Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone! We didn't get Christmas cards out this year so here is our virtual card, with extra pictures to look at!

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It has been a crazy and busy and wonderful year around here. The girls have grown so much and are loving preschool. I can't get over the change in just one year!! Colt is now one year old and heading out of the baby stage. He's wanting to be independent in most things and having fun trying to keep up with his sisters. And with baby number 4 on the way we are trying to figure out how it will all work out. We haven't exactly figured anything out but we know it will all work out and we are grateful for another little baby to have in our family. We all enjoyed lots of time with both the Psillos and Williams' families this year thanks to many visits from family, to family, and to Austin. It has been a great year and we have been so blessed as a family to have this time to spend and enjoy together. We are especially grateful for our Savior's birth and the sacrifices made on our behalf so we can have that chance to live with him again together as a family. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas wherever you are right now!

Sweet smiles.

Now the silly smiles!

Every time I look at these faces I know I have received the greatest blessings.

We love you, Merry Christmas!

Little Buddy at One

Colt is one already. I think it really is true that time goes by faster each year. I feel it every day now when I can't even find time to come on here and record the things going on like I would like to, never mind everything else on my to do list that goes unfinished each day. So we're busy around here but extremely blessed. I can't believe I have three wonderful, fun, loving, and caring kids that keep me going non stop, and another on the way! I just wanted to write down some things about Colt at age 1 to remember.

Well I can now see the innate differences between girls and boys. Colt although he is such a good boy most of the time he has that natural boy in him that is coming out. When he walks by his sisters he has to bop them on the head or pull their hair if they are sitting low enough for him to get them. They don't do that to him and I don't remember them doing that when they were little. And from talking to other moms with little boys, it seems to be a general characteristic they all have! He also wants to throw stuff instead of just putting it down. He weighs 24 1/2 pounds and is about 75% on height and weight.

But he still likes to snuggle at bed time most nights and if I don't have my face touching his he pulls my head closer until it is. He will give me a kiss now when I ask as well as blow a kiss. He says dada, pepal (his own word for Pebbles), up, no, and go. Some times he will copy other words when I say them but those are what he says on his own. I try to get him to say mama but he knows it's a funny game now and he gives me a certain look and then says dada, like he's teasing me. They he laughs. It is a fun game but now I'm afraid he'll never say mama! Eric says he won again, that is all three of them that have said dada first now. But he's definitely a mamas boy, whether he says it or not. He still loves to imitate sounds people make like sneezing, coughing, etc. His favorite things to play with are any toy that he can put things in and out of, toilet paper, the garbage can, and climbing the stairs. He still only has two teeth but loves food. He loves eating fruit, does good with vegetables and cheese, and some bread stuff too. Since he is allergic to eggs, which seem to be in everything, I have to try and find some more stuff for him to eat this year as he gets more into food. He mostly walks around the house now, until he falls then crawls to find something to pull up on and start again. When we are out he is trying to walk too but with shoes on it's a little tougher for him. He follows Rachel in his love of swings at the park. And he loves playing with Livy who plays rough and loud. They have so much fun together. She told me she is Colt's best friend.

I love this sweet, funny, and happy boy we were blessed with. He is a joy to have in our family and we are constantly laughing at his silly antics. Even when he does something he shouldn't we can't help laugh. I'm afraid of what he will get away with. I am so happy to have a son and get to experience raising both parts of Heavenly Father's plan. I love you Colt! Happy Birthday!

We were in Austin for his actual birthday so we just had a little celebration with our family. The girls kept asking all day when the guests were coming. I had to keep telling them they were the guests this time. We had balloons, presents, and an ice cream celebration. Colt just wanted to suck on the candle though. The girls liked singing Happy Birthday to him and he loved hearing it. 

The birthday boy! He was a good sport considering he had a bad cold and ear infection.

I love love this guy!

Sisters enjoying Colt's presents.

I just like these two pictures because of how Livy is hanging on him and then how he is looking at her.

The birthday "guests."

That night we went out to eat and to walk around a light display they had set up. Of course I couldn't get one shot with them all looking or smiling so here are a few with different ones in each.

Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you!

Colt is 1 and New York

We went to New York for Thanksgiving and had a great trip visiting, hanging out and eating. While we were there we had Colt's 1st birthday party, planned by the lovely Aunt Hannah! It was a great party and Colt loved his cake as you will see.

The birthday boy! He's one but he's still my baby, for now anyway.

Danny enjoying the rounds of "Happy Birthday" being sung.

The birthday boy and the party planner. Everyone was assigned a job but I think she ended up doing it all! What a great aunt! Thanks so much Hannah!

Testing out his no egg or nut cake!

The good stuff! He mostly picked at the frosting in the beginning but then got into it. We all had fun sitting there watching him mash it all over. I don't think he actually ate any though. By the end he was totally in a daze and he looked like he was gonna fall right over to sleep in the cake. We waited to see if it would happen but it didn't! Would have been funny though!

Pinata time!

Colt loving the tree. He wouldn't touch it at first but he is past that now. He goes and grabs it and shakes it all over. No ornaments on the bottom third of our tree.

The girls had fun decorating the tree, going to a play place, picking out a new puppy, and going bowling twice. They loved it. Eric and I had lots of fun enjoying free time sleeping and eating the best pizza on earth!

The day we were leaving Livy got a bladder infection but luckily we got her on medicine quickly so she was ok pretty quick. Not one picture of grandma again. She's always behind the camera. But she was a huge help as always with all the kids. Even letting the girls sleep in her room and getting peed on one night in bed! Thanks mom and dad for a great trip.

The swings are at max capacity. Dan on one, Hannah holding Colt on two, and Rachel and Livy sharing the third. We were trying to come up with new ways to hang the swings so we can fit more in this room for when there are more grand kids!

Colt enjoying his first laundry basket ride from Aunt Katie. Josh and Katie are now living at their new house. It was nice to have the basement to stay in while we were there but it's weird not having them there all the time. We missed you guys!

These pictures were taken before New York, and before they all got hair cuts. I just never got them up here.

Even though Colt is not smiling I love how the girls are so happy. I love you three. Really really do.