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Our little STINKER!

We have been working on potty training more lately, and first thing in the morning I always ask Hazel to try to go on her potty. She earns ONE whole chocolate chip for going "pee pee" in the potty. This morning, she headed in there (by herself) and came out about a minute later saying she would "go later." Usually this means she wasn't able to go (already went in her diaper) and will try to go later and get that beloved chocolate chip!

So, I put a new diaper on her, she got dressed and I headed for the kitchen to cook breakfast and coffee. Beau had Henley in the living room. Bella was outside. I heard Beau comment from the living room that it smelled like someone had POOPED. Well, I knew it wasn't me, guessed it wasn't him, and Henley's poops are distinct infant poops. That left Hazel. I checked her and she was "CLEAN." Hmm. I kept on cooking and Beau said it still smelled. Hmm. After I cooked breakfast, I came out to the living room and I smelled it. What is that? I walked towards our bedroom and as I passed the bathroom I REALLY smelled it. I peeked inside the bathroom and immediately spotted POOP in Hazel's green potty chair! What??

She has never pooped in her potty before. Always just pee. I was so excited and amazed that she not only went poop in the potty, but didn't come out and EXCLAIM to Beau and I that she had done so. Instead she had told us she wasn't able to go pee. That was true, but what she forgot to mention is that she had gone POOP! Woo hoo!! We made a BIG deal out of this poop in the potty. She flushed it down, did a little dance, sang a little song and got FOUR chocolate chips! Yes, we really want to encourage this behavior and I have no problem with incentives! :)

Beau wouldn't allow a photo of poop on the blog...I am sure you don't mind...but I did get a video of Hazel sharing about her poop in the toilet.

Fun Pre-Christmas Fun!

No angel or star to top our tree. Instead, Hazel's precious bus ornament (thanks Nana) that I had to put UP HIGH, so it would stay on the tree. The bus was turning up everywhere, but on the tree. Thanks Hazel! Note that the Big Bird ornament is also rather high on the tree. After a few too many adventures off the tree, he lost a leg. After mommy magically repaired him, it was determined he could use some rest and therefore, his perch atop the tree - just out of Hazel's reach. If she comes at the tree with her favorite stool in hand, I know to come to Big Bird's rescue! Oh what fun it is to be TWO and have a tree strung with tiny toys and lights in your living room. No wonder she won't leave the thing alone!

Hazel reading a Christmas story to her adoring brother. I love how she holds up the book to show pages, she is the little teacher in the house. This week she has talked a lot about how she is going to play with Henley when he is bigger and teach him things. Oh...so many things our BIG sister will be teaching her BABY brother! Are you ready Henley?

Hazel's version of Jingle Bells....

"Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all way, Oh what fun, is to ride, in a couple place, HEY!"

Hazel (aka Santa) LOVES the special star cookies made by Femeke!

Hazel in ACTION over the past few weeks...

Here are some videos of our silly girl.

A new favorite song, "I'm a Little Teapot." I die when she says so enthusiastically "short and STOUT!" She is a stout one!

Here is Kelsey DELIGHTING Hazel by painting her nails!!

Hear Hazel squeal as her Aunt Jill dances around the living room with her!

It is a tradition in our family to always celebrate a holiday by balancing spoons on our noses!

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree...

Last Sunday, we all got bundled up and set off to a local Christmas Tree farm to get the perfect tree for our home. It was so much fun to see the excitement through Hazel's eyes. Yes it was FREEZING, but she was delighted to stomp in the mud, scope out all the trees, ride on hay bales behind the tractor, and warm up with a cup of cocoa. Henley was snug as a bug in the front back I wore, barely opening an eye to give his approval for the tree. Once the perfect tree was selected (a beautiful SMALL one that fits in our small home), Beau cut it down before I could get the cap off the camera! What muscles.

Monday night we decorated the tree. Hazel helped, if helping means taking out all the odds and ends from the Christmas tub and scattering them all over the living room. She didn't quite have the patience (or dexterity) to actually get an ornament on the tree, but she sure does appreciate the tree. She loves our Christmas tree, and sits in her little yellow chair and admires the white lights and colorful ornaments.

Henley appreciates the lights and looks forward to next year when he will be stomping in the mud with his big sister.

Off to the Christmas tree farm...

We waited in the little gift shop (out of the wind and some of the cold) for our tractor to arrive.

We decided to get a Canaan Fir this year, and we are quite happy with it!

Looks like everyone is procrastinating this year...no letters?

Our tractor "chauffeur" offered to take a (rare) photo of the whole family!!

A cold little nose gearing up for the tractor to get going.

My cuties!

Beau and Hazel spy the Canaan Fir fields.

Oh...the MUD! I thought that since it was 24 degrees the mud would be frozen. No such luck!

On the hunt for our very special tree.

Hazel was very interested in her muddy boots.

I rememberd to have Hazel take her rubber boots, but of course forgot mine. Not a shot of my muddy black clogs. Yikes!

Our darling tree and my darling husband.

"Hey Dad, I can't feel my nose or toes, but I like our pretty tree."

Hazel trying to hold up the tree, "by self."

Henley and I strike a pose for the camera. Brr, it was COLD!

While we waited for the tractor to come back to fetch us, Hazel kept warm by running around.

Future track star?

A windy ride back to the car and...

HOT COCOA!

Henley was a happy man through the whole adventure (as he slept). He woke up just as I placed his carseat in our toasty living room. What a cute little guy all snug as a bug.

* * * * *

Monday night we trimmed the tree.

