Have youself a merry little Christmas....

We went to a live nativity on Friday, December 17, 2010 at Jefferson Avenue Church of God.  They had two goats and a donkey (along with all the dressed up characters).  I guess Kirk forgot about the goats he loved at the pumpkin patch, because he wasn't too fond of these goats.  Maybe it's because he didn't get to feed them?  He giggled a little when they munched on their hay.  He did like "Bee-Bee Cheesus" (which was a doll) and kept pointing to the people in the manger.  We stayed for a bit and listened to the music.  It was very nice and really put us all in the Christmas spirit!

Kirk and Jeremy visited the donkey.  He was a cute little guy! 

Kirk's relationship with Marco is a work in progress.  We went to a basketball game today and Marco had a Santa suit on!  Kirk watched from a distance while his friend J.D. got his picture taken with him.  I guess the peer pressure wasn't speaking to him, because he would only permit about a two feet barrier.  He apparently made a little peace with him, though, because he got a little closer later in the game.....

So there was also a "Santa" at the game, and Kirk let him touch his arm!  I was proud!  He didn't cry, but he did kind of give him the look of death.  That's okay, we're making progress!

Jeremy and I braced for disaster as Santa Marco walked up the steps in our section..... 

Okay, so he clung to Jeremy and didn't exactly make eye contact...but he didn't cry!  Marco waved at him a few times and Kirk happily told him "bye bye" when he walked away! 

We are really going to have to work on our opinion of costumed characters if we plan to visit Disney World!  He can't be afraid of Mickey and Minnie...it will break my heart!  Jeremy and I have faith that by the end of basketball season that Kirk and Marco will be best friends and you will see a picture of them smiling together posted here!  Wishful thinking, huh??

Baby it's cold outside!

So you would think with all these days off that I've had lately that I would be blogging about all that we've been up to!  We have been so busy that I had to force myself to take a minute and sit down to post a few updates.  Kirk is growing up so fast!  He is such a funny little guy and loves to laugh and have fun. Everyone comments on what a "happy baby" he is and most people comment on how "smart" he is!  He's always doing something quirky and funny.   He is always smiling and enjoys everything we do.  He LOVES books and we read probably 15-20 a day.  He loves to make music and dance.  He is beginning to love animals and make animal sounds and climbing and jumping are two of his favorite things to do.  It's a good thing Santa is bringing a climber/slide for him!  He will love it!  He also loves Mickey Mouse (and Donald), Barney and Elmo.  Here is a list of the words that he uses everyday:

Al-mo (Elmo)

Bee-nee (Barney)

choo-choo (train)

aaah-choo (pretend sneeze)

Hot Dog (dance...on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)

Chicka (from Sprout's Sunny Side Up Show)

kitty cat

doggie

ducky

up

down

bye bye

hi

oh no!

oh, WOW!

I get it!

car

cow

apple

ball

football

nana (banana)

nummy nummy (yummy, yummy)

1,2,3, GO!

stop

off

night night

socky (socks)

shoes

cookie

cracker

Pop (goes the Weasel)

bubble

Boo!

Mama

Daddy

baby

at-side (outside)

side-to-side (swaying back and forth-he learned this in music class)

snow

animal sounds:  moo, baa, doodle-doo (cock-a-doodle-doo), woof-woof, cack-cack (quack, quack)

*I'm sure there's more that I can't remember right now.  I am amazed at how he tries to copy every word we say and has started using so much language.  He knows several words in sign lanuage and uses them daily as well.  He signs: more, milk, cookie, please, sorry, thank you, hurt, bath, and he is starting to use diaper,  mommy and daddy.  He is so pround of himself when we praise him for speaking and signing!

I am amazed at how he is beginning to pretend play.  He was pretending to "go night night" here and had me lift him up on the couch!  He looks really tired, huh?  He also pretends to feed his baby doll a bottle (and Elmo, his Little People, etc.)! 

We went to Breakfast with Santa at my school on Saturday, December 4, 2010.  Kirk wouldn't have much to do with Santa, but he ate some pancakes and loved playing in my classrom.  He really enjoyed the cash register and our dramatic play area!

We got our first good snow of the winter on Monday, December 14, 2010 and Kirk LOVED playing in it.  He trudged all over the yard and fell a couple hundred times.  He kept yelling "SNEW" and laughing.  I had to pull him inside by his snowsuit and listen to him scream his head off and run from him while he chased me with my coat saying "GO!  AT-SIDE!"  haha.  I think he cried longer than he played.  He loves playing outdoors!

This is a picture of Kirk SITTING in his new chair.  This is a rare occurance, because he is usually standing, climbing or jumping in it!  We are working really hard on "sit down" and getting him to plop his bottom on the chair instead of his head!  He does like to climb in it and look at his books or watch a little tv.  We are also working on telling Astro it is NOT a new resting spot for him! 

I hope you are all getting ready to have a happy holiday season.  We have received lots of beautiful cards from our family and friends.  Kirk loves looking at the picture cards and trying to say our friends' names.  Kirk didn't want much to do with Santa, so you won't see a picture of him sitting on his lap this year!  Jeremy and I are so excited to give Kirk all of his new toys (Jeremy has been REALLY excited about Christmas this year and has done most of the shopping for Kirk's things).  We are so very blessed with our precious little boy and we are so thankful to watch him grow and learn new things.  I am so thankful for this past week (snow days) and the next two weeks with him.  We are going to have so much fun!

Kirk will start going to Cross Roads United Methodist Child Care on January 3, 2011.  We have visited and Kirk loved all the toys and kids.  His teachers seem very kind and loving.  We are excited for him to begin a structured routine and have opportunities to sing, dance, play, and do art activities each day. He will eat in a small chair at the table (no high chair!) with his food on a tray (that is NOT held down!)  and nap on a cot (well, maybe...haha).  He is getting to be such a big boy. We think he will love playing with other children his age each day.   Please pray for us as we make this transition!