A Walsh Family Tradition Round 2

Last year Mike and I decided that it would be a family tradition of ours to make a gingerbread house every year. Eventually I will make it from scratch but for now we use the kit Last year Mike was so busy with school we actually made it up in the vet school lab. This year we were lucky to make it in the luxury of our own home and even Leo decided to help! He loves frosting :) If you look at the last picture you will notice a stack of gummy lifesavers. Mike tried really hard to make a light post for the gingerbread house but it just wasn't working, at least we got a picture of it standing upright that didn't last long 


June enjoyed all the candy dropping on the floor she got plenty of dessert that night! The next day we had the house still sitting on the table and our cat Jenkins decided to lick the entire house. gross so lets say the house didn't stick around much longer. silly animals!

Mike takes this very seriously

Final product our goal is to improve each year

Mr. Adventure

Leo has become more stable on his feet therefore he is trying out new things. He unfortunately has realized how to climb stairs! He had successfully been able to get up three of them on his own! Of course I am literally right behind him with my hands ready to catch his fall. Once he gets tired of climbing he doesn't really know how to get back down them. That will be awhile I'm sure 

So many stairs...

Hey Mama this is fun!

Along with his many new found talents he has finally begun to say Mama!! It is sounds so wonderful! So now we just have to work on calling the right parent "mama" or "dada" because it this point they are interchangeable in Leo's world.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!

Leo finally has cut a tooth! It actually happened last Saturday but I have been trying really hard to get a picture of it before posting about it. No such luck! That boy will not stay still long enough My mom actually got him the ornament above and I guess it was just enough motivation for lil mister to get in his two bottom teeth just in time for Christmas!

New Ride

Here it is!

Mr. Christmas Lion had to join the fun

Leo has just gotten a little to big for me to carry him around in his infant car seat so it was time for an upgrade! So he got his "big" Christmas present a little early and he sure does love it! It even has a cup and snack holder oh the luxuries of babies today.

'Tis the Season!

I can't  tell you how much I love Christmas!  I have been looking forward to Leo's first Christmas probably two minutes into my pregnancy let me remind you I got pregnant with him in the month of July! So here we are a week from Christmas! I have been trying to get a picture of Leo in front of the tree but he is just so darn mobile! Far to interested in whats "over there". Here is the best I could come up with! 

I don't know about this... 

I like my hat! 

Little Stinker got one off the tree!

Every year we celebrate St. Nicholas(Dec. 6th) where we set out our boots the night before and get our ornament for the year in the morning! Leo was so excited I can't even tell you! If you are not aware of the St. Nicholas story let me share it wit you! 

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th

He had to lick it to make sure it was ok

No Jenkins you can not have my St. Nicholas gift!

I have been told that most children at Leo's age cry when placed in Santa's lap so I was worried that he would just go crazy at the sight of this bearded man! Well it turns out Leo loves strangers! The pictures turned out amazing, I am so glad we did them! 

Happy with the Ol' Man!

I would like...

Next week we have a full week of Holiday activities so the fun has just begun! 

Rant

Two months ago there were three baby stores in little Manhattan. Healthy Baby (my job), Mommy and Me (used clothing) and Hey Baby (local retail). Now they are all closed!! I am beyond annoyed. I lost my job in October which was not pleasant but I moved on. Good thing I love target! I usually don't like to complain  but BOO! sssoooo glad we are moving back home in May! Sorry all you little apple mama's and babies!

Boost the Ego

Yesterday Leo and I were walking into Target:

Me: "Leo what are we going to get today!?"
Lady Behind Us: almost screaming "He is  the ccccuuuuttteeesssttt thing I've seen in weeks!"
Leo: *smiles*
Me: Thank you! Thinking to myself "I love when random people tell me how cute Leo is" hehehe

Yey for car rides! 

Waiting in Line...

It must have felt good on his gums

Look at me!

Leo can now see the world from his feet! He hasn't tried walking along anything yet but he has become a master of pulling up on things!

