Thinking of you Gramps, praying that God is covering you in his peace.

new digs

3916 Canal Road, Spencerport---Come visit soon! (thus the severe lack of posts ...)

11-month-old lookin' for treasure...

...his favorite place to find it? The downstairs bathroom. I know, wouldn't be my first choice either! But, if that door is open, his baby-dar picks it up and he zooms over as fast as his little scoot can take him.

Yup, we're feeling lucky to have this guy. Sad to have to (almost) say goodbye to his first special year. Now he's ramblin' all over the house and pulling up to stuff, getting into mischief.

Mom, it's about time you stop taking these ridicuous photos of me. A tiny leprechaun hat, seriously? Sheesh.

The chocolate caper

After loading the dishwasher, we were sitting lazily in the dining room letting dinner settle. Hmmm, where has Wesley scooted to? I walked in the kitchen and found him here, smiling in happy chocolate delight. He had snagged a chocolate-covered spatula that we had used to make brownies. It just happened to be right within his reach in the dishwasher. He was so proud of his sweet accomplishment, we let him go right on licking!

Valentine's Day is for L-O-V-E!

I love these guys!



Charlie wrote his pals' names and his own on each Valentine, very cute! (OK, I did have to bribe him a little with some conversation hearts, but there were some long names in there!)

Where did this crazy cat come from? I didn't have the 'heart' to tell her that there is such a thing as too many accessories...

Awww, this one, too cute for words.

He is so into the cupboards these days. He had a bang-up time in this drawer.

Oh yeah, and last, but not least, love-o-my-life!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A milestone, few months tardy.

After Wesley's nine month visit to the doctor where I had to sheepishly admit that Wes has still been getting up 1-2 times in the night, Bob and I decided it was time for the dreaded "cry it out." Some babies, like those in most parenting books, start sleeping through the night entirely on their own, in natural course--without any parental intervention. Whether it is something we are doing or not doing, we do not have those babies.

First came Charlie and at 6 months, the age that those parenting books say that babies no longer need to have a nightime feeding, we dutifully let him cry during the night. For a few nights it was painful, mom laying there with clenched fists (dad snoring) but then it was less and less so until, magically we woke up in the morning with the hip hip hooray realization that he had slept through. With Amelia, it was 8 months, same thing -- wailing in the other room, clenched fists and, ta-da, restful night! Now, with Wes, 9 months and man, we've been dragging our feet! It is a little more complicated with three kids and the boys sharing a room. The couple times we had let Wes cry a bit, Charlie would start yelling, "Mom--myyyy, can you get Wes?" Or, he would offer helpful advice like, "Why don't you try turning off the hall light because it's keeping Wesley awake." That may have, in fact, been true. But, we couldn't turn off the hall light because if we did, Amelia would probably wake up crying and say it's too dark.

I'm sure for some, even the crying it out method doesn't work. But, fortunately it does work for us. We let Wesley cry last Thursday and he cried for nearly 2 hours off and on. It was torturous for me and I had to go down to lay on the couch downstairs with the TV on to be able to bear it. Just when I was going to call it quits, he stopped. The next night was more crying, but not so long. The third night, just a half hour of half-hearted crying and finally, a whole night of quiet. Our little 9-month-old is sleeping through the night! And...is it me or is he just a tad bit cuter than he was yesterday?;)

Stats: 23 lbs, 28.5"
Chompers: 2 uppers, 2 down
Sounds: "da da", "la la" but NO "ma ma" yet!
Movin' and Groovin': n/a-- which, I must admit, is such a blessing considering the number of tiny lego bow n' arrows, necklace beads, my little pony shoes (why, oh why, do they make such things?) and such laying about, not to mention the beauty of knowing that Wesley will be more or less where I left him when I have to dash off to tend to some emergency or another. He does wiggle around a bit when he's on his back...but other than that, not much happening. I had to laugh when the pediatrician was trying to delicately tell me that, "the (pause while he searched for an appropriate word...) heavier babies tend to walk later." he, he.
Eating: ...everything! Whenever he is in his booster seat, the "happy hands" start wiggling and he waits eagerly for something to munch. He loves eggs, pasta, fish, ham, turkey, chicken, rice, fruit and veggies. Well, he loves whatever the spoon brings him. He does great with finger foods and loves to pluck up cheerios and bits of fruit or veggies. I am a little sad that the baby food days are ending. I have thoroughly enjoyed mixing up delicacies in my new food processor! He's also started to hold his bottle which is fantastic and he sucks a bit on the sippy cup too.
Other: He's started to wave and loves to have books read to him, especially 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear'--a family favorite. Then again, he also likes to eat the books so it can be a bit tricky. Still loves the tub and will stay in splashing happily til he's pruny. Looks awful cute in 2-piece flannel pjs. Laughs loud whenever he sees himself in the mirror and is also quite ticklish. Adores his siblings and always has a smile for everyone!

