The Sunday Morning Church Crew...

Monday, November 29, 2010
...came over for a Saturday Night Pizza Party. Here are all the kiddo's waiting for pizza!
{Sam, Brook, Haylee, Taylor, Brandon. Nicky, and Kylee Jo}


Christmas Tree Shopping

It's the weekend after Thanksgiving and that means: CHRISTMAS TREE shopping! We took the boys to our favorite tree lot and they helped pick out a big Monterrey Fir tree. HUGE tree. 9 feet to be exact.

 {I will post pictures of the final product when we are done (and I can reach the top!}


Christmas Cards

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
It's no secret that I adore Christmas. One of my guilty pleasures in life is taking pictures and creating the perfect Christmas card.  This year we made a last minute decision and took some recent pictures of the boys for our card. I will post 2010 card closer to Christmas, after I send them out. Here is a look back at 2 years of Christmas cards....
2008
2009
2010 Sneak Peak



16 Months of Awesomeness

If Nicky is now 30 months, than Brandon is 16 months. The same age Nicky was when I started writing my blog. I am so glad I have been documenting each month and special milestones - its all worth it. Especially with another coming - I can't wait to recreate some of my favorite pictures again. In January when I make this year's blog into a book, there will be over 300 entries - it's going to be a big book. Last year's was only 58 entries! Sure I only had 4 months worth of writing, but I love going back and reading it. I have to find a new publisher this time, more professional....

Back to B. So last month we expressed some concern about his language development. He's really making progress. He has added many new words, and he can Mama, Dada, eat, wawa, bye bye, hi, and more voluntarily. He can repeat many more words, but still doesn't associate them with anything yet. It's very hard not to compare the 2 boys.  By now, Nicky had so many words, and was even talking in short 2 word sentences. He knew his colors, all the sounds of the animals, and was starting to count, and say ABC's. All the development books and websites say he is right on track and perfect, so I'm sticking with "right on the curve" for now.

Enough of the sappy stuff - here is why Brandon is so awesome. He is seriously such a happy baby. He smiles all the time - and it lights up a room.He is so content to play by himself, which is so refreshing for us. He doesn't need to be held all the time and isn't so clingy or needy. He loves to copy his big brother and tease him. Its quite entertaining to watch them interact.  We can tell B is very gregarious and easy going.  At school he flirts with all the girls, and blows kisses. He is so snuggly and warm. We haven't had to deal with tantrums and whining, he is so calm. He will fuss at times and get mad. And he does have a temper, and its so hard not to smile when hes throwing a fit, but its quick to fade.

He can stack blocks and is pretty agile, although can be a little clumsy at times too. He loves to ride on tricycles and motorized cars. He is really a little daredevil. He is starting to notice what we do and say around Nicky so we have to be more careful. Brandon needs his own special time too. He is starting to enjoy books and flashcards, and loves trains, cars, and Elmo. He loves Yo Gabba Gabba and will dance when it comes on, saying "Gabba Gabba". He likes to clap to the music and in the car the boys "raise the roof and push it out" when we dance to the music. I will have to get it all on  video one of these days. It might possibly be one of the cutest things they do together. Other than fight over who gets to hold my hand in the car. :)

Some logistics about my littlest man...he has the lightest blonde hair and hasn't had a haircut yet. Maybe next month. His eyes are still a grey blue and his is simply perfect. He is still in 12 - 18m, but starting to wear 18 - 24. Shoes size 5 and he LOVES CROCs too. He sleeps through the night 6 out of 7 nights and is so easy to put down. He still loves his favorite blankey and loves to kiss Roxy and Zeus.

Banjo, you are 16 months full of awesomeness. We think the world of you....always and forever.



My Birthday and Christmas...a repost

Since my Birthday and Christmas are less than a month away, I thought I would repost this for my husband.

I'm picky about what I wear around my neck. 
I wear these diamond initials 
However, I think I would like this A LOT. 
I definitely NEED it.



2 and a Half

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

I woke up the other day and thought, "Nicky is 30 months old". 3-0. Thirty. That's two and a half.  That's half way to three. How did that happen? I know time goes fast and its so cliche to comment on how fast they grow up, but I wasn't really prepared for that. Part of me can't wait to watch him grow up and experience all these "firsts" and part of me wants to box him up and keep him my special little boy forever. Tiny, with chubby little hands that hold mine, and warm arms that hug me, and his perfect lips that kiss me. Two and a half is pretty cool, except for those terrible parts. Which there are a lot. :) Many in fact, and the time outs have increased and so have the spankings.  But then he smiles at me, and does it matter? I am already doomed.

Nicky is truly a bundle of energy...he is always on the go - loud and demanding. he is smart and sassy, creative and sensitive. He is going through a Mommy phase, which I love. He will pat my face and give me "bunny kisses" on a whim. He sits on my lap and wraps my arms around me. He tells me he "likes Mommy." And I like him too.

