Playgroup Christmas and Early Parlato Christmas

The weekend before Christmas was very special for us! Grandma and Papa Parlato came to celebrate our early Christmas, and the kids enjoyed our playgroup party with their buddies. Steve and I were even able to go out on a date night for my birthday to Volt in Frederick. It was a great way to start off Christmas week!

Allie and Lucas "Santas"

Snowman bowling

Frosty Toss

My little music enthusiast was beyond excited by his new saxophone!

Delivering presents to Papa

For you Grandma!

Another instrument...imagine how "musical" our house now sounds ;)

It's a tent!

A "take apart car" for the engineer in him :)


Allie is content with the ribbon :)

Allie is 8 Months Old!

Let's see, what's new with this joyful baby?!?! She loves food, and is very good at using the pincher grasp to get finger foods. She has tried soft apples, carrots and peas as well as toast, Cheerio's, roast chicken and turkey. She is able to get in a crawling position from a sitting position and vs. versa. She is working her way to crawling, she almost has it! She has become more vocal and especially likes to say "Dada". We have been practicing standing at her play table but she's not quite independent at that yet. She is a good sleeper during the night, but those naps are still tricky! We look forward to sharing in her first Christmas soon!

Trimming the Tree

The first weekend of December we put up our tree and decorated our house. I love the atmosphere during the holidays!

Lucas hanging an ornament

Sharing one with baby sister

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving was spent in Rochester with my side of the family once again. We were excited to bring Allie into our tradition! We had a lot of fun seeing family and friends. Lucas especially enjoyed our trip to Strong Children's Museum this year. Here are a few photos from the holiday!

Sewall family of 4

My little turkey

Allie reading a story at cousin Nicole's house

*The following pictures are all taken at Strong Children's Museum...coolest place ever!

Sesame Street

A rising musician

...or cab driver LOL! (Notice the passengers!)

Racing

Flying by "Wegmans"

We were tired so we let Allie drive us home ;)

Bath Time!

Since Allie has been sitting up well, we've decided to start giving the kiddos a bath together. They both think it is the best thing since sliced bread. The pictures are a little blurry because they are having so much fun and wiggling around!

Having fun even before we put the bath toys in the water!

Allie Elizabeth at 7 Months

Allie turned 7 months old last week! She is now eating solids 2-3 times a day. She loves sweet potato, squash, apples, pears and bananas. Peas and avocados are just "okay". This past week she tried her first puff! She has a good handle on the pincher grasp. I guess it may be true that girls find that easier than boys, because Lucas struggled to pick up his puffs for quite some time. She now prefers to sit up and play with toys around her, and is rolling around. She attempts to scooch but often ends up moving backwards :) Here are some pictures from her first "puff experience."

I'm ready to try puffs!

What is that on my tray?

Let me get it...

I like it so much I may just help myself to the whole jar :)

Halloween Festivities

We did many fun things this month to celebrate Halloween. Besides our various trips to pumpkin patches, we had a play group party, neighborhood parade and trick-or-treating with the Walshes. It was a lot of fun!

Playgroup party-Can you find Lucas and Allie? :)

This picture was VERY hard to get due to the ever enticing hay.


Look! You can get a pumpkin and this adorable baby for $13.25! ;)

John with Calina and Steve with Allie-twin April ladybugs!

Tristan AKA: Bob the Builder and Lucas the dragon

Lucas and Addison

Walking in the parade

Getting a ride in the wagon

Halloween night before trick-or-treating

"Mom, help!"

Allie just loved her brother's costume, especially the wings :)

Allie, Payton and Addison

A Trip to the Zoo

This year we waited until the weather cooled down to take a trip to the National Zoo. Grandma and Papa Parlato were in town for a visit, so they joined us. It was a beautiful day!

Lucas and Allie
One cute peanut!
Mommy and Lucas
Grandma and Lucas

Majestic lion

Sibling playtime back at home that evening

Allie is 6th Months Old!

I can't believe the first half of her first year is over! The time is flying by, perhaps because she is such a joy! Allie is a laughing, chatting, joyful baby. (Dare I say even more so than her brother was?) She is now 15 lbs and 26 inches long, still wearing size 3-6 month clothes. She sits up independently most of the time, and has two little bottom teeth! She now has solids at lunch time and at dinner time. She has tried squash, sweet potato and banana and is getting ready to try peas and pears. She is a pretty good sleeper, going to bed at 7:30 pm and waking at 6:45 am. We are still trying to get into a napping routine, this has been more challanging because we have to work around Lucas' schedule. As for now, she sleeps from 8-9am, 12-1:00pm and 3-4:30 pm give or take! Here are some recent pictures!

Look at my big girl sitting up!

She likes it!
Visiting with Great Aunts Renie and Carol