December 11th, 2016

Mom accidentally broke the top off of the banana when she was peeling it. What a meanie!

Eleanor meeting Melissa and Dan

Dan and Des playing with the new dump truck (thanks!)

Union Hall Christmas

Everyone met at pa’s union hall to continue the tradition seeing Santa Claus. Desmond has only seen the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer since last seeing Santa a few weeks ago, but we’ve been talking him up.

Des decides just one grandchild on grandma’s lap isn’t enough

Eagerly waiting, which was notably streamlined this year with family numbers and reduced line time

Des still shy. If you look closely, that thumbs-up appears to be sarcastic

Aunt Megan and Ella

Yup, mostly slept

Hamming it up for ma

After unwrapping his new set of cars, Viv and Des instinctively got down from the table and paraded them, hand-in-hand. The sheer cuteness was apparently a distraction, as the two rounded the corner before any parent thought best to go get them 😉

Des unwraps—and immediately bogarts—his sister’s present. To be fair, the blanket outsized him, let alone her.

It was also a frog blanket, possibly establishing an annual theme.

December 9th, 2016

With the dog food container temporarily on the floor, Des volunteered for his first chore. “No help, Desi do it”

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December 8th, 2016

Ella meets Jason

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How do you win against a toddler who insists on picking three different PJs to wear? Say he can wear one, then the other two are “blankets” 🙂

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Nemo getting in on story time

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Newborn photos

The second time around, mom and dad were on the ball scheduling newborn photos for Eleanor. Big brother had a cameo in a few…

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December 5th, 2016

Hi! (Looking a bit like her brother at a month old)

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Des helping out with the vacuuming

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December 4th, 2016

Des showing grandma how the magnetic “spinnyos” work

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Eleanor beginning to excel at this head lifting game

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…but zonked out soon enough.

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December 3rd, 2016

Baby face

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The goal has been to keep Eleanor awake from 5pm until bedtime, which has helped mom and daughter get a few more hours of sleep each night. Not so successful at Operation Awake this evening.

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