Logan's 1st Restaurant Visit

The night before Logan's baptism, Dorene & Bill and Andy & Brittany came down to stay at a hotel so they didn't have to drive down in the morning.  We went out to Chili's for dinner...Logan's 1st restaurant visit.  Naturally, he slept the whole time.

Christmas at the Madorma's

(I am catching up on blogging...so sorry for the delay.)

After Christmas morning at our house, we drove to my parents house for brunch.  It was nice because we were able to leave Buddy at our house - typically my parents have to turn their garage heater on and then we visit Buddy a couple times in their garage to make sure he's not getting into trouble, which surprisingly he never did.  (My Mom is allergic to Buddy (pretty much anything that sheds) so he is not allowed in the house).

We ate a delicious brunch (including a tradition favorite - orange rolls) then immediately had the kids open up gifts.  In order for each kid to get 'their moment' and for each adult to see what they got, instead of a free for all, we wrote down each child's name along with who it was from (ex: To Logan From Aunt Dawn & Uncle Steven).  Then each adult got to pick the next name out of a hat and then we watched each child open gifts and took pictures - it worked out quite nice that I believe we'll do it that way again next year.  Logan got several new toys - it will be so exciting when he actually plays with them.

The kids went downstairs to play with their new toys and the adults opened gifts.  We all had each other's name in a grab bag.  We tried to keep it a secret, but by Christmas morning some people knew who had who. Everybody really got some nice things.   Here are some pics of gift-opening:

Michael got an acoustic guitar...

Logan got several new toys including a cell phone,

squishy building blocks,

and a play house.

Isabella enjoyed her new 'band' set (courtesy of John and I....which James, Melissa, Dawn & Steven all plan to get Logan the noisiest toys to get us back)...

TJ (& Michael) got 'swings' for their bedrooms....

Jakob got a dart gun....

Lexy probably had the best Christmas she's ever had...she got two "American Girl-type" dolls, which Grandma made her several outfits for them....and she got a horse and an armoire for them....oh, she was in heaven!!!!!  (still is)

We made my parents a Grandchildren calendar.  We do this every year and they love to see new pics of their grandchildren every month.  This is a pic of everybody gathered around to check it out. 

Grandma & Grandpa playing with Logan.

We relaxed, napped, ate dinner...and then we came home.  

Yeah, and out of all 3 houses, we somehow managed to NOT get a picture of our family by the Christmas tree....so we took it on Jan. 11th (better late than never)!

My tall drink of water...

Today Logan had his 2 month checkup (technically 2 months 4 days...but who's counting!).   Here are his stats:

13 pounds 8 ounces (90th percentile) - gained 3 pounds

25.5 inches (100+ off the charts!!!!!!!) - grew 2 inches

head: 15 3/4 (50th percentile)

Wow!  So for those of you out there that were concerned that he eats only 4 times a day (about every 6-8 hours)....no need.  He is gaining weight perfectly fine.  He eats between 6.5 - 9.5 ounces at a sitting (I pump and give him a bottle at least once a day so I can see how much he drinks).  When I told the doctor he goes about 6-8 hours between feedings her first response was 'oh, at night?'.....no, all the time.  She was amazed as it is 'quite' unusual.  But, he has done this since the beginning (I can't relate to those moms whose kids eat every 2-3 hours).  But he has the 'right' amount of wet and dirty diapers, he's gaining weight and looks 'very' healthy - so no need to alter his schedule.

As far as his height....well this would be why my darling little baby boy is not fitting some 6 month clothes!!!!!  He may very well be the only 2 month old that I know that will be in 6-9 month clothes.  He is just a tall drink of water.  :)

They were also very impressed that he holds his head up so well - and I must say that when he meets somebody new they say that he's so alert and holds his head up so well.  When he does tummy time, it is rare that he lays with his head down - he always has it picked up and is looking around.  Also, when we prop up some pillows behind him he tries to sit up - the nurse said that is a question they don't usually ask parents until 9 months.  :)

He coos and smiles up a storm!

Logan did receive two shots today...of which he did cry initially (who wouldn't?)...but he calmed down shortly after.  I have the Baby Tylenol on standby in case he gets a fever (common side affect from the shots).

Another great checkup...his next checkup is in 2 months for  a 4 month checkup.

