4 inches in 4 hours

 Remember this? You should, it was only the last post.

This was right around 8am.

Just four hours later, right around noon:

It was covered within minutes of taking this picture. I guess we need to find a yardstick now...

SnOw DaY!!!

Today we woke up to this:

That's EIGHT inches of snow, and it was/is still coming down hard! I think we were up to almost 10in when Tory last checked. Crazy.

We bundled the kiddo up in lot and lots of layers to go out and enjoy the white stuff. He wanted to wear his daddy's boots...

The first thing he did when we set him down outside was face plant himself into the snow. Ugh! I really thought that would be it- that he'd decide this stuff was not cool and insist on coming back inside. But he was a trooper. He wanted to be held for a while at first.

 

 

But soon he was happy to sit down and play!

(Standing was not an option- that's how he face planted. I think 8-10in of snow is a bit too deep for him)

 

I showed him just one time how to throw it around...

...and he caught on! Once he figured that out, it was giggles and throwing and giggles and throwing. ♥

Dexter was definitely having fun too. He gets SO rambunctious when it snows, and this is by far the most he's ever seen in his life. He was running right by us, which of course, made Tyler laugh hysterically!

Running running running.

We didn't stay out too long, because we couldn't keep Tyler's boots on. :/ He was up early today so he was tired anyway. We'll try again later I'm sure... this snow is supposed to stick around for a looong time!

The Mall

 Today we headed to the mall for a change of pace. I think we all needed to get out of the house, especially together! We walked the mall for a while, let Tyler play at the kids play-place, and then had some lunch. The kiddo ate his whole Chick-fil-a kid's meal, and then proceeded to steal food off my plate! Hungry much??

After lunch, Tory took Tyler on the carousel! Tyler loves it. I mean he loves it. He was all smiles the whole time. After that, we may have spoiled him a bit more with a Mrs. Field's M&M cookie...

He was pretty thrilled with that too.

 

Except he wouldn't eat the cookie part- he picked out the M&Ms!

 

 

Then we walked down to the other end of the mall, where we saw a music group playing kid's songs! Rather than join the crowd on the lower level, we hung out above them and Tyler danced and clapped and laughed. He thought this was pretty exciting. When he wasn't dancing, he was sitting and staring at all the little kids. So sweet!

It may not have been a totally exciting morning, but it got us away from unpacking/organizing for a little while! A good thing in my book. :)

Oh Christmas Tree...

 Last night we decorated the Christmas tree. Tyler thought it was pretty fun, but he really had more fun "un-decorating." and, well, goofing off...

Tyler's daddy may have been encouraging the goofing off:

Poor Dexter got an ornament on his tail. (No, I'm not an animal abuser and it was not hooked INTO him. lol) Chipper thought it was all a little much. ;)

The only decent "real" Christmas tree decorating picture I got. Tyler and Grandma. ♥

 

A few cute pictures and a few cute things, none of which go together.

Something I never thought I'd say: "Tyler, we don't kiss the TV." Ahhhh he makes me laugh.

{He likes to watch Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King on his grandma's computer. ♥}

This morning, Tory discovered his driver's license, a credit card, his empty wallet, and a toy soccer ball in his dresser drawer. We laughed and then wondered where the rest of the wallet stuff was. He checked my dresser, where he found a debit card, some of Tyler's shirts, and a few more cards and things from the wallet. More toys were in Tyler's dresser. Crazy kid...

{He loves playing with his daddy's old bath toys}

Right now, he's throwing himself around on the couch and "hiding" in the cushions... while growling. He does this often. :)

{Lots of grandpa playing ends up with a laughing, upside-down toddler. lol}

And now, he's playing telephone with an extension cord. I should probably go stop that one...

Life...

It has a way of going places you never expected.

Long story short, Tory lost his job Thanksgiving week. Very unexpectedly. Obviously with a toddler and a baby on the way, we kind of need an income. Not to mention insurance!

Our next step is to leave Stephens City and move into Tory's parent's basement for a while. They've offered to pay for him to finish his degree. The plan as of now (though I've learned not to plan things! they never work out!!) is to live there for a while, Tory will take online classes and hopefully find a decent job that will work around his school schedule and offer insurance. I know. Dream big! If he doesn't find a good job soon, then I will be going back to work.

We have to be out of our townhouse by Christmas, so we've got our hands full for the next two weeks!

Good news, I'm still rather sick, which I believe means the baby is healthy. It's a fair trade. :)

18 Months Old? Really??

My little baby is already 18 months old!

 

Cute things he's doing these days:

"Counts" to 3. Like so: "aaaahhh  aaaaaahhh   aaaaahhhhh" (With a specific sound to each "number")

He signs "More" "Cookie", and "Milk"

He says (and knows what it means) Hi, Bye, Dada, Dex, Cookie,

He blows kisses... especially to strangers at the store

Clifford is still his favorite movie

Dear Zoo is still his favorite book

He likes to throw everything in the trash

He eats anything, but especially loves hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, cookies, yogurt (only if he can feed it to himself),and pizza

He "reads" a search and find Cars book, and can find Flo every time.
Peekaboo with his Daddy is the funniest thing

Anything with his Daddy is the funniest thing, now that I think about it ♥

When we get home he gets so excited and starts bouncing up and down and saying "Dex Dex Dex!!" And he pushes the front door open and barges in to find his best friend. :)

He is, by far, the cutest, sweetest, most wonderful, most precious, blondest, funniest, happiest little guy I've ever known. Not that I'm biased or anything.

"Are You Pregnant?"

My mom asked me this last week. Why? We were driving to my aunt's house which is a couple hours from mine. We stopped for gas. While stopped, I said I was going to pee. Mom deduced from that small thing that I was pregnant. ::sigh::  Only a mother would come to that (correct) conclusion... lol

So yes, I am pregnant. No, we were not trying. Yes, I was surprised. But no, not really. ;)

6 weeks along now, due July 30, 2010. So far I'm feeling... awful. Nausea has hit me hard, and so has heartburn. Yes, already! I'm exhausted too, even though I'm not doing anything! I'm hoping that these symptoms mean that this baby will be big and healthy, like Tyler was. :)

Christmas... or Easter??

 Tyler doesn't care which holiday it is, he's happy!

This kid is nuts I tell ya! He came to me today with a pair of reindeer antlers and some Easter ears, and wasn't happy til I put both on him.

 (That is a laugh, in case you were wondering...)

December 1st

A tradition in my family when I was growing up was that my mom gave each of us kids a small gift on December 1st. I'm carrying on that tradition with my kids. Tyler's Dec 1st present this year was this awesome advent calendar!

Tory showed him how to open up the compartment to find his mini candy bar.

 

He shoved the whole thing into his mouth and went back for more. ;)