Xan's 1st Birthday

Xan turned a year-old on March 12, 2009. He had a great birthday because Mimi & Papa C (Justin's Parents) and Lolly & Pops (Brianne's Parents) came to see him after work. He got some birthday gifts and a little cupcake. However, we learned along with him pretty quickly that he does not like cupcakes or any cake for that matter.


On Saturday, March 14, 2009 Xan had his first birthday party. We had it at the West Hampton Club House. It was a great spot because it was a lot of room for everybody to mingle and the other kids to play around a bit. Unfortunately it was a rainy cold day so none of the kids got a chance to go play on the playground. Brianne of course was the party organizer and preparer. Somehow being pregnant with Twins and working a full-time job she managed to throw together a birthday party complete with decorations, party favors, monkey cupcakes, and a big monkey cake to go along with the Monkey birthday party theme. Xan got a whole lot of presents including a big stuffed monkey to keep with the theme of the party and a genuinen toddler size Cracker Barrell rocking chair. He got a lot of much needed summer clothes and of course some fun toys. It was a great day for the proud parents of their now 1 year-old son!

Trick-or-Treat!

We had a lot of fun trick-or-treating for the first time with Xan.  We went over to our neighbors first to take some pictures with the other kids.  Xan was dressed as a monkey as you can see in the picture, he is sitting next to his pumpkin carved as a monkey, just like him.  After visiting the neighbors we went over to Lolly & Pops house (Brianne's parents) and went trick-or-treating with his cousins.  My parents (Mimi and Papa C), also came over and were taking pictures right along side everybody else. :)  Brianne's brother, Kyle, brought his trailer filled with hay so the kids got to go on a hay ride to each house as they trick-or-treated.  We had chili for dinner and a lemon pie along with a special chocolate surprise for desert.  It was a great time and most importantly Xan really enjoyed himself.

Check out our Halloween pictures...Halloween Album 2008

The Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch

Album

We went to the pumpkin patch today with our little pumpkin! Little did he know that he was going for a photo shoot. It was a little difficult to get him to look at the camera - he was very distracted by sitting in the grass for the first time and by looking at all of the bright orange pumpkins. What silly faces he made! He was the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

Xan's First Fall Fun

We went to a little fall festival that a local church was having this weekend and Xan got to experience his first hay ride and seeing goats! I think he took the hay ride very seriously and really studied that hay. However, the goats he was thrilled about! He just kept laughing and laughing the whole time. The closer the goats came the more he loved it. I think it made Brianne nervous at first with the smelly and dirty farm animals getting so close, but she quickly eased up as she saw just how much Xan was enjoying himself. You can see pictures of his fun time in the slide show of his "Current Photos" and you can also follow the link below to see the album I put together on Facebook.

Fall Fun Album

The First 6 Months

From Xan 6-7 Months

Dear Xan,

It is so hard to believe that we are half way to your 1st Birthday...which your mother has already planned. :) It seems like yesterday we could hold you in the palm of our hands and today it takes two arms to hold all 16lbs of you. It it a joy to watch you continue to grow and discover the world you have been living in as you become more aware of your surroundings. You are sitting up now on your own, rolling over, and beginning to scoot. At 4 months you began to eat baby cereal and now you are eating Gerber fruits and vegetables. We think you enjoy everything we are feeding you, but we learned the hard way that you don't enjoy sweet potatoes. The first time we fed you sweet potatoes you had major gas pains and cried for an hour. Only Mom's gentle rocking and soothing finally calmed you down. It is very hard to see you in pain at any time and for any reason. We always want you to be safe and healthy.

You have made life very easy for us in these first 6 months with you sleeping through the night and easily sticking to a feeding and sleep schedule. You go to bed at 8pm every night like clockwork whether we rock you to sleep or not. You then wake up at 6:45am to go to the sitter's house while Mom and I go to work and you never fuss. Every time we play you are nothing but smiles and laughter. You love to play with an old remote control for the TV I gave you. You enjoy watching your mobile in your crib, playing in your jumper toy, rolling on the floor, and flying through the house in my arms. You have definitely discovered your voice and love to squeal in happiness till you turn red in the face. You love to talk to whatever is near you and by the look on your face you have some serious things to say. :) Your first babbling words were "Dadadadada'...which of course was music to my ears. I have to say life was good before you, but amazing each and every day now that you are in our lives. Mom puts this into words almost every day with her constant phrase when she looks at you..."I love you sooooo muuuuccchhhh!". One day I will have to show you the clip from Raising Arizona so you will understand exactly what I'm saying here.


We love you more than we could ever truly express.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Welcome

Welcome to our family blog. Here we hope you will be able to live life with us and watch little Xan grow. Feel free to check in whenever you like to check for updated pictures or blogs. Especially around birthdays and holidays! :)

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