Star Wars Day (and Christmas too)

While most December, we count down the days until Christmas, this year, we anxiously awaited the release of the new Star Wars movie instead. Since seeing the original movies was such a formative experience for Eric, I thought that we better commemorate the new movies here for posterity (and shoehorn a little Christmas too).

After many weeks of shielding himself from previews, spoilers, and other information about the movie, Eric along with Piper, Fletch, and me, went to see the it in the morning on Christmas Eve.

It was so good, although a bit intense for Piper and Fletch. But, it was such a good time to be together. Deke wasn't quite old enough to sit through the long show, so he spent the morning at daycare. We'll show it to him in a few years.

After that came Christmas. We had a great time. Opening lots of presents, playing with our new presents, eating yummy food, etc. Here's the day in photos.

And here was the aftermath.

So much for going lighter on gifts this year. In any case, everyone was happy with what they got, and now it's onto 2016.

Deke: 2.5 Years Old

This post is a bit overdue, but better late than never. Deke turned 2.5 years old about two weeks ago. He did great at his check-up, and the doctor said he looks fantastic (knock on wood). Here are his latest stats:

Birth: 7lbs 9oz, 20.5 inches

2 weeks: 8lbs 9oz (49%), 20.25 inches (32%)
1 month: 10lbs 8oz (66%), 21 inches (31%)
2 months: 13lbs 1.6oz (70%), 23 inches (47%)
4 months: 15lbs 13oz (61%), 25 inches (46%)
6 months: 18 lbs 9oz (71%), 27 inches (68%)

9 months: 21 lbs 15oz (85%), 28.5 inches (57%)

12 months: 23lbs 1oz (76%), 29.75 inches (43%)

15 months: 25lbs 0.9oz (81%), 31.5 inches (73%)

18 months: 25lbs 11oz (71%), 32.75 inches (63%)

24 months:  30.5lbs (87%), 36.25 inches (91%)

30 months: 33.5lbs (85%), 37.75 inches (90%)

So what's Deke doing and like these days. I think this picture about sums it up.

He's a combination of one part insanity, one part adorable, one part baby, and one part kid. He gets into trouble regularly but how can you get mad when two minutes later, he's walking around like this:

His favorite things in the world are playing dress-up (particularly like a pirate or superhero), Santa, reading books, playing with his Jake and the Neverland pirate toys, and his stuffed animals. 

Oh, the stuffed animals. I fear that Deke has picked up some of Piper's hoarder tendencies because right now, he sleeps with the following stuffed animals: Winnie the Pooh, Kermit, Tigger, Peacock, and Dragon. But, that's not all folks. He also has a Kristoff doll, a canvas picture of the aforementioned Peacock and Tigger, a pretend pirate sword, and a few other random items in his crib every night. 

Thankfully, once Deke gets all of his things in his crib, he sleeps fairly well--going to bed around 7:15pm and waking up around 6am, and he still naps 2-3 hours/day. 

In addition to all that, Deke is talking like crazy. Long sentences, hilarious thoughts, adorable sayings, etc. I just can't get enough of hearing him talk and having little conversations with him. I guess he's also quite the comedian at school because all of his teachers say that he has them laughing all day long. My dad would be so proud. :)

That about sums up Deke these days. 

Seeing the Big Man

It's been an exhausting weekend, between dance class, picking up a new-to-us stroller (after our old stroller was stolen while at the zoo :( last weekend), buying and decorating a Christmas tree, getting cookies for Piper's Girl Scout cookie exchange, me working, grocery shopping, etc.

Even with all that, we did manage to squeeze in a visit to see Santa. The kids were so good in line during the one hour wait (and that was even with arriving there 20 minutes before opening). And, they were so happy to meet him. Deke was most excited, which was just adorable. But, that excitement meant that no one could sit still long enough to get a pic of all of them looking at the camera at the same time. It still came out really cute.

Piper asked Santa for a holiday Barbie doll, Barbie house, hair accessories, legos, and a tree house. Fletch wants an Imaginext dinosaur and Iron Man hand. Deke wants "blue presents."

We just finished celebrating Hanukkah, and now we're slowly getting into the Christmas spirit here. This December is flying by.