Caz is 3 months!!

That's right, Caz is 3 months old now. Time flies, but at the same time it feels like he's always been a part of the family. He's as cute as ever and we can't get enough of kissing his adorable cheeks, seeing him smile, and listening to his baby babble. All so sweet!

He's been in his bumbo seat a few times and could take it or leave it at this point. But he can definitely handle it. He's holding his head up very well. Strong little fellow.

See what I mean about those cheeks!

And those smiles!

I guess his funnest trick lately, besides goo-goos and ga-gas, is kicking his toys with his feet. It's a favorite of his as he smiles and talks to the animals while working on his foot-eye coordination. We consider it good practice for years later on the soccer field?!?

Another talent Caz is exhibiting...drooling. He can make spit bubbles like a champ! It makes for lots of outfit changes throughout the day.

Below are a couple of short videos of the little guy...first, kicking those little feet and second, a little bit of talking.

Happy Birthday Caz!

Christmas Back Home

This Christmas was new and different for many reasons. The biggest difference is that both sides of the family grew significantly with the new addition of Winslette, Jack, Evangeline and Caz! And Caz and Jack were baptized on Dec. 26. What wonderful blessings! Too, we drove home for Christmas, the first time we've made that long drive since the move. (Perhaps it was also our last drive, the jury is still out on that one.) And also, we added an adult member to the family as Terri and Chad are engaged!!! It all made for lots of excitement and Christmas cheer. See for yourself...

At Grammy & PopPop's we enjoyed lots of family time with cousins. The kiddos made awesome gingerbread houses. And we got to see all of the extended family too on both the Lockhart and DeFoor sides of the family.

Rockin' around the Christmas tree!

Chillin', watching a little TV.

I didn't get a shot of all the kiddos but this is part of the brood. (Let me take this moment to ask Kim and/or Kristen for one of their great shots of all the group. :) )

Presents...MC has been wishing for the peeing/pooping doll for sometime but I've always said no. It was amusing to watch her open it. She was excited but at the same time torn because I had said no all those times. I assured her I had given in and it was a-ok for Grammy and PopPop to get it for her. I appreciate her strong will to follow rules (most of the time).

Loving his skate board and Calvin Johnson jersey.

I don't think this Christmas should count as Caz's first seeing as how he slept through most of it being only 2 months old. Next year he will be much more excited and in to all the festivities.

MC wrote a book for Grammy that included each member of the family...princesses Mari Cagle, Quinn and Payton; fairy godmother Evangeline; knights Caz, Nate and Hudson; king and queen Grammy and PopPop; maids Kristy, Kim and Kristen; and dragon snatchers Britton, Brandon and Rob. It was very cute. Also, notice Quinn and Mari Cagle's matching shirts Grammy got them. They loved being dressed alike.

Christmas morning...MC got some fun American girl stuff to share with Ruthie.

Nate got lots of Pokemon stuff.

The one thing MC consistently requested from Santa was a Husker jersey. She's so cute!

Meeting Grandma. Caz is named for her dad, Casper Schaeffer.

Grandma and Papa love the Braves too. Grandma watches all the games on TV. So the Heyward t-shirt they got Nate was perfect!

I mentioned Caz and Jack got baptized the day after Christmas at Nana and Pa's church. It was a special occasion but even more so being so close to Christmas. He was almost too big to fit in the Christening outfit that Nate wore. Caz was very quiet throughout Mass and the actual Baptism as he was sleeping. He didn't even cry as they poured the water over his head. He just looked surprised to be getting a bath in his clothes.

Our dearest friends, the Tyres, made the long trip, early in the morning to be there as Caz's godparents. Aren't their boys handsome? Emery isn't pictured, but he's a doll too.

The doting big sister. The big brother was quite sweet that morning as we got dressed..."You mean Caz has sin in him?!?"

Back to sleep on the way home. He looks quite angelic, doesn't he?

