Parker: 5 Months

The 5th month was a big one for Parker.  He started eating cereal, love it from the start!

He went for his 4 month check up, again a month behind and weighed 19 pounds 6 oz.

Several weeks later Parker had a fever for a week.  I took him to the doctor to make sure it was nothing more than a virus he was fighting; when the doctor asked how much he weighted, I told him and his response was "so he's the size of a 9 month old."  He is a big boy just like the other boys were.

Parker also learned to roll over this month!

Christmas 2012

(Make sure to keep scrolling down to catch up on the last few months)

To document Christmas 2012 I'll just give you a picture post with some commentary.

The Monday after Thanksgiving we went to Macy's to Santa Land.  Our thoughts were that we'd go ahead and go and beat the Christmas crowd.  We were right, we practically had all of Santa Land to ourselves!

Our first stop were the window displays outside of Macy's.

 Entering Santa Land (top floor of Macy's)

 Having a chat with Santa... Parker's first visit.

A week or so later we decorated our tree.  As soon as it was finished Lillie wanted to lay under it to look up at the lights.  Freddy T. did this as a child every Christmas.  It was sweet that Lillie wanted to do it not knowing her daddy loved it too.

 Our annual picture in front of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

 The Sunday before Christmas the kids sang a few Christmas songs on stage at church.  That morning I allowed extra time once we were ready to get a picture of the kids in front of the tree.  I think I took 60 pictures that morning, LOTS of out takes!  These were about as good as it got.

 Singing at church

 We made a fire place this year, but it was simple compared to years past.  

 These are a few pictures from the evening when "Santa" came.  I have 2 funny stories to share about that evening.  Since we were traveling to TN for Christmas we did our little family Christmas the Sunday before we left.  I told the kids that morning on our way home from church that Santa might come that evening and Jack said "Oh you mean Daddy is going to take us out side and tell us to look for reindeer and while we are out you'll put our presents out.  That's what we did last year."  So I said, "we'll then yes, that's what you are going to do again tonight!"  Jack knows the truth about Santa, Lillie and Elliott don't.  

The day we planned for Santa to come Jack had to go to a birthday party in Union Square that afternoon.  I got a baby sitter to come stay with Elliott, Lillie and Parker so I could take him.  That morning at church I asked the babysitter if she could come early so I could put the dollhouse together. While I was in the bedroom working and the babysitter was doing something with Parker Lillie came and slightly opened our bedroom door (it doesn't have a lock).  She didn't open it much and I quickly got her away from the door and shut it.  Several minutes later I had to feed Parker and she came up to me and asked me why I was building a house in my bedroom.  I did my best to change the subject, it seemed to work.  Later that night after Santa came Freddy T. said "Everyone show me what Santa brought you and Lillie instantly burst into tears.  She said "Santa didn't bring me anything."  Freddy T. said "yes he did, look at that fun, new dollhouse!"  Lillie through her tears said "Santa didn't bring me that... Mommy did!"  Terrible isn't it?  It's funny, but sad.  Poor girl.  

 The boys enjoying their Bat Cave and Bat Jail

 Lillie checking out her dollhouse.

Freddy T.'s mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve.

Gran and Gramps with the grandkids.

 3 sweet boys

Jack, Parker, Elliott

 My brother and sister with my Mom

Sarah, Susan, Mom, James

 Nay Nay and Pa with the kids and grandkids

Freddy T.'s sisters and their husbands

Scott and Diana, Susan and Freddy T., Kristi and Bubba

Pap with Elliott, Lillie, Jack and Parker

Merry Christmas from the Wyatts

This is probably more like it!

Parker: 4 Months

(December 21, 2012)

Parker was in TN when he turned 4 months.  I forgot to take a picture so this was a week or so late after we got back home.  

During this month he had his first Thanksgiving and enjoyed all of our Christmas festivities.  He went for his 2 month check-up while he was 3 months because his original appointment was the day the hurricane hit and the Dr. office closed.  He was already over 16 lbs.  So far he seems to be on the same track, growth wise, as Jack was.  Parker is smiling all the time and laughs often.  He thinks his brothers and sisters are funny.  He's still eating well, but becoming easily distracted... and there are a lot of things to distract him around here!

