A Week of Christmas

This post is full of pictures!  I'll pretty much let them speak for themselves.  Let me just say that we had such a fun week.

We started off with Christmas Eve at our house.  After Christmas Eve service, we came home and put the boys to bed and got to work on the toy box.

 Jason got a little frustrated, but I think that's part of it.  Good thing we had "It's a Wonderful Life," on in the background.

 We utilized the new toy box for stockings and presents.

 As a family, we're going to use the 4 present rule for our kids!  Something they want, something they need, something to share, and something to read!  I think this will help me not get too carried away.

 Christmas morning!

 This is the best we could do of the boys together!

 Amos was not to anxious to sit still.

 Don't worry, Jason didn't spend Christmas morning on the computer.  He was just starting the Christmas music.

The raisins in his stocking were a BIG hit. 

 I have a feeling I'll be picking up this play food all the time!

Without putting much away, we loaded everything up and headed to Lebanon to celebrate Christmas!  We started out at Great Grandma Hubbard's house, but I left the camera in the car, so I don't have any pictures!  They had quite the house full.

Later that evening we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's.  Amos got to practice is present opening skills!  Teigan and Emma helped him out a little. 

We had a big slumber party that night and stayed in our pjs the next day!

After staying for a couple of nights, we loaded everything up again and headed for Kansas.  We dropped off Christmas presents at home, grabbed Starbucks for the drive and headed on.

We woke up the next morning and pretended like it was Christmas morning.

 Josie found someone's stocking candy.

 Hopefully one day this will be for real.

 Silas finally woke up and joined the party.

 Look what Great Grandma Garrett brought over!

 Dad and his BIG surprise!

 "Icing" Christmas cookies.  More like eating icing.

Saturday we had an extended family get together with my mom's side of the family.  Again, I didn't have my camera, but it was fun to see everyone and catch up.  The highlight for Amos, his new bat cape!

What a fun week it was!  However, we are glad to be home!  Good thing Christmas is just once a year.

Silas John - Week 9

Silas spent most of his time this week sleeping, eating or being held!  We spent the majority of this week traveling for Christmas.  The week started with a Christmas Eve service which Silas happily slept in his car seat through. Then after celebrating Christmas morning at home, we packed up the boys and the car and headed to Lebanon to celebrate with Jason's family.  I was a little nervous going into the week because of all our travels but he was a real trooper.  He slept anywhere - in arms, his rock and play, or his car seat.  And when he was awake, someone was always there to hold him.

Not much has changed this week.  He did sleep 9 hours a couple of nights.  He must have known I needed the extra sleep.  There were a couple of nights that he seemed to grunt all night long.  I don't know if it was because of something I ate, or just an upset stomach.  Regardless, I'm glad was are no longer sharing a room, because I seemed to still wake up to every noise.

It's getting easier and easier to get a smile out of him.  With Amos, we had to work and work at it, so we think Silas is a big time smiler.  Of course, it melts my heart every time he smiles up at me.

Check out brother at 9 weeks:

Silas - Week 8 (and a Christmas Party)

Somehow I didn't manage to take a single picture this week until our Christmas party!  I don't know what happened.  We still had a really great week.   

At the end of the last week, Silas was breaking out of his swaddle, so I thought I would start this week, trying just a one armed swaddle.  That didn't last for long as he slept bad that night and for the naps the next day.  He slept much better fully swaddled, so we won't be dropping that yet.  Although, with the one free arm, he managed to figure out how to suck on his fingers and was trying really hard to find his thumb.  This was the same week Amos started sucking his thumb and I've read most babies become aware of their own hands around this age.  Unlike with Amos, we are going to try to keep Silas sleeping on his back as long as possible.  Amos had trouble staying asleep, through the night, on his stomach once he rolled, and I don't want to go through that again.  Speaking of through the night, the last two nights Silas has slept over 8 1/2 hours!  I'm hoping this isn't just a fluke.

Silas sleeps like a dream for naps and is perfectly content during his wake time until about 5:00 pm.  THEN HE TURNS INTO A MONSTER!  Just kidding, kind of.  From 5-7 pm definitely seems to be a "witching" hour for him.  He doesn't want to go to sleep in his crib and he doesn't like to be held.  At home, we don't notice it too much because we just put him in the swing during this time, and that seems to keep him content.  However, if we are away from home, he's not happy.  I've read that the witching hour can last up until 3-4 months old! Ahh!  We're also trying to cluster feed during this time, to keep him with a full tummy.

Silas favors laying on his back.  He's ok on his tummy for a short while, but he definitely doesn't love it like Amos did.  If he's got something to look at while he is on his stomach he doesn't mind it as much, but he sure tries to push himself over.  He doesn't like use his legs too much yet.  He'll push up for second or two and then he's ready to sit back down.  This is so different from Amos, who came out standing and wanted to stand at ALL times.

Silas is very smiley these days.  It only takes a big smile from Mom or Dad to get a smile out of him.  He sits and coos at us or in his bouncer!  

Silas is losing a little more hair, especially on the sides.  However, he's got enough for almost a ponytail in the back.  At home, we dug out some of MY baby photos to compare Silas and me.  I think its fair to say that he takes after his mom.

My newborn photo is on the left and Silas' is on the right!

Also, we pulled this one off the wall!

Hanging out with Uncle Joe - home from college.

 Look who's on the piano!

 Mr. Handsome

 Extended family Christmas!  We had a full house at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

 First Christmas present this year.

 Fun Christmas presents.  I think they like them, Great Grandma Garrett.

 "Sharing" their toys.  We're working on it.

 And the funniest part of the night - Priscilla pooping all over Gramps!!!