Good Grief!

I think I'm going to start a new thing on my blog where I title any event that makes me just want to shake my head Good Grief! We seem to be having many more of those events as we get deeper and deeper into toddlerhood. This was one of those moments last night. I started the bath water and went into Jack's room to get it set up for bed. When I came back two seconds later, this is what I found. Good grief!

Redneck Christmas Parade

I'm sure you can figure out why I am calling the College Grove Christmas Parade by a new name! Check out the first two photos. :-)

Yes, those are antlers!

John should have taken his tractor!

Waving to Santa

Santa doesn't use a sleigh in College Grove!

Night Night, Christmas Lights

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Seaton house. We did not intend to put a tree up this year because of our concern that Jack would find the low hanging ornaments too tempting, but somebody changed our mind. After seeing how Jack enjoys seeing his Grandma's Christmas tree and his insistence on pointing out every house decorated with lights, Ellie and I decided to put our Christmas tree up while he was napping. We will never forget Jack's delight upon discovering a Christmas tree in his very own living room.

When Jack first saw the tree he said, "Grandma." We were reminded again that his grandmother is associated with many of the things that make Jack happy. Then he walked over to get a closer look. 

Ellie has always loved Christmas ornaments. Her students at school often gave them to her and the last couple of years she has collected some that Jack and Luke would love. Many of those play music or talk. Those ornaments are now hanging on the lowest branches where Jack can see them.   

It didn't take Jack long to find this bike ornament. Bikes are one of Jack's favorite things right now. That ornament was added to the tree when Ellie gave me a new road bike for Christmas a few years ago.

It's a tradition in Kathy's family that she buys her kids an ornament every year. We've adopted that tradition in our home too. Jack enjoyed opening his first gift of the year, and the train inside the package brought him delight too. Ellie and I had to laugh as Jack struggled with the wrapping paper. He ran to the kitchen and came back with a baby fork, apparently the perfect tool to help with stubborn wrapping paper.

Ellie couldn't resist getting Jack TWO ornaments this year. She wanted to remember Jack's love of trains, reading, and Curious George this year. 

Luke wasn't left out. Pooh's first year ornament is Luke's first one on the tree. 

This expression leaves no doubt in our minds that the Seaton house will always have a Christmas tree at this time of the year and that this truly is the most magical time of year. And if that expression didn't say it all, Jack yelling "Night night, Christmas lights" as he went to bed last night certainly would. 

Look Who's One Month Old!

Today Luke is one month old. His first month was one of transition for all of us. I think it was more of a shock for me to become a parent of two children than it was becoming a parent for the first time. Luckily, Luke spent most of the first month asleep! 

Before writing this post, I looked back and read Jack's one month post. I was wondering if Jack was really smiling in that post. There is absolutely no question that Luke is smiling. He figured out that trick that tugs at his mother's heart on Thursday and uses it often. 

Luke is starting to sleep a little better at night. I am pretty much guaranteed a wake-up call between 2:00 and 3:00. We do our business, and Luke settles in until around 5:30 or 6:00. I cannot wait until he sleeps through the night. It's sure to be cause for celebration in this house. 

I can't share Luke's weight and length with you since Luke doesn't visit the doctor until he is two months old, but I am betting he is around 9 or 9 1/2 pounds already. I've been making fun of his double chin lately. I tell him it matches Mommy's! 

I'm looking forward to sharing our weekend with you. We had a terrific one! I hope to post about Christmas lights at our house, our first College Grove Redneck Parade, and taking the boys to see Santa in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!

Christmas is Coming

I saw the cutest picture on Facebook last night. I tried to copy it, but it turns out there is a reason why people pay professional photographers to take their baby's picture. This was my best attempt. I love it because I love the baby in the picture, but it looks absolutely nothing like the inspiration photograph. Oh well.

Our other little guy is certainly excited about the coming holiday. I hear a constant chant of, "Christmas lights," every time we get in the car. He was so busy playing with Christmas decorations at Grandma's house yesterday that he never got out his toys. And, finding where Buddy, our elf on the shelf, has hidden has become a favorite activity every morning. This Christmas is so much more exciting than any other I've ever experienced because I'm seeing it through the eyes of an excited child. Now if only I could get in mood for Christmas shopping...