He uses his paci, but more times than not he has one or more fingers in his mouth.  Still not sure if he'll end up being a finger sucker or just stick to the paci.

Happy 6th Birthday Jack!

(December 24, 2012)

This year Jack really wanted a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.  At one time we talked about taking a few friends here in NYC with us to the one in Brooklyn, but after a birthday party there in early December we quickly decided that was not going to be a good idea.  It was insane there!  We compromised and agreed to have a family party at Chuck E. Cheese in TN, while we were there for Christmas, and take a few friends with us to the movies here instead.

 The Monday before Jack's birthday we picked up his friends from school came home for about an hour then went to the movies to see "Wreck It Ralph."  While we were at our apartment I made them all sit around the table and do their homework... pretty exciting party huh?

Waiting for the movie to start.

 Birthday Boy!

Jack requested donuts instead of cupcakes for his birthday celebration with his class.

I know some of our family has pictures from Chuck E. Cheese, but I didn't take one.

  Since we had been celebrating for a week by the time Jack's birthday came around we didn't do too much on that actual day.  One of the biggest things Jack really wanted for his birthday was a piñata.  Since we are at Freddy T.'s aunt and uncle's house on Christmas Eve we had arranged with them to have a piñata at their house that night for the kids in the family to enjoy.  They were gracious to take care of all the details and they didn't disappoint.  We arrived to find a huge piñata hanging by rope and pulley from the beams in their living room!  Everyone had a chance to hit it and in the end Jack got the bat and went to town beating that thing till it busted open.  

Jack it is an honor to be your parents.  You have a true love for life and fully enjoy all aspects of it.  You are determined and work hard at all you do.  We are very proud of you and love you very much.

Happy 4th Birthday Lillie and Elliott

(November 7, 2012)

A week after Hurricane Sandy hit Lillie and Elliott had their 4th birthday! (I thought I had already blogged about this).  The timing was kind of crazy since we had only been back home from being displaced for 2 days.  

We celebrated first thing with powdered donuts and candles before school!

Of course we had cupcakes at school to celebrate with their class. 

 Abigail, Lillie, Emma

 Elliott and Asher

 After school we hopped in a cab and headed up to FAO Schwarz to do a little birthday shopping. 

 Posing with the toy soldier

I had no idea what Lillie would want, but the main reason we went to FAO Schwarz was because Elliott had his mind on getting a Dalmatian stuffed animal.  Addison, Chad and Stephanie Monroe's, little girl had one and Elliott was attached to it while we were with them during aftermath of the storm. This was the closest thing I could find to the one she had.  He LOVES this dog.  His name is Mario.

 Lillie came away with Princess Belle.

 You can't visit this toy store with out a quick run on the "Big" piano.  Elliott would start at one end and run and slide across the keys.  

It started snowing while we were there, kind of neat. 

They had a fun birthday.  It wasn't your normal celebration, kind of winged it this year, but one that we'll always remember.  Because of the storm the mail was all messed up.  They slowly received birthday cards and gifts from family over the course of the following week.

Best gift they received was the elevator began working again on their birthday... no more climbing 14 flights of stairs!

Lillie and Elliott- We are so proud of the two of you.  You are each special and unique and bring so much joy and laughter to our lives. 

Thanksgiving 2012

(November 22, 2012)

I need to do a lot of catching up!  

This year on Thanksgiving we stayed home instead of going to the parade.  We enjoyed watching it on TV and taking it easy that morning.  We cooked a huge meal and had friends over most of the day.  We had lunch at 1 pm, watched Polar Express, ate left overs and then, after the kids went to bed, watched Christmas Vacation.  It was a great, laid back day.  We have so much to be thankful for!

This is the crew that joined us for lunch.  

Evan, Joshie, Derek, Freddy T. Parker, Susan

Kim, Elliott, Greg, Jack, Sarah, Lillie, Chris, Roberta