Such a slacker!

First of all, happy 20 months to our little boy!!  You are growing up so fast...slow down, take it easy, we want to savor every moment and hold it, and you, close!

Okay, wow, have I really been out of touch with the blog for almost two months?!?!?  There really is no excuse, other than we've been so busy that when there is down time, the last thing I feel like doing is getting pictures ready for the blog...and now that I am, Photo*shop won't open on our new computer!!  So I'm going to write this in hopes that my dear husband can fix the problem this week and I can add the pictures later.  (He updated the software and yay...no more problems!!)  Forewarning: this post is overflowing with pictures and video.  :)

November 5 - it's official: we finalized J's adoption into our family!  We couldn't have been more excited, although he took it in stride.  Afterwards, he gave the judge a hug and a kiss!  What a sweet boy we have!!

Here are some more of our family pictures, from one of the locations.  I don't have very many of them downloaded yet, so there will be more to come in the future.

Thanksgiving was quite fun this year, what with it being the first big holiday that we got to spend as a family of three...and that includes traveling as a family of three and getting first-hand knowledge of just how. much. stuff. you pack to go and how much MORE stuff comes home with you!!!  We went to Chris' brother's house Wednesday-Friday of Thanksgiving week.  As soon as we got to their place, J HAD to open all his gifts and the child did not get to bed until 10pm!  I don't think he's been up that late since we've been home with him.  But he enjoyed it and loved playing with all his new toys!   Then the whole family went to a huge indoor water park near their house through Sunday.  The kids had a blast.  It took J a little while to get used to it, but he did have a good time...so did Mommy and Daddy on the slides for the grown-ups.  Oh, and I got to go see Burles*que with my two sisters-in-law...awesome movie...and the soundtrack, wow!  It's on my wish list, but all sold out.  :(

J's first piano.  He loves all the prerecorded songs to dance to!

A workbench toy with lights, songs, and buttons...heaven.

Tired out Thanksgiving morning.

Found them this way at home one day after naptime; doesn't look like they're done yet, huh?

With grandma, grandpa, and cousins

Kisses for Uncle Pat

A few more pictures of my little boy growing up.

being sooo gentle with Lexi!

in Mommy's shoes

chillin' during a football game

He looks so much like a little boy in this picture; he's growing up too fast!!

in Daddy's shoes

We raked more leaves and he got to play in them.

Getting into places he's not supposed to be.

yes...the dryer.  and yes...I watched him climb in, just to see if he would actually do it...then had to pull him out screaming and crying because he wanted to stay in it!!  Bad Mommy.  :)

J was being very quiet (never a good sign with him!) so daddy went to investigate what was going on...we have a fearless climber on our hands.  gotta keep a close eye on this little guy.  yikes!

kept on playing so we weren't aware he was up here, but he was having a great time!

Dancing, dancing, and more dancing...this boy has some moves!

Just some general silliness.

What a goof!

A bite from my donut...

...and then a bite from Daddy's donut!  Both yummy!!

We bought our Christmas tree and decorated it, with J's help, of course.  He had finally gotten the hang of taking the ornaments from Mommy and giving them to Daddy to hang on the tree, only to come back to me to find out all the ornaments had been hung.  Needless to say, he got a little crabby because HE was not finished decorating!!  Ha!  We've been snowed and "wind-ed" in the last few days here; rain on Saturday turned to ice when the temps dropped overnight and then snow Sunday on top of that with a LOT of wind.  Monday and Tuesday brought negative wind chill, so we are just snuggling down inside and trying not to go stir-crazy.

Sunday was a great family day, just the three of us.  We did brave the cold and wind and bundled up for a quick walk to the store for more stamps for Christmas cards.  When we got home, we started a fire that we had burning all day.  Our little man already knows that he is not to go near the fireplace when there is a fire burning; he stands back with one hand up and says "ot!"  That's right, sweetie-pie, it IS hot...he's a genius!!  J was in a good mood all day with barely any fussing, ate well all day (for once), and took almost a 2-hour nap!  All in all, an awesome day.  I'm looking forward to many more like that one.

Remind any one of a certain Christmastime movie???

And for some Christmas fun, we are hosting my family this year, which has grown by three people since last year.  It will definitely make for some good times with two toddlers and two babies crawling around!!  Any ideas on some yummy, but quick, breakfast breads for the occasion??