From Preston

It must be February.  It's freezing, the high was 11 today.  It's nice to have a weekend all together, but we are stuck inside.  We want to go out and play!  Mom says I need to run around... outside.  I'm not made for quiet inside activities all day long.  I don't know what "walking" is, let alone "sitting still."  We did get out of the house for a little bit, though.  We bundled up in many layers (we had to take a few things off to even fit in our car seats) and went to the grocery store.  That was our big adventure.  But I have to tell you something.  I saw YELLOW oreos at the grocery store!  Well, the inside was yellow, but they are awesome.  I have the best parents for buying them for me!  Then we went to the pet store to get some decorations for my fishies!  Then it was back to the house... back to the cabin.

From Luke:

I love the pet store!  I watched the birdies for a long time; they were right at my level.  I'm feeling much better now, so I don't want to take naps.  
This morning Mom and Dad were not ready to get up at 7am (on a Sunday), but Preston and I were AWAKE.  So when I was super sad in my crib, they sent Preston in to check on me (parents of the year over here).  Preston brought me a bunch of toys, threw them in my crib, and then climbed in with me!  We had so much fun, and Mom and Dad got up at 7:30 instead of 7.  


Here's a video of Lukey watching the birds (and exciting conversation about cat treats):

 

Preston gave me a chocolate covered pretzel.  Yum!

From Luke:

I am 11 months old today!  One more month until my Birthday!  It's an exciting time for me, I'm doing a lot of new fun things.  Two nights ago I was standing in Preston's room, holding on to his dresser, while he was getting his pajamas on (and by that I mean that he was dancing around the room, being distracted by everything and not actually putting his pajamas on at all, but I suppose, eventually, pajamas were the end result) Mom and I played a game of "come to Mommy."  She sits a foot away from me while I smile and laugh and hold onto things and eventually, if I am brave enough, I let go and take a few tiny steps.  I totally did it!  I took two tiny steps toward Mommy before tipping over.  Mommy and Daddy clapped, and I clapped, and Preston danced around the room completely oblivious to my accomplishment.  It was an exicting night.
Then, the next night Mom and I were playing the same game.  I bounced and laughed and held onto the dresser while Mommy encouraged me to walk, but this time I was not so brave.  I took one step, while still holding on, and then crawled the rest of the way to her.  Then I clapped my hands, because I did it!  I made it to Mommy.  But Mommy just laughed at me.  She said I had to take STEPS if I wanted her to clap for me, not just crawl.  Maybe next time.
I'm also trying out a few words.  Preston has two fish in a fish tank, and I love to watch them.  I've been working on the word "fish," but it mostly comes out as "i-sss."  I yell "STOP" when Preston yells "STOP."  And I love to put at things and say "THIS" (although it sounds a lot like my version of "fish").  Another word I'm working on is "cat" although it sounds like "dat."  I mostly communicate by shrieking.  It works well for me.  I get what I want.
I LOVE the trampoline in the basement, I have the whole thing totally figured out.  I also love to dance and I have my own personal jukebox in the corner of the living room.  It's this symphony machine that plays music while you add different instruments to it.  I push all the buttons (we all know how I love buttons) and dance by bouncing my knees.
Here's a video of me on the trampoline:

Mom and Dad had a very busy weekend with the Symphony Ball on Saturday and the Bach Family Concert on Sunday.  I had a fever and an ear infection all weekend, which was no fun, but the Grandparents were here to babysit so we made the best of it.  On Monday morning Mom took me back to the pediatrician, which is when we found out it was an ear infection.  But because my fever was gone and the infection wasn't terrible Mom and the doctor decided to see if I could clear it without the help of an antibiotic.  I've already been on a few in the last few months, so it's better if I could handle it on my own.  My fever hasn't come back all week, and although I have a bad cough and a runny nose, we think that I am on the upswing.  Mom and I get less sleep than usual when I don't feel good, though.

From Preston:

I have big news, too!  I got a..... bunk bed!  Guess which bunk I like to sleep on.... The TOP bunk.  I am higher than the fishies, and the boat, and Mommy, and Daddy, and I can see my tick-tock!  I'm higher than my tick-tock.  I have yellow sheets!  And, guess what, Lukey can sleep on the BOTTOM bunk when he gets bigger.  I climb the ladder up to my bed!  

From Daddy:

Tonight Carrie was at gymnastics with Preston, so Luke and I were hanging out in the basement.  I was trying to edit a video while Luke played, but he kept trying to kill himself (by climbing the stairs).  I was "over it" trying to rescue him every five seconds, so I put up a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs.  As soon as Luke realized that that game was over he decided it was time to touch my tweeter.  He knows better.  He's just a naughty boy.  So I scooped him up one last time and brought him over to where I was working on the computer.  He was quiet for a few minutes, until the next thing you know my computer shuts down.  We all know how much Luke likes to push buttons.