Back to reality....

Apparently I spent so much time celebrating this month I had no time to update you all on the holiday happenings! I can't believe that the big day has come and gone! Wes had his first visit from Santa...and he is in holiday heaven. It looks like Toys R Us made a delivery to our house...which I'm sure I've mentioned is the size of a shack. This Christmas, while piles of presents accumulated I finally saw where the commercialism of the holiday collides with good old fashioned holiday spirit. Wes, Luke, and Olivia presented their uncle Chris with a "special" gift this year! It was such an amazing feeling to give a gift to show how much we love and appreciate him, a gift that was completely unexpected and truly appreciated. I will admit this special "gift" was from the electronics department (...insert commercialism of christmas here) but it was form the heart and got our point across. Regardless, it helped remind me about the true spirit of christmas!

As we head towards the new year...and Wes's first birthday!!!...we can account for 2 more teeth, a lot less puking, and about 10 falls a day. It amazes me that he will survive his first year of life without a major head injury. Santa didn't deliver just gifts to all those good girls and boys...he brought along a blizzard too! Wes enjoyed his first real snow fall and cruised around the neighborhood on his shiny new sled.

Even with all the happiness and cheer this time of year brings, sometimes it brings that stubborn dark cloud too. My family has... yet again... been struck with a test to see just how resilient we are. I have no doubt that, as always, we will stay positive and fight back. I have never known a group of people stronger than those I am lucky to call my family. We love you, and are thinking of you every second!

xoxo
Erin

Lots more pictures to add too...apparently I have exceeded the allotted amount from Blogger! Say tuned!

...Mommy was waking Wes up to see what santa brought...

 Daddy and Wes's gorgeous wrapping job! Luckily my kindle was hiding in that box! And yes it is electrical tape for ribbon, white lined paper bow, and a sam adams bottle cap button!

Human jungle gym...

Sadie "gisel" Mckay

Rockin around the christmas tree...

I know, I know...its been awhile! However I take no blame every time I sit down to write Wes follows me around pulls himself up and tries to type with me! Things have been pretty busy around here with Wes's first thanksgiving and my marathon thanksgiving weekend shopping....yep I'm pretty much done, aren't you jealous! I did leave out a few things to pick up so that I can be out enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season...most people think I'm crazy but Nana Pam you know what I'm talking about! It's kind of amusing watching all the people crazily snatching up the last snuggie for everyone on their shopping list! Regardless Wes and I will be out wandering the malls just to enjoy the scenery and a peppermint mocha.

Thanksgiving was a blast, lots of food, fun, and family...Wes truly enjoyed his thanksgiving dinner, and had a great time playing with his cousins! I was super thankful for Derek and Janell on Thanksgiving, I got to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while they chased him around and made sure he was topped off with cantaloupe, brownies, cookies....all the good stuff! Seriously though...we did have a lot to be thankful for this year. Wes is such a blessing, and we are so grateful for him. He was a long time in the making and I did stop a few times over the weekend to just enjoy the moment...his little face peering over the crib rails after a nice long nap....the way he looked from me to ryan and then broke into a huge grin as he snuggled between us watching mickey mouse clubhouse...and the proud moment when I walked in from  a long shopping trip and his first Christmas tree was all lit up. I realized this weekend that I definitely don't take enough time to enjoy the small stuff...funny it seems when I started this blog that was my mission, I guess even I got lost long the way!

And now with my focus back in tact I plan to celebrate this holiday season like no other...its amazing how children can bring a little christmas spirit back into even the biggest grinch!

xoxo
Erin

 Too much turkey....

Obviously checking out there fantasy football stats...

Okay....is someone gonna bring me more stuffing? 

Me, Derek, and Janell!

Sadie and Willa's own personal christmas tree...I was hoping to post some pics of them sitting in front of it in the dark singing "Oh Christmas tree", but the bright pink lights didn't work out so well with the camera!!!

Tis the season...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...although its not quite that time yet and I'm having a hard time with it! Do I just go all in and except that Thanksgiving is now officially considered in the mix when people say "Happy Holidays?" Maybe I'm completely clueless, but I'm pretty sure the "holiday" season didn't start until after all the turkey had been consumed...however I digress..like it or not Christmas has arrived and I guess I'm just gonna accept it and tune that radio dial into 93.3 and sing along! I will admit, I did do some holiday recon shopping today. I plan to be one of those ridiculous people to hit Kohl's at an ungodly hour to snag all those doorbuster deals. I act like I have so much more to buy this year, now that we have Wes...but seriously, buy him a roll of wrapping paper and he'll be happy as a clam. Ripping, tearing, shredding...a fun new pastime Wes has developed over the past few weeks. I guess it is helpful when he tears through all 17 catalogs that are delivered to my door daily...Auntie Nikki I'll send him your way next! 

