The Growing Tree project

Okay, so, I guess I should have just outlined his hands for this past Christmas, too. :o) Maybe next Christmas...............

Sleeping

Matthew likes to fall asleep these days with something on his head - either his Ellie or his little pillow. He must get that from his Grandma H.

He's also still getting up one or two times every night - :o( I've read that this is common in two year olds. Hopefully, this phase will end soon. Wouldn't be so bad if he would at least sleep past 6am. Doesn't seem to matter whether he goes to sleep at 7:30 or 9pm. Oh, well, the rites of passage, I guess. He's also got his two year molars coming in - I can't imagine that it's a pleasant expereince, either.

Pure sweetness!

When I got Matthew up from his nap today, I asked him to give me a kiss. He promptly kissed each cheek and then my lips. This was something he thought of - 'cause this is not one of our "things".

Lord, help me to remember these times of sweetness when Matthew is - ahem - not so sweet(and I'm probably not so sweet either in those times)!

Go, Eagles!!

Blitz Inc.
(We're hoping that the rice crispy treats devour the chocolate chip cookie tonight)

First snow

While we were up in Lafayette the weekend after Christmas, we got a nice blanket of snow. I was thrilled! Matthew had fun - I only wish that he could have had more time to play!

All of us!

Christmas 2009

It's been wonderful being in Indiana for two weeks, but routine is good, too. We left the day after Matthew's birthday - bright and early. Our big obstacle while making this trip is always Illinois - or Illannoying as Mark has renamed it. It doesn't matter whether we're coming or going - Illannoying is hard for us. There's not much to look at, not many decent places to stop, gas costs more and the speed limit is 65(and enforced). Apart from that, the trip is okay. Matthew even took a 2 1/2 hour nap yesterday on the way home! ***Now, reread that last sentence and imagine listening to the Hallelujah Chorus this time!!
As for sleeping - we're dealing with a 2 year old, now - just starting a phase of waking up through the night. This new for us - considering that from 3 months to 23 months he slept straight through the night 90% of the time. The sleeping - or should I say - waking up thing started about once a night a week or two before we left. Sleeping in a play yard that is officially too small didn't help. By the end of the trip, he was waking up three times a night - ugh. So, we're trying to figure all of that out.
Apart from those two issues, it was a wonderful trip!! Mom and Dad had a cake for Matthew's birthday. He is still blowing out candles with his nose - as you can see.
Mark and I were able to get away by ourselves several times - and even over night up to Lafayette! While we were away, G'ma and G'pa found new entertainment - popping balloons by sitting on them. Matthew thought that was great!