Happy 5 Months Old!

Serena is 5 months old! She is such a cutie. I always have fun setting up these shots, apparently, so does she. She probably thinks it's a game where she tries to eat the paper & how quickly I can stop her from doing so. Enjoy the pictures.

Like Brother, Like Sister (5)

Serena at 5 months.

Devin at 5 months.

Christmas Party

Last Friday was our church's Christmas party. A lot of people were there for the fellowship & good eats. There was even a live band!

We were stuck in traffic on our way there, what's usually a fifteen minutes ride turned into a forty-five minutes snail-paced crawl. Serena was not happy. She was sobbing so hard in the car, she was catching her breath for half of the time we were at the party. Then she just did not smile for the rest of the night when she is usually a smiley baby. Yes, she was sulking! I've never met a baby that sulks. She is too funny. Meanwhile, Devin enjoyed the live band & meeting Santa. He even looked for him when he went back to church on Sunday.

And special thanks to Pastor Bojan's mom, Voi, who held Serena so I could enjoyed the food while Andrew attended to Devin. It was a big help.

Pastor Bojan giving a short message at the party.

Devin enjoying the live band. After this picture was taken, he crawled all the way up to the front. 

Beautiful girls: Amanda & Serena.

Amanda is a HUGE fan of Devin & Serena.

Picture with Santa.

Another Birthday Party

It was our niece, Terri's birthday-she turned 15! Wow, how time flies. I still remember holding her when she was an infant. And how she asked me for a "choco cookie" when she was a little over two. Then the way she was telling all the guests to leave & slamming doors when she found out the party wasn't for her (it was for her sister) when she was about 5 or so...and now she is 15. She watches & plays with Devin (along with others) whenever we're over at my sister, Wendy's house. And she is usually beat & exhausted afterwards, so THANK YOU Terri & happy birthday! 

Blowing out the candles with her dad.

Oops-the candles didn't go out, they were the trick ones!

Serena & Andrew, always there for a party!

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving-I asked Devin everyday, three or four days prior to Thursday of what he was thankful for. The first & second day he said "chicken", the last couple of times he said "my friends". I was actually expecting him to say something silly...

I think what Devin & the rest of us are thankful for is having a family. Whether it's immediate, extended family or "non-related" family, we are truly thankful for having them in our lives. And the best part is getting to spend time with them, especially on holidays. And that's what we did. First to Andrew's brother, Mike's house then the following day to my sister, Wendy's house. And it was fun to eat, chat, watch the kids playing with each other and eat again, then leftovers to bring home!

Our favorite girls on the Lopez's side of the family:

Serena & Elizabeth.

Mike & Susan's new puppy, Knightly, a lab-poodle mix.

"Paw-Paw" and Serena

"Kow-Fu"(Uncle Hon) & Serena

Sandy, Maggie & Serena

"Paw-Paw" and her grand children-we missed you Sylvia & Kyle! Devin was trying to break away from the group photo & it took 3 of his cousins to hold him in place!

Larry & Ruby's Wedding

This past Saturday we went to our friends Larry & Ruby's wedding in Nanuet, NY. It was a fun wedding and the color schemes (brown/copper)fit perfectly with the season. During the ceremony, Devin wanted to stand next to Daddy (Andrew was in the wedding) but I told him only people who are getting married can go up there. Then he started running up to the altar saying "I want to get married!" But I caught him just in time & took him outside. Sometimes he says the funniest thing and he doesn't even know it. I couldn