Christmas Card Pictures 2012

This year I took the kids to a studio to have pictures taken for Christmas cards.
I have never done this before, but when I pictured trying to control my 3 with the stress of Thanksgiving, Christmas and two birthdays upon us, I decided to give myself a break.
I ended up taking a few on my own too.
(The photographer kept waiting for all three kids to smile.  If you wait for all three of my kids to smile, you don't get very many pictures.)

I selected a few to use on our actual Christmas cards, but I did like more than I could choose.
So, where better to put them all then on our family blog?

Macie in the Studio

I love to take pictures of my kids.
But every now and then, I worry that mine are not quite good enough.
Or traditional enough.
And I crave a studio set of photographs.
I try to line these cravings up with milestones.

So, during Macie's seventh month, we headed to the studio to document her half-year.

I don't go to fancy expensive places...
I just like the look of the backdrop, the lights, the posed picture.

Unfortunately, we ended up having to wait 20 minutes after we got there.
And Macie was nearing feeding and napping time by then.
She learned how to sit about three days after this,
The sitting pictures were a feat to obtain.
She also hated pushing up at the time.
So, those two things took all of the energy she had reserved.So our session was short,
But netted some pictures I like still.

Macie's Newborn Photo Session

The hospital still contracts with a company that provides a newborn photo session to interested parents before discharge.  I loved the pictures we got of Ephram and intended to do the same with Macie.  Once we knew she was early and would be in the NICU, I wasn't sure if we would get the same opportunity.  But the day of her discharge, they came in to ask if we were interested.  I jumped at the opportunity.  Here are my most favorite pictures from the session...  yes, there were some of me.  However, I looked horrible that day.  I was still suffering from effects of pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure and anemia - not to mention lack of sleep from preparing our house the night before.  So please forgive me for not including those!  I love the pictures of my little girl, just shy of the one month mark.

Ephram at One Year

Well, it happened.  I can't decide if I want him to age or to stay my teeny-tiny baby forever.  So it's probably good that this is one thing that I don't get to decide.  My baby turned one all on his own.  One has brought with it a multitude of change.  It is amazing how he has turned toddler on us.  He just gets cuter every day.

The Stats
Height - 28.75 inches (16%)
Weight - 23.25 pounds (52%)
Head - 49 cm (97%)

Ephram continues to be a short-ish boy with some nice chub.  :)  Since he learned how to walk in the week leading up to his birthday, we expected him to start changing in the coming month.  And yes, he still has a big head.

Milestones
First stomach flu
First slept through the night
Started to learn how to climb
Showed understanding of the word "no"
Learned how to give kisses
Walked!!!

Language
Ephram added one new word to his vocabulary in December - more.  He was saying 4 words by the end of the month.

He also learned one new sign - food.  He knew three signs by the end of the month.

Teeth
Ephram had 12 teeth at the end of his first year, 7 on top and 5 on bottom.  He had two more just ready to push through to round out the pairs on each half.  December was a big teething month for us!

Food
In addition to the foods Ephram was already eating we added pasta, beans, pizza and cake this month.

Favorites
Book - The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Toy - Ball Popper
TV Show - Anything Elmo
Song - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Game - Peek-a-Boo

Nicknames
Buggy
E
Boo Boo

Here are some pictures, both ones that I took in California and ones that I had taken of him once we were back in Washington.  :)

Halloween at Andy's Work

For the second year in a row we headed to The Commons at Microsoft for their Halloween party.  We had such a great time last year that we had high expectations for this year.  The event did not disappoint...

After we parked the car and unfolded the stroller, we took a picture of the boys.  Charlie was soooo excited to trick or treat at daddy's work.

Ephram, on the other hand, was just excited to be wearing a monkey suit.  Really - he actually even liked the head piece.

They had a photographer there to take family pictures again.  This year we actually got the picture.  And yes, it's the same one on the blog heading... but as that heading will eventually change, I figured I'd put it in this post as well.

Charlie showing me the candy in his bucket.  Yes, he likes candy.  Imagine that.

Stomp was there to do a little performance.  I love Stomp.  Charlie does now too.

They had a lot of neat decorations put out.  I had Andy take a quick picture of us so that there would be proof I was there.  And, as a friend pointed out, Charlie does have the 'creepy doctor look' perfected.

The Commons has a ton of restaurants.  I sat down with the boys while Andy picked up lunch for him and Charlie at Steamers.  Ephram was very excited to eat his cheerios while we waited!

Charlie was excited to ham for the camera while he waited.

When Andy got back he brought yummy fish and chips for him and Charlie.

We went outside for a little bit to see what they had set-up in the other building.

Then we saw a sign for train rides and headed over to wait in line.  Charlie decided to show everyone how good he was at being a doctor while we were in line.  Luckily everyone played along well.

I have never seen Charlie laugh as hard as he did on this train.  The driver was having fun pretending to hit people as he went along.  Ephram slept through it peacefully!

We headed back home for another Halloween party that night.  Charlie was primed and ready for trick or treating!