Day after Thanksgiving Extravaganza--Circle of Lights

My sister Dana, my niece Casey, and my nephew Hunter came up for the tree lighting!!!!! 

We went to eat first and Maverick and Hunter entertained each other :)

 Hunter was so good with Maverick!

 Ready to see this big tree, mom!

 Mav and Aunt Dana!

 Mom and Casey!

 I would like to point out that this is how Hunter poses in every picture of us taken. ever!!

 Dana in the tree hat!!

 Group shot!

 A window display!

 Maverick refused to go to sleep until 11pm!! Finally, he crashed on Mammy!!

Day after Thanksgiving Extravaganza--Day 1

A tradition for my family started about 6 years ago. We decided that on Black Friday we were going to spend the day downtown Indianapolis. We stay in a hotel, go to the tree lighting, and have lots of Christmas fun. I am always the cheermeister and I try to plan fun activities every year! Thanks to a friend, we get our hotel at a wonderful discount and every activity is always free(besides food)!

This year we started out with grand slams at Lenny's Denny's!

 He was reaching for a pancake :)

 He LOVES pancakes!

 After we settled in our fabulous hotel room at Candlewood Suites we  went to the State Museum. Santa was going to arrive by helicopter. While we waited we shopped in the gift shop, took photos with Rudolph, and listened to the children's choir perform. 

 My mom loved this tree b/c it was decorated with bubble lights. That is how the trees were decorated when she was growing up!

 This picture is for you, Dana!!!

 Here is mom looking at some of the trees!

 Our next stop was back to the hotel for a long nap. It had been a big morning and we were all exhausted!

 Cousin Billy sleeps with pillows over his face!

 Snack time!!

 I brought a small tree, some lights, and a picture to decorate our hotel room. 

This picture was taken the first year we came to the lighting. Elisabeth couldn't make it this year b/c she is in Baltimore. She will be back next year, but we definitely missed her!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 November has been super busy for us!

Time for Christmas jammies!

 I actually went shopping with no little helper! Don't get me wrong...I love my little guy, but it was nice to have a fun shopping trip with Mrs Comer :) Here is our picture inside of a Christmas store with Colonel Cupcake!

 Mav, Mom, Jeannette, and I went to the Christmas gift and hobby show. We have gone nearly every year and we love it. The show will really put you in the Christmas spirit! You also can be rewarded for showing kindness and Christmas spirit!! Maverick won two gift certificates for his adorable elf hat! We stopped to see Santa while we were there. By this time Mav had no nap and was VERY cranky. Sorry Santa!

 He tried to jump off his lap!

 Santa told me to sit down thinking that would make Maverick smile. Ummm...not so much!

 Group shot...mav still not impressed!

 Oh, wait...I can touch the tree? Maybe I do like this place!

 There were some really awesome balloons!

 We stopped by The Cheesecake Factory for dinner (thanks, Aunt JJ). I took a picture of my dessert b/c I'm pretty sure that angels started singing when I tried my first bite. 

 Our next holiday adventure was the Rushville Christmas parade! We went with the Comer's and had fun!

This picture is of Lincoln showing santa the exact toy he wants in the toys r us catalog. This kid seriously cracks me up!

 I bought a couple yummy goodies!

 Family pic!

 Priceless

 Now it was time for Turkey Day! We had an early celebration with the Wolf side. Here is Mav playing with his cousin Emily. Look at her curly hair!!!

 This was Maverick being fed by daddy on turkey day. He was so busy watching others it was taking him forever to eat!

 Maverick and his cousin Sara!

 Sara's Mommy and daddy!

 Out of all of the toys there they played with red solo cups, a bottle of aspirin, and a bucket. lol

13 months!!

13 month Stats:

Height : Approx 31 inches!!

Weight: 27 lbs!

Size: 5 in diapers 18 and 24 months in clothes!!

Teeth: I will have to get back to you on the exact count!

Sleeping: He is still a pretty good sleeper. Unfortunately, we are still trying to get back on a regular sleep schedule after Thanksgiving, etc when Mommy was off and he stayed up later than normal!

Eating: Hello, Whole Milk!! Maverick has always had his bottles cold, so switching to regular milk was easy!

He will eat about anything you put in front of him. He LOVES french fries. I try not to give him any very often, but if he sees anyone else with them he coughs until he gets some too :)

Movement: Everyday we get closer to a full-time walker. Somedays he will take a few steps at a time and other days he won't.  

Words and sounds: This month it has been lots of "ma-ma-ma-ma-mom", "bye-bye-bye-bye", and "da-da".

Milestones:  Whole milk!!!! Table food!! Lots of independent steps!

Favorite toys: you guessed it...cups!! He loves his new mega blocks, his riding toys, and his Santa little people set!

Dislikes: diaper changes, being told 'no' (he will now lay his head on the floor and pout), and not being able to do what he wants when he wants to!

Places I went this month: Christmas gift and Hobby Show, family Thanksgivings, downtown Indy and a hotel, the zoo, the Rushville Christmas parade, and the Circle of Lights tree lighting! Whew, we have been busy :)

Other special things about me this month: It's so fun to watch him turn into a toddler. He loves to be so much more independent. He is really enjoying all of the Christmas lights and displays!

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