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My Sweet Babies

My Sweet Babies

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Savannah Update

Just a quick little update on our sassy Savannah Grace.

5 Year Doctor's Appointment:
Date: January 8 (5 years and 2 months)
Weight: 46 lbs
Height: 43 inches
Vision: 20/20
Hearing: perfect in both ears (shocking, I know!)
She received 3 shots in her thighs and the flu mist.  This was Savannah's best doctor's visit to date!!  Normally she freaks out and starts screaming/crying when the nurse tries to get her weight and height.  This takes place in the first 2 minutes.  However, this time she was totally composed and very pleasant throughout the entire visit.  She chatted with both the nurse and Dr. Johnson and answered all their questions.  Even Dr. Johnson commented on what a change this visit was compared to all previous visits when he could hear her screams from the moment she entered the office.  She was even prepared for the shots.  I explained that she had to get them in order to go to kindergarten so she put on a brave face and lied down quietly.  Unfortunately after the first shot went in, she broke down.  It's been a while since her last rounds of shots and I guess she had forgotten how much they hurt.  She managed to pull herself together and still easily get the flu mist.  I was beyond proud of our little lady!  Her legs were a little sore the rest of the day and she immediately told her teachers the next morning that she couldn't run very fast due to the shots.  But by the afternoon she was back to normal and she told everyone that she's now all ready to go to kindergarten.  Too bad I'm not quite ready for her to go.  Thankfully I still have eight more months to prepare myself before sending her off.
sweet girl
oh the things she gets into
our daily tea party
after our own personal PopUp session at home
I really am amazed at how big/old she is getting.  I blinked and she went from a chunky, babbling toddler to a slim, chatty almost kindergartener.  Where have these five years gone??!!  I am soooo not ready for what lies ahead!

Hello 2015

Wow, I am so behind on blogging.  January has flown by and I haven't done a single entry since New Years Eve.  I think I spend so much time documenting everything during the busy holiday season that come January 1st, I tend to sit back and just let time roll by.  So now it's time to play catch up.  First up......our typical New Years Day.  As always, Oscar orders in stone crab claws so he and Savannah get busy cracking.  It's always the most random meal because he has to have snow crab while watching the Rose Bowl and my southern roots has to have black-eyed peas, greens, and corn bread.
this is what W and I did most of the day 
Here's hoping for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2015.  Happy New Year to all!!!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Goodbye 2014

Another New Year's Eve and another "fancy" party at the Alvarez house.  Just like last year we opted to stay home and bring in the new year with the kiddos and all go to bed early.  Around 5:30 we all got dressed up and had an hors d'oeuvre type dinner.  Just a little before 7:00 we lit sparklers and threw little poppers outside.  Then right at 7:00pm we watched the fireworks go off in London and yelled "Happy New Year!".  The kiddos were both in bed at their normal times and Oscar and I were sound asleep by 10:30.  Not a bad way to ring in the new year :)   
this year S was't at all afraid of the sparklers
W thought it was a candle and kept wanting to blow it out
Can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead in 2015!  Happy New Year to all!!

Christmas Joy

Christmas has come and gone.  The decorations have all been taken down and now all that's left is the memories of the most joyful holiday.  And a few more toys laying around.  
It was another quiet Christmas around here with our family of four.  We attended the family Christmas Eve service at church then came home, had a quick dinner, watched some holiday shows, and got ready for Santa's arrival that night.  Savannah set out a hefty plate of treats and a glass of chocolate milk for the jolly guy.  Then they sprinkled reindeer food out on the lawn and got ready for bed.  
setting out Santa's cookies
making sure everything is ready for Santa
time for bed
Savannah was the first to wake up on Christmas morning and it took a lot of bargaining to keep her from running downstairs before Walker woke up.  Luckily he woke up within 15 minutes and then we all went down together and found surprises for everyone.  Savannah specifically asked for two things, roller skates and a telescope, and thanks to Santa and Uncle Harlan she got them both.  She also received quite a few Barbies and the Malibu house, arts and crafts, a razor scooter, clothes, new Uggs, and a few other odd and ends.  Walker received his own scooter, several new train cars, Thomas the train raincoat and boots, superhero sets, a couple smart wheels sets to add to his track, and a train carrying case.  They were both more than thrilled with all their surprises and seeing them so happy was the best gift yet.
heading downstairs to see the presents
"he ate the cookies!"
W is a little unsure about what's going on
Barbie Malibu house from Uncle Obie and fam
princess guitar from Uncle Michael
Thomas boots and superhero toys!
Thomas raincoat
a Thomas train!!!!
he could care less about the other unopened gifts
my loves!
both kiddos got new scooters
After all gifts had been opened and all the wrapping paper had been cleared away we all got dressed to have lunch at the Carolina Inn.  Unfortunately it wasn't the greatest meal but it gave us a chance to get dressed up and sit down without all the new toy distractions and enjoy lunch together in a nice, festive setting.  After lunch it was nap time for Walker while Savannah played with her new toys.  Later that afternoon we all went for a family run around the neighborhood to burn off some yummy Christmas treats.
all ready for lunch
Santa came back to make sure everyone was happy with their presents
and now she acts shy
if she only knew how much she takes after her dad......
so very thankful for these 3
afternoon family run
he loves the scooter
We all went to bed that night feeling so blessed and so very thankful.  It was such a magical time leading up to the big day and I always find myself a little sad on Christmas night after the climax has passed.  And so at times like that I try to remind myself of the real reason for the season and I try to make a point to keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the rest of the year.  And if Savannah won't allow me to take her pink tree down, it will always feel like the Christmas season in her room :)









