Crawling, climbing, and standing

Cal has seemed to develop physically very quickly over these last 2 weeks.  One day he is scooting and the next day he's crawling and standing. 

He's been scooting for a couple of months now without any indication of trying to crawl.  He lays on his belly and pushes himself around using his feet and toes.  Finally, the morning after Thanksgiving, he got up on his knees and crawled all over the livingroom like he's been doing it for months.  I was so proud and astonished.  Where did that even come from?

Before he started crawling, he has been pulling himself up onto the chairs, tables, and even Dan and I when we sit on the floor.  There have been lots of falls and bumps and bruises,after climbing.  He could never get to a standing postion. Then other day I was sitting in the chair reading when I looked down and Cal is standing, holding onto the chair, smiling at me.  Silly boy!

Since accomplishing these milestones, thats all he wants to do.  He loves to climb and stand and refuses to play on the floor. There are still lots of falls, but he's getting more stable and can stand for longer.  My baby is growing so quickly. Pretty soon he will be walking and talking.

Thanksgiving

Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving!  We did our usual, my parents house first, then Dans parents house.  Everyone was exhausted by 6 pm and it was meltdown city.  But we did enjoy 2 delicious dinners and spent quality time with our families.

I meant to take more pictures at the in laws, but watching both boys while Dan spends time with his brothers is very hard to do.  Jake and Cal had fun seeing their Georgia cousins and spending time with them.  We were so happy when they decided to visit.  We missed them!

The first snow

We woke up this morning to the snow falling.  I always love the first snow, it's so beautiful and peaceful.  I quickly get over that feeling because its so dang cold.

We took the boys outside to play and explore, but neither boy was having it.  They are not ready for winter.

It snowed all day, there is a least a foot of snow.  From inside the house, the snow is great.  Outside the house the snow is horrendous.  Cold, wet, heavy, and relentless.  I would be happy if this was the only snow we get all winter.

Enjoying the weather as a family

Today we took the boys to the playground to get fresh air and to get all of us out of the house.  The weather was perfect, sunny and slightly chilly, good for running and playing.  

Cal loved the swing.  He laughed and had a huge smile.  I love the picture of both of them swinging together.

It was a very proud moment for me as a parent to see Jake sliding and climbing without help.  He is getting better at playing without adult assistance.  I cannot wait to have both boys actively playing together without me standing close by in case they get hurt.

What a goon

Jake has been making these funny faces lately.

He usually makes them when we tell him no, or stop, or get down.  I think he thinks we can't see him if he makes those faces.

So funny.  He's also finding toys and playing with them in weird ways.

This kid never fails on making me smile and laugh!

Dog party!

The other day when the boys, Lily and I were on a walk, 3 dogs joined in on the fun.  Cooper, the big brown and white dog, lives across the street and comes to visit us, so when we passed his house he decided he wanted to follow.  I kept urging him to go back home but he ignored me.

As we continued our journey, the 2 little dogs greeted us when we walked by their house.  So here I am standing in the middle of the road with 4 dogs, 2 children, and a stoller, hoping none of us gets hit by a passing car.

Eventually the owner of the 2 small dogs came to get them and thanked me for staying with them so they wouldn't get hit.  When they left, I finally got Cooper to turn around and head home.  Silly dogs!

Handy DANdy (get it!?)

Dan has been working hard on keeping our house warm for the winter.  Every weekend he is fixing something.  So far he has put up weather stripping on the doors, caulked the holes in brick outside and made and installed a return air system for our room and the boys room.  He made and found most of what he needed at work and cost us nothing!

He made this at work.  I really don't understand it even though he told me how it works many times.  Something about the hot air cycling through the rooms instead of having the air being stagnant.

He cut a hole above the furnace and attached a tubing system to connect to the box on the other side of the house.

This is the tubing running from the furnace to the box at the other end of the house.

This is the new box with tubing running into our room, the boys room and to the furnace 

This is tubing running from the box down to a vent attached to our room.

And there's the vent.  We still need covers, but since little boys can't shove things up there it's not a big concern.

I am very appreciative and thankful that Dan knows how to make what he needs and then have the knowledge and know how to put it all together.  I'm thankful that we didn't have to spend oodles of money to have someone come in and do it.  Even though I get mad and hassle him while he's working, I really do appreciate him.  Plus it's sexy when a guy knows how to do manly things. ;)