It was not only special to be baptized the day after Christmas, but also special to share the day with sweet cousin Jack.

The awesome godparents...

The newest additions to the Payant family. Each of them is so precious!

And the whole pack, quite a good-looking group!

The Jackets basketball game was canceled, but Nate and Caz were decked out just the same. Go Jackets!

Nate continues to get spoiled.

As does Mari Cagle. She was so excited to get the salon chair for Ruthie.

The girls are outnumbered 2:1, but they'll gain on the boys come July when Winslette gets a baby sister!

We love matching PJs.

Like I said, Caz slept through much of the festivities. But it was great being able to introduce him to all his aunts and uncles and cousins and all the family! Best wishes for a blessed new year everyone!

Merry Christmas!

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas with all the usual festivities. We put up all the decorations adding some lit garland on the front porch this year. Mari Cagle and Nate loved putting the ornaments on the tree as they remembered all the ones they made and all the ones that were given to them over the years. Nate was especially cute as he pulled out each decoration stating, "This one is very special to me." And Caz is mesmerized with the lights, especially when we turn out all the other lights. We've done lots of shopping. Mari Cagle and Nate had their first experience online shopping. This year they picked out each others presents on Amazon. I've created a monster with Nate. He has now created a wish list of his own that is up to 109 items!! We have done lots of baking, cookies for church and pumpkin bread for teachers and neighbors. We've enjoyed Christmas music, especially "Angels We Have Heard On High" played by our favorite violinist. We visited Santa and got a great shot of the kiddos with him. Santa has his work cut out for him as their lists have changed from when he started making toys and now, the weekend before Christmas!! And now we are all set to pack! We can't wait to enjoy our favorite part of the Christmas season...time with family and friends!!! See you soon!

In our matching Christmas PJs...

On Skype with Grammy and PopPop...

On the way to MC's violin concert...

MC's duet...she's playing the melody.

Visiting Santa...

On another note, Caz turned 8 weeks old this week. Here he is peacefully sleeping in his favorite bouncy seat.

Thanksgiving

We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving thanks to a visit from Britton, Kim, Quinn & Payton. It made our holiday to have them come from so far away to see us and to meet Caz for the first time, especially considering Britton chose to celebrate his birthday with us too! If you check Kim and Britton's blog, these pictures may seem familiar. My camera battery went dead early in the visit so I copied their pictures, but when you're looking at faces like these, surely you don't mind seeing them again. :)

Payton was so sweet with Caz! I thought that her fascination with her would wear off, but she looked for him and sat with him and kissed on him and held him her whole trip. She and 'my baby Caz' had quite a time. I hope they'll be good friends always.

MC and Quinn were a pair as usual. Two peas in a pod playing dolls, barbies, princesses, Indian princesses, and anything else their imaginations came up with. The Indian princesses were so cute. They made headbands complete with Indian names, 'Gentle Heart' and 'Gentle Flower.' Nate got in on the game too playing the part of Lewis and Clark and also taking on an Indian name, 'Handsome Porcupine.' Together they made up 'Tribe Lockhart.' They hunted for food with bows and arrows made from clothes hangars. It was only slightly disturbing that they hunted their stuffed animals and then proceeded to skin and cook them. :) We tried not to read too much in to it rationalizing that they were just trying to be authentic in their play.

We tried our best to come up with fun things to do to make their visit worthwhile...we visited the Children's museum...

...the park (despite the cold weather)...

...bowling...

and Lost in Fun (an indoor playground with bounce houses, etc).

Caz was a sport on all our outings!! He tagged along sleeping most of the time, never complaining (aka crying or fussing). Have I mentioned how lucky I am that he is so easy-going?!?

And after all was said and done, the kiddos were pooped...

We really had a GREAT time.

Again, thank you Britton and Kim for coming!! Mari Cagle and Nate had a spectacular time with Quinn and Payton, and Brandon and I loved the late nights of Clue and Canasta. We LOVED having you here!!