Aden was that size and thought it would be super cute to compare their looks :).

And because of high bilirubin Raleigh got to spend some time in the light box (rotisserie oven as grandpa calls it). For those who also keep up on Luke and Mary's blog, this may feel like a repeat post.....because Adelia had the same problem and same solution :) I guess Raleigh just can't wait to be just like his cousin! Aden has been totally in love with this boy since he came home and can't stop loving, kissing, and touching Raleigh at every opportunity...(all too often waking or disturbing an otherwise calm baby)...but I prefer that to him being jealous and mean so we let him love on him as often as possible.This particular night I had just finished feeding Raleigh and was burping him when Aden stole the boppy (the 'u' shaped pillow that makes feeding super easy), set it up on his lap and reached his arms wide and demanded "I HOLD HIM!"...I am not one to cave to the demands of an almost-three-year-old but it was so cute I couldn't help it! Another great story, it was finals week at work and I took Raleigh with me for most my classes, well when I got home I was warmly greeted as usual...but as soon as Aden saw the car seat he said "I hold him!" So we got Raleigh out and sat Aden by his daddy on the couch and put Raleigh in his out stretched arms. Well not two minutes had passed when Raleigh messed his diaper with a loud farting and squishy sound...the funniest part was Aden's reaction! It was priceless, he got a scandalized look on his face and exclaimed "EWWWW!!!" and started pushing his brother towards his dad!

First Night Home

After we got home from the hospital the boys put on their matching dinosaur jammies (thanks Grandma and Grandpa) We did our first night time routine together which included Daddy reading stories.

Snugs
Kisses

More snugs

And just being together as a family!

The Boys Finally Meet!

After 9 months of pregnancy and then days in the hospital my boys were finally able to meet! Aden was so excited!

I couldn't help it, seeing them finally together made me so happy!

Raleigh wasn't so sure about all this attention and flashing cameras

Aden was so soft and sweet.

I loved when Aden started pointing out parts...almost like he was doing what we all do...making sure everything is all there in all the right places and wondering who he looks like :)

Brother's by Picture Message

This past week Tianna has been visiting at Grandma's house and has been a great distraction while I have gotten things straightened out with insurance and made final arrangements before baby was born...little did I know how much distracting he would need. Since Raleigh was born two days early Aden has been staying with Grandma too so they have really palled around together and had tons of fun. These are picture messages I have gotten of his adventures while I have been distracted...

Now these are the picture texts that I have sent to my dad so that Aden could see his little brother...I don't know exactly how well the concept is working but Aden always replies enthusiastically with "Oh BABY" and "Oh baby sad :(" I am hoping it is enough to get him through one more day...and that he will have at least a little idea of what is going on....the miracles of modern technology allowing nothing, not even the flu season, get in the way of new brother bonding :D