Pennsylvania Trip 2010: Random Photos

Here's the last of my Pennsylvania recaps. Some photos that I took throughout the trip that didn't fit into the other posts ... most are of Elijah (since Kristen criticized that I wasn't taking enough pictures of him).

Elijah looking cute

Allen in a too-big hat

 

The biggest meatloaf I've ever seen

Elijah eating cake

Elijah chilling out in his jumper

xoxo,
AHC

Pennsylvania Trip 2010: Playing in the Snow

It snowed Thursday, so we bundled up the boys and Brian took them in the back yard to sled. They had a great time until they sledded right into the creek at the bottom of the hill. That was the end of playing in the snow. 

Here are some photo highlights. I think they speak for themselves ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo,
AHC

Pennsylvania Trip 2010: Baby Love Wednesday

Wednesday was one of two days to visit friends. And it was a day of babies! First up was lunch with Kathie and her little loves:

Connor

 

Claire

 

Allen holding Claire (he informed Kathie, "I like your babies.")

 

Next we were off to see Jenn and Amy. We hadn't seen either of them in over a year, so we were very very excited. Amy took a liking to Brian ...

 

Isn't she gorgeous?

We ended the day at Tim and Annie's, where we ate delicious food and watched Shrek by the fire. Here I am with the boys ...

 

And here's Elijah jumping around naked on the couch ...

It was a great day. Nothing like spending time with good friends (even if it wasn't nearly long enough).

xoxo,

AHC

Pennsylvania Trip 2010: Highlights so far

As  is the case with most visits of which Owen is involved, he is one of the highlights. The boy is as charming as ever now that he can speak in words that we can (sometimes) understand. And for some reason he loves his Aunt "Eggy." And he loves for Aunt Eggy to take "Owen picture." So I did. And I shot some video, too.

(Owen decided Aunt Eggy needed to see his Yo Gabba Gabba Brobee underwear)

Allen and Owen are getting along much better than their last visit together, though there has still been some clashing and competition. They have been virtually inseparable since our arrival. It's really very very sweet.

Yesterday afternoon was Stephanie's surprise baby shower (yes, we did surprise her). She got lots of nice stuff, and so did Owen and Elijah (and even Allen).

I'm still here ...

I apologize for being so remiss in my posting of late. Things have been very hectic, and my brain is kind of on overload. But, the kid is still doing tons of hilarious and bizarre and ridiculous things. So I figure I need to get back to posting so I can share them all with you.

As many of you may know, McDonald's recently had Ice Age 3 toys in their Happy Meals. Allen got the squirrel with the nut with me, and then he got it again with Nana a couple days later. As soon as Nana got the Happy Meal, Allen began demanding the toy. So she give him the squirrel. In reply, Allen began yelling, "Give me the nut! Give me the nut!" Poor Nana had no idea what he was talking about, since she's never seen the Ice Age movies and had no idea that he had the toy at home already ... in any case, it made for an amusing story.

He rediscovered the squirrel and his nut this evening, and kept shooting the nut across the house (and down the stairs). The first few times, he would launch the nut, and then say, "I'm sorry," to the squirrel (for losing his nut, I suppose).

Here's a cute picture of him and the squirrel ...

We had just gotten home from the meeting, where Allen was a pretty good boy until the very end. He started screaming, "DON'T CHANGE MY DIAPAH!" Unfortunately, it was so stinky that Mommy didn't have much choice ...

Daddy had a talk tonight. He did a wonderful job. Allen and I listened (and timed) him while he practiced before the meeting. Each time Daddy would introduce a scripture (by saying "turn with me," or let's look at") Allen would say, "OK, OK." Very cute.

Not at all related, but still quite adorable, are the following pictures I discovered when uploading the pictures of Allen that I took tonight. Aubrey took these while I was at Market last week.

Here's my precious nephew Elijah sleeping against his MomMom.

And here he is awake, wearing the hat that his Mommy got at the Beaufort Water Festival.