Farewell, Christmas- Hello 2011!

So many wonderful memories this Christmas. Highlights include: Charlie's batman costume, the first Cherry Creek Christmas program with precious kiddo performances including a duet from Scott and Aaron, snowball fights, Russ and Wesley's first Christmas with us, cookie-making with Amelia, Ryan's cookie obsession, Aunt Kat's amazing cookie abundance (hmmm, is there a theme here), Expectant Aunt Beth, and Amelia's new dollhouse handmade by Papa and Uncle Jon.

Farewell, Christmas Part 2

Merry Christmas 2010!

Because we once lived in a dark land, a time before the warming hope of Christ, but now we celebrate the Light of the World who now shines the Brilliance of Grace upon us! We wake to wonder! -"Beauty of Advent"

Merry Christmas, may you enjoy all the wonders of the season!

Wesley in the Wintertime...

OK, let's be honest. It's probably not that pleasant to be stuffed into this snowsuit. But our sweet little blue-eyed boy found a reason to smile anyway. Cousin Andrew Hempel came by to take some pics of our kiddos for our Christmas card this year. After shots by the tree, we stepped outside to take a few in the backyard. The Bannister family sure is blessed with some good photographers!

Charlie looks like such a boy in this pic. I got him and Bob matching furry brown hoodies, they look so darn cute all matchy. They didn't have them in Wes' size ;(

Bearded Bob-o and his boy. I remember Charlie wearing that little wool airplane hat, love it. That's the great thing about having a second child of the same gender (or a third, Manda...Beth!), you get to relive all those wonderfully cute duds.

The Christmas mouse and a good soup

The holiday season is here and, if you're anything like me, you are relishing in the pure delight of all December brings, from the taste of candy canes dipped in hot cocoa to the smell of a fresh-cut Christmas tree, to the oh-so-sweet sounds of holiday classics, the toe-warming crackle of a good fire, to the heart-warming good feeling of having family gathered close. Above all, I always cherish the aura of mystery and beauty that just sits above the earth at this time of year; I think that God makes everything just a little more special during Christmas because he too is celebrating his son's birth and the gift given to the world.

OK, back to reality. I had to post this pic because it illustrates so well the phenomenon of family photos (at least in our family). Someone is always grumpy. In my family, I was often this person and now, sweet Amelia is carrying on the tradition with her powerful pout.

Hmm, still pouting. She wasn't loving our search for the perfect Christmas tree. I think we made the best selection ever this year. We've found a farm that's close to us and not so busy for tree-fetching. We found this wonderful Tannenbaum (does that mean "tree" in German?) right away and got to work on the business of chopping. Charlie again brought his little plastic saw to help and I found myself regrettfully wondering if next year he will be too "mature" to bring his little saw along. I hope not. Anyway, Bob is cutting the tree down when I spot a little ball of fluff near the stem. I asked him if it might be a nest and back away to allow him to investigate. He pulled some of the fluff off and it blew away in the wind (like the 'down on a thistle'). Then he finished chopping and we went over to get it baled up for the drive home. We mentioned the 'nest' to the guy who was baling and he started poking and prodding the remaining fluff. Sure enough, out hopped a cute little field mouse and ran away through the field. The kids saw it too, so it made for a delighful Christmas memory! Of course, I did have the thought that if we had NOT mentioned the little ball of fluff to the baling guy, we might have had that little mouse jump out at home in our living room. I think secretly Bob may have thought it would be fun if that happened, you know how men kind of enjoy seeing women squirm and act all "girly"--accentuates their "toughness" I suppose.

Little Wesley's first Christmas this year. He was so cute playing with the lights and jingle bell on the tree. He probably would have enjoyed playing with the Christmas mouse too.

Since it is snowing beautifully outside and I have a quick and yummy tomato soup recipe handy from emailing it to a friend, I'll post it here. Buy some crusty bread, put on some Nat King Cole and enjoy!

Tomato Cheddar Soup

6-8 T butter

2 cloves garlic

8T flour

3C milk

1big can tomato juice

1tomato

6-8 oz. sharp cheddar shredded

Saute garlic in butter and add flour and milk. Simmer until thick. Add tomato juice, tomato and cheese. I also like to add half a can of diced tomatos and green chilies for a kick.

