Here we are again with another installment of 'Jed is getting so big and so cute!' Yep, we are two pretty proud parents. Christmas was a wonderful holiday with plenty of time to spend with both sides of the family. We had even more of a marathon with 9 nights with my parents and 9 nights with Chris' parents. Here are pictures of our time with my side of the family. We went there the Friday before Christmas and left the Sunday after Christmas. I had trouble again with the camera. I forgot to bring the battery charger, so right on cue, right as Jed was opening his stocking on Christmas morning, my camera died. Luckily, I have wonderful family members who aren't so forgetful and they offered to let me have their pictures of the rest of our visit. I will update the blog with pictures from our time with the Adamows as soon as I get pictures from Chris' family.

Here are Jed and Grandma reading a book. Jed loves to read when he's in a quiet mood. He will sit and listen to the same book several times in one sitting. Mommy has taken to reading to him at least once a day.

Here's a picture of Grandpa and cousin Naomi on Christmas Eve. Naomi is getting to be such a little lady!

Here are the boys (Jed and Joshua) in their matching sleepers from Grandma and Grandpa. These were shower gifts. It was Christmas morning and it looks like they wanted to dig into the presents.

All of us sisters and our kids. It sure is fun when we can get them all together. I wish we all lived closer.

This was the first time that Josh and Jed got to see each other this trip. Don't they look thrilled? Grandpa George is in the background.

Jed is trying on Naomi's cow outfit. He didn't really like having something on his head!

Valerie and Joshua playing. Joshua and Jed continue to be polar oposites -- except that they are both adorable. Joshua is still taller than Jed but weighs less. He also has all that beautiful hair! He has had at least one hair cut. Jed is pretty laid back, but Joshua is a bundle of energy. He also goes to anyone anytime while Jed is a bit of a Momma's boy. We're working on it.

"Oh, Dad, how embarassing!" Jed and Daddy play like this often. Jed loves being upside down. At first Mommy worried about his legs not being strong enough, but now it's pretty easy to tell that our kid is a bruiser.

This is one of Jed's new friends, Leah House. Jeremy and Cherie are friends from back home and this is their second child. They are only a few weeks apart in age.

Jed and Aunt Caroline hanging out together. They really get along well. It's so fun to watch Jed with all his family. He seems to know that they are safe and is ready to play -- as long as Mommy isn't to far out of reach.

Jed also enjoyed a visit to Great-Grandma and Grandpa Twidell's house. We always enjoy a good meal and a good talk.

Jed also enjoyed a good Eskimo kiss from Great-Grandma Margaret!

This is our long-time neighbor, Barb Metzger. She has two sons that I used to babysit that are named -- get this -- Joshua and Jedidiah. Needless to say she was ecstatic when she heard that Valerie and I were using her boys' names. This was the first time that Jed and Barb got to meet -- Yep, love at first sight! Barb can't wait to get Jed on a horse.

Bath time! Jed loves his baths now. He especially likes to play on his tummy like a seal. His other favorite bath game is stand up; sit down; SPLASH! It's a good thing that we have a good non-slip tub. He has no fear.

Here are Jed and Mommy on Christmas Eve. We had a big dinner at Grandma Margaret's house and the whole extended family was there. Jed loved to play with all his family members. He also liked staying up.

And here are Jed and Daddy all duded up for the party.

Jed is really getting to know his Papa Bill. This was the day that he started crawling. We didn't get a picture, though. He was on the floor, saw Papa's Christmas tree, and took off for about 3 steps before he flopped on his stomach.



The next four pictures are from a photo shoot that Caroline did at my Grandpa's house. These are the first pics that we have had of all three of us since Jed's first week of life.

Jed looks a little worried about Mommy and Daddy kissing. Usually, he likes to be right in the middle of it.

Jed and Daddy have so much fun together.

Smoosh!

And now a pretty pose for those of you traditional folks out there :)

Here's a picture of the whole Twidell family. We finally got one! From the back left it's: Emmely, Martice, Azeem, Naomi, Caroline, Dad (Jim), Mom (Mary Lee), Valerie, Joshua, Chris, Emily, Jed, and Paul. We sure are getting big. Imagine us all fitting into one house for 3 days and you will know what Christmas was like. Crazy, but so much fun!

Jed had a chance to meet his second cousin, Ty. They hit it off. Ty is a good sharer. This was the first time that Ty, Joshua, and Jed all got to see each other. Ty is my cousin, Brian, and his wife, Kelly,'s son. Our other cousin Craig and his wife Jesse -- Craig is Brian's brother -- are due to have a baby boy any day now. That makes 4 boys in a year -- poor Naomi!

Here's a picture of Jed and Daddy openning presents on Christmas morning. What fun it was to see him diving into that wrapping paper -- which I think he loved more than the presents.

I got a Merry Christmas kiss from Naomi. She's turning into quite a little lady. She is 2 1/2 now and can spell her first and last name and knows all the sounds of the letters. She loves words! Her Grandpa asked her if she was hugalicious. She said "No, I'm kissalicious!" Here's proof.

Chris took time out on Christmas morning to ask me for a dance. What a treat!

Here are all the youngest cousins on Christmas Eve. Joshua, Jed, my cousin Paige, and Naomi. Jed sure looks ready to go, as usual!

So, that's all from the Twidell Christmas Extravaganza. Jed is now crawling like lightning, pulling up on everything, learning about 'no', eating anything he can get his mouth on, and still not sleeping through the night (pray for me). We love you all and hope to see you soon. We'll be back up north in a few weeks for Spring Break. Stay tuned for more pics from those events! Love from all of us and slobbery smooches from Jed.