Chloe's New Do!

I cut Chloe's hair a few days ago. Pretty stinkin' cute!

Mom Moments

I just tried going to sleep a few minutes ago & I was compelled to get up & write this post. You see, I had a mom moment. I am sure all you moms out there understand exactly what I am talking about with these moments & I dedicate this blog post to you. We all get tired & frustrated sometimes & pray "just some more patience, please, Lord" or "if I could only be a better mother, Lord" but, then He surprises you with these moments. You know, it's a moment of overwhelming pure delight in your children. A moment of when you happen to sneak a peek on a sleeping little one to find her fast asleep in her bed, all snuggled in with her stuffed animal friends surrounding her. You tuck her in, kiss her goodnight, tell her that you love her one last time that night, & you see her sleeping so peacefully & securely that your heart melts with love. Something wet is leaking on my cheeks...there it is, a mom moment. Or when a little one is just discovering his world around him & all he wants to do is find out about you. He climbs up on you & with his little, sweet chubby hand he seems to want to memorize your face & with adoring, smiling eyes he coos at you. At ME. I think, "this leaking on my cheeks has to stop", but wait...another mom moment. Or when, out of the blue, you hear "I love you, mommy." Be still my heart, my sweet little ones. What a privilege these moments are; so very precious. And yet, how much more precious is our Father in Heaven. What's this...a child's moment. I seriously need more Kleenex.

Eliot stands up all by himself now.

Hailey Turns 2 & More Cute Pics!

We went to Hailey's "Thomas the Train" themed birthday party last weekend at the Sac Train Museum. Chloe likes Thomas & all the trains, too, & had so much fun. I posted a few cute photos below. Choo-Choo!

Chloe on the party train!

All the kids singing Happy Birthday to Hailey.

Eliot crawling & exploring. He can totally crawl now, is practically pulling himself up all by himself (let's just say that we had to lower his crib to the lowest position last week because he is that close to standing all by himself) & he is cutting his two bottom middle teeth. Boy, lots happens to these little ones all at once!:)

Some pretty cute kids enjoying some birthday party fun!

This is just a random photo that I thought was so cute. Chloe is on her way to bedtime. How many "friends" can that girl carry?:)

Oh, So Cute!

Eliot just before bathtime

Chloe talking to Gma Julie

Look at me...I am a big boy!

A Farewell To Jack

Our cat, Jack, passed away on Sunday. We have been kinda in the dumps about it around our home the last few days. So, I thought I would post a slide show of some of the photos we have of Jack as a nice reminder of the blessing of his companionship to our family. I rescued him from the SPCA (where I worked) almost 7 years ago. He lived through us fostering many different kitten litters, fostering a few puppies, 3 different moves, 2 babies, & a kitty that adopted us about a year ago, Tiger (he is our outdoor kitty, while Jack was indoor only). Jack showed us love & loyalty, with just some minor annoyance or a look of "Ok, I will put up with you." But, as my sis-in-law reminded me, he had special qualities that you do not normally see in a cat (he was so wonderful with everyone, kids, adults, & even other animals, he knew his name & would come when called & would jump up on you for attention), so, we thought of him more as a dog-cat. So, heres to you Jack...thanks for all the fond memories. We will miss your fuzzy, purring warmth.

I Am Trying To Read J Crew!

Eliot is trying so hard to crawl now. He sits really well on his own & can army crawl so fast!! Papa D & Gma Julie were visiting last week & we captured Eliot on video army crawling to get the J Crew magazine from Gma Julie. It's hilarious to watch this guy in action!

Happy 2008!

Eliot Got One Before Daddy Did!

Daddy is just a little jealous that Eliot got a cop car before he did!:)

Thanks, Papa Tom & Mama Kris...I really like my new toy!!

The Hamster Maze

Chloe got this super fun tent system from Papa Tom & Mama Kris for Christmas. Once we got it set up we looked at it and thought it looked just like a hamster cage with all its colorful tubes, etc. We had a great laugh! Chloe has so much fun crawling through the tunnels & having Jack (the cat) run through with her. She especially loved it when daddy got in it and Eliot, too (see photos below). Even her cousin Aidan has been over to play in it with her and they have so much fun together. We hear Chloe yelling "Come on, Jack" or "Come on, Daddy" when she wants us to crawl through with her. Did we think this was our house? It is a pretty fun place for the kiddos and that makes our hearts happy.:)

Thanks, Auntie Di, Uncle Gordon, Hope & Hailey, for my dress up clothes & Sleeping Beauty dolly (you can sorta see the dress in the above photo & she is holding the dolly whom that and mickey mouse are the two she loves to carry around).

Christmas Night

We were at my folks for dinner & more Christmas fun!

The cousins...good buddies!

The littlest one's first Christmas dinner.

The spread & the fam

Merry Christmas!

I was able to take a moment this am to quickly post some adorable photos. We will be on our way to Grandpa & Grandma's house for more Christmas fun and dinner with my side of the family & some friends very soon today. Merry Christmas, everyone!




