You're my best friend

Jonah has taken to asking me if I'll be his best friend.  No, I tell him, I'm your Mommy!  So much better than a best friend!  I hope he comes to understand that.  I'm pretty lucky to have that distinction, which no one else can claim.

The Wedding

Jonah and Elliott had their very own babysitter during the wedding ceremony and reception.  The caregiver, arranged through the hotel, was wonderful, although we had our reservations.  Admittedly, it wasn't until a few minutes prior to her arrival that (lacking the foresight to do a background check) Drew thought it prudent to at least run a quick google search.  Later, we learned that everyone at the hotel seemed to know her and reported how well-behaved the boys were.  Still, I did check up on them at dinner, and again for bedtime.  I felt a little sheepish being that nosy parent, but breastfeeding was a good excuse to be there for good-night kisses and prayers!  I needn't have worried.  She was so thoughtful, she even gave Elliott a sponge bath instead of putting him in the tub.

The Hotel

I'm not sure what Jonah expected after describing the hotel as a building with lots of bedrooms for everyone in the family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.), but he loved it.  (It helped that the hotel was yellow.)  He loved exploring the game room, lounge, pool, ice skating rink, tower, etc. until he owned the place and would show us how to get around.

Jonah's first ice skating attempt went about as can be expected.  Holding onto a chair, with Mommy holding both him and the chair to keep both from flying, he made it a couple steps before telling me he was all done.  We had a lot of fun riding the chair around the ice, and he eventually gave ice skating another try, holding both my and PopPop's hands, while proudly shouting "I'm doing it!" to his adoring spectator (Grandmama) as if he had mastered the sport.

Elliott wasn't a big fan of the pool, but wasn't quite as fussy as I had feared.  (He has been screaming at bath time for a while now, to the point where we didn't take a bath for a couple weeks!)  As long as he could hold his new Minions ball (from Aunt Pamela) he was content - though not exactly happy about the whole thing.  Jonah, on the other hand, bravely swam with a noodle "all by himself" with such surety he would be across the pool on his own before I noticed!  Good thing there were two of us to chase the two boys, and Aunt Pamela and Uncle Ryan for back up!

Elliott's First REAL Steps

We're hustling to put on coats and get out the door, and Elliott decided it was time to bravely venture out and take a couple steps on his own!  Previously, it took a lot of cajoling, distracting, and otherwise tricking him into continuing to walk after letting go (a trick I've seen parents do with teaching a child to ride a bike.)  He's been a little less willing than Jonah had been to use the corn popper or another push toy as a substitute for firm support - although a hammer in his hand is almost as good.  So it was a welcome change to see his little head decide to let go and walk from me to Daddy!

We Are Family!

Jonah LOVES the "We Are Family" song!  Not that he knows or has even heard the original.  I once started singing, "We are family.  I have all my boys with me!".  He took a liking, and not knowing any more of the lyrics, I started making up additional lines to the chorus.  Now Jonah helps invent lines, so our song goes something like this:

"We are family!  I have both my boys with me!
We are family!  Jonah is wearing his PJs!
We are family!  Elliott is getting his diaper changed!
We are family!  Daddy is home from work!
We are family!  Mommy loves all her boys!"

The One with the Fire Truck

Jonah has been getting better at describing things, so rather than "that one" we get complex, if vague descriptions... seemingly always beginning with "the one with...":

"the one with the fire engine" = children's museum we visited over summer vacation
"the one with red and green and blue balls" = ball pit
"the one with the train that goes [hand motions here]" = mindscope race cars
"the one with the red man and the blue man and the green man" = avengers

Christmas Mass

Mema and PopPop arrived early to celebrate Christmas with us!  While I was helping unload hundred of presents from the van, Elliott crawled towards the door.  Blocked by Jonah and a pile of gifts, he started crying inconsolably.  I worried he was hurt (run over by Jonah, most likely), but when that wasn't the case, I couldn't figure out if he had become hungry, tired, frustrated, needed a diaper, etc. As I was at my wits' end, Elliott spotted PopPop again and was completely happy to be swept away in his arms!  He knew exactly what who he wanted.

I pointed out baby Jesus lying in the manger in the church's creche.  Jonah pointed and exclaimed, "He came out of her belly button!"  At least I'm spared the question about how babies get out of their Mommy's tummy...

Favorite gifts from Santa were:
Elliott - a wooden hammer (which he holds and looks like Thor while pushing down the pegs on his pounding bench with his thumb)
Jonah - monster trucks

Grandpa, Aunt Ashley, Uncle Leon and Uncle Kevin also joined us after Mass for gifts, dinner and a little chaos.  We missed you, Aunt Lindsay!  Feel better soon!

We also Skyped with Cailin and Declan, which was fun for the kids to show off all their new toys.  Jonah was a bit too worked up and spent the entire call jumping and doing flips in the living room.  It's amazing to watch him going wild, and then later when asked a question, learn that he had been listening and watching everything.

Merry Christmas!

And he's off!

Elliott did it!  He got up on all fours and crawled forward!  So far he had only nudged slowly backwards by repeatedly pushing up into cobra.  He never quite mastered an intentional scoot or army crawl.  I guess he wanted to master the proper form.  It is so amazing to watch the concentration as he thinks about moving each arm and leg.  And you can tell he's reached his destination by the plop down to his tummy, as if to say, "I have arrived!"  He's so proud, and so am I!

Jonah on where we live

Dad: Jonah, do you know what state we live in?

Jonah: The blue one!

(He was referring to the map painted on the pavement at the playground, but oh, so true!)

Puffs

Elliott enjoyed some sweet potato puffs for dinner tonight!  First non-liquefied food!  He appeared to like the puffs, and had a good time smacking the tray until they all stuck to his hands.  Yet, he never associated picking up the puffs with moving them to his mouth for consumption.  Maybe next time.