I've said it before, but he continues to amazes us with his language and his thought process. He constantly says these really cute things and I will write them all down one day. My favorite was yesterday the door bell rang. Nicky jumped of the couch and ran to the door screaming, "Christmas is here!"
Grandma Booba was visiting this weekend, and when she said she was going to the new house to get some things fixed, he asked her "What's broken, Booba?" He is so cute.

He tries to spell his name "O - N - C  - Y" and can identify about 15 letters in the alphabet. He can spell STOP on a sign, although he says X for S. He gets very excited when he can identify letters.

Speaking of stop signs, he is a back seat driver and he throws terrible tantrums in the car if you don't turn where he wants you to. He loves to help Dan garden and mow the lawn. He has his own gloves and a squirt bottle and gets so excited to be outside. After school we spend about an hour playing in the dirt and squirting things.

I wish sleep wasn't still an issue, however, every night is still a battle. We have to stay consistent or he takes a mile. Some nights are better than others, and now, after months of this sleep training, we are happy when he gets into bed without a fuss and sleeps till 630 am.  Some nights I am still sleeping on his floor in his room.

Right now he doesn't like Brandon because "he's not nice", but loves Roxy because "she's cute." He loves Dino Dan on Nick JR, and still loves his tractors. He loves to call Daddy, Dan. He is so helpful and loves to vacuum and clean.. He won't eat anything right now, except mac n cheese and yogurt. He is picky with his clothes and  he loves his crocs and flipflops.He is mostly in 2T - 3T and a size 8 shoe. He is almost potty trained. We just have to get through the night.

He is fascinated by the weather and at school is the official "weatherman."  He hates bugs and screams like a little girl, which I find endearing, but Dan blames me. He is very cautious before doing anything, but once he figures something out, that's all he wants to do. His best friend is still Kylee Jo, and he loves his neighbor Colin. They play trains and tractors together everyday.

When he plays games with Brandon, I am filled with pride and love and I feel so lucky. When they laugh together I don't think things could get better.  Usually that ends when Brandon snatches something from Nicky and runs away as fast as he can, laughing. Nicky tackled him the other day. I see lots more of this in my future.

In 6 months, my little baby, will be the oldest. The Big brother. The biggest brother. I hope he knows how proud I am of him and how much he means to me.  I love him so much. I adore him. He makes everyday better and every day worth getting up.

Happy two and a half, my little angel. Mommy and Daddy are so thankful to know you and have you in our lives. We have been given one of the best gifts in the world. xo.






Abelingland is growing!

Monday, November 22, 2010
We have some exciting news! In May, 2011, right after Nicholas turns 3, and 2 months before Brandon turns 2, a new little baby brother or sister will arrive. Nicholas thinks its a girl named Brooklyn  and is adamant about that. And Brandon is happily clueless about the new addition; Dan is going to show him the ropes about being the middle child. We (I) are hoping we go the "Abeling way" and have 2 boys and then a baby girl. If we go the "Cutrufelli way", I know 3 boys will be endless amounts of fun too. At our last appointment, everything was going well...all the early testing have turned out perfectly and our due date is May 28th.

{Due to some complications with Brandon, we have to schedule a c-section during week 38 so I do not go into Labor. I am not considered high risk at this point, so I am taking it day by day.}

This pregnancy has been "FATTER" than the last two. My belly muscles opened up during weeks 9 - 11 and was like, "wow, we've done this before" and I look like I am 20 weeks.Other than being completely exhausted chasing after Nicky and B, I couldn't be happier. Maybe.

We are anxious for December 15th to get here so we can find out the gender! Pink or Blue?? At the 12 week sonogram, our nurse said 75% chance its a girl. Well, until I don't see a PEEPEE, I won't believe it.
Until the 15th, take a look and let me know what you think! Either way, the newest Abeling is already looking pretty cute!



248 Thatcher Lane

My parents are moving
My childhood home is for sale
Where I grew up and I spent 25 years
I can't imagine anyone else living in my house
with my telephone number
sleeping in my room, swimming in my pool
celebrating all the holidays in the same kitchen
But I know an address doesn't make a home
its Family
and my parents are moving to Texas
to be closer to me and the boys
and that makes me HAPPY.
"Home is where you laugh the most and love the most"
It doesn't matter if it's now in TEXAS



We Care

Thursday, November 11, 2010
On Sunday, I packed up the boys, put on their new "VMware Cares" t-shirts and headed downtown to meet up with my colleagues and friends to run (well walk) in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Nicholas ran along side for a good mile as Brandon slept. My good friend Tricia pushed them most of the way. (Thank You!) Along the way we got water and pink ice cream and were inspired and touched by the Survivors and constant messages of hope, love and faith. We CARE.



3 Years of Costumes

Saturday, November 6, 2010



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