We did not see Nate's side of the fam for Christmas this year because it was the year to be with my side and Nate's side was all in So Cal this year and we stayed at home. So, this is a little thank you note to them: Thank you, Papa D, Mama Julie, Mama Lois & Mama Flink for all the fun gifts you gave us. We love you! Love, Chloe & Eliot. We look forward to more Christmas fun with the Doyles when they get back home!

Christmas Eve Family Photo

We attended our church's candlelight service on Christmas Eve. It was very beautiful. We really took the time, as a family, to worship Jesus & reflect upon the miracle of His birth. My parents came with us and then we headed back to our house for a pizza dinner, some cheesecake, and a lot of fun visiting!

Wise Actions & Words of Babes

Sometimes at nap I let Chloe take a few books in with her to quietly look at. And now we keep her door opened a little so she can go out to go potty if she needs to. Well, I was just checking in on her at nap today and this is what I saw...her baby Jesus story book laying over her face while she slept. What a precious sight! She tells me daily that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of baby Jesus and that Santa Claus is not real, he is just for fun. Such wise words from our 2 year old! I know that she is just repeating a lot of what she is taught from us & from Sunday School, but, my fervent prayer is that the Lord will continually guide us in teaching her about our Savior, Jesus Christ, so that He may soon become her personal Savior, as well. We pray this for Eliot, too. And in as much as I think we are teaching our children, I know they are teaching us, too, about unconditional love. And when I see stuff like what is in the photo above, my heart just sings as Christ just shines through our children.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

We have such cute kiddos (love the gingerbread jammies)!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

We went to the Holiday Festival in Sutter Creek on Friday nite.

Santa was there...Chloe was too shy to sit with him so we both spoke with him.

Eliot all bundled up in his bucket.

We stopped at Starbucks afterwards to get a warm drink.

We were grovin' to some Harry Connick, Jr. & Frank Sinatra Christmas albums while we trimmed the Christmas tree & decked our halls.

More Trimmin'

Eliot's 1st Haircut

Yup, it was time...I cut it last week. Such a handsome boy!

Our cute kids!

Eliot sorta sits without help (I call it "the fold sit" for obvious reasons).

Thanksgiving

The Doyle's hosted a great thanksgiving meal this year. Gpa & Gma Traxler, Grt Grandma Flink & Grt Uncle Don stayed with us for a few days. Grt Gma Lois & Mary stayed with Amy & Trevor. It was a lot of fun & the food was yummy, yummy! The kids continue to do great! Chloe has been diaper free & accident free (night time too) for two weeks now, yippee, & Eliot had his 6 mos doc app today & is growing well. He is now in the 64% for weight at 18 lbs 3 oz & 98% for height at 28 3/4" long. Enjoy some fun photos of thanksgiving day!

Who are these people? Oh, yeah, Mommy & Daddy to Chloe & Eliot (the best kids ever!)

Fun, fun!

Chloe loved to see & talk to the fam.

The spread!

The fun keeps on going!

Diaper Free!!

We have been very busy around our house, but, the biggest thing that has happened is that I started potty-training Chloe a week & a half ago & she has been diaper free ever since (it is so wonderful). It only took a day for her to really get the concept down & every day she got better & better & 3 days later she was practically accident free (she has had only one accident since then). I am totally amazed & proud of her (I was not looking forward to potty-training but I have a new confidence now!) She has even been dry at nite the last 4 nites in a row. When she gets up in the am she asks right away "Big girl potty, mommy?" & we walk into her bathroom & she can do all the steps & even wash her hands after (I still have to turn on the facet & give her soap to wash with but other than that she does all the steps by herself). Our baby girl is growing up. It certainly is nice being back to just one in diapers. Eliot is doing very well. He is 6 months old next Monday. He rolls & scoots all over the place. He smiles at everything & everyone...he is a ham! I thought I would post a cute photo of him below.

Eliot's 1st visit to HB

We went down to Huntington Beach last week to visit Gpa & Gma Traxler. Eliot met a lot of extended family & we all had so much fun! We met Ava who was born at the end of Sept to Matt (Nate's cousin) & Giselle Rudesill (she is their first baby & she is so cute!) We spent time with family, relaxed, went to the beach, & Gpa & Gma watched the kids for us for an afternoon & Nate & I were able to go out & Christmas shop & just enjoy a beautiful afternoon together. Eliot rolls all over & now even puts his legs under him & scoots forward some. He eats rice cereal & I have just started him on jar foods (he likes it all so far). Chloe is growing & learning so much. She can count to 10 (sometimes 15), knows a lot of colors & shapes, can spell her name (first & last), her words grow all the time & she says cute stuff like "What are you talking about?" And "Where did that come from?" So cute! Enjoy the slide show of the kids, us, Gpa & Gma Traxler, Grt Gma Flink, Aunt Joy, Uncle Mike, Ava, Ava's Gma & Chloe playing with the kids in Gpa & Gma's neighborhood (they were so sweet to Chloe & really liked playing with her).