Last of the Christmas morning pictures

Caleigh really liked her glitter glue sticks. Really. She made some wonderful creations, usually making thick globs flow into neat little clumps. Sometimes she would spread them out with a popsicle stick.

Zach didn't like this hat so this is the only picture we got that he isn't tearing it off already. Here he is beside Caleigh's new art supplies container. It fits perfectly beside 'her' computer desk in the basement. She loves having her own space -- a place to play with little things too dangerous for Zach and puzzles that Zach likes to rip apart.

Zach enjoyed (pretending with) the new soaps...even though they were Aunt Ciera's!

Christmas morning

Logan and Ciera joined us for a big Christmas morning breakfast followed by exchanging gifts. They came in their PJs, which was a nice touch so we all felt nice and cozy.

Notice Zach's change of PJs....;-/ But he's still smiling! Poor guy...

He was standing and taking a step or two at this time, but not very steady or sure of himself.

Update from current life (1/29/09): It's so fun to watch Caleigh run over to Zachary and give him a hug and kiss. She often imparts her wisdom (from her years of experience) to sincerely tell him things like "Zach, don't use your finger to poke your eye because that will hurt you - okay?" He nods like a good little brother, soaking up her wisdom.

Veggie tales are great, but like all media/entertainment one should watch/listen to what you feed your children at least once. Caleigh has started calling Mama "Master Lady" which is cute except in public it's kind of embarrassing, like I'm training her to be subservient. REALLY she is making a joke calling me "Master Larry" like Larry the Cucumber when he is Larry Boy. Anyway...if I hadn't watched/listened to that episode I may not have ever understood her 'joke.'

I'm trying to be more focused on what goes into their little minds/hearts. Sure, I'd like to listen to my country music or some good talk radio especially in the car. But kids are little sponges and it's clear with Caleigh what goes into her ears comes out her mouth. Much is innocuous -- "92.5 WMZQ" but other things are not "bombings in Israel" or "cheating on me." WOW. So, we've only been listening to her Cedermont Kids, etc. praise & worship CDs. She likes to sing along at the time and will often sing the words as she goes about her day. The word of God is a much better mind filler than anything I tune in/out of. And I find myself singing along and repeating the words of scripture throughout my day too. Hmmm....

Turning the corner

Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. Part of the family hanging out in the living room...another close up of Caleigh.

SICK! We were all so tired from the long night of Zach being sick (and looking a sight, oh my!). Zach cheered up with the new load of blocks.

Kids in front of the tree and other pics.

Hello Great grandma and Great grandpa! Beautiful couple.

Zach got a cute book!

Wonder what they are thinking, there amongst the presents...

More Christmas Eve

All dressed up and SO EXCITED! Standing guard of the presents. Look at those teeth on Zachary! Still just the two bottom ones at this point (so you're not missing any from the picture angle ;-)

I'm so excited I'm going to lift up my dress and squish the front into a little ball!

"Yes, I love my brother, Mama. I am being very good to him."

Caleigh with her cousins (Lori's cousin's daughers).

Christmas Eve in Floyd

Both kids LOVED the shrimp at Great-grandma and Great-grandpa's house. The family meets in the afternoon to bring in the presents for under the tree, eat and fellowship. The shrimp only comes out after we all go to the Baptist church for the Christmas Eve service. It's so good to all be together for worship that one night a year.

Then back to the Greats for more food (shrimp!), maybe a game, and opening gifts to each other in the living room (we somehow all fit in there). Fun time!

Unfortunately there are more pictures of loving family feeding Zach all kinds of things (crab dip, ham chunks, crackers, cheese ball...), which (brace yourselves) ALL came back up overnight as he was the first in the family to 'fall' into a really yucky GI bug. Poor guy. But such a trooper as he would throw up all over us/himself/sheets/whatever was in the vicinity and the smile. Dan and Kenneth and a couple others managed to avoid getting sick, but then they had to take care of the rest of us. Poor guys! ;-)

Back to happier news! Caleigh and Zach really got into tearing into their gifts and tried to remember to let Mama and Daddy see who things were from and go and thank them. They are enjoying their games, book, monkey, tiles, art supplies, etc. Thank you everyone!

