After a fun thanksgiving with the Dobbs grandparents and GGma Shum I got to go home with mommy and daddy and leave that brother of mine behind.  Today it's been just mommy & me.  We went to get donuts in the morning and then I got to sit in a big chair while a lady came at me with scissors.  I must say I do look handsome  and mature now that my hair is shorter.  Then Mommy and I came home and got to play with Christmas decorations.  I pretty much just wanted to play with the doors while Mommy did all the work,. Then we met daddy for lunch.  It was great.  I was pretty tuckered out after my day of excitement so I went down for a long nap while mommy finished all of the decorating.  Then when I woke up mommy and I played my favorite game -- running from room to room opening and closing all the doors.  I could play that game for hours. 

Well I suppose my brother will be coming home soon.  I guess I'll make due, but I had a good time being an only child for a day. 

David

And this morning as I struggled to roll out of bed and wiped the snot off my youngest's nose I thought of what an old woman I am and how happy I am as an old woman with my old man and children.  I am also very excited about the new Costco!  Woohoo!

Katie

This morning I left my two boys with the nanny and drove my minivan to work. I saw the new Costco that's scheduled to be finished in  just a few weeks.  I thought about how great it would be and how excited I am about the new Costco.

I'm officially an old man.

This morning I felt sick, yep I got another cold from these kids.  As I curmudgeonly put my shoes on, I feel something of a rock in my dress shoes.   That doesn't seem right?  It appears that one of the boys smuggled a piece of waffle into the front room (a secure room) and stuffed it in my shoe.  So chalk one up on the fatherhood board for random junk in my shoes.

These kids today!

Greetings.  I am feeling a little under the weather these days and I have effectively contaminated the house.  It's nothing major so I just tell everyone to suck it up.  Just a lot of runny noses.  Not a whole lot going on on my end these days.  I've just been busy keeping the house running.  Last night, mommy wanted to play, but I wasn't in the mood.  She started doing her pouty face so I walked over to the kleenex box and got her a weakness tissue and walked away.  There!  These women.  And I hear we're adding another one.  Oh boy!  We're going to need more kleenex in this house.

Yesterday morning daddy was making waffles.  While he made breakfast I went and gathered all of my friends to sit at the table.  I put Mickey, Barney (who I dressed in a turtleneck that morning), Elmo, and another Elmo in different chairs around the table.  Then I pulled up my mini chairs to the big table so there would be enough seating.  When daddy gave me my waffles I sat in my tiny chair at the big table and I could barely see my plate, but it's important to give your guests the best seats in the house.  Then I grabbed some waffles and forks for my friends and we sat at the table and ate in silence. 

Last weekend was halloween.  I was very cranky when I got up from my nap and was in no mood to get into a costume.  Mommy & Daddy put a spiderman costume over all of my clothes and when I realized I got to walk to people's doors and ring the doorbell I was in a much better mood.  Then we went to the grandparents house and Great Gmas.  It was great.  Nana walked me around her neighborhood and we got a lot of candy.  Speaking of candy...hmm...where did it go??  I had fun seeing Uncle Bryan and Aunt Kristin as well.  More people to tickle me!

Well, I have to get ready for church now to learn about "Jee-jus"

Adam

Well, the verdict is in and I hear that I am going to have a little sister.  I really don't know how to feel about this.  First of all, now I am going to be a middle child.  Second, I will be followed by the first girl.  Oh the drama!  I just request that everyone not forget about me.  I know I'm not really that cuddly of a kid and I'm a free spirit and all, but a little extra attention during this time of transition is all I ask for.  Mommy has been doing a good job spoiling me lately.  I've been really cranky the past few months, but I'm starting to tame down a bit and get accustomed to the "ones."  I like to show off to my parents and I'll stand up in the middle of the room and wait until I have their attention and walk across the room to them.  I love the clapping and standing ovations.  This is my true motivation to walk.  Also, I cut my first molar this weekend.  It's about time.  These teeth have been making me really cranky but they don't seem to want to cut through.  Pretty soon I'll be eating steak with my dad in no time. 

