Christmas with the Sperling's

Every year for Christmas we rotate which family we will be with on Christmas Eve and Day.  This year it was Micah's turn to be home for Christmas.  December 19 we made our way north to Wagoner to spend a week with the Sperling family.  Micah's brothers family also joined us in Wagoner and we had a great time playing, eating, talking, and spending quality time together. And of course, opening presents. A couple days before Christmas, Micah's grandparents and a couple uncles families came to spend the day and hang out. I don't get to see Grandma and Grandpa Stucky very often and this was their first time to meet Jake and Evan.  It was so nice to get to see everyone again.

Grandma and Grandpa Stucky with Jake (6 months) and Evan (4 months)

The day the extended family came was a beautiful day.  We spent some time hanging out outside playing games, playing in the dirt (the kids), and playing with Max the dog.  It was so nice to spend some time outdoors before it got too cold.

Once the extended family was gone we spent more time hanging out and opening presents.  We played games, goofed off, made doughnuts, scared the kitty cats, and just generally had a good time.

Christmas Eve we opened a couple presents and got the boys in their matching pjs and took some pictures.  Christmas morning we opened more presents, read the Christmas story, and enjoyed Jacob's first Christmas.   Of course he is a little young to really enjoy Christmas but he did enjoy pulling paper off the presents and then trying to eat it.  Jake was extremely blessed with some great toys including his very own exersaucer. Micah was tricky enough to pull of a surprise gift for me (which I love) and get me a watch I wasn't expecting. Love it!  Micah also decided to start a tradition of getting Jacob legos every year for Christmas.  I'm thinking it's really just an excuse for Micah to play with legos.  What a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas

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6 months

6 months

December 16, I turned 6 months old. That's right, I've been on earth half a year. So far it's been pretty awesome. This past month I had my first Thanksgiving, traveled back to the USA, started cereal, and began practicing sitting on my own.  I also met Santa and had time to hang out with Nana and Papa. It's been a pretty great month.

Jacob’s Stats:

Age: 6 months

Weight: 16lbs

Length: 26.75"

Eye Color: deep blue

Hair color: Ash blonde

Eating Schedule: 6 oz in the morning and evening  5 oz every other

New Activities: I'm starting to sit on my own but not quite there yet. I roll all over and it's hard to keep me on a mat. I make noise a lot and love laughing at Gizmo.  I still smile all the time and am a very happy baby.  I'm starting to learn how to eat solids but I'm not very good at it yet.  I love textures and feeling them with my fingers. I particularly love rough texture and scratching my nails on them. 

Jacob Meeting Santa

Time with Anna and Liam

Every time we come back to the USA it is inevitable that we will spend tons of time packing up, driving, and staying at lots of different places.  Since it wasn't that long since our last trip home I was a little worn out from all the driving. So I had decided I would just hang out in Houston until Micah arrived.  I knew this meant I wouldn't see as many people but I also knew it would give Jake and I more time to relax and spend time with Mom and Dad. Well, to my great surprise, Anna decided to drive to Houston to come see us! We were so excited to still get to see Anna and Liam but to not have to drive.  I can't even express how excited this made me.  Anna and I had a great time catching up, shopping, and eating.  Jake had fun explaining the ways of the world to Liam while Liam looked at him like "dude, get out of my space".

Home for the Holidays

On November 29, Jacob and I headed back to the USA for the holidays.  Micah wasn't able to come with us yet but he would come 2 weeks later.  Jacob once again did awesome on the trip.  He's pretty much a professional traveler.  Mom picked us up at the airport and snapped a quick picture of us.  I'm actually surprised we don't look as bad as we should after that long without a shower. 

We've spent our time in the USA without Micah just chilling in Houston.  Mom and Dad got Jacob a walker for Christmas and let us use it early.  It has been fabulous!  Jacob just recently started wanting to be standing up all the time so it's a lifesaver. 

 Mom had decorated most of the house but she didn't have the tree decorated yet so Jacob and I helped with tree decorating. Dad was out of town so it was just me, Jake, and Nana. 

We have also spent time with my Grandma Eddy and Jake's Great Grandma. 

Jake Met Santa

It was so much fun taking Jake to meet Santa.  Mom and I were shopping in The Woodlands and I just happened to find the perfect meeting Santa outfit.  So when Jake was in a good mood, I quickly changed his clothes and we went for our first Santa meeting.  It was still early in December and kids were still in school so there was absolutely no line.  Jake did great with Santa.  He sat on his lap and wondered what that beard thing was.  Our boy is such a cutie!