Snowy days

We have been busy playing in all the beautiful snow and navigating Evie's nap-less schedule this week.  Bedtime is going much more smoothly, so we are trying to stay consistent and make it through this transition period.  We have started "quiet time" in the afternoon for her so that we have a little bit of a break during the day.  After spending the day with Evie, my mom described her as VERY BUSY, and I couldn't agree more!  (You know it's bad when Christmas shopping for 5 hours felt like a relaxing break to me!)  All this busy-ness combined with Noah's need to eat at 5:30am every day is making me quite exhausted and kind of burned out.  As a result, this week's blog is going to have lots of pictures and not much writing!

Evie & Frostella

Playing in the snow mountain created by the plow

Sledding with both kids

Passed out wookie

Going for a little snow walk with both kids.  Noah was sound asleep!

Get a load of those trees behind us.  This has been the most beautiful snow!  (Noah is still sleeping in the sled)

My girl

In the past week, Noah suddenly seems able to sit up on his own.  I still put a boppy pillow around him to be safe, but he will sit and play with toys for a long time now.  He's also happy to just sit there and watch what's going on around him.  It's awesome!!  This is when the very busy big sister pays off.  Built-in entertainment.

Noah says "I love sitting!"

He was also entertained by sitting in a cardboard box for a long time

Sadly, this isn't the first child we've entertained with a cardboard box!

Noah is also getting much more skilled at feeding himself.  He loves Mum Mum crackers, baby puffs, and even picked up a bell pepper slice and gnawed on it this week!

We ventured out to the Train Hop in Essex Junction on Friday night, and it was a fun community evening.  Anyone who is local should go check out the lights at Maple Street Park in Essex.  It's beautiful!  Evie visited with Santa but told him that she didn't want anything for Christmas...I guess our shopping is done!

I can't even describe how heavy Noah feels when he arches his 20-lb. body backwards like this!

 Matt and I were lucky to escape for a much-needed night out on Saturday to see our friends' band, where three of the band members are siblings. We found ourselves enjoying the music and imagining Evie and Noah taking the stage 30 years from now.  Can you imagine?!

These photos sum up the rest of the week:

Evie still loves to hold Noah, but he doesn't like to stay there for long anymore

Sophie visited for the week, and the two hound dogs were very happy

Matt earned his badge as "Dad of the Year" - Evie picked his accessories!

Matt thinks Noah looks like a weird lumberjack when he has his high chair straps fastened!

Last but not least, in the latest edition of "who does our kid look like?" we have a baby photo of Matt's Uncle David.  Family resemblance?  Yes?  No?