I find myself playing catch-up with this blog again. Ever since Matthew was born, there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. Hopefully things will get a little easier as he gets older. (Not that it's really difficult now, just not enough time to be productive as I want to be before the next 'nursing session'!)
Anyway, on Veteran's Day we took advantage of a day off from school and took the kids ice skating for the first time, along with all of our neighbors. We are very fortunate to live on a wonderful street with wonderful neighbors. I was witness to how wonderful my neighbors really are when I had Matthew, and it's great that we come together, not only in times of crises, but in times of fun too. We had a blast ice skating with everyone!
Clara and Jonathan just got their ice skates on in the lobby
Doug and Madori and their kids, Ella and Connor getting ready to skate
(
Note to self: When your husband is putting the baby in the car seat, ALWAYS double check to be sure he grabbed a blanket...ESPECIALLY, when going some place cold, like ice skating!)This is how Matthew spent a good bit of the time at the ice rink, snuggled up in Melissa's sweater. Thankfully, the rink also had a viewing room upstairs that was not frigid!
Clara is turning in to quite a brave little girl. She always used to be so cautious (like me), but she's starting to let loose... a
little (she IS still
my daughter, after all!) She was right about at the cut-off height for being able to use a 'walker', but the guy at the counter was nice enough to let her have one. After she got her bearings, she'd push it a
little away from herself and then 'skate' to it. She was soooo proud!
Chris helping Jonathan
Getting the hang of it
Jonathan is not a cautious child at all. After a few minutes of having Chris or myself help him, he insisted he could do it on his own...and he could!
Another proud kid!
The kids had a ball!
Trying it without the 'walker'
He didn't do so well without the 'walker', but he thought falling was hilarious
Hunter, Briana, Carrie and Alexis
Me and Jonathan
After ice skating, the gang headed to Outback for dinner.
Courtney with her boys, Logan and Carson
Alexis and Angie (Angie just had a baby girl last Tues.!)
Chris and Clara
Melissa
Madori, Connor and Doug
Shannon, with her girls, Emily and Peyton
Ice skating was so much fun, definitely something we'll have to do again soon. Only we'll have to dress warmer next time (and bring a blanket for the baby!)
Clara showed Uncle Larry how to play her Leapster
Aunt Mary doing the cooking
Aunt Sandi and Preston (who was meeting Matthew for the first time!)
Matthew's 1st Thanksgiving
Guess what I'm thankful for?! 
I tried to get a good picture to show the permanent tooth coming in already...time to start saving for braces. She found the first loose tooth on 11/21/09 during dinner. A couple nights later we noticed the tooth next to it was loose as well. 
This is reason #1 that Matthew is sleeping in the bassinet in the living room at night instead of in the crib in Jonathan's room. Jonathan obviously means well, but I'm afraid of how many toys Matthew may 'ask for' throughout the night if we were to put him in Jonathan's room. In our room, I get no sleep when every sigh and grunt wakes me, so the poor child must sleep in the living room for now, but if it ain't broken...
At 3 months, he's still an easy baby. He loves Clara and Jonathan and the feeling is mutual. Jonathan often tells me, "No, he's MY baby!" and Clara routinely asks for Matthew to help tuck her in at night. He smiles often, but still makes us work for a laugh. Still hates baths. Still nurses and bottle feeds (thankfully)! He doesn't mind tummy time so much anymore, but just not for long periods of time. He sleeps at least 12 hours at night and is really an easy baby. I've been lucky with all 3 of mine, I would not know what to do with a baby that offered any real challenge. He's starting to pull at Clara's hair when she lets him, I've been trying to explain to her why it's not a good idea to let him, but she thinks it's funny...she'll learn soon enough on her own :)
Up to mischief already!
Clara and Jonathan just got their ice skates on in the lobby
(Note to self: When your husband is putting the baby in the car seat, ALWAYS double check to be sure he grabbed a blanket...ESPECIALLY, when going some place cold, like ice skating!)
Clara is turning in to quite a brave little girl. She always used to be so cautious (like me), but she's starting to let loose... a little (she IS still my daughter, after all!) She was right about at the cut-off height for being able to use a 'walker', but the guy at the counter was nice enough to let her have one. After she got her bearings, she'd push it a little away from herself and then 'skate' to it. She was soooo proud!
Chris helping Jonathan
Getting the hang of it
Jonathan is not a cautious child at all. After a few minutes of having Chris or myself help him, he insisted he could do it on his own...and he could!
Another proud kid!
The kids had a ball!
Trying it without the 'walker'
He didn't do so well without the 'walker', but he thought falling was hilarious
Hunter, Briana, Carrie and Alexis
Me and Jonathan
Courtney with her boys, Logan and Carson
Alexis and Angie (Angie just had a baby girl last Tues.!)
Chris and Clara
Melissa
Shannon, with her girls, Emily and Peyton
You can't see here, but Clara has her baby under her shirt and then the blanket over it all.
Jonathan wasn't as modest!
I was afraid Jonathan still wouldn't sleep on it, so I also pulled out the car sheets I had bought a while back for when he graduated to a twin bed. Since I didn't get to buy new nursery bedding for Matthew, I searched for a matching twin set of sheets and quilt for him so that some day when we're all ready, Jonathan and Matthew will have matching quilts on their bunk beds!
For now, Jonathan's happy with just a mattress on the floor with his 'cool car sheets'. 
