Duvall White Christmas 2008/2009

2008 went out in a grand fashion... with record setting blizzards and flooding... I'm just waiting for the locusts to come ;)

Jack, Nate and Gabbi are getting much more vocal these days... not always a good thing :P

Jack likes to mimic noises he hears... the garbage disposal, the garbage truck, sounds on the TV. While Nate has picked up the ever familiary phrase from Dora "Backpack Backpack". Gabbi is asking for "movies" which sounds a lot like "mommy" and also wondering where her brother is "Where's Nate" which comes out more like "wess nt".

They are also becoming much more proficient at getting into things, a skill I am not so happy to see them develop further. We have to take some of their toys out of the room because they have been moving them around to use them to get up onto things (counters) or over things (gates) and get access to things they shouldn't, like gas stove tops. I've had to double all the child locks down on the cabinets, and nothing can be in arms reach, or they will have it.

They are also becoming more affectionate towards each other. When one of them is put in a timeout, i.e. Nate for hitting Jack, where they are put in a pack-n-play in another room, the other two will come up and pound on the door demanding Nate's freedom. It's really pretty cute to see how forgiving they are. They also will give each other hugs, and while it may not look like much of a hug when the one receiving isn't aware it's a hug, but instead a possible attack on whatever they may possess at the time, I can see the intent and it too is very cute.

Nate is starting to show quite the temper. Maybe it's after months of being the doormat, but something has made him a bit more moody lately. He's started to hit the others and throw himself around a bit more... hopefully it's short lived.

Sophia continues to be the best big sister ever, as she is constantly helping out and doing her best to be a good example. She wants to change diapers now, which is sweet, but I'm afraid of what poorly changed diapers may lead to (yikes) as I've seen a few over the past couple years.

In the video included you'll see some of our Christmas dinner with the family, as well as some of the tin foil ball they managed to create while our backs were turned. Also more of the snow we had and some of the kids reactions to it.

Thanks for still reading... if you are :)