Steelers in Tampa....

...for my family, this could hardly get any better!

Yes, friends, it's that time again. Time for the single greatest American spiritual event of the year: the Super Bowl. This year finds our family's team, the Steelers, in our family's backyard, Tampa, to play in SB43. As the Giratas might say:



So here's a tribute to the two biggest Steelers fans we know, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Matthew (who will be in Tampa tomorrow trying to scalp tickets to the game!):

Real fans!!

Matt's groom's cake at their wedding -- REAL fans!

Hopefully by the end of the night, they can replace that XL with a XLIII on their next cake!

Brothers and sisters

One of the greatest side effects of Layna's new-found mobility is her ability to join in playing with Brayden. She wants to be wherever he is and do whatever he's doing... and the best part is that Brayden loves it! He's super sweet to her and helps her play whenever she's around. (I know this won't last forever, so I'm celebrating it now!)

Here's a great image to illustrate my point:

Trying to get in Brayden's seat

Caught you, Bug!

While I was cleaning Monday morning, I heard them squealing with laughter from the Playroom Annex (formerly the Dining Room) and ran to see what they were doing. Although I didn't get the best of their playtime on video, this was still good enough -- aren't they great together?! (NB: the noise you hear during the video is the table saw... it goes on and off)

Big girl walking... almost

Layna's been kicking right along! She's been loving her walker and travels around with it all over the house. This video was taken a week ago and she's already much more proficient. I'll get an updated video on here soon! Until then, here she is, walking with assistance that she won't need for long!

Behold, the cookie!

We seriously make a lot of cookies in this house. Bravo.

Here's a little somethin' for you cookie lovers out there -- the little baker boy:

(Pastry) Chef B

All you Top Chef wannabes who can't make pastries, eat your heart out!

In Layna news, she's been moving like a champ. She's pulling up on anything now, traveling around the furniture and from one piece to another, and walking really well with her walker-toy. We have video of her walking with her toy to post soon, so stay tuned!

Fresh from bed

Good morning, everyone! Since it's nice and early when I'm writing this, I thought it would be great to post some pj-pics. First, I couldn't resist revealing Brayden dark secret -- he has crazy bed head!

Who can resist that smile?!

I promise that was not doctored... that's his real bed head. Too funny!

Anyway, the kids got some super cute coordinating Mickey and Minnie pjs for Christmas and they happened to both be wearing them the other morning. How great is this?!

Our sweeties

Note the hair has been combed by this point in the morning...

Big kids now

It's happened... the kids have made one of those transitions that reminds me how old they are. Both kids outgrew their old car seats, so it was a perfect time to upgrade them both. Layna's now in Brayden's old seat (facing to the rear for a few more weeks!)...

I finally have some space!

...and Brayden's now in a booster.

He looks so big...

The new booster is fantastic -- I highly recommend it. It's a cinch for him to climb in and out by himself.

But the best part of this story is that now they can really play with each other while we're riding. This is what they do the whole time, giggling and laughing with each other. How great!!

Counting Layna's fingers (there are five, btw)

Holding hands... so sweet

Rolling Buggie

Finally, the video is here! We've been promising a video of Layna crawling for awhile, and I've finally gotten around to editing one. This isn't as recent as it could be, but it shows her getting around well. She's faster these days, and has started pulling up on us and on short furniture. She loves being able to get around (for sure!) and chases us down any chance she gets. Enjoy!

A great way to come home

Nicole always takes the kids home from school, so coming home after a work day is always fun for me because they're up from their naps and in great moods. But sometimes coming home is even better than great. A few days ago, I came home to Brayden reading this:

Brayden reading his message

Nicole had opened his new easel, along with a bunch of magnetic letters, and Brayden spelled this for me. But not only did he spell it out, when I got home he hopped up on the chair and read the whole thing, pointing to each word as he said them. It was great! Here's a close-up:

How sweet!

The Baking Boys

Even though New Years Day is our wedding anniversary, it's almost always a family occasion. This year, we decided to make some New Years treats. We broke out Brayden's new baking kit (a Christmas gift) so the boys could bake some cookies.

We donned our aprons and got working.

Rolling out the cookie dough

Brayden's become very interested in cooking, so he wanted to stir his own batter.

Stirring the batter

He's used to cooking applesauce more often than cookies. We'll pour a cup of applesauce into a bowl, sprinkle some cinnamon on top, and he'll mix it up... I mean, cook it.

After the cookies went into the oven, the chefs paused for a quick photo:

The kings of the kitchen

...then it was time to celebrate all our hard work! (I know you love my oven mit!)

What beautiful cookies!!

Mmm.... they're delicious!

Preview of coming attractions: a video of Layna crawling!!

