New Year's Eve with the Pierce's

There used to be a time when New Year's Eve would find us making plans days, perhaps weeks in advance wondering if we should have a party, go to a party or perhaps hit a bar. That time is not now. Today we spent the better half of the day painting the bedroom and now we are waiting for the likes of bbq ribs and bacon wrapped scallops to finish up. I can't say we are at all upset to hang up our NYE party plans. We have plans to see good friends tomorrow and we get to spend tonight cuddled up on the couch with delicious food, cold bubbly, seasons 1 and 2 of Extras, and the best company I could ask for. Happy New Year everyone!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Here it is, 8 am on Christmas, and Gibson is sleeping. He woke up briefly at 6:40 and we changed his diaper but he clearly did NOT want to get up. I mean, DOESN'T HE KNOW THAT SANTA CAME LAST NIGHT?! Yes I do realize that this is my christmas gift. Him sleeping in. BUT IT'S CHRISTMAS!! Now the scones are fresh from the oven and I am on my second mug of tea...waiting...staring at the tree full of gifts. Even though I know what is in most of them this year, I can't wait to get to some unwrapping.

Below are some more of the "photo shoot" now that most of the cards should be out by now. Merry Christmas to you all. We are very blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Update: 9am - still sleeping. ?!?

Christmas Card Teaser

We finally decided to get Gibson's portrait taken. There is no possible way we could have chosen a busier time and we were a little nervous with our time slot;5:20 on a Saturday. That could be good or bad depending on the nap situation that day. Well Gibson took 2 great naps (we had to wake him up at 4:30 after sleeping for close to 2 hours) had a decent snack and filled his diaper right before heading out so we knew we were set. He ended up being the model model...(haha) and all the other moms and dads were showing him to their kids saying "look, he's having so much fun..." We are using some of the pictures for Christmas cards so you will have to wait to see the rest of the shoot, but below is a little teaser.


Seriously, the little drummer boy. He immediately took the only round package and started going to town on his new found 'drum.'
This one was called 'Santa Hand' and the photographer didnt get really why Chris and I think its creepy. Needless to say this one won't be appearing on the cards.

Gibson v Santa

Christmas, how can we be talking about Christmas when I haven't even done a Thanksgiving post yet? Well Thanksgiving was wonderful and spending the time with my family should be done more often. There are about 300 pictures of that weekend up on my flickr for those of you that care to look.

But now onto Christmas. We took Gibson to see Santa this past weekend and surprisingly the line was NOT very long at all. Gibson loved waiting to see Santa, he made new friends and saw all sorts of cool things while in line.

Here he is checking out the snow globe and drums on display.

He was definately the cutest little dude in line, and he was in such a good mood.

Until we put him down on Santa's knee.

Then the screaming began. Poor little guy, usually he likes new people. However, new people usually arent dressed quite like this guy. But as soon as Santa's elf asked if he would sit on a drum, well things turned around.

As we know in our house, drums are NOT for sitting...they are for drumming! So thats just what he did. He sat right down and gave Santa a little concert to apologize for busting his ear drum with screams. All in all it was not the worst experience we saw that day and Gibson is hoping for a big haul come Christmas morning.

Gibson's First Haircut

Among the other preparations for Thanksgiving, the entire family needed haircuts (some of us more than others, coughchriscough.) Who could we trust more than Jess at Sparks. Gibson was a trooper. He hadn't napped well that day and was up early so he was a little tentative at first, but then he got really curious looking at all the ladies with foil in their hair and bags on their heads. By the end he walked around like he owned the place. Thanks to Aunt Tami for playing with him while I got rinsed and Chris got chopped. You can see the entire experience here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gobosgirl/sets/72157609786808405/

BEFORE

Meeting Jess

AFTER

Way to go Cali!

6 weeks is a long time to be in a cast! Miss Cali was a trooper though, doing better than some adults I know would thats for sure. Here she is smiling and happy to be free once again. Gibson can't wait to tear up the town with you! Way to go Cali, you are a sweetheart and we love you.

Happy Birthday Papa!

So these pictures may be old, but the message is the same. Happy Birthday Pop! We love you and can't wait to see you very soon.!!

Gibson's first birthday message to his papa. Today papa got kisses over the phone. In ten days he will get real kisses in person.

The first visit between papa and gibson.

The most recent visit. We can't wait to update the photolog!

Is it Thanksgiving yet?

I don't like wishing my days away, especially when its heading towards the colder months of the year...but can Thanksgiving just GET HERE ALREADY? I am so looking forward to spending an entire weekend with most of (my side) of the family and for Chris to NOT have to work on black Friday. So this means 20 of my family members will be under one roof. Imagine that. It's going to be great!!
On the Gibson front, he is walking pretty well but still prefers to use his walkers if he can (hey its faster and it doesn't end with a fall on his bottom), he kisses (which is pretty much the cutest thing ever), he's becoming a more picky eater (lucky us) and he is the smartest little dude (go ahead, ask him where his nose is, haha). He continues to amaze us more each day.

These pictures have nothing to do with anything, but what is a post without pictures right?
Baby jail for Gibson...really he is saying, Can't we go to Aunt Tricia's NOW?!
He got himself in, he can get himself out.

My little artist, really gets into his masterpieces.

Charlize Ellen Cotterill

Welcome to the world Charlize Ellen Cotterill! Weighing in at 6 lbs 12 oz and standing (ok not so much with the standing YET) 19 inches long. She is a super cutie and didnt cause her mom a lick of pain. Can I get three cheers for the epidural??

sweetie face

Relative Size - so later we can look back and say, you were as tiny as this penguin!

nose to nose. Love at first sight for sure.

Congratulations to Kathy Jo, Paul and big sister Cali!