Uncle Bryan and Aunt Kristin came to visit last weekend.  I had a great time playing catch with a football with Aunt Kristin.  I thought it was hillarious!  I dressed up as Thomas the train for halloween and we went to vist the grandparents and Great Gma Shum.  I liked going up and down the stairs over and over again at Great Gma's house.  When we made it back to Gma and Gpa Dobb's house I fell asleep in my highchair I was so exhausted! 

Well, that's about it from me for now. 

David

I woke up this morning at 4:30 a.m. and could not for the life of me go back to sleep.  I am now sitting downstairs listening to Christmas music (yes it is too early -- but it is a guilty pleasure) and enjoying the silence of the house before the Dobbs men awake.  Little Rebekah has been kicking non-stop all morning, so we are having some girl time. 

I have been chasing the boys' runny noses all weekend and sure enough I woke up this morning with a sore throat.  I don't think there is anyway to avoid toddler germs so you might as well just put on a brave front and await your doom.  However, I wish I could just take it all from them.  Those little snot nose faces and coughing babies make me want to spoil them just so they feel a little better.

Well, that's all for now.  Time to make some tea and nurse this cold.

Mommy 

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Dear Friends and Family,

It's been awhile since I've posted anything.  You see it's been David's birthday month so the attention has been more on him. Well, I should say, more on him than usual.  I still demand most of the attention around here.  I've been very busy this past month learning new words and songs.  I can even count to 10 now (well I skip the number one and start with two, but that's close right).  My favorite songs are Jesus Loves Me, Skim-a-rinkee dink-a-dink, Happy Birthday, and my ABC's.  I've finally picked up the phrase "MORE" this month and I use it for EVERYTHING!  Mommy has even started taking me to Sunday School and I love it.  I get so excited when I see all of the other kids. 

I got to sleep over at my grandparents this weekend and I had my very own Mickey Mouse sleeping bag!  It was great.  I also now think that there is a baby growing in my tummy.  I can say the word Baby very well and I'll lift up my shirt and point to my tummy and say baby.  Then I say "Shhh" and put my shirt over my tummy and say "Nigh Nigh Baby."  My mom thinks this is funny, but it's a lot of work to put my baby to bed.

Okay, well back to bed for me.  I'll try to write more often.

Sincerely,

Adam Michael

Daddy took me to the doctor today for my one year checkup.  I am 28 lbs 6 oz.  Still off the charts, but my parents thought I'd be 30 lbs, so I surprised them.  I had to get some shots this time but Daddy was quite impressed.  I barely even acknowledged the shot.  What I didn't like was being forced to be on my back.  I'm a free spirit and I need to have my freedom.  Mommy was surprised because I was in the best mood ever today.  I guess I react opposite of my brother after shots.  Mommy and I played cars today.  She would roll a car to me and I'd pick it up and say "Yay!" and then throw it back to her.  Then she would say, "Ready..." and I would lift my hands to the sky and then she'd roll the car to me, which I would in turn throw back at..I mean...to her.  I enjoyed this game a lot.  Then we got to go on a nice long walk to Chili's where daddy showed up.

Mommy was gone over the weekend in California so I got to play a lot with Daddy and the grandparents.  Daddy even got to see me walk my first steps!!  It wasn't much but it was a start.  Mommy has noticed that I've been trying hard lately to stand up without holding on to anything, so I'll get it eventually.  Other than that things are same old same old around here.  I'll try to keep up my good boy behavior, but no promises.

Love,

David

Well, I'm a whole year old today (plus 12 hours).  Mommy's already got me drinking out of a sippy cup, eating real food, and drinking whole milk.  Mmm..mmm.  Adam has been singing me happy birthday for a whole month now so it was no shocker when he came into my room with Mommy this morning and started singing.  Of course my favorite part of the song is when we get to clap at the end and say "Yay!"  So, now mommy tells me the pressure is on to start walking.  I really don't see the point.  But, mommy insists because she says I'm getting too heavy.  I can't help it that I'm big boned!  At least I go up the stairs by myself now, so that makes Mommy happy.  Well, I'm looking forward to my big party on Saturday.  Hope to see some of you there!

