He's a natural!

Egan got his first taste of "food" on Saturday. We debated for a while about when to start him on rice cereal. A nutritionist suggested we start on cereal when he was only 3 months old. She thought he was over-eating and the rice would help him feel full sooner. My doctor recommended starting it sometime between 4 and 6 months. This past week, I finally decided it was time.

As you can tell from the picture, he made quite a mess. He is a natural eater though! By the second night, he was opening his mouth when the spoon was presented. He still reflexively pushes the food out with his tongue, but I actually think he's getting better at it already. I guess he was born to eat! (Must get that from his mother.)

Christmas!!!

Christmas is always a special time, but this year was extra special for our family. It was Egan's first Christmas and the first time Blake was actually excited for Christmas. My boys (including Tony) were definitely spoiled this year. I was actually nervous that Blake would have too many presents to open on Christmas morning. I debated about having him open presents from us on Christmas Eve, then open Santa presents and the other family presents on Christmas day. We decided to only have the boys open their Christmas P.J.s on Christmas Eve and everything else on Christmas day. Of course, Blake handled the big day like a pro. No problems being overwhelmed with presents. He played with every present as soon as he got it unwrapped, but he was always ready to open the next one. Hundreds of dollars worth of presents and the biggest hit: snow boots. He put them on right away (after taking off the tennis shoes he had just unwrapped) and didn't take them off all day. Or the next day. Or the next. He looks real cute in just diapers and boots!

Being a mom on Christmas is the best gift ever! It really makes the season more special and helps me remember what this time of year is all about.

A linebacker in the making...

I took Egan to the doctor today for his 4-month check-up. The kid is a monster! He weighed 17 lbs. 11 oz. and was 27 3/4 inches long. A little reference point: Blake was 13 lbs. 9 oz. and 24 3/4 inches long at his 4-month check-up. Blake did have to play catch-up for a while since he was almost a month early. Regardless, Egan is in the 90th percentile for weight and above the 95th for length and head circumference.

Besides their size, my boys are as different as can be. Blake is always a challenge. From the time he was born, he demanded attention. As soon as he figured out how to move, he never stopped. Egan already seems more laid back. He is a happy baby. Although he loves attention, he is usually content to just sit up and watch the world (and his big brother). It is so much fun for me as a parent to watch their little personalities--as different as they are. I love the energy that Blake has and pray I can help him channel that energy into something good. I appreciate how "easy" Egan is to take care of (if any baby can be called and "easy" baby). And I love that he just seems so happy. I just love my boys so much! I am so excited to watch how they will turn out.

You can see from the pictures (coming soon) that my boys look almost as different as they act.

Thanksgiving with family

We were so fortunate this past week to spend time with Tony's family. Last Saturday, his older brother, Jason, and wife, Peggy, survived a 17 hour rode trip with their 5 girls and arrived in Missouri for a week of Thanksgiving fun. With all seven grandkids in one house, it was an exciting place to be. Blake and Egan had so much fun with their cousins. Tony's younger brother, Scott, and his wife, Amy, made it to Missouri on Thanksgiving day and spent a few days in the animal house, too. I don't have much time to write about all of our fun, so I'll just post some pictures.