And speaking of Wes...he is officially cruising! He has become very brave and will pull himself up on anything and everything. I'm pretty sure there is a permanent bruise on his forehead, and a little cut under his chin. Face plants have become a bit of the norm unfortunately...however Daddy's trick of laughing at him when it happens sure does decrease the time spent screaming. Although all this standing and cruising has led to dropping the crib mattress all the way to the floor...insert sad face here...its just another indication of my baby being not so "baby" anymore...as if the way he devoured a meatball wasn't a clue already but c'mon the crib mattress all the way to the ground....

xoxo

Erin 

Witches in the air...witch, witches in the air...

Halloween has come and gone....my burger boy was hysterical in his sesame seed bun, and all the other ghouls and goblins (or fairies, princesses', pirates, super heros, and skunks in my case) had a great time trick or treating. The fire was blazing, the pats were playing, and kids were laughing (or more like whining "when can we go....just one more house, etc etc....) I can't believe how fast the fall is slipping away from us....I have officially started christmas shopping and am scribbling down lists as fast as my pen will write.
Speaking of flying time, I don't think I mentioned Wes's nine month stats. A whopping 21 pounds and 30 inches long...funny that he is wearing 12-18 month clothing yet he still throws up every time he eats...I can't even begin to imagine how big he'd be if he held all that food in! He continues to develop something new everyday...just last week Dr. Ben told us to watch for the wave next....and just like that the next day he waved! And he clearly had intent, not just waving to see his hand flip in front of his face. He has quickly added "Bye  Bye" to his repertoire of words...and if you catch him at just the right moment you'll hear him say "hi"...its almost as though the word doesn't cross his lips but comes from somewhere in his belly...but regardless it gets me every time!  We also gnaw on our crib now...thats a fun new trick I could really do without! Anyhow things are moving fast and I'm afraid if I look away for one minute I'll miss something!

Oh and by the way...you may be listening to the song playing and wondering why it has anything to do with Wes, its my new fav and I figured since yesterday was election day it was the only time I'd be able to fit it in...Turn it up and Enjoy!

xoxo

Erin

..and of course there are photos...

God Bless Wes

What a day! Wes was officially welcomed into the catholic church on Saturday! In a private ceremony...for fear of spit up in the baptism basin...we celebrated with 85 of our closest friends and family. Wes did wonderful, not even a drop of puke, and only a few tears when he was dipped in the water! We quickly moved onto the party, enjoying food, family, friends, and even a few cocktails! Wes was such a trooper considering he woke up Friday night with a 103.6 degree fever! Keeping him filled with Tylenol and Motrin seemed to help the cause and keep him happy and ready to entertain his guests! Thanks to all who helped to celebrate Wes's big day! We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends...a special thanks to Auntie Nikki and Uncle Jeff for taking on the enormous responsibility of godparents, We love you! Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for the official "photo shoot" pictures to come!

xoxo

Erin

and we are standing...

October 11 was officially the day Wes pulled himself to stand....and then a few short days later he braved a step or 2 in order to cruise along the couch and find his toys! It blows me away that somedays I can still feel the effects of my c section yet he has managed to developed into a little boy who is almost unrecognizable from the one I gave birth to! Although he is hitting those milestones as quickly as I can record them, I am still a crazy new mom who is freaked out by everything! He absolutely refused to clap for me...and of course I was convinced there was a problem. He wont cross his midline, he won't imitate, etc, etc. Well don't you worry folks he clapped in response to my clapping today! Phew! We can check that one off in the books!

xoxo
Erin

a perfect 10...

weekend that is! On the 10th day of the 10th month of the year 2010 we were graced with story book autumn weather in New England. Just enough chill in the air to bust out the sweaters, uggs, and the occasional knit hat. Every intersection boasted signs of corn mazes, pick your own pumpkins, and mums. And along with every other family on the south shore we jumped on the hay ride and partook in all that fall has to offer. We started off Saturday morning with a search for the great pumkpin...I'm not sure Wes cared much about the looks, but he sure did enjoy licking every pumpkin he came in contact with! Later on in the day we braved the corn maze with 3 adults and 6 kids....we were completely outnumbered and were extremely luckily the older kids wanted to follow Uncle Ryan as he navigated our way through the maze...it helps that he's 6 foot five and could "see" what direction we needed to head in! We wrapped up the adventure with pony rides, jumpy houses, and fried dough. I didn't feel totally guilty about the fried dough...I did just hike through a  corn field with a 20 pound baby strapped to my chest....We ended Saturday night with a bonfire, smores, and lots of blankets!!! Sunday brought naps...lots of naps...Wes has boycotted sleeping again so we took turns napping and playing to try and wear him out so maybe just maybe he'd sleep through the night...no dice...2:30 am brought inconsolable crying from the nursery...lucky for me today was a holiday so Ryan was able to take the morning shift and let me sleep in! We salvaged the day and hit the park for Wes's first ride in the swing...he looked like such a big boy...and not like a baby anymore...which is why I wasn't surprised when they brought us crayons and a childrens menu at our impromptu lunch date....All in all it was a great weekend. I want to send a special Happy Birthday to Sadie and Willa..they turned the 4 on Sunday!! Happy Birthday girls!!!!!

xoxo
Erin
...as I'm sure you expected we got most of the weekend on film....Enjoy!