Just wanted to give an update!

 - Proud Mom & Dad  :)

A new cousin...

Yay!  I am too darn excited right now.  I just received a text message that my cousins Justin and Jen just had their baby boy, Dylan!  Logan can't wait to meet his new (2nd) cousin (which will require a long drive or a flight...but nonetheless!).

Christmas Morning

Ah, our first Christmas as a family (we've waited so long to have a Christmas with a baby).  And oddly enough this is also the first Christmas Eve/Morning John and I have ever spent together in our own home - we've always either drove down to my parents on Christmas Eve or stayed at his parents Christmas Eve and then drove to my parents in the morning.  It was a little weird...but nice.

So after we arrived home from the Battermann's, I jumped into gear.  I still had a few gifts to wrap for my parent's house and for John and Logan.  I stayed up until 2am wrapping gifts, cleaning up the house (I didn't want to wake up to a mess) and helping 'Santa'.  Here are some pics from Christmas Eve & Morning:

We left Snickerdoodle cookies (we heard they were Santa's favorite this year...oddly enough the only cookie I baked this year, what a coincidence) & a glass of milk for Santa.

I wrapped the last gift for Logan from John and I.

And Santa left Logan a present (Santa gave Logan a Christmas book)

Santa filled up Logan's stocking...

And Santa filled up Buddy's stocking (& hung it high on the banister so that Buddy would not rip it open in the middle of the night).

And of course, the proof that Santa was there...an empty glass of milk and crumbs on the plate.

Christmas morning, Buddy and Logan (in his Bumbo) soo eager to open presents (yes, they both look very patient in this picture...but they were excited!).

But first, Logan and I took the last hershey kiss out of the Advent Calendar from Grandma & Grandpa Madorma - yay!

And John and Logan played a bit...

We opened gifts....John helped Logan...

Wow, what a HUGE bone for Buddy to chew on (which that morning he could've cared less about...until a few days later when his 'cousin' Oakley came over and showed interest...then Buddy was all about it!).

And I got my Christmas gift...a fireplace 'key' to turn on the gas in my fireplace - yes, I've lived in this house for just over 2 years and have never had a fire...so sad.  So Logan and I cozied up by the fire - it was very nice.  :)

And Buddy ripped apart a stuffed toy his 'Golden' friend Codi gave him...all over the floor (while in the background, John played Guitar Hero World Tour).  Everybody had a great Christmas!

Christmas at the Battermann's

It has always worked out so nice that we spend Christmas Eve with John's side of the family and Christmas Day with my side of the family.  So, we drove up to the Battermann's on Dec. 23rd.  For those of you not in the Chicago area - the weather and roads were just awful here in Chicago and we had debated not risking it (since we have Logan, a precious gem with us), but decided late (around 10pm) to head up there.  We got on the road at 10:30 and made it safe and sound at John's parents house around 2:45am...whew!  It normally takes about 3 hours - give 15 minutes depending....but this time was 4 hours, 15 minutes...ack!  And through the dark of the night nonetheless.  But we got there and Dorene and Bill were up waiting for us and they greeted us, took Logan and made googly eyes at him - and he made them right back at them with a few smiles too!  They were very excited.  :)  (Logan is so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents on both sides...despite the fact that he's the 5th grandchild on the Battermann side and 6th on the Madorma side!)

Our Christmas Eve day was a bit different this year...Brittany Battermann (sis-in-law) is a teacher at a school in Milwaukee and her school kids were singing at their Christmas service - so they had to leave early.  And John and I wanted to start our own traditions with Logan on Christmas Eve at our house, so we left early as well.  Therefore, Dorene was kind enough to make 2 big meals for whichever family members were able to make it at that time.  We had brunch with most of the family..then when everybody was there we did our Adult Christmas Exchange.  We each took some of the money that we usually spent on the gift and gave it to their Church's food pantry - Meghan's idea and a great one at that!  We also decided no 'gag' gifts this year (which can be hard as somebody's gift may be gold to one person and a 'gag' to somebody else, however it is still better than receiving a screeching cat in a bag - yes that was the gift I received my first Christmas at the Battermann's - hilarious at the time, but then what?).  For the most part I think everybody did okay.  I got food...which I ended up giving to the Church Food pantry and John got a tan chenille throw - which I have used every single day since then.  :)  

After the 'exchange', Brittany and Andy left...and the rest of us played a game or just hung out until church.  Alex and Ashley are still in the Christmas Children's service, however it was Ashley's last year since she goes to high school next year.  They both did great! 