Brrr, y'all

...and I mean cold! Click here for a story highlighting just how cold it's been in Birmingham.

Even though it's been bitingly cold for us (our blood's not as thick as it was in DC), there are still a couple pictures left from Christmas... the last ones. After these, we'll get current!

We went out to see Christmas lights at one of the parks in Lakeland -- and they were beautiful!

Layna and Dad at the fountain

The family at the park

Ride 'em, B!

One of Brayden's big gifts this Christmas was... a tricycle!! He loves bicycles, and so getting him on his own ride was definitely what we wanted for his this year. Gigi and Gido got him this trike, and he loves it!

Opening the trike

Come on... hurry!

Finally he was able to get on!

Let's go outside!

Gido was there to help Brayden get riding.

Taking B down the sidewalk

The cutie on his trike

Take note: Brayden was in shorts. Tomorrow, the windchill in Birmingham is projected to be as low as 0 -- that's zero. Ouch.

Other holiday pics

Last week just *poof* disappeared. But never fear, there are still plenty of pictures to share. Admittedly, many of the pictures I'll post over the next few days will be from the holidays, but was that really so long ago?

NEWS: Layna is finally crawling!! I was sure that she'd be driving before she ever crawled, but she's finally on the move. Being Child #2, it was great to have her stationery a little longer than normal, but it's high time she was mobile. Now she's chasing after us all around the house... and when she wants what Brayden has (which is all the time!), she can go and get it.

Anyway, on to the pictures. Here are some non-Christmasy pictures that are still from the Christmas holiday. The first set is Brayden and Gido playing in their playroom. Gido would throw blocks in the air and Brayden would squeal with laughter!

Gathering the blocks

Let 'em go!

Gotcha!

(Brayden's looking over my shoulder as I write this post and he's cracking up at the pictures! He had a great time!)

Layna got in on the action, too! Uncle Matthew was there to do the flips she loves to much:

Upside-down giggles!

Resting after some hard play

Later that afternoon, Brayden helped Aunt Nancy decorate gingerbread cookies for Christmas dinner.

The eyes go riiiiight there.

Layna's Stats

Layna's a little more than 9-months-old, but she had her 9-month check-up yesterday and I'm pleased to report that all's well! She has good muscle tone (read: she arches her back something fierce) and great responses. She can clap, wave, blow kisses, and play peek-a-boo on verbal command. The doctor was impressed. She measured 18 lb. 12 oz. (40%) and 29 in. (85%).

To celebrate, we played peek-a-boo in the bath and here's a quick pic from the game:

Where's Layna? (how cute!!)

Christmas... a little later

A little later that morning... and after lunch... we opened MORE gifts! Here are just a few more shots from the day:

Brayden's new Car shoes!

Layna's new book

A Girata family picture

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was a bunch of fun this year. Although Brayden wasn't really anticipating the day, he was thrilled when he saw all the gifts around the fireplace!

Layna was ready an rearing to go well before Brayden woke up...

Where's Brayden?!

Finally, we got going on the real stuff! It's time to open gifts!

Layna with her Santa gifts

Brayden's doctor kit

Layna's ring toy

Layna showing Nama her gifts!

And here is the highlight of the morning --

Brayden's new trumpet!

After Santa gifts/stockings, we moved into the living room where we opened family gifts. On the way, Gigi had some laughs with our little princess.

Gigi giggles

Before opening gifts, Brayden wanted to put his special ornaments on the tree. A couple days before, Gigi and Brayden made cinnamon ornaments (if you want the recipe -- and it's very cool -- let me know).

Hanging ornaments

Let the extra gifts begin...

Mama and Layna

Dad and Brayden

We had a wonderful morning, and the kids were super. Layna humored all of our craziness the whole time... as you can see here:

Can I take the bow off my head now?

Christmas Eve

It's finally time for Christmas pictures! We'll begin this series with pictures from Christmas Eve at the Roenicks. We spent the day and evening with Mia and Poppy in Palm Harbor, enjoying the company of lots of family! After a great dinner, we had a carzy-fun time opening lots of presents. Brayden was really into it this year, and Layna just wanted to be like him... which meant she had a great time, too! Here are a few pictures from the night:

The Roenicks at dinner

Dad, Layna and Mama opening presents

Brayden enjoying his new magnifying glass

B opening his bath flutes (awesome, btw)

Special NOTE: What is Brayden wearing, you might be asking yourself? Brayden is sporting a yuppy-style, smocked Peter Pan number like all the other little boys in classy Southern Living Birmingham. He's not always decked out like this... only on special Christmas occasions. You can thank Nicole for this suit. ;)

Coming attractions: Christmas Day!