Here is Hazel's enthusiastic attempt to hang her Oscar ornament.

Hazel was quite excited as the decorations continued to come out of the Christmas tub.

Our Christmas Tree!

Yesterday morning, before Hazel headed for school, she had to get a photo in front of the tree. Don't you just love the hat and coat from her great-grandparents?!! They do a great job of keeping her warm in the 11 degree weather. (It really was 11 degrees when we woke up yesterday. Fourteen degrees this moring. BRRR!)

Our 2 month old BIG boy!

Henley had his two-month well-check last Thursday and he was given a glowing bill of health! As I left the pediatrician's office, Dr. Livermore stated, "You have a grand boy." I agree. Henley is grand, and has grown SO MUCH! Here are his stats at two-months...

Weight - 12 1/2 lbs - 70th percentile!

Length - 22 7/8" - 50th percentile

He has come along way from his birth weight of 7 lbs 1 oz!!

Here is a video of him later that day just after the Ducks won the Civil War...

We love you Henley!

We LOVE our DUCKS!

Today was a BIG day in Eugene for football. It was the CIVIL WAR tonight, the Ducks vs the Beavers in a BIG game. The winner of the game to go on to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It was all yellow and green at our house, as we are DUCK's here.

Hazel has been enjoying this song, I Love My Duck's, and plays it incessantly (if allowed). It looks like our cheering and support for our team helped, as the Ducks pulled out a close win over the Beavers tonight. YAY!!! We sure to LOVE OUR DUCKS!

Hazel was excited to wear her Oregon Duck shirt today.

Is it just me, or doesn't Henley's head resemble the Oregon "O?"

Upright, his head still resembles the "O" of OREGON! Go DUCKS!

Our little Ducks in training. QUACK QUACK!

Sharing a secret?

Hazel poses for another photo. No she doesn't carry Henley to the car every morning.

Festive piggy tails.

GAME TIME - Father and Son. Beau took a break from the game to smile for the camera. Henley was too intent on the action to smile for mommy.

Me and my future Duck recruit...soccer, football, basketball...I'm not picky.

Post WIN - we celebrated!

ROSE BOWL HERE WE COME!

(Not literally, but we will be watching for sure!)

Hazel watching the "I Love My Ducks" video...note how she picks up on the lyric about Dan Patrick and thinks it is a song about our Patrick!

Thankful...

...for a great family and Thanksgiving!

We spent the holiday at my parent's home and were joined by my brother Patrick, his wife Bonnie, and Bonnie's mother, Maryann, as well as my Aunt Jill, cousins Kelsey and Chris, and Grandma and Grandpa. The latter group came all the way from California to join us! What a lovely time had by all as we ate far too much, laughed until our insides ached at the silly antics of Hazel, snuggled Henley in shifts, and watched gobs of football (that was Beau).

Henley Roland enjoyed meeting his namesake, my grandfather and his great-grandfather, Roland, for the first time. What a special greeting that was. Henley seemed to really enjoy all the love showered on him by all his relatives. He showed his appreciation with many smiles!

Hazel was our little entertainer. She danced, she sang, she ATE, she talked and talked and talked and talked, and she prettied herself (and others) with all sorts of lip glosses and nail polish. (Thanks Jill!)

Jill meets Henley

Hazel in her fancy coat and hat from Great Grammy and Great Grandpa. She loves her pink backpack and fuzzy froggy too!

Great Grandpa, Roland, with little Henley Roland.

Hazel thought Kelsey could use some lip gloss.

Great Grammy (GG) with Henley. He was smitten with her...and her glasses!

Henley with his adoring cousin, Chris. He hopes to have enough hair for a spiffy hairdo like that someday!

Too bad Kelsey lives in California, she would make a wonderful babysitter for Henley!

Hazel "helping" Nana with her cornucopia.

The tur-goose-hen. (Chicken inside a goose inside a turkey) Doesn't everyone have this on Thanksgiving?

Bella quite interested in the tur-goose-hen!

A good bath to clean off the cranberry sauce and pumpkin cheesecake!

Henley catches on to peek-a-boo rather early!

Henley appreciating his mommy's humor and beauty! :)

Hazel found Jill's makeup!

Mischievous as she goes around putting Jill's blush on EVERYONE, including Papa, Daddy and Great Grandpa!

We all love our Aunt Jill!!
(Hazel clung to Jill as they had to leave on Friday. I haven't seen her do this before. She was very sad to see the California crew leave!)

Henley loved looking at the green OREGON DUCK beads hanging from the chandelier. (Upper right corner of photo)
GO DUCKS!

Henley content in Chris' arms yet again.

Sweet cousin Kelsey!

A special moment captured.

Patrick and Henley - Henley loves his Uncle!

Lily drooling over Papa's dessert.

Hazel was intent to give Kelsey a more stylish do.

Jill's hair needed some Hazel design as well.

A little more work on Kelsey. She concentrates so much as she works magic with her comb. Kelsey was a good sport!

Ears Hang Low Video...

Here is Hazel with her favorite "Ears hang low" video that I found online so she can watch over and over again. She knows the button to push on the computer to keep herself entertained over and over again. She didn't so much enjoy when I wanted to catch her singing along for a video. But...that gives you a glimpse at my little girl with a quickly emerging sense of SELF! :)

This one above is funny as she seems to look for the singers behind the laptop!

This is a favorite of Hazel's lately! Hmmmm

Here she is singing along.

SMILE!

Had to share this Henley smile at seven weeks. :)