Chief Chews-on-Fist

Our very drooly, very happy baby with a growing appetite and two shiny new teeth is now 7-m0-old. The kids get a kick out of Wesley's tiny toothbrush! Such a wiggler, he can somehow manage to cross the room just by wiggling to and fro. He is ticklish, especially those chubby legs and is slowly learning to nap twice a day. Trying lots of new food, from baby spinach to lima beans-- there hasn't been anything he hasn't gobbled right up. Last night, he picked up and ate peas on his own and it was oh so cute to see him concentrating so hard only to lose the pea in his fist. We sure are thankful that you have joined our family, sweet Wes.

Halloween in review!

Has to be said, "Happy Hail-o-ween!" Ugh, this at least kept our candy quanities under control. We did a handful of houses and headed home to warm up at Beth's cozy Hedgegarth hearth.

Yee haw. Another round up of preschoolers for the annual harvest party. Love my little (big) cowboy and cowgirl. Worked out rather nicely that Amelia wanted to be Jesse from Toy Story this year, costume fit both occasions. Amelia was quite the spirited cowgirl--happy to belt out a robust "Howdy!" and happily prancing around on her "horse". fun times.

Love this pic, appears Buzz was having an olfactory malfunction--must have been a Zurg-related injury. I think each kid in this photo has worn the pea pod costume at one point or another, this year was Wesley's turn. Aaron and Ryan as batman and Robin- sweetest little super heroes! Love those muscles...

"Punkin tunes..." -click here

Our little pumpkin at 6 months

There is something so sweet and tender about you, Wes. You seem to be just waiting patiently wherever you are, waiting to catch someone's eye and spread joy with your smiles and sparkling eyes. I hope that tenderness is always a part of you. Wesley is a healthy 20.2 lbs and 27 inches long. He is so content and plays happily almost anywhere you put him. He still loves to snuggle with Mom and Dad and thinks his bro and sis are just so darn hilarious. You can really get him giggling if you tickle his sides! Oh, and he loves food--especially bananas and sweet potatoes!

Amelia in Autumn

Ah, Amelia. What a character this girl is turning out to be. Back in my teenage years, I remember my mom saying to me (repeatedly as I looked at her insolently over some rebellious incident or another)--"I hope you have a daughter just like you someday." Well, back then, I probably just snapped back, "I hope so too and I'll treat her a lot better than you treat me!" or something along those lines...

Anyway, I have started to reconize the, how do I put it nicely, "spunk" in my daughter that oh-so-closely resembles my own. She has this awful growling sigh of frustration that she utters when she's asked to do something undesirable or when things aren't going quite her way. Bob so generously pointed out that I make the exact same noise! OK, so this behavior might be learned, but the lack of patience and the drama behind the behavior, I'm afraid, is my own little genetic gift to my daughter. This same "spunk" though, translates into so many wonderful things--like the excitement that flutters around in Amelia's eyes, her little dancing antics, and the gusto with which she dives headlong into everything she does. And she has a decidedly sweet side too. If your chair is close enough to her at the dinner table, she'll start sidling over and, before you know it, she'll be on your lap snuggling in and giggling. She's the one always trying to sneak extra books into the night time book pile so that the time that she's cuddled in close with mom or dad keeps going and going.

Recently, there's been a new development too. She is super into her little doll who she has named "Sonna". Amelia carries this doll everywhere she goes, except outside. When she goes outside to play, she'll bring Sonna to whatever adult is nearby and give her instructions. "Here is her bottle for when she cries. Here is her book for you to read to her. Here is her blanket so she can take a nap. This is her cracker if she gets hungry." It is very cute and thrills my heart since, up to this point, she has shown little to no interest in dolls and I had kind of given up on the whole deal. But, back to the spunkiness... One day, she wrote all over Sonna's head with a red pen and said that a cat had scratched her. So she's spunky, but loving and nurturing too. Hey, who am I to judge? I think it's a great combo. But, when she drops her cup at the dinner table and, when told to pick it up says boldly, "No, you pick it up Mom," I can clearly sense that the day is coming when that same comment will fly from my own mouth...."I hope you have a daughter just like you someday, Amelia!"

Farewell to summer

My pal Lora and I were chatting the other day about how, as a parent, you find yourself wanting to freeze your kids at a certain age. Then, they get a little older and you love that phase just as much and decide this is your favorite phase. I kept thinking thoughts around these lines over the summer--thinking that I just wanted the summer to last forever and that the kids were at such a wonderful spot. Charlie and Amelia are the best of friends. Of course, they fight bitterly at times, but mostly are buds. Wesley is sweet and cuddly and so deliciously dependent on his mama. I just wish we could always have a baby around. Since it was 94 degrees yesterday, I will use this opportunity to say a fond farewell to a wonderful summer of memories.