Remember November?

Hi, it's me, Piper. Mommy has been kind of busy lately, so I thought I'd help her out with her blog. I mean, how hard is typing? You just bang on the keyboard (something I'm really good at!), so I'm going to put up a post for her. Shh! She thinks I'm sleeping :) Since I only have time for one post, I want to share about when my future college roommate, Rebecca, came to visit me back in November! She traveled on an airplane to come see me all the way from North Carolina.

So of course, like any good hostess, I showed her where all the toys were as soon as she got here.

And I was more than happy to share them with her.

We didn't waste any time being shy.

Rebecca brought her Mommy along. She was really nice and read us stories.

The next day Lila and Wyatt thought we would be able to play with the toys easier if they were out of the box.

I know I'm partial to short and dark-headed, but isn't she cute?!

We both have December birthdays... only 2 weeks apart!

Of course Lila read her stories just like she does for me.

It was nice later that day, so we went outside to take some pictures.

Well, Mommy wanted to take pictures, but I was really interested in what was over there...

And, hmm... what's this?

Rebecca was willing to snuggle with her Mommy.

Then she looked right at the camera and smiled so nice!

So I thought I could do that too! :)

Then because we don't get to see her very often, Mommy took one more.

The next morning we played with some toys again before church.

Yep, Lila surprised me with a hug attack. Sometimes I wish she wouldn't pick me up and squeeze me to show her love, but usually it feels nice... for a couple minutes anyway.

Rebecca wasn't so sure about Lila this morning. I think maybe she forgot where she was in the middle of the night? Or maybe she was just worried that she was going to be picked up next.

I sat next to her to reassure her.

Then I offered her another toy.

She still kept a close eye out for Lila though - and a possible hug attack like I got earlier.

Then our mommies got us ready for church. Doesn't Rebecca look so pretty in her dress?

Here we are together, each sporting a hair bow. For some reason, our mommies kept saying things like "aww" and "they're so cute" and "isn't that so sweet" when we played together. 

Here we are all together. Mommy wouldn't have posted this picture... something about her hair being pulled back in a ponytail but you can't tell, and then she's wearing her Sunday School teacher t-shirt...but lucky for you, I'M the one doing this post. I mean, I don't get any choice about all the pictures she puts up of me, do I? 

So I say we need one that shows all of us together.

Rebecca, if you're reading this, I hope we can get together again soon! 

Now that we are walking (I've almost got the hang of it), I bet we could really have some fun! 

And maybe if you were here, Mommy would say "that's so cute" when I play with the toilet paper.

Hat Trick

My friend Andi made the kids some winter hats. They turned out so cute, I wanted to try and take some pictures of the kids wearing them. She made them in the kids' favorite colors (ok, Piper hasn't determined a favorite color yet, but it *might* be purple!).

Looking at this picture and their expressions, they don't seem that unlike to me. I think Piper's laugh sounds like Lila's laugh too.

Then I attempted to get all three together.

Ben was standing behind me making faces.

But that just made Piper decide Daddy should be holding her! So she went off to bed for a nap.

I thought I'd get a couple more pictures of Lila. I told her to put her leg up against the wall. Then I had to show her what I meant.

Then she got into the posing :)

Hmm...

The blue hat really brings out her eyes.

One more, and then I told Wyatt it was his turn.

He came right over and did this. He's putting his leg up against the wall just like I showed Lila. Can't you tell? :) Ok, so it looks more like what you'd see in a chalk outline, but he gets points for style and initiative :)

Cheese!

No, Mom, don't tickle me!

His hat really complements his eyes too.

Thanks, Andi, for the hats!

ONE of a kind

I searched through my pictures and found a comparison shot of all three of my kiddos at age 1. I have had several people tell me that Lila and Wyatt look so much alike, but Piper doesn't really look like them. I've never really thought Lila and Wyatt were all that similar, but compared to Piper, maybe they are. Piper is the brunette, if you didn't know already :) 

Here are their one year comparison stats:

Lila: 19 lbs. 3.5 oz / 30.5 inches

Wyatt: 21 lbs. 15 oz / 31 inches

Piper: 19 lbs. 9 oz. / 30.25 inches

I guess Wyatt wins for growth!! But Piper wins for most hair :)

Misc. December

At the beginning of December, Grandpa Brandt came for a weekend visit (a long layover on his way home from a business trip to Alaska). I don't know why, but this was the only time I picked up my camera. Despite the lack of photographic evidence, we all had a great time!

The last day of school before the winter break, Lila's class had a party at the end of the day. Parents were invited to attend. Ben came home a little early, so I was able to leave Wyatt and Piper at home which turned out to be a good thing since the party mostly consisted of a snack and a craft.

Here Lila is working on her craft. The girl next to her is her best friend at school.

Lila standing next to her cubby.

One day during break the weather was super nice. The kids were playing outside, so I took my camera out. Lila loves to hold a "flower" when she poses for me :)

I love this girl. She was excited to find some finger nail polish in her stocking :)

Wyatt's full "cheese!" grin.

Caught him in a laugh.

Over New Year's weekend, Ben's parents flew down for a visit. I didn't do a very good job remembering to take pictures for their visit either. This was the last day. Here Grandma had gone to get Piper from her crib when she woke up from her nap.

We had a great time visiting and playing games with them.

A quick picture of Grandma and Grandpa Amey with the kids before they had to leave.

And one where Piper is looking.

Waiting at the airport for Grandpa to say his plane is ready to go.

We each had a little bag of (free) popcorn while we waited to watch their airplane take off.

We went outside to wave as they flew overhead. I think Ben is laughing because Wyatt and Lila were yelling "bye!" and Piper had been waving too.