June did not find it as fun

Hello Mama!

I Caught You!

Leo's fun he had yesterday morning...

Leo Changes Everyday!

Leo is growing so fast. Now that he is crawling all over the place he has figured out to pull himself up on things. It started out with the diaper bag, laundry baskets, etc.. but now he has officially started on furniture. This morning he pulled up on the recliner. He is still very wobbly on his feet so it does not last long but he sure is trying! Pulling himself up has also resulted in many new injuries mainly to his face :( poor guy hit his forehead on the bookshelf the other day and left a huge bump! He will soon enough figure it all out...

Helping Mommy with the dishes

haha you caught me! 

Another new thing Leo is into is trying to use his spoon. He really has no idea what he is doing and I am convinced he just likes to play with the spoon because it feels good on his gums. This has made feeding time extra fun because he just wants to take the spoon from me and do it himself! Oh the challenges!

You've got it backwards silly!

He has it all figured out

This picture has no story He's just ADORABLE that's all :) 

Overeating!

Thanksgiving week was ridiculous! I ate toooo much food. Let me share with you how it began:

Thanksgiving Day: ate at my aunt and uncles at noon then we went to Mike's grandmas at 1 and had another plate because Thanksgiving is the only day that that is acceptable so we as Americans go with it. We headed back to my Aunt and Uncles for the evening where I indulged myself in wine and leftovers! Oh my

Friday: Date Night Mike and I went to the Warren with balcony seats to Harry Potter! Bill Warren never wants people to go hungry while sitting in the balcony so we left there completely stuffed. Maybe it wasn't the best plan to that the day after Thanksgiving it should have been better planned to do it when I haven't ate for a few days! lol BTW Great Movie!

Saturday: We had the Walsh Thanksgiving Where we had more Turkey and the finest stuffings.

Sunday: Who knows what came over us but before we headed back home from the Holiday vacation we decided to go to famous daves because we had a coupon for a "free something" They don't tell you what that something is until you are there so we just assumed it was a dessert. Good thing my parents joined because we ended up getting the 60.00 dollar meal for free that feeds like 6 people!

So needless to say we have been dieting for the past couple days. P.S. Sorry if anyone reading this is hungry now.

Here are a few picture's of Mr. Leo's first Turkey day!

My Mom proud of her Turkey

Busy Carving!

He is trying to tell me he can feed himself

 Gobble Gobble

Smiling at Dad

So full! 

Passed out!

Black Friday Shopping with Mommy

Smiles!

Feeding himself at Grandma's 

So Sleepy!

Early Morning

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are about to head out to our various family dinners today BUT first I must share with you that Leo is all ready for Black Friday with his Mommy! He has already been looking at the adds and is ready to go right after his 2 am feeding. We will see what the sales will bring! 

Showing what he wants to Grandma

So overwhelming! 

He was taken back by the prices!

Crawling!

Leo is officially crawling like a big boy! He has been itching to do it for over a month now stretching all over the place to get the objects he wants. He finally figured out how to move once he gets on his hands and knees and is now moving all over the place! Time for baby gates...

A Year Ago....

Mike and I were on our honeymoon babymoon in Chicago! I was just looking at pictures since I got Leo to sleep.We had such a great time and oh how I want to go back! I loved everything about that trip. We took the train and then mainly walked everywhere enjoying on the sites. Leo was the size of a small fruit in my belly awe! I can't wait until we take another vacation, until then I will just reminisce looking at pictures.

Breathtaking! I really did fall in love.

such tourists!

Little Leo in the womb

Puffs

Leo's New Obsession

helping mommy grocery shop for Thanksgiving!

Eating at Red Lobster with Grandma

I keep telling him it is rude to stare lol

Leo love's these things! He really can't go anywhere without them. He has tried most of the flavors and his favorite so far are the peach mango, he just gobbles them up! Now if he could just get some teeth to munch on them!