EDIT: Due to early misinformation from the dad, the middle name Cassia was not given the seal of approval from the mom. Charlize's middle name is Ellen, a family name. I don't expect her name to change again.

Trick or Treating

A few actual trick or treating pictures...it goes without saying that Gibson thought trick or treating was the best thing ever. People giving him treats, all the kids outside, CHOCOLATE. Yeah, he had a blast.
hugging a fire hydrant

more treats mom?

Justin and Chris - they were not in costume...haha.

Taking a stroll to work off those halloween calories! He is just as cute going as he is coming.

BLUE TUBE - Gibson loves this tube at the playground.

In other news, Gibson started walking - like Frankenstein, but walking nonetheless. He thinks its so much fun to hobble over to us and fall into our arms. We think its pretty fun too. He also, unfortunately, is still having problems with allergies so we will have him on the nebulizer for a few more weeks, and the Doctor said that he will most likely need it thru the winter. But he is pretty used to it and loves to watch Yo Gabba Gabba while sitting in our laps while we use it.

Lastly, and in non-Gibson related news....Kathy Jo, Paul and Cali will be welcoming baby girl #2 to their family this Saturday and Cali is scheduled to get out of her cast on 11/20. I can't wait to squeeze the new baby (gently of course) and to run a race with Miss Cali!

Happy Halloween!

What a day so far! We haven't even stated trick or treating yet and we have had so much fun already. Channeling my inner Martha Stewart, in our family we call it channeling our inner Tricia, I tried my hand at making Gibson's costume. Bam Bam if you can't tell, haha. He acted like a pro and would even bang his club when we would say bam bam. I suspect Martha would cringe if she saw the costume, but I'm pretty sure Tricia would be proud. We spent the day with bff Cali and Mom at the Turtle Back Zoo and it was a beautiful day spent in great company.

Our little caveman

Bam Bam

Cali-roo

The guy at dunkin donuts gave each kid a munchkin. It was like handing Gibson the winning lottery ticket. He ate it up in about 3 minutes.

And then fell immediately asleep for the rest of the car trip.

At the zoo - this pose started a whole set of pictures. They are on the flickr account.

Buddies share their goldfish

Cougar playing with a pumpkin

Otter playing with a pumpkin of a different sort

Having a bit of lunch

Watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" with dad. Now Gibson is planted in front of the window waiting eagerly for more kids to ring the bell. (which started ringing at 4 pm if you can believe that!) Just wait til we suit back up to go hit up the neighbors. He is going to love it.

Happy Halloween everyone!

worst updater ever

I KNOW I KNOW! I am the worst. Life is so busy. Work is so busy. I keep thinking I'll have a moment, and then another day is over and so it goes. I manage to get pictures up on flickr (hint, there are tons of new pictures on the flickr) but that seems to be it. Oh and then my new camera broke, and then poor miss Cali, Gibson's bff, fell off a chair and broke her leg, and things have just been crazy. Ok I don't mean to compare my broken camera with sweet cali's leg, please don't get me wrong. It's just been busy.

Have I mentioned Gibson's love of socks? He really loves his socks. He loves holding them, he sleeps with them, and sometimes he takes a bath with them too.

Playtime at the Pierce's.

Time for a little arts and crafts.

My drooly boy. He has at least 10 teeth now and his molars are coming in as I type. He makes drooling look, well, wet.

I will do my best to at least stick pictures on here on a more regular basis. Love to all our family and friends!

We interrupt the long overdue vacation finale for this special announcement...

TODAY GIBSON IS ONE YEAR OLD!!

I have no idea how time went so quickly but I do know that he is the best thing to ever happen in my life. Every day he amazes me more and more and just when I think he can't ever get any cuter he up and does just that. On top of it he is super easy going and smart as can be.

This weekend was filled with fun, parties, friends and cake. Lots of cake. I will put up more pictures soon but we are pretty tired in this house today. Happy Birthday Gibson Pierce!! And many many more. Your mom and dad love you tons.

The bib don't lie.

Pretty much the best cake ever. Chocolate frosting would have tasted better but then it would have been hard to see the guitar. Delicious sans chocolate frosting nevertheless.

Cake for dinner. Birthdays are awesome.

Thanks so much to everyone who put up with the rain on Saturday and came by to wish our little dude a happy birthday. Special shout out to Mr. James Cook for going above and beyond the call of friendship. You, the Mrs. and Riley were missed all weekend.

Vacation Update - Part Three

Friday. Friday was super special. For the first time in 6 years all 5 Shone siblings were together and it was a BLAST. Yes it was very very busy and loud but it was still the best day all year.
Gibson woke up and had an early morning "air drumming" contest with his cousin Joe.

And then Mike, Mary, Jessica, Nick and Chris showed up.

This is my beautiful niece Jessica Shone. I have waited a very long time to meet her and I can't wait to see her again. She was pretty much smothered with kisses by all her aunts and uncles.

This is Nick and Chris Shone, the youngest twins in the family. Besides being absolutely adorable, these two are BUNDLES of energy. It was hard keeping up, but sure was fun trying.

Cousins at play. (and an aunt or two)

Gibson and his Uncle Mike.

Finally, the Van Rheenens joined the party. Soon after TnP and family arrived and we were finally all together.

Aunt Judy and the Jacob.

These are the most beautiful women that I know.

The Shone men. The only bad part of the entire day was Pop getting hit with a baseball. You can see his shiner get better and better in pictures that will follow, but that is the only part of the day I would change. First there were this many.

Then we added this many.

And now we have this many. (and we are still missing a few in this picture)

Seriously, even with the 2 am bedtime and the constant activity, Friday was amazing. The entire week/end was great, but Friday is a day I will never forget. I love you family!!