As promised, I finally uploaded some of the pictures from Matt's phone. He's so great about always having it within reach and therefore, most photos wind up on his iPhone. Thank goodness too, since life is more hectic for the second child. It's not that you don't love them as much as the first...you're just too busy chasing and disciplining the first to take a million pictures of the second. Alas, here are some of the many. Enjoy.
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| Just after Noah was born, we met up with our wonderful friends, The Dearmons, in Hilton Head. Shane was home for his mid-tour (deployment) leave and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with such great people. This is Maci, Elijah's "girlfriend" and first love from Oklahoma. |
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| Well, that just about says it. Glad Matt caught this one on camera. |
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| Playing choo-choo with the baskets at the vacation home that we rented. |
Soon after Hilton Head, we had a visit booked to Texas. Matt had business and with his ticket paid for, we decided to buy two more for Elijah and I and fly down and over with him. It was Noah's first plane ride and he was only a few weeks older than Elijah was for his first flight. It went smoothly, though I wouldn't dare it alone.
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| Enjoying some leisurely down-time in the US Airways lounge with Matt's free pass. It was a lifesaver! |
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| Elijah was a perfect angel, watching a movie on his iPad with his new headphones |
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| Noah was very well behaved too, stretching out in a lounger all to himself |
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| Elijah was a fanatic about the AIRPLANES and insisted Juju was flying ALL of them. |
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| Yes, the travel accommodations were great. |
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| Finally we arrived in Texas and it was good |
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| Grandma immediately took over Noah |
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| And....Elijah took over Abby dog |
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| Bill, Donna, Matt and Elijah went to the kids fun park and played for the day. They had a great time. Noah and I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet time back at the house. |
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| Riding the choo-choo with Grandma |
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| It may not have been the kiddie park, but it was probably just as fun. Elijah and Grandpa went for golf cart rides each night to find deer, which are all over Berry Creek Golf Course in the evenings. |
We made it home safely and while still on maternity leave, we decided to go ahead and buy a HUGE suburban and take some road trips to Virginia. After all, what else did we have to do?!
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| Uncle Juju and Aunt Trink have tamed the wild animals on Bull Run Mountain in Haymarket, VA. Elijah really enjoying helping with the morning chores of feeding the deer, birds and fish, then watching them come to eat. |
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| Noah was practicing his tummy time with all the new and exciting things to see at Juju and Trink's house |
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| Elijah even helped with the fish pond maintenance. |
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| Enjoying a cool afternoon |
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| Being that it was around Halloween, there was a really incredible Pumpkin Patch farm that had all kinds of outdoor activities for families, including a petting zoo, HUGE hay slides, a hay ride and climbing toys. |
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| A busy day called for a nice dinner....at least for some |
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| Some quality time with Papa Choo Choo |
We made it home again and got ready for Christmas. Noah's first Christmas and Elijah's first Christmas where he really seemed to better understand Santa and the stories of Christmas.
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| Decorating our beautiful new tree |
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| Elijah helping make Christmas cookies |
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| Grandma and Grandpa came to visit the first week of December for Christmas and so the fun began |
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| Elijah has a special interest in dentistry just like his Great Grandpa Jack Kensill |
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| Elijah and Mommy throwing out magical reindeer food |
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| Picking out cookies for Santa |
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| Christmas morning!!!!! |
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| Lala and Papa Choo-choo's gift |
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| Noah practicing his rolling skills |
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| Elijah enjoying his new Brio choo choo set. it belonged to Uncle Juju, which makes it extra special |
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| Man cave turned Thunder Dome |
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| Brotherly love |
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| This used to be Elijah's favorite toy when he was this age. It's definitely a worthy investment for all jumping beans! |
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| Elijah has been practicing his reading skills on Noah. They both seem to enjoy it! |
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| Noah, who is incredibly close in size to Elijah, loves sitting on his brother |
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| Elijah's 3rd snow, but the first in which he was really able to play |
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| Noah practicing his sitting skills while Mommy gets ready in the morning. |
