Family Friends and their Maternity Pictures

I didn't want to shock anyone into thinking I was pregnant, so I had to word the title carefully!  A few weeks ago, before a big storm, I took my friends outside for some maternity photo's.  It was fun and fairly quick....because it wasn't that warm!  We had a great sky/light to work with - so I definitely got some new experience.  I had to selectively pick these because there were so many to choose from!

Charlie Update + Pictures

I got in a little trouble for not posting pictures with Moe's update - but I have to explain.....when we have had snow every weekend except one since the beginning of November, and the past few weeks have been absolutely freezing - there isn't much to take pictures of.  Unless I'm super quick with the camera and can snap a few before Charlie stops his craft, etc.

Anyway - Charlie is loving preschool - and is a little quiet too!  But when he gets home, he'll sometimes tell me about his friends that he has or what so and so did at school.  He mostly talks about the more 'energetic' kids in the class - which makes me laugh!  I've definitely noticed an increased interest in crafts and his colouring has probably improved 100% since September.  At least he is colouring and starting to colour actual objects!  He has put me on the hook for finding easy and fun crafts.

Charlie has finished his naps....insert sad momma here.....but we are getting better at quiet time.  I am finding that if I set him up in the basement with a tv show, he'll often play with his toys without me having to be by his side.  And the tv show won't necessarily matter any more.  I LOVE this - Moe can sleep upstairs without the constant need to keep Charlie quiet, and I can get some much needed work done.  Like blogging!!! :).  And it has meant an earlier bedtime for Charlie - which is also nice too!

Lets see - Charlie is also learning to project his unhappiness in a whole new way.  He LOVES to whine and tell me that "I'm being a mean mommy" if I don't let him have what he wants.  I was shocked to hear this the first time, but now I inwardly smile when I hear it (which thankfully isn't too often).  He'll say the opposite too, "your being a nice mommy" - so I guess that makes up for it.  He'll also have some pretty dandy tantrums - but most of them happen when he is hungry or tired, or both, so I deal the best I can.  His favorite word to Moe is "NO" - which is frustrating......My hope and prayer is that these boys will become best friends in a few years and the annoying little brother will be the best playmate ever.

And for the pictures - here is one craft we did last week.  Charlie loved it and Moe sat on a chair for the first time and ate the fruit loops.  I kept both of them happy for at least a 1/2 hour.....we don't have fruit loops in the house so lets just say we were all eating them!!!! 

And a few side notes - Charlie threw his fireman hat that accidentally landed on Moe's head....poor guy - it swelled and bruised instantly.  It may have been an accident, but Charlie was in the middle of a "you need to be nice to your brother" conversation with Daddy.  I had the luxury of watching it all unfold.

And we were watching the Canadian Olympic curling trials - Charlie loved watching the MandM Meats commercial with the curling rocks.....Every time it came on, he stopped to watch.  He now pretends to throw curling rocks.

Moe Update

I've been meaning to write an update post on Moe for a few weeks, but I am just sitting down to the computer now!  Sorry to make this post all about Moe - I don't keep a calendar on significant milestones, etc., past the first year, so that's why I put it here!!!!

Moe is changing lots and is SOOOO much fun.  He is crawling everywhere and is slowly starting to conquer the stairs - both up and down.  Moe and Charlie love to crawl up and down them together while I supervise....Definitely good brother bonding time.

Moe has started giving kisses (LOVE), started making tons of noises, and is saying, "yes", and definitely Daaaa-Da.  I'm not joking when I say he is saying 'yes' - he has been doing it for at least 3 weeks and it is adorable.  I ask him if he is ready to get down, 'yes', do you want this toy, 'yes'....Yes, yes, yes. 

He has also been using his little finger to point to things he wants.  If he sees a certain kind of cracker, or fruit, or cheese, he will point away!  He has a sweet tooth just like his mommy and brother, so we have to keep packages, etc., in hiding while he is eating.  Charlie gets a treat once he is done his meals, and I now have to tell him to go eat it somewhere else as Moe usually isn't done eating his food yet!  Moe also loves to clap - especially to the song - If Your Happy and You Know It...also too cute!

And finally, we went to the mall yesterday with my sister - I don't think I have been to this one mall for a year......with the kids.  Anyway - we took them in the play place, and Moe absolutely loved crawling under things, and sliding down the play structure.  He was having just as much fun as his brother!  Which leads me to compare the two.  Moe is much more outgoing and 'friendly' at this age.  He didn't care about the kids around him yesterday, and he does a good back arch to let me know that he wasn't done with the slide.

That's about it - yes, I used the words cute and adorable too much, but that's what Moe is!  We are so thankful for Moe's addition to our lives.  He dishes out the smiles and laughs, and we are loving watching him explore and learn about the world around him!

My little snowmen

Continuing on the snow theme, I finally put both boys in the snowmen shirts.  Most of the clothes I buy for Moe matches what I buy for Charlie - which means I usually don't buy much for Moe because he has so many fun hand-me-downs from Charlie!  They looked so cute :). 

Moe had his vaccinations the morning of these pictures - he did so well with the first two that I went ahead and did the third even though I was going to wait a month or so.  I think its a little mean to have so many vaccinations at one time - he could have had four altogether, but I just completed the required vaccs, so he is set!  And he rocked it! 

And I am pretty sure he is teething.....so lets just say Moe probably wasn't feeling his best during this little photoshoot, but he still had fun!  And so did Charlie.  They are interacting more and more together, and I'm getting to see little bits of gentleness from Charlie.....Bits, I tell you, bits.

SNOW!

And we have lots of it.....We have had snow for the past three weekends and this past week has been freezing :(.  So not fun with two little ones, but we survive and only go out when we need to!  Last weekend we headed to my parents to watch the big football game - riders vs. stampeders.....riders won :).  Grandpa was clearing off his driveway and Charlie wanted to help.  He lasted 15 minutes or so until he got a big blast of snow on his face, then he was done!  By the way, we have more snow here than my parents had!

Here are a bunch of snow clearing pictures....sorry!  I am trying to practice my editing, so there are lots of pictures!

CAN ANYONE SAY 'BRRRRRRRR'

Just on and happy to be driving......the driving didn't last long!