Walker Turns TWO!

So I'm a couple of weeks behind on this post but that's typically what happens when birthdays fall smack dab in the middle of the busiest month of the year.  Also I think I've kinda been dreading writing this post because it makes me so sad to think that my little Walker-man is technically no longer a baby.  He's a full-blown terrible two toddler!
the final monthly pic
can't believe how big he's gotten!
His birthday fell on a Thursday which was also the first day of Winter Break, but that didn't stop both kiddos from waking up bright and early.  First thing was opening birthday presents.  After opening each present he would want to stop and play with it so Savannah had to help keep him focused on getting to the rest.  He received lots of fun train and truck toys that kept both him and his sister busy for at least the next few days.....until Christmas that is.
so excited about more trains!
And because he is quite the expert at blowing out candles, he wanted to do it multiple times that day.  So we had cupcakes after lunch and dinner.  The more wishes the better.  And seriously, how could you not grant this little cutie's wish! 
that cupcake didn't stand a chance against W
WEA's 24 month milestones/achievements/random tidbits:
~his vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds!! He hasn't yet put two words together but he's sooo close!  I can't even list all of his new words because it seems like he says a new one every 30 minutes.
~he continues to be the easiest child to put to bed.  After a few stories, a brief 2 minutes of rocking, he then he points to his crib and is ready to be put down.  He doesn't go to sleep immediately but he will roll around, talk to his toys, and usually within about 20 minutes he will fall asleep.  He also has to have his mini "pup pup", lovie, and plush Thomas train in bed with him.
~he's eating has become atrocious! He rarely wants real food at mealtimes and he prefers to eat snack food (Clif bars, fruit strips, fruit pouches, go-gurts, etc.) instead).  He doesn't snack throughout the day but he wants the snack food at mealtimes.  I can't even force him to eat pasta and I'm lucky if he'll have a chicken nugget.
~he is still madly obsessed with all things train, truck, and bus related.
~the terrible twos have officially begun! He's becoming much more aggressive---lots of pinching, biting, scratching, and hair pulling.  Sometimes it's provoked by Savannah, but oftentimes it comes out of nowhere.  I think mostly he uses it as a way to get our attention but sometimes I think he just likes to see our reaction when he hurts us.  Needless to say there have been a lot of time outs happening around here.
~with that being said, he easily goes to time out and he will remain there until he has been told to leave.  I've even lost track of time and the poor little man has actually sat there for almost 5 minutes!  And at the end of each time out he will give a hug to whomever he hurt in the first place.
~he loves all the Christmas decorations.  First thing in the morning he wants to turn all the trees on and when it's time to leave, he's the first to ask to turn them off.  He also likes to see the lights outside and comment "nice" whenever a house is really lit up.
~his physical motor skills are right on track: he runs, jumps, climbs up and down stairs, kicks, throws, swings, stacks, etc.
no, not potty training yet but sometimes he likes to be like sister
like mother like son....he has a sweet tooth for sure
waiting for the planes to go "whoosh!"
practicing his own PopUp routine
cheering on the Trojans with daddy
love this boy!!!!
Walker's 24 Month Doctors Appointment:
Date: 12/19/14
Height: 35 inches (65%)
Weight: 33 lbs (97%)
Head circumference: 51 cm
He received the flu mist which caused him to giggle and another booster shot which only lead to 20 seconds of crying---not long enough to make tears.  Overall, an excellent visit and we don't have to go back until he's 30 months (2 and a half years old).

Two years old......I really can't believe it!  There is so much truth in the the saying "the days are long but the years are so short".  Yes, some days seem to drag on and I reach my wits ends and I feel like pulling my hair out, but by the end of the week I'm alway like "wow! that week flew by!".  These two years have been the fastest years of my life.  Having two little ones around keeps me in a constant state of go go go.  Yes, I feel like they're aging me (I've even found my first gray hair!) but at the same time they keep me young.  This little man......the one who will forever be my baby.....I could not possibly love him any more.  He is the sweetest, the snuggliest, the squishiest little mama's boy.  Oh if I could keep him little forever I absolutely would.  Happy two years my little man!!!