Christmas with the Blackwells

Let's see...Kenneth and Kathy have seven grandkids. They all were in attendance at this year's Christmas gathering. We spread out in the new room, ate pizza (it's a tradition!), and opened presents (mostly the kids). Zach and Krey enjoyed Sage's music table. She (at 4 months) didn't have a lot of objections. Caleigh and Mack are similar in stature and always taking stock of the other.

Notice plaid is the predominant men's color.

Misc. shots in Floyd

The Greats, Grandma and Papa with the kids.

Caleigh loves to eat at the bar, especially when it's Great-grandma's desserts on her plate.
Look at Caleigh's muff! ;-) She absolutely loves going to feed the cows with Papa. She can tell you all about what Papa does on and off the tractor -- very serious about it too. It's serious business you know. The big excitement this day was some horses had gotten into Papa's field with the cows. They were retrieved by their owner, but Caleigh was on the look out for them the next time out -- just in case.

Styling

Dec. 21 -- getting ready for church at Grandma's and Papa's house.

Rehearsal dinner -- yum!

We convened at the Pine Tavern after the church rehearsal and enjoyed family and friends over a yummy meal.

That's Mom beside Logan beside Ciera and Kenneth looking at a 'contract' the junior groomsman submitted to Logan and Ciera to preserve his fishing rights to Logan after they are married. A cute idea as they really like spending the afternoon hanging out by the river.

The new Boyds -- rehearsal

My little brother Logan (okay...he's like 6'2") married Ciera on 12/20/08. They invited Caleigh to be a flower girl. She got to ride in a wagon (which they gifted to us!!), wear a beautiful dress and red cowboy boots. Yee haw!

She took her role very seriously. Seemingly enjoying watching the action from the front row while eating animal crackers. What's not to like!?

She would have liked to bring Zach along with her in the wagon, but alas there wasn't enough room.

Blowing bubbles

It was COLD so we took the pictures through the glass. She was very happy to get out of the house and play a bit. Then back and warm inside to do her art -- cutting, gluing, coloring. Busy girl!

Dan took these pictures trying to capture how much she looked like a Jawa (a Star Wars character, for those of you without his background) wearing her Grandma's sweatshirt. He was quite excited.

One year old -- Zachary Schantz

Our precious son. A jolly lad. Love that dimple! Walking but not very far or fast. But when he does take those steps, it's with a huge grin, little happy noises, and his arms outstretched/flapping. Starting to assert himself more with squeals, pointing, grunts, and grabbing. He likes to entertain -- knee bouncing to a beat with a head sway worthy of comparison to Stevie Wonder, show you a ball but then bring it back close when you try to take it (nope, just showing ya...not giving it away), crawling madly to the steps but not going up until you see his grinning face and head shaking 'no' and then he bolts giggling all the way. He likes best what Caleigh has in her hand at the moment. Don't know when she'll learn that if she just gives it to him (one method) he'll soon forget about it and she can have it back. Very proud of himself when he figures something out -- getting the door open on the cash register, putting a puzzle piece in the right spot, that pressing that one button on the phone makes it ring. So much to learn! And he is so different than our baby boy we brought home from the hospital, but miraculously and thankfully quite the same too. He loves his sister...and Mama and Daddy. He's a hugger -- wrap both arms around your neck and squeeze with his head on your shoulder hugger. He drapes himself over the corner of the crib closest to the door and 'talks' until someone comes and gets him from nap/night -- all the better to be heard. Balloons are a newfound joy. He likes to rub his head against soft things. He likes to rub oatmeal in his hair...he actually has some hair now -- mostly blondish brown with some curls in the back. When he looks out the kitchen window toward our neighbors, he waves and throws kisses whether they are there to see or not. He is drawn to animals. His best animal noises are the cow and sheep/goat (sound the same -- staccato 'ah' sound).

At 13 months (as I forgot to make his appointment until two days before his birthday) he was 22 lbs 11 oz (50%) and 31 1/2" (80%) with a 19" head (I think it's on the higher end of the %'s but she didn't say.... ;-).