11 Months Old!

Wyatt Daniel is 11 months old today. I have been working on the invitations for his Birthday Party! It doesn't seem like that should be happening already, yet here we are! He is making sounds that are dangerously close to words. I swear he said "cheese" last week when I was holding my phone for something, I guess he thought he was getting his picture taken! He still says "no" (more like Nah) when he gets into trouble, and loves to growl and try to roar like a lion when he sees his animal wall decoration (for Clayton, it was always the monkey sounds, but Wyatt prefers the lion I guess). I think I might hear a word for Kitty trying to emerge as well. I guess one day he'll just have a language explosion, I can hardly wait to hear his talking voice! Our little guy is walking pretty well now, all the way across the living room and partially into the kitchen a lot. I can also tell that he is thinking about just standing up on his own (with out pulling up on an object) but he hasn't figured out how that could work yet, but you can tell he tries! He still likes to eat just about anything and everything I put in front of him, and I did feel a little sad as I fed him the last jar of baby food the other day. We still have some baby food pouches, but he can suck that out. Spoon feeding is pretty much over! He is growing though and I got him measured at 29.25 inches long and 19 lbs today!

Pics from Thursday

I just need to make a post! Here's some of what the boys were up to the other day! 

Wyatt just loves his soft stuffed animals!

The boys have been enjoying playing with their Polar Express train in the afternoon when it's baby  nap time!

A lot of firsts!

What do Wyatt's first steps, first haircut and first tooth all have in common?? Well, they all happened in one 24-hour period, that's what!! We're packing it in here before 2016 I guess! He took his first steps last night, he woke up today with a bottom right, front tooth having broken the surface, and the boys all got haircuts this afternoon. We actually didn't even realize how much fuzz he had in the back, we were so focused on how much he had down the middle on the top! But he let Jan buzz that down in the back a little after we trimmed the mohawk. He even let her vacuum up the excess hair at the end. He was pretty apprehensive, and there were a few tears, but he was easily consoled.

I knew I wanted to take a before and after picture of Wyatt, so I figured I might as well get some for Clayton and Reese too! We sure have three handsome boys. We even got a couple of compliments on our nice looking bunch at Walmart afterwards! Ha!

I love this before picture of Reese; you can actually see the mischief behind his eyes!

Wyatt's First Steps!

Wyatt decided this evening that he was mad that he couldn't walk. So Daddy and I worked on it with him and he finally is getting the hang of it! It was so close to bed time, so he was getting a little tired, but I have a feeling we'll be practicing a lot more tomorrow!!

Here he was just this past Saturday morning (2 days ago)! We were trying to work with him, but he just wasn't interested. . .

So finally tonight he took off between Mommy and Daddy. I'm really sorry about my high pitched voice, I didn't realize I sounded like that when I was so excited (and so proud of him)!

Branz Family Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve day, we gathered at Grandma and Papa's house to have soup for lunch and then open presents during the afternoon with the whole family. The main highlight for the boys was their Polar Express train that they really, really wanted. They also got a very cool Tractor with an auger wagon (which actually turns!) and a large semi truck. They got a neat fishing pole game (it works with magnets), and Wyatt got an adorable polar bear which is oh-so-soft that he just loves! And so much more, it was a present opening frenzy!

Here's Wyatt enjoying the Jingle Bells singing Snowman!

At 5:00 pm we met at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Gresham (Great Grandparents' church) for their candle light service. Traditionally, the children of the congregation walk up to the front of the church at the start of the service to place baby Jesus (a doll) in the wooden manger. This year Clayton and Reese were the only kids there that could do it! They did an amazing job, and we are so proud of them! They were also in charge of handing out the candles to all of the adults as they walked in the door, such great helpers!

After church, we gathered at Great Grandma and Grandpa Branz's house for drinks and snacks and family pictures. It was such a happy time to have the cousins play. Wyatt and Quin especially seem to have a special bond, and when we were having them say goodbye at the end of the evening, Wyatt pulled Quin in for a head bonk, and then slobbered on her nose to give her a kiss; it was so sweet!

This video is long, but it's a slideshow (and a few snippets of video) from the whole day!

When we got home, we set out Santa's milk and cookies under the tree, and even a carrot for his reindeer!

Merry Christmas!

I can't believe I forgot to post the boys' "Merry Christmas" message from playing in the snow Christmas Eve morning! So here it is, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Snow

What a magical surprise to wake up Christmas Eve morning to find a beautiful blanket of white snow! We really enjoyed playing in it, and it was Wyatt's first time out in the snow. I bundled him up up with slick pants and a size-too-big coat over his footie pajamas so he would stay warm and dry, and let him ride around in the sled and watch the boys help scoop the driveway. He seemed puzzled and confused at first, but by the end of his sled rid he was making some happy noises, and when Clayton stopped (it was hard to pull!) He grunted and leaned forward, as if to say "lets go!" This mommy's heart is so full!

Making a Snow Angel

Mommy pulling him in the sled

Clayton trying to pull, it was hard!

Taste-testing the snow

They are perfect!