Gotta love the Bumbo...

Cousins

Will wasn't in the mood to pose, but here are the two youngest--Carson at three days, Thomas at two months...

I'm an Aunt!

Baby Nell (Derek & Renee's daughter) made us aunt/uncle several months ago, but today our boys got another cousin...

Welcome, Carson Luke Allison! My sister, Catherine, and her husband, Matt, were thrilled to meet their healthy 7 pounder early this morning. They are all doing well, and I can't wait to head up there this weekend and see the little dude. Supposedly Matt is posting pictures on their blog tonight--http://allisonantics.blogspot.com/--in case you want to see his "mini-me".

(Random info probably only of interest to the grandmothers :)--Thomas had his 2 month checkup today, & he's over 14 lbs already...95% for height & weight...his mom must have good milk, huh?!)

In my humble opinion...

There are a few new things around here that I just have to talk about, that I really, really like.

Our Inglesina Twin Swift stroller...
I researched double strollers way too thoroughly before big T came around, and no one seemed too pleased with any particular one. Not to mention they tend to be very pricey. I contemplated getting a double jogger, but I'm so glad I didn't--there's no way I would be willing to run pushing Will's 30 lbs, Thomas' 10-15?, & the contraption itself. Not going to happen. A few months ago I decided on this one and found a good deal on ebay. It's lightweight, folds up so flat, is comfy enough, and turns without trouble. Just a recommendation for those of you out there preparing for another baby... This one works for us!



My favorite Christmas gift (somewhat embarrassingly) is this Electrolux vacuum. It's cordless, weighs practically nothing, and picks up all the nasty dirt and crumbs my three men and I leave behind. I'm a little obsessed--I vacuum all the time now, and I used to loathe dragging out that Hoover. I'm a huge fan.


Overstock.com...Not only did I purchase Thomas' crib bedding from this site, I bought this oriental-style rug for our den. We're not in the market for the real deal now, but this one was inexpensive and surprisingly good-looking/feeling in person. And it'll conceal spit up and juice stains like a champ.


Also, two books that have resonated with this mom who's afraid of letting her children run the household--John Rosemond's Parenting by the Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising your Child & Betsy Hart's It Takes a Parent. Good reading.

These companies should pay me for this advertising! In any case, it's a change from the constant mommy-babble about the boys :)

Stuck Inside

So, it's finally gotten cold--REALLY cold--down here. Meaning, mama's not leaving the house. Since I'm not pregnant anymore, I can't tolerate weather that entails I don scarf, hat, gloves and puffy ski coat, nor do I want to spend 30 minutes bundling up the kiddies only to have both of them poop right before heading out the door... Nope, it's inside for us. And with that comes the task of entertaining two little guys, one of whom will shriek "Bob" (aka "the Builder") while banging on the TV if not otherwise kept occupied. (Oddly, he'd never seen the show before, so I'm not sure where he acquired this recent obsession with BTB--it must be one of those things just ingrained in his two-year old boy brain.) Here's what we've been up to...

Documenting Thomas' wide range of emotions (all within 30 seconds)...

Disgruntled...He should be, seeing as how Will derives pleasure in dropping sharp-edged trucks on his little head...

Wary...& wondering when the aforementioned big brother is plotting his next move...

Quite pleased with himself...Just passed some really stinky gas?

Coy...flirting with his favorite milkmaid to get some lunch...

Sleepy...what every mother loves to see...

And we've been holding the camera out in front of ourselves--here's what we got!

(Will seemed to think I said "blink" instead of "smile"...)

We did venture out to Great Clips--Will got shorn once again...

Aww--such (momentary) brotherly love! Note Thomas' frightened (or at least suspicious) expression...