Happy Birthday, Patrick! Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Last week, January 20, was Jackson and Patrick's first birthday and Monday was their one year check.

Patrick is 19 lbs. 2 oz. and can stand on his own. He's taken a few steps, but is still a much faster crawler. He has become much more smilely in the last month or so. He eats and eats and eats and likes to beg at the feet of anyone with food. He is still happy to steal toys from Jackson and quickly scoot a 180 on his bottom to defend himself from his brother. He is VERY loud--all Mach through and through. Happy Birthday, little boy! Your dad and I love you so much and we are so happy you've been in our life the last year!

Jackson is one ounce smaller than his twin and both are in the 10th percentile in weight and height--Deaver in that aspect. Jackson doesn't like strangers much, but loves music, always bouncing to the beat. His little face lights up as soon as he even sees a ball. He knows a ball equals playtime! Jackson giggles often at Dominic's games and peek-a-boo. He's become quite the climber. He climbs the stairs proficiently and yesterday toppled right into the tub, unassisted (luckily there was no water in the tub and I was right around the corner). He's recently begun to say "Mama" and I'm fairly certain he associates it with me. Jackson, you are such a sweet little one and Daddy and I love you very, very much! Thank you for all the happiness you have brought us the past year!

Reaching Milestones

In the recent weeks D has given up his afternoon nap. I'm having a pretty hard time with this. Goodbye to my two hour break. Goodbye to silence to pay the bills, read a book or take my own nap. I figure it will be years before I get that time back. I'll have to try to introduce "rest" time in its place.

Christmas, Part I

Our Christmas, like most families in the area, was not exactly as planned. It was wonderful, though. Dominic really, really loved opening presents. There is one wrapped present left in our house (for a friend we haven't been able to get together with, still and Dominic has been slowly ripping away little bits of wrapping paper while I'm not looking--although he is quite happy to tell his brothers not to.

The boys received way too many wonderful gifts! I've been purging our old toys to make room for the new. Uncle Jake and Aunt Jena bought a ball popper--a hit with all the boys.

Don't remember who's foot this was :) but I thought Jackson just had such a sweet little look on his face.

Another fun toy from G and G Deaver. Patrick hasn't quite been convinced about the awesomeness of this toy.

On to day 3 at the Deaver home. We were supposed to be at Luke's parents for 1 night and ended up staying 4, due to the weather. Dominic was so excited to go outside and play in the snow.

Susie and I were desperate to get out of the house. -5 degree windchills could not keep us inside any longer!

Grandma took D out sledding. Since then, he's been laying down on the floor and making angels.

Two days after Christmas, we were finally able to pack up and head to the Eastern part of the state for some belated festivites with my family. All five of us were in our Sunday best-a perfect chance for a family picture. Dominic would not have it, though. This picture illustrates his typical two year old defiant side.

More Christmas Pictures to come...

Snow Man

Ok, I just really wanted to share this, because I thought it was so stinkin' cute. The boys' babysitter brings her granddaughter with her (who is almost exactly the same age as Dominic). They have "school" most mornings. Yesterday at school, Dominic made this snowman. He glued it together all by himself. The orange on his face is the carrot, he said. The scribbles below are "buntas" and the orange scribble at the bottom? A sandwich, of course!

Robin Hood

The boys seem to have formed some alliances. Well, I should say, Dominic and Jackson have formed an alliance against Patrick. It was only about a month ago that Dominic finally realized they were two seperate babies with two seperate names. Now, he apparently has a favorite. I've watched him take toys more than once today from Patrick and give them to Jackson. He's frequently picking on Patrick-laying on his, pushing him down. I've just realized that he rarely does these things to Jackson. Luke talks about how when he was a kid, he was always protecting youngest brother, Ben from middle brother, Jake. Must be in the genes.

Go Fly a Kite

Dominic has been big into kites recently. The past few days he's been carrying around a makeshift kite (various pieces of toys put together). Today, while eating chocolate chip pancakes, he opened his mouth to show his half eaten food and exclaimed "Look mom, a kite." Yeah, there's a kite in your mouth, I played along. Soon, he picked up another piece of pancake with his fork and said "Look, mom, another kite." Sure enough, it was in the shape of a diamond, just like a kite.