Let's build a snowman!

It's been said that "snowmen come from heaven unassembled" 

Well, I make it my personal mission every year to do some of that assembly.

last year's rooftop snowman

circa 2011

 This year we were so lucky to have an invitation from our good friends the Bigelow Family.  

Poor little Kate took ill earlier in the day so she and her mamma were stuck indoors, but they watched us construct from the front window! 

 It was the BEST packing snow and fairly warm for a snowy Indiana winter day so I didn't feel too bad wearing Leo and letting him be a part of the fun. 

His first snowman, "Let's call him Henry!" Audrey said. 

Caroline was just happy to eat Henry's craisin mouth as we put on the final touches. 

She was like a little squirrel scattering about as the loose ones slipped off his smooth face. 

 With no full-sized carrots in the house, we lucked out when Ashley found this super-sized gem of a baby carrot in the bag-jackpot! 

What fun! 

With the bitter cold that is coming, I'm especially glad we were able to assemble Henry last weekend!  Thank you Audrey and Caroline for some snowy memories!

Happy Saint Valentine's Day!

Sending you Hugs and Kisses

and Valentine Wishes!

Happy Saint Valentine's Day;

we hope you enjoy the day no matter how you spend it

...know our love is sent out into cyberspace for you!

4 months old already?!

 

Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the chubbiest of them all?

It's our Leonardo Manford!

Are you talking about me?

 Weighing in at 17.5lbs at his doctor's visit this week, he's not quite off the charts,

but he's in the 90th percentile for weight and 24 1/2 inches long

...and he impresses us daily with his new skills

...no bo staff skills or nunchuck skills (yet).

He is able to hold his head up really well

and even push himself up on his hands. 

He can grab, hold and even toss toys.  He smiles and chats if talked to...mostly ah goo

EVERYTHING goes into Leo's mouth right now

...oh this truck feels nice,

 

I wonder how it tastes...

 

He is becoming more content laying on the floor

 and checking out whatever we put in front of him...toys, books, mirror.
Sometimes he'll even spin that body of his into a full circle (if he's laying on the floor long enough)

He has a musical giraffe from Aunt Ruthie and Aunt Rose...

it plays the same song as a stuffed pig Mommy had when she was a baby

and it is becoming a fast favorite around here. 

Leonardo's "baby gym" is perfect for him at this age 

and he reaches for the little critters hanging from the bars. 

Sometimes that chiming little fox tail makes it into Leo's mouth.  

Just this week he learned to pull down a birdie to make it vibrate.

  At times his hands will get into his line of vision and he'll stop just to stare at the marvel of them. 

Leo's got a great grip with those hands of his too (he likes to grab fistfuls of Mommy's hair)
Maybe he's longing for his newborn hair which has fallen out...
 with the exception of a few strays on top.
(We helped out in the back mullet with a little trim)

I know all of these new-found baby tricks seem minute and insignificant,

zonked out after a big night at the circus

but each one is a tiny miracle and we are so privileged to witness.

Leo, 4 months old

...a happy smiley baby everyone seems smitten with him;

such a chunk right now, it's hard to stop kissing those swollen cheeks and swishing his rolly thighs

...so impossibly cute. 

We feel so incredibly blessed to have you in our life;

we are forever changed and eternally grateful.

My Boys

My boys are really such a treat...

seeing them interact makes my heart melt

ALL. THE. TIME.

I love to see Eric hold Leo and chat with him

and Leo will smile and talk back and laugh and laugh at his daddy.

I just like to watch the whole thing unfold...such a blessing.

A Kodak Moment

With all the photos I take it was bound to happen...

proud as a peacock to be sitting up with Sophia

I caught Leonardo sneezing...

no big feat I suppose

(since he really does sneeze ALOT!)

but now it is officially recorded.

(You can almost hear that little sound he makes to follow it up, can't you?)

Snow Much Fun!!!

Leo's first BIG snowstorm! (12 inches was the final tally)

We made snow angels

and wrote messages to Daddy in the snow

(while he slept before the big game); 

the wind and more snow washed them both away! 

but this is what it left us the next morning...

Sometimes the differences between Eric and I are so evident....

like on the way to church as I'm dwelling on just how beautiful it is to see the trees covered in snow and wishing I had brought my camera to capture it...

he is scouting out curves to practice skidding around in the rear-wheel drive car 

(and I grab the handle and say a prayer we make it safely)

Lucky for Leo he doesn't JUST have a crazy protective Mama...

We love that Papa and all the fun that comes with him!