Brothers!

Auntie Meghan took this picture last weekend when she was watching the boys - so precious!

Milo has really impressed us with how well he has handled the transition to being a big brother. There is rarely ever any jealousy, and he has really stepped it up in terms of becoming more self-sufficient, especially when he knows Tod and I are busy with Brooks. He is such a great kid!

Brooks is doing wonderfully! He loves to smile, giggle, and "talk," and his latest trick is talking while stuffing an entire fist in his mouth! He also enjoys grabbing at the toys hanging above him while laying on his play mat. He rocks from side to side when laying down, but hasn't quite rolled all the way over yet - he's so close! He is also finally sleeping through the night. Tod and I couldn't be more thrilled about that!

Because Brooks was a preemie, he is more susceptible to getting RSV, so the doctors advised us that it would be best for him to stay away from the germs of the daycare setting at least through cold and flu season. He stays home during the day with our nanny, Cheryl, while Milo goes to preschool full-time. Brooks and Cheryl get along wonderfully!

Skating Lessons

Saturday was Milo's first day of skating lessons. They started off using the cheater bars, but by the end of class they were taking steps without the cheaters and had learned to stand up from a falling position. There was a LOT of falling - it made my bones hurt just watching! But Milo bounced back from each fall very well. At the end of class he told me that he had "some" fun but not a lot. But he did say that he wants to go back. In fact, when he woke up on Sunday, he asked if it was a skating lesson day!

Early Morning Visitor

This morning, Tod went to wake up Milo so we could start getting him ready for school. Milo wasn't in his room. Tod walked out of Milo's room and past Brooks' room, from which a mysterious light was shining. He went into Brooks' room and found Milo IN THE CRIB with his little brother! Milo told us that he wanted to snuggle with Rocket. He loves snuggling in the morning, but usually it is with me, so I'm feeling a little jealous, but it was just so darn cute that I think I can handle it!

Happy Holidays 2011!

Milo's 4th Birthday

We celebrated Milo's 4th birthday over the weekend. Our future marine biologist wanted to go to the aquarium at the Mall of America, so we rounded up the cousins and a couple friends from school for a behind-the-scenes tour. It was pretty cool to see the kitchen where they feed all of the animals and the lab where they test water and sick animals, and also to get a different view of the tanks. The aquarium has a glass tunnel with a moving walkway that goes right through the bottom of the tanks, but on the behind-the-scenes tour we were able to see the tanks from above and look down on all of the people going through the tunnel - pretty cool! Happy Birthday Milo!

Birthday Boy!

We're sick of Milo asking to play Angry Birds on our

cell phones, so he got his own Leapfrog video game player.

Hockey skates! We start lessons in January.

The kitchen at the aquarium was stinky!

Touching the star fish and sea urchins

Porter, Cali and Milo being silly in the aquarium tunnel

More silliness

Meg and Al got him a punching bag Viking

Blowing out the candles with some help from Cali

And a cute one of the little brother for good measure :)

Breakfast With Santa

We took the boys to Rush Creek Golf Club yesterday for breakfast with Santa. We were expecting some hesitation when it came to actually meeting Santa, but Milo jumped right on his lap! And Brooks didn't seem to mind him, either.

Interestingly, in the days leading up to the breakfast, we asked Milo what he was going ask Santa to bring him for Christmas. He refused to tell us, insisting that it was a secret. And even after he had his heart to heart with Santa yesterday, he is still refusing to tell us what they talked about!

And here's one of Brooks with cousin Sydney, who absolutely LOVES holding him!

Growing Fast!

At Brooks' 2-month check-up last week, he weighed 9 pounds, 6.5 ounces. He's still only in the 10th percentile for his age (3rd percentile for height), but the doctor was thrilled with his progress. He's growing so fast!

Nice and clean after bathtime!

Finding his voice.

Look at those chubby cheeks!

Talk about growing fast, Milo is 3 going on 8!

Such a handsome, sweet boy!