We all raced home and ate dinner (another great meal by Dorene) then exchanged the rest of the gifts.  Logan really made out...and from the pictures below you can see how much he thoroughly enjoyed his first Christmas gift opening (he slept).  But we really appreciated all the gifts he got and he will use them all within the next year...and will be excited about them!

Gift opening came and went in a flash...and we were able to pack up and go by 7:45p.

I drove on the way home (since John drove through the night the night before and did a great job of staying awake even though he was exhausted!).  Although about 2/3 of the way home I decided I was too tired and we switched drivers.  I pulled off at what I thought was a decent location.  However, we pulled into a poorly lit parking lot by a closed 'little store'.  As I put the car into park, I looked up and saw a car parked about 20 feet away...behind that car was a 'man' in a Santa hat.  I told John and we both thought it was extremely creepy...and kind of horror-movie-ish...so we 'peeled' out of there & went to the next well-lit exit to switch drivers.  On the way, we noticed that the creepy 'man' was in fact a statue.  hahaha!  But still creepy!

We arrived safe at home around 11:30ish.

That, in a nutshell was Christmas at the Battermann's.  Below are some pics:

Logan on Bill's lap with his hand on Santa (his tie)

Sleeping...(go figure)

Logan in his Christmas outfit with cousin Brittany & Auntie Sandy...

Logan with his cousin Alex (only boy cousin - so far - on the Battermann side)

All the Battermann dogs dressed in their Christmas best!

Buddy in his Pajama Gram!

Logan chillin' with his Uncle Troy

A cute pic of Paula & Dave

Buddy & his loot....

Logan & his loot.....(gee Buddy - not fair is it??  hahaha)

Logan with Grandpa Santa :)  (it was sweet...Bill really wanted this pic...)

Logan with his cousins Brittany & Ashley - who are never tired of posing for a pic!

Giving their new cuz a kiss...

Brittany and I...

All the Battermann cousins in their new 'fleece' jackets Grandma got them (Logan's was not only too big to wear his just yet, but it was already packed in the car when we took this picture)

Logan staring up at his cousin Meghan with a smile... :)

Haha...my friend Abbey got Logan this cool hat...however, his head is already too big for it...so I smooshed it down as far as I could get it just for this cute pic...however it looks kinda funny!

A very nice picture of the Battermann cousins

(Ashley-14, Logan-7wks, Meghan-16, Alex-8, Brittany-17)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody!  I will post all about Logan's 1st Christmas soon....until then, enjoy this adorable picture of Logan on Christmas morning!

Pajama Gram

So I've always heard radio commercials for Pajama Gram...and have always wanted one.  Well yesterday one arrived at my door...for Logan and Buddy.  :) 

I opened it up and there were 2 little boxes inside:

In the 'PJ Puppy' box, there was a stuffed puppy dog and pajamas for Logan....red-footed pj's that says 'Baby's 1st Christmas' on the front and on the back in the 'fake door' is Logan's named monogrammed.....SO cute!!!!  They are size 6 months, so there's room to grow...but you better believe he'll be wearing these on Christmas Eve!

The 'Woof Woof' box had a doggy treat and a big red doggy-shirt that buttons in the front and has the same 'fake door' in the back with 'Buddy' mongrammed....so cute!  He will also wear this Christmas Eve.

Together...

The adorable gifts were from Joy (my Mom's cousin) & Reb - thank you, thank you!!!!

Visit with Cassie & Erin

Today Logan and I drove to our new 'neighbor' and long time friend's Cassie's house.  We hadn't seen her and her daughter Erin in a while...so it was so fun to see how much Erin has grown and all the different words she says.  Erin was very cute with Logan...she'd say 'Logan Sleeping' and would help put his pacifier back in his mouth when it fell out and he'd start crying...so cute.  :)  Here are some pictures:

Cassie & Logan

Erin looking at Logan

Erin giving Logan a kiss...aw!

In other news....please pray for Cassie's husband Jon - he was shipped over to Afghanistan recently.  We pray that he has a safe return within the year.