Brandon's 18 month check up

Well true to form, we still grow 'em big in this family! I took Brandon in for his 18 month check up and here are his stats:

Weight: 29.3 lbs (94%)

Height: 33.5"(80%)

HC: 19.5" (92%)

For comparison, here's Justin's stats from the same age...eep! And we thought Justin was big for his age!

Weight: 25 lb, 13oz (50%)

Height: 32.5" (58%)

HC: 19.5" (90%)

No wonder my arms and wrists hurt from hauling this kid around! Poor thing got 4 shots today and was pretty cranky so we gave him some Motrin and put him to bed early. I'm sure he'll be all ready for the first of our Christmas celebrations tomorrow!

AGG Christmas

Every year it gets harder and harder to get together with your girlfriends - especially once those pesky kids enter the picture. Three of us managed to get together this year! We did cookie decorating for the kids and had pizza...a long way from our fancy pot lucks, but all we wanted to do was sit and catch up and let the kids run around the house!

Auntie Ako wanted to be Justin's favorite so she gave him a whole cookie!

The mess wasn't too bad :)

 

 

Preschool Winter Program

The Winter Program at the boys' preschool is always a bit of madness, but these are the things that memories are made of. Of course, it does remind me of that cell phone commercial where all the parents are elbow checking each other to get a video/photo of their kid. Sheesh! Luckily Jay came this year and was able to handle videography while I wrangled Brandon. Apparently the Toddlers don't get up and sing, so I had to manage Sir Chubbs a Lot through the whole program.

Luckily I brought some grapes with me:

 

And true to form, Justin got some kind of stage fright and wouldn't sing the songs he's been shouting around the house for the past month:

Cookie Day 2013!

It's only as I get older that I truly appreciate how much work goes into Cookie Day at my mom's house. She has an Excel sheet for how many dozen of each type of cookie she will produce so she can calculate how much ingredients she will need. Dough-making starts early in the week and continues until Saturday - whew! This is one tradition I'm not so sure I can keep up with!

This year was special because my friend Ako came out with her middle daughter who is 6 to be Cookie Elves with me and Justin! Needless to say, it was a bit messier this year than other years, but great fun was had by all. (And cookie making went faster once our little elves decided they'd rather watch Disney Junior downstairs!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin actually took this picture for us - not bad!

Gratuitous bathtub shot. Brandon graduated to the big leagues!

Disneyland 2013

For the past few years, as soon as I get back from my tradeshow in Chicago, we go to Disneyland for the weekend since it's one of the slowest times of the year there. Plus it's all decorated for the holidays and it's really pretty. Of course, going from being all stressed out at work to getting the family off to Disneyland probably isn't the most relaxing activity, but it sure was fun.

This year was pretty cold in Anaheim. We bundled the boys up and brought along a lap blanket for them...I wish I could be carted around Disneyland like that!

The boys had a good time...Justin will finally go on some more rides (he's kind of a scaredy cat). I'm not so sure Brandon understood what was going on, but there's plenty of time for that!

 

Waiting in line for Justin's favorite ride: Mater's Tipping Tractors

 

One out of two made it through the World of Color

But didn't make it through the walk home

 

 

Guess what Daddy bought? Luckily no TVs were hurt during our stay.

 

 

November Round-up

November was pretty much a blur for me. It's my busiest time of year at work with our major tradeshow that starts Thanksgiving weekend (Really! Who DOES that??). It's only been now that I finally get a breather and can update the blog. Brandon started preschool in mid-November. It's only been now, after a month, that he finally has stopped crying when I drop him off at school. He's well-adjusted now and has picked up some choice words...like "Mine!"

Here are some November pics

Kicking back after his first day of preschool

Who doesn't like Popsicles in November?

Again with sitting in the box. I'm amazed they both fit!

 

Brandon's Thankgiving placemat

Justin's Thanksgiving placemat

Brandon enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. With a hat on.

Taken right before Daddy took him down the slide and let him do a faceplant in the tanbark

The boys went to Gilroy Gardens while I was in Chicago. Brandon was perhaps not so amused.

 

Fall Round-up

Where has the Fall gone?! I swear Fall just started and here it is November already with Christmas decorations up in the stores! Here are just a few pics of the boys.

Brandon will be starting at Justin's preschool next week - eep! My boys are growing up!!

At the Exploratorium. We had to pry Justin away to go home!

The spinning sand table is strangely compelling...

What the boys do after dinner. Sit in boxes and read. I don't get it. But at least they were quiet for five minutes.

Brandon just wants to do whatever Justin is doing. Aww.