This and that...

I haven't done much general updating on this blog except for pictures and posts that are way behind.

I want to document this sweet and awesome place our family is in right now.  My sweet Gates is 15 months old and his personality is shining.  He went from walking to running and loves keeping up with his brother.  Gates loves his blankie and paci and hates getting his diaper changed or being in his highchair.  He has his bottom molars coming through so he is a fussy mess and has not been eating much.  He still takes 2 bottles a day and his Mama could care less :)

Hawkins is 3.5 years old and most of the time is Mommy's little helper.  He can do just about anything for himself and really is a help to me unless he is having a "three year old moment".  He does have a very strong persistent personality :)  He is so sweet and loves his Mommy, but the boy wants what he wants when he wants it.  And if not, he will pitch the fit of all fits.  Right now he loves rescue bots (Transformers), Jake, his Leappad and Disney movies.  Mommy has had more fun with the Disney movies than him :)

Both boys are at a great stage right now and we are loving it.  I am not afraid to admit that I'm not very good at the newborn stage.  The crying and the waking up all night and the feeding every few hours.  I'm better at the playing outside when we can all play together and the sleeping all night :)   And long naps :)  When I have a baby I feel like I need to stay home all day and with toddlers I can get out and do more.  Go to the Riverquarium, the playground, the YMCA, etc etc etc.  Mama needs to get out of the house for my sanity!

My boys are great car riders right now.  Hawkins will watch a movie until the cows come home and Gates sort of watches, but mostly sucks his paci and hangs out.

The latest major change in our household is that Hawkins has dropped his nap.  This. is. major.  It was not planned…it just sort of happened.  We went to Atlanta for a few days and he didn't nap the whole time and when we got back he just stopped napping.  It got to the point where if he napped he would not go to sleep until 9pm or later and that was just not fun.  I am trying to implement "rest time" in his room.  I let him take his leap pad and he has to stay quiet in his bed until I come get him he starts yelling for me.  He will stay in there for about 45 minutes before he starts calling me.  Gates is also staring to drop his morning nap, so we are in major transition right now!

Raybon family Christmas

Grandpa and Grandmomma Raybon came to celebrate the week before Christmas.   

The boys loved celebrating Christmas early and getting to open some presents!

Hawkins even let Gates open one of his own :)

Jake was a favorite this year

And Rescue Bots

We "facetimed" with Aunt Kristen and Uncle Adam while we opened presents.  We are so lucky to have such sweet and fun family!  We had a weekend of baking gingerbread cookies, presents, and celebrating.  

I am way behind….

I love having this little blog to document our family happening, but I have been slack on updating!

Here is a start on what we did in December…I still have more pics to download!  

Picked out a Christmas tree!  

This is the only picture of our family of 4 in December…how did that happen? 

This was a Sunday afternoon when we baked and decorated gingerbread houses.  

I will cherish these memories with my children forever 

Rolling out the gingerbread cookie dough!

Cutting them out

We took a trip to Atlanta to see a Disney play!  Jake and Sophia

Here is Hawkins in front of all the loot that he wanted!  Ha! 

More pics to come...

Oh Christmas Tree

Here is our first Christmas tree in Albany!  

Decorating our tree always brings back memories from my childhood.  My Mom did a great job collecting and storing my old ornaments all the way back from when I was born!  Cheap ones I made at school or nice ones I received as presents - they are all there!  She has given me some of these over the years to fill my own tree, and of course I have started the same collection for my little family.  I have ones from when Robbie and I first got married and then for each of our children.  

Here is Hawkins' "Big Brother" ornament next to one for Gates from last year

Hawkins' made this handprint one last year when he was two

I had them make this one at the Clay Spot this year with Gates' handprint on one side and Hawkins' on the other.  These are my favorite!

Katie gave us this 2 years ago when we found out Gates was a boy!

Here is one of me when I was a little girl!

And another of Gates...

Gates - 14 months

This sweet baby boy is 14 months old!  

Time is flying by, but we are having fun!  Gates went from walking to running quickly - probably to keep up with his brother!  He has a lot of energy and is always on the go.  He loves to eat and loves to sleep!  His blankie and paci are always near :)

His ear tubes seem to be working great!  There was drainage for a few days after the RSV episode, but other than that things have been perfect.  

I just noticed some back molars coming in on both sides.  They seem to be causing him a lot of pain b/c he rubs his cheeks and has been really fussy.  

Gates is still not talking, but he has started doing some fun tricks!

What Gates is doing at 14 months:

-You can point to your nose when asked "Where is your nose" or "Where is my nose?"

-When asked "What does the dog say" you "woof" like a dog….so cute

-You can almost blow a kiss…working on it!

-Wave bye bye
-You can say things like Dada or mama, but prefer to just grunt and point your finger at what you want.  You are definitely communicating more, but just not using your words!  Hopefully that will come soon.
-As I said, you LOVE your blankie and paci.  You used to just love them mainly in your crib, but now you want them with you all the time!
-Your other love is your bottle.  I was so strict with Hawkins making him give it up right at one year, but I am a push over with you.  You still take 3 bottles a day!  You just love it and I can't take it from you!
-You wake up around 7 or 7:30am, nap at 9:30 for an hour or so, nap again around 2pm for (hopefully) 2+ hours and then back to bed around 7:30 or 8pm.
-Hawkins dropped his morning nap at 14 months, but you definitely still need it.  You have always been a better napper than Hawkins was.  You have definitely shortened your morning nap though.  You sleep for about an hour and then wake up or I will wake you up or else you won't take a good afternoon nap.

You are a much better eater than Hawkins, but still a little picky.  You like waffles, blueberries, hotdogs, cheese quesadillas, chicken, LOVE ham, and peas.  You aren't afraid to put something in your mouth, but if it's a funny texture you will spit it right out!  You would really love to just get your calories from milk!

Gates, you are so sweet and a joy to our lives.  It is so fun to see you grow and learn each day.  

A little bit of December...

Raybon Family Christmas tree 2013!

We even got a little tree for the little boys!

He didn't want to take a picture, but he sure looked cute in Hawkins old Christmas outfit 

Who needs a seat belt when you have big brother to hold you?  Melt my heart…

As usual December is cheese straw making time!  Mama has been in the kitchen non stop baking!

Raybon Family Thanksgiving 2013

I have to start this post with this beautiful tree in my yard.  When I returned home from Thanksgiving the beautiful leaves where sprinkled on the ground, so I'm so glad I snapped this pic the week before.  

Robbie's parents rented a house in Isle of Palms for their extended family for the whole week of Thanksgiving.  We headed there last Sunday.   We actually went the whole 5.5 hours without stopping…don't ask me how that happened.  This poor baby had reached the end of his sweetness by the time we arrived though.  He was his worst day of RSV and did not feel well.  He repaid us by staying up all night and sleeping in my arms.  

  

In attendance were Robbie's parents, his sister, Kristen and her husband, Adam, Robbie's Uncle Simms and his daughter, Sarah (Hawkins' new best friend), cousin Chrissa, her husband Chad and children Madaline and Hayes, Aunt Pat, Cousin John Henry, wife Gray and FIVE, yes five boys.  It was a FULL house.  

Hawkins enjoyed sleeping in the bunk beds!

Gates' first oreo…success!

Getting ready for nap time!

First Japanese experience

Hawkins loved it!

Yes, that's a grilled cheese on the grill...

It was coooold

Oyster roast on Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Day!

Much earned naptime

Afternoon walk on the beach

Visit to the park on Friday

Cold beach visit Friday afternoon