A close-up of the hat she bought. She got one for Owen too. This great vendor was at the Craft Show embroidering custom-making hats for kiddos. How cool!

Aubrey is a budding photographer. She has the eye for great photos. And the talent for taking self-portraits (I do not have this talent. I can never hold the camera just right). I love this picture of her and Allen goofing around at our house!

They're definitely related!

So much more to share with you ... but since it's after midnight, I think I'll take a break to sleep, and finish up this weekend.

xoxo,

My new nephew

I have a new nephew. My born-to-birth-babies sister-in-law brought this gorgeous boy into the world late last evening. I won't go into the whole story, but let's just say that less than two hours after her water broke, he was in her arms; and she only pushed four times; and two of those times was in the car on the way to the hospital (where her midwife was waiting); and she delivered him in the hallway of the ER with about 15 nurses and doctors staring at her in awe. Her midwife arrived afterwards, and said, "Wow, that was the easiest baby I've ever delivered!" OK, so that was pretty much the whole story.

Without further ado, I introduce you to Elijah Collin Craig Moyer. Born 6 pounds, 11 ounces, 20 inches long, at around 10:45, March 29, 2009.

Congratulations to Steph & Collin. He's beautiful and sweet, and not a preemee (finally, Steph!). Stephanie, you truly amaze me with your ability to get your babies out with no drugs, and apparently with no medical assistance either. We love you, miss you, and can't wait to meet that little guy. Give him skillions of kisses from his Aunt Leggy, Uncle Briany, and Cousin Allen!

xoxo,

Ode to Owen

So, as most of you know, Owen is our nephew (son of Stephanie and Collin; brother of Aubrey). You may remember that Owen was born about three weeks early and was a pretty sickly little newborn. He had to wear a heart monitor at all times; had some reflux and apnea problems; and for awhile we were all silently very worried about the little guy. Well, that was before he started eating solid food.

Here's a shot of Owen when he was a newbie:

And this is the kiddo now:

And this is why he look so healthy:

This child is huge now (I mean that in a good way, of course). He's about 9 months younger than Allen, and he weighs 3 pound more than him (and is quite a bit shorter too). He's adorable though. So happy all the time, and such a good eater. Now that he's walking, I'm sure he'll slim down some more too.

But I digress. Back to his cuteness. I was so pleasantly surprised to find that Owen loved his Aunt Leggy (that's me, for those of you who don't know my nickname). Every time I came into the room, he ran towards me and body-slammed me until I picked him up. Or he'd climb over people to reach me on the sofa. His whole face lit up. You have to understand that until I had Allen, I really wasn't a kid person. Kids didn't like me ... they sensed my fear and just cried when I held them. So, Owen is the first kid besides my own who actually liked me! I was so excited.

But then we started to notice a pattern. Every single time I held him, Owen managed to ... um ... well, he copped a feel. He grabbed my boobs. Don't scoff ... if it had been once or twice out of all the times I held him over the week we were there, I would have said, "Coincidence!" But every time he caught sight of me, he wanted me to hold him. And every time I held him, his hands managed to find my boobies. No joke! Oh well, at least he was happy to see me, right?

Anywho ... being that Owen is only about 16 months old, he doesn't really talk a whole lot yet (he says a few words that Mom and Dad understand, but not those of us who only see him every few months). In general, he tends to communicate in a series of grunts and screams (like even when he calls his dad, it comes out "DAAA"). And in sign language that his Mommy taught him. I wish wish wish that I could have caught it on video, but at least I have some stills I can share with you. And let me tell you that if this kid wanted a car and signed the word "please" to me, I'd probably give it to him. It literally makes your heart melt!

"Please"

"Thank you"

Telling us where Jehovah lives (technically not sign language as in ASL, but still adorable)

And, if you say to him, "Owen, do you need a spanking?" He puts his hand to his chest and gasps. It's hilarious.

Owen, baby, Aunt Leggy and Uncle Brian miss you and send you tons of kisses. And we miss and love you too, Collin, Steph, Aubrey, Missy, Tim, Annie, and Pam.

xoxo,