David

The family just spent the nice long weekend in MN with the Karius family.  I got to see Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Suzy, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Adam.  Plus all of the "Greats" (aunts, uncles, grandparents).  I even got to play with bubbles with my cousin Naomi.  She's always on her best behavior so I had to work hard this weekend to try to be good as well.  Overall, my parents said they were proud of me for being such a good big boy, so I think the weekend was a success. 

This trip mommy and daddy brought along a sleeping bag and I got to sleep on the floor like a big boy.  Our first night daddy was trying to show me how to get into the sleeping bag.  He lifted it open and I dived in head first.  Daddy indicated that this was not correct.  I was thankful since it was very dark and warm inside the sleeping bag.  After 4 more failed attempts diving in head first daddy finally showed me with my mickey doll how to climb into a sleeping bag.  I climbed in feet first and did not move for the entire night.  I did great all weekend and was very proud to have a sleeping bag to call my own. 

During David's party on Sunday, Grandpa pulled out his Model A car (the first car ever built by Henry Ford).  Grandpa was giving everyone at the party rides.  I've been in it before, but had to have mommy and daddy hold me.  This time I walked right up to the car and put Mickey in the seat and then sat myself between Mickey and Grandpa and held on and was ready to go.  I'm a big boy now and don't need mommy and daddy to go with me.  I had SO much fun! 

I have a new name for Aunt Suzy.  I now just make elephant noises when I see her because that's what she sounds like when she blows her nose.  How something so loud can come out of Aunt Suzy I'll never know.  I also taught her to lock bathroom doors, since I have a habit of opening whatever door I feel like whenever I feel like it.  Aunt Sarah was my morning buddy and I even let her put me to bed (which I usually only leave to mama).  She liked to sit on the deck with me and sing songs at night with me. 

One thing I love at grandma's house are all the birds.  There's one real bird (which I have to see the second I get to grandma's house even if it is 1 a.m.).  Then there's the cuckoo clock that cracks me up every time it chimes.  Then on the way downstairs there are little tweet tweets on the ledge that I have to say hello to every time I walk by.

Well, those were the highlights of my trip. I can't wait until it's time to come to MN again.

Adam

Well, I'm about one week away from hitting the big "0-1."  I can't believe the last 12 months have flown by so fast.  I've gone from an all liquid diet to eating my brothers leftovers and then some.  There has even been talk of taking my bottles away soon.  What is up with that!  As revenge, I found some old pacifiers lying around and I have now taken to comforting myself with a pacifier in my mouth.  I feel that it shaves 4 months off my age and keeps me looking younger. 

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's in MN this weekend for a birthday pre-celebration. I got to see a lot of the MN family and enjoyed everyone's company. I got some cool clothes that actually fit and are appropriate for the fall weather that is now upon us.  I also got an airplane and books (which Adam snatched away fairly quickly).  While at the grandparents my favorite thing to do was to follow the dog around saying "Arf! Arf!"  I just chased the dog around ALL weekend.  Then I would sit in the middle of the floor with my cheerios and pour them on the floor and laugh while the dog ran around and ate them.  Mommy and Daddy kept talking about what a hard trip this was going to be because I can be a "bull in a china shop" (as they like to say).  But, I have been nothing but an angel this whole trip.  I didn't get into any of grandma's stuff and only tried to eat the dog food once.  Mostly I'd play in the grandma bin and again chase that silly dog around. 

Well, that's it for now.  Arf!  Arf! (aka Bye!  Bye!)

David

So I was at the restaurant with Dad. I demanded to wash my hands. Then after he opened the door, I said no. I then closed the door and opened it back up. I'm a big boy now. I was so proud of myself! Then I started walking. I guess I was distracted. I walked right into the wall. Dad was laughing! It hurts when you walk into walls! Stupid wall!