Our Tree

Each year we get a real Christmas tree...something about picking one out and having the fresh tree smell in our home just can't be beat. Some years we've had more Charlie Brown style ones, but this year it's a pretty symmetrical tree without any bald spots. Score! A little smaller than normal, but we also had a little less space to work with because of a new piece of furniture. One of these years when the girls get a little older, we'll make a tradition to go to a tree farm and cut our own. I have memories of doing this as a kid when we lived in the U.P., except we just walked out in the thick woods up there and chopped one down. Talk about old school. Until we do the tree farm one of these upcoming years, we'll stick with the Home Depot tree lot. Not quite as festive, but definitely still fun. 

We're excited to watch Ashlynn engage more with the Christmas season this year! She loved helping pick out and decorate the tree, and now notices all the Christmas lights when we drive around and loves playing with her little nativity set she got last year. It'll be a fun few weeks ahead with Christmas, New Year's and her second birthday!

While picking out our Christmas tree, Ashlynn also picked out one of the Home Depot red star display balloons. Thankfully there were some generous guys working and gave her one to take home. She's obsessed, to say the least.

A successful trip

"Riiiiiight...there!"

"Here you go, Daddy!" - our little helper, with some seriously crazy hair (that deserves a whole separate post)

Ashlynn strategically placed this ornament on Alese, claiming she needed to help

The banner I made at my friend Gina's Holiday Hangout. Her party was complete with a few craft stations while we also enjoyed wine! (well, to clarify, I created the gold design/pattern pieces out of washi tape and glitter, and strung the letters together...Gina did the rest, aka the hard work :)

One of many attempts to get a sister picture in front of the tree. I didn't include the whole series, just the ones where they both look content with the situation

"Yea, we're done!"

Baptized

Alese was baptized on November 24th. It was a special evening spent with family as we watched her be baptized in Christ. My Grandma Cloeter was even able to attend, as my Dad picked her up from Faribault to come to the baptism. She's 93 years old and still sharp as a tack! It was extra special having her there for Alese's big day, along with all of Jeremy's grandparents, too. My Grandma Carmen was able to go to Ashlynn's, and this time Grandma Cloeter was there to represent on my side. Although we were missing my brother Jeff and his family in St. Louis, we'll see them over Christmas and will be able to catch up then. We're truly blessed with such a wonderful, loving family - near and far!

Alese with her Great Grandma Cloeter

Family

Alese's Godparents

Her Uncle John - proud Godfather :)

Ashlynn and her cousin Maddex after the baptism...two peas in a pod on the Plasma car

There they go!

Alese 1 & 2 Months

Time to do a little blog catch up. My baby is already 2 months old tomorrow! These two month have gone by so fast...just three weeks left and I'll have to head back to work. Maternity leave is definitely flying by a lot faster this time around. Maybe it's because I've got an almost-two-year-old running around along with a newborn (well, not really newborn anymore, sheesh!), or maybe it's because of all the extra hustle and bustle of the holidays we've had in November and December. Whatever it is, I've been thoroughly enjoying my days snuggling up Alese, my evenings watching the sister interaction when Ashlynn gets home, and the weekends with family and friends.

Back to Alese and her first two months of life. We had her two-month checkup and shots today, and just as anticipated, she's another long, gangly girl like her big sis. Not quite as big or long as Ashlynn was at 2 months, but on her way. She's definitely getting some nice baby rolls on her, and her limbs are poking through some 3 month clothes. I have to say while people comment on the similarities in looks between her and Ashlynn, Alese definitely has her own distinct look, too. Everyone says both of the girls look like their Daddy, so I guess you could say I'm just a surrogate. Thanks, Jer.

And Miss Alese is quite the content baby. We get big smiles and awake time in the morning together, she chills throughout the day with toys and tummy time here and there, spends her evenings contently sitting in her bouncy seat watching Ashlynn run around and chatter, has her fussy time around 9-11pm, and then sleeps a good 4-ish hour stretch followed by a feeding and back for another 3 hour stretch. While I can't say I wouldn't love to have a consistent 5-6 hour stretch of sleep, the 4-5 we're getting isn't bad, especially considering she stays sleepy while she eats and goes right back down. Still keeping her in the bassinet in our bedroom until we put the finishing touches on her nursery before I go back to work. Hopefully by then she'll have a few longer sleep stretches for us, too.

Here's a little rundown of some of Alese's whereabouts, quirks and stats from her appointment:
- Nickname: Tiny, Squeakers, Sissy
- Frequently kicks her legs and swirls her arms while hanging out in her bouncy seat, laying on the floor or sitting on the Bobby (Ashlynn was a very squirmy/active baby like this, too)
- Gives smiles at the sound of our voices and when we make eye contact
- Is able to see more and more as she follows our faces and toys I annoyingly shake around her face to have her follow
- Has adorable baby coo's that melt Daddy's heart
- First trip to Grandma Nan and Grandpa Paul's in St. Cloud was at 2 weeks
- Was baptized November 24
- Spent her first long weekend away from us at 6 weeks while we were in Florida - got spoiled by both sets of Grandparents during this time and ate like a champ with the bottle (big WOO HOO! since Ashlynn refused a bottle until 3 months when I had to go back to work). Even slept a 5-6 hour stretch...go figure when we were gone.
- Height: 20.96 in. (75th percentile)
- Weight: 11.79 lbs. (76th percentile)
- Head: 40 cm (75th percentile)

Loving going through the baby stages again, and loving up our little Alese! And now some photos, in no particular order, from over the past 8 weeks...

Alese 1 month

Alese 2 months (taken a day early :)

Playing with Grandpa Paul

Grandma Nan and Grandpa Paul (Alese 5 weeks)

Cousin Daulton (Alese 1 week)

Cousin Gavin - so content "babysitting"! (Alese 5 weeks)

My good friend Erin aka Eagle

Just hanging out

Auntie Erin (Alese 2 weeks, Baby Wiegratz 20ish weeks? :)

Kind of blurry, but her expression is priceless. What did you say, Uncle John?!

Cuddles with Heather (Alese 1 week)

Grandma time (Alese 1 week)

8 weeks