"I need a raise, Papa"

Recently, we dumped all the money out of Lily's piggy bank and rolled it and took it to the bank. She had $70 from Papa!! That's just since Nana & Papa bought her the bank last Easter! One night last week, Anson and Lily were upstairs putting her daily money in her bank. She shook the pig and said "I need more, money!" So, Anson told her to ask Papa for a raise, and she did and she got one. The next day, Lily came home with a purse full of change :) So, we brought her piggy downstairs and she sat on the floor and put in each coin. Papa is going to need a raise too. Especially when Dillon is old enough to ask for money too!

Lily as Dora the Fairy

Grammy Cross bought Lily this cute dress up outfit. At first she didn't really like it, but she wore it all day today! She loves it now. She "flies" around with her wings.

And one of Dill Pickle

Dill Pickle is 10 months old

Dillon is growing so fast! Faster than Lily did, I swear! He's crawling everywhere. He follows us into rooms and tries to climb up our legs. Right now he's at the bottom of the steps wishing he could climb up to go see Daddy and Lily who are upstairs. Won't be long.

He's eating more and more solid food. I usually give him a bite of everything I'm eating. He prefers to feed himself. I'm still nursing him in the morning and evenings. I'll continue until he turns one...as long as he quickly learns I have a strict "no biting" rule.

He standing up by himself as long as we put him up like that.

It's getting harder and harder to take his picture because he just wants to grab and eat the sign. Good thing there's only one more month left :)

Lily straight out of the tub the other night. She loves bathnight. I mean LOVES. She gets so upset on non bath nights.

Lily hugging (or strangling) Dillon

Happy New Year!

Can't believe it's 2010 already. Anson and I were remembering 10 years ago. We were preparing for Y2K. We were at our friend Kristal's house in her basement for New Year's Eve. Anson and I weren't together yet, but we were both there :) Where were you 10 years ago? Life is so short. Make sure you make every moment count!

Here are some photos from the past few days...The kids playing blocks

I'm still getting used to my new camera. Some of the photos are blurry.

Baby blue eyes. Now that Dillon is on the move, he is going everywhere. He follows us around - bathroom, kitchen, bottom of the steps when we go upstairs...and his goal is to get the cat food. He comes close but we manage to catch him right before his little hand grabs it.

Last Wednesday, Jen and Zack came over for lunch and a visit. It was fun to watch Zack and Lily play together. They did really well sharing the toys. It was so nice to see Jen and catch-up on life.

Eating mac n cheese. They were so cute and funny because towards the end of the meal, they were giggling and cracking us all up.

Hugging bye

Later that night, Anson went to the movies with the guys and I stayed home with the kids. We made a house and had a light show inside it :)

Dillon liked playing in the house too.

We wouldn't let poor Samba in

Lily's hair got really staticy

New Year's Eve was a lot of fun. We went to Jill & Josh's for the evening. The best part was that Nana and Papa watched the kids over night for us. We drank, laughed, played games and rang in the new year with some great friends!

Mindy and Jabin

Chris and Kim - so glad they were able to make it up for the night!

Hosts - Jill and Josh

Playing games - Taboo

The pics below are from today. We stayed in our jammies again all day. It was wonderful. Anson made yummy sweet n sour chicken, which we ate for lunch and again for dinner. Dillon is wearing his adorable Batman outfit from Grammy and Grandpa Cross.

His outfit even has a little cape!

Lily helping Mommy by sweeping and cleaning up!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2010!!

Christmas Eve and Day 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas!

Daddy helping Lily into her fancy fur coat. Nana bought the coat for Lily at a yard sale. I told her she was gorgeous, so she went around saying "I'm gorgeous!"

Mindy stopped by to say hi and wish us a Merry Christmas

Uncle Jamie showing Lily how to work her new play "ipod"

Lily handing Uncle Jamie his gift from her and Dillon

He got a neck massager

Nana got a new cookbook

Dillon is the best gift of all!

He liked to eat the paper. We really had to watch him

Lily got this little puppy. She came in a carrying case and Daddy helped to name her Princess

Daddy helping Dillon open a new driver toy

Uncle Jamie likes his massager a lot

Lily got a tent!

Lily and Dillon playing in Lily's tent. She wanted him out after about 3 minutes.

Papa opening his gift

Lily helping Papa open another gift.

Dillon on his new Mickey Mouse car

Cutie! Mommy and Lily opening a gift together

Nana bought Lily and I matching aprons and mittens so we can bake together!

After we opened gifts, we went for a drive to North Canton to see a pretty house someone told us about. It was amazing. It was one of those houses programmed to music. Then we packed up and headed home to go to bed. Lily left Santa some cookies and milk. And carrots for his reindeer. We read the Night Before Christmas and then put the kids to bed around 10.

When we woke up around 8, we saw that Santa had come to our house. It looks like everyone was good this year!

Santa enjoyed his cookies and milk, and the reindeer ate their carrots.

Samba Claus got a huge bone

Lily helping Daddy open the present from her and Dillon

I got a new camera!

Anson looking at the figures I bought him for the back window of the van. They are the little decals for everyone in the family. He really liked that gift.

Lily got Candyland. Her first board game.

I think I was playing with my camera so that's why Anson is looking at me like this.

Uncle Jeremy bought us and the kids a giant new swingset! Lily was trying to help carry it.

Dillon crawling to Heather

Heather opening her gift

Uncle Jeremy opening his gift

I really like this photo of Dil. He's in the little Elmo Christmas outfit that Gigi bought Lily for her first Christmas. We miss you, Gigi!

Lily and Dillon were up until 10:00 last night. They were both so wound up. Slept in this morning and both napping now.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!