Christmas 2016

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Traditionally in Denmark the 24th is the biggest celebration day.  We start with church at 11am where I again this year sung "O' Holy Night" as the praeludium.  It was extra special to sing it this year as in my heart it was in memory of my Mom.  We came back home for lunch and naps before heading to Søren's sisters house.  We had such a wondeful time celebrating with Ulla, Peter, our 2 nephews Lukas and Nikolaj, niece Celina and Søren's Mom Inger.  It was a real party with so many of us.  Our kids absolutely adore their cousins so it was just a joy to see them all hang out and play together.  The afternoon went fast and soon it was dinner time.  We had "flæskesteg" (pork roast with crispy fat strips on top), duck breast, 2 kinds of potatoes, red cabbage and french chips (ha ha...regular potato chips...it is considered fancy in Denmark).  Then for dessert we had the traditional rice pudding with the almond hid in it.  This year we had 2 hidden almonds; one for the adults and one for the kids.  Lukas and Inger won!  Silas was cute, he really wanted to get the almond but took it well that he didn't.  Benjamin didn't even want to try the dessert.

After dessert it was time to dance around the tree and through the house before distributing presents.  Nikolaj, Celina and Silas distributed and we took turns opening presents in a circle.  All of the kids were really good at watching what the others got and took joy in seeing others happiness.

Then there was time to play a little bit and have some candy, etc before driving home.  It was a great night!

Christmas morning the boys had filled stockings and enjoyed looking at what was inside.  We had saved the present from us for the 25th so the boys got suprised with new (used) pedal tractors and trailers for outside! They were excited and it'll be fun to really break them in when the weather gets nicer.

Otherwise the rest of the day consisted of building legos and playing with new toys! It was a wonderfully relaxing day which ended with Farmor (Inger) visiting for dinner!  We are so blessed to have so many days together as a family!

Playing in the wrapping paper!

Enjoying the new gifts!

Enjoying the new gifts!

Liam 3 months

Liam is now 3 months and still changing a lot.  He is still a very content baby who likes to sleep.  I think that he is so content because he is so good at sleeping.  We know him now and he likes and needs longer naps.  Many times after 30 minutes he wakes up and looks totally awake.  If we take him up then he will get fussy after 20 minutes or so, but if we use 10 minutes on trying to get him to sleep again, then he will sleep for another 2-3 hours!  He has begun to sleep outside in his baby carriage for most naps and somedays he has slept until 7pm outside.  Silas and Benjamin still adore Liam and enjoy trying to make him smile and laugh.  Liam still sleeps really well at night usually taking a 5-6 hour stretch the first bit and then just eating and falling back to sleep.  He will then eat again around 5 or  6 am and sleep another 3 hours.  What a blessing!

In general we feel so blessed to have gotten such a good start with Liam.  We all love him so much and he adds so much joy to our family.

Other notable traits:

1) Losing hair.  He had so much long and dark hair when he was born, but it is now falling out.  Mostly in a ring above his ears, and in front.  What is growing in is a lot lighter!

2) Makes a lot of eye contact.  He can just stare down anyone.  If you first catch his eyes he will just look at you forever.  If you talk to him in a high voice he will give you the biggest smile, and if you pretend to sneeze he laughs!  It is so enjoyable!

3) Is becoming quite chatty.  He will look at you and give these high screech noises and coos.  Silas and Benjamin try to imitate him and then Liam really gets going.

4)Rolled over once from back to stomach. He can be on his stomach for 10 minutes or more.

5)Likes to follow things with eyes.  He can be a bit fussy and then if you hang something above him to look at he will calm down and follow it.  (It also works to talk to him...I guess he just gets bored some times)

6) Will smile at strangers and doesn't mind being held by others...but you can tell he smiles extra easily to Mom, Dad and his brothers.

7) Even if he hasn't been up from a nap very long, he almost always falls asleep in the car.  Also if its just a 5 minute drive to pick up the boys from preschool. 

8) Started going to baby swimming with Mommy.  Liam enjoys laying on his back and looking up at Mommy.  He smiles a lot and likes to kick in the water.  We have also tried going under water a few times.

9) Weighs 6.7 kg and  is 63 cm tall.

Benjamin starts preschool

Proud boy with his lunch box!

On December 1st Benjamin started at the same preschool as Silas.  He had no troubles starting, at all.  He was used to coming to the preschool and it seemed like already on day 1 it felt like home.  Already his first weeks he has gone to sing at the church 2 times, had a gift exchange game, made a Christmas present for Mom and Dad, tried multiple different puzzles, etc.

In the morning he is in his own group with others his age and has made a few new friends already.  In the afternoon he takes a nap on a mattress inside and then gets to go outside and play, where I often find him when I pick him up around 2.30.  He is often playing with Silas outside when I pick him up and it is fun to see.

Benjamin is so proud of being a big preschooler now and every morning when we drive by Margit, his former daycare place, he says "Mig not go Margit...mig go preschool"!  It's great it is all going so well. In the morning he just runs in and starts playing and doesn't have time to even wave goodbye!