Landon - 22 months

Landon boy, how are you so big so soon?!  You are definitely the life of the party.  You bring Mommy, Daddy, and Eli so much joy and laughter.  Christmas was especially fun this year.  We pray that as fun as it was, that one day you'll understand the true meaning of Christmas and will accept Jesus, and not just squeal at the surprises inside the boxes (though that was fun too)!  We love you, Landon boy!

Firsts:  It's getting harder to come up with "firsts" for you, Landon.  We're stumped!

News headlines:  Cam and the Panthers lose to the Falcons.  Their current record is 15-1 and are headed to the play-offs.  December was a record breaking month in terms of rainfall.  We had 19+ inches here, and the Chattahoochee River is still flooded.  

Milestones:  You are sleeping great throughout the night.  This "milestone" comes and goes, but right now we'll take the 10+ hours of sleep you're getting each night.

Measurements: Size 4 diapers, size 18 mth (pants) and 24 mth (tops) in clothes, size 6 shoe, 27-28 lbs

Like Mommy:  Not only do we like to sit with a book, but we also love to sit and look at pictures.  In your short little life, you've probably flipped through our photo books more than Daddy and Eli combined.  This gives me even more incentive to go back and catch up on all I'm behind on (I'm 5 photo books behind...yikes!).

Like Daddy:  You love sweets!

Like Eli:  Anything and everything Eli is doing, you want and try to do!

Favorite Toys:  You got so many new toys at Christmas.  You love your new chair Santa brought you for Christmas, your new Elmo doll, anything that makes noise/plays music, and Eli's Paw Patrol toys!

Sounds: Mama, dada, nana, EI (Eli) bye bye, uh-oh, awww, hey,  daw-dee (doggie), thank you, diaper, boo-boo, tee-tee, ball, baby, more-more, no no no!, choo-choo (every vehicle/mode of transportation is a choo-choo), truck, bus, uh-uh (no sound), button, light, off/on, hot/cold, shhh! (hilarious), "mim-me on" (Mickey/Minnie Mouse), moon, mine,  Melmo (Elmo), brub-er (brother), Lan-E (Landy), ewww, ho ho (for Santa).  You love to rock in a rocking chair and have a little tune you sing whenever you rock (bahhh ba ba).

You're basically saying all the same words as before, but you are certainly speaking these words much more often during the day.

Challenges:  

You've had a pretty good month.  Right before Christmas we took you to the doctor because you couldn't kick the crud, and your eye was looking swollen.  It was a sinus infection gone awry!  Other than that, you've been pretty easy going.  Christmas break has helped.  You've slept so well.  There's even talk of converting your crib to a toddler bed, but I also think why mess with a good thing?

Our Days:  

Most of the past month we've been out of school.  It's been awesome!  You've been sleeping like a rock.  10+ hours a night plus 1.5-2 hrs of napping.  I've loved snuggling with you on the couch each afternoon.

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's favorite-  Watching you look at Christmas lights and open presents.  I love hearing you say, "OOOh!!!"

Daddy's favorite-  Christmas, and that you're favorite gift were the dum-dum suckers in your stocking.

Nicknames: Any variations of Landy, Landon/Landy boy, Lando.  We also call you and Eli Pete and Repeat.

Upcoming Events:  Back to school and Uncle Brian and Aunt Mollie are coming for a visit!

I can't believe how much you've changed over the past year.  It's probably the most drastic for sure.  I also cant' deal with the fact that you are looking like a toddler, and not a baby!  Insert tear on cheek.

Mommy's boys ... you two couldn't be more different!

Teeth Cleaning

Eli had his second teeth cleaning today.  It was such a breeze compared to last time.  There was hardly any wait.  No x-rays this time, so no tears!  : )

We got a great report.  The dentist was surprised that he'd already lost a tooth already!

Is it just me or does he look so old here?

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day we ended up having to wake both boys up, just after 8 a.m.  As you can tell from the picture, we're not early morning people.  Even on December 25.

They did perk up once they walked into the living room and saw Santa had come.

Landon's big gift was a chair, just like brothers!  No more fighting over the chair.

We love books!

Santa remembered Mommy's favorite sour candy!

Landon was so much fun this year!  He would squeal, "Ooooh!" I don't remember Eli as "into" Christmas this early, but then again, Landon has big brother to watch.

Landon gave Eli some matching "doddie" pjs.  The boys wear these nearly every night.  I'll miss it when they're too big to match.

One of the only things Eli mentioned wanting this year were some new fireman rain boots.  He'd worn his old ones (which I think someone gave me) until they were falling apart and too small.  These came in handy with all the rain we got around Christmas this year.

Eli was so proud of the gift he gave me.  I was getting a huge hug before I could even open the gift.  He picked out a beautiful cross necklace for me, all on his own!  I love his heart.

Wesley ordered two large canvas prints for me from the photography session we had done with the boys in May.  I absolutely love them.  They're perfect.  Now to decide where to put them!

After opening gifts, we ate breakfast on our wedding china, read the Christmas story, and then took pictures with Nana and Puddin' on the porch.  I'm so glad they were able to be with us on Christmas morning.  They left about mid-morning and headed to Pansey, and we spent the rest of the day playing with our new toys, watching movies, and snuggling on the couch.

Ginny and Pops came over that evening. The boys showed off their presents and we played a round of Eli's new pie in the face game.  We had the most perfect day!

Ice Skating

Eli's friend, Katie, had a birthday party the week before Christmas.  We went ice skating!  It was so much fun!  Watching Eli in the beginning was akin to what I imagine it's like watching Bambi learn to walk, but he definitely improved!

Christmas is Jesus

This Christmas, Eli participated in the children's choir at our church.  They practiced of the weeks and months leading up to Christmas, and performed Christmas is Jesus on a Wednesday night.  We've been singing these songs for weeks.  : )

Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy!

Check out that form!

Aunt Jan, Uncle Lamar, Nana, and Puddin' were all able to come and see Eli sing.  We took up a whole pew!

We're so proud of our little guy.  He did a great job!

The video...

Destin Christmas

Two weeks before Christmas, we headed to the beach for Christmas with Ginny, Pops, and Katie.  The weather, though not very Christmasy, was amazing.  It had me longing for my chair, a book, and a little salt-therapy!

It's become a bit of a tradition for Ginny to skip choir on Saturday morning, she's a rebel : ), and take the boys and I to the Christmas parade.

I think after a few years at it, we've got it mastered.  We had a big bag for candy, chairs for us, and the wagon for the boys.

Some of Eli's favorites were the bagpipes, the elf on stilts, and of course Santa and Mrs. Clause!

There was no shortage of candy thrown out this year.  Both boys enjoyed snacking!

Landon was hilarious with this candy cane.  When he was done with it, he'd stick it to the side of his head (gross) for safe-keeping.  The boy needed a bath by the time we left!

For lunch we went to LuLus.  It was the perfect day to be out there:  the crowds were slim and the weather beautiful!

Sandy Landy was one happy boy!  The kids played on the beach before and after our meal.  It's hard to beat that!

We exchanged gifts on Saturday afternoon.

I have no idea what he was looking at, but he was so much fun this Christmas!

That evening, Eli and Ginny were scientists, observing and recording data!  This has been a fun gift that we've gotten out several times.

Sunday was another family tradition, the choir performance at church.  Ginny and Pops both sang, while Wesley and Katie played in the orchestra.  This year I had a buddy to sit with me in the audience!

The weekend was so much fun, but unfortunately we had to jet early that afternoon in order to make it back for one last week of school, even though everything in me was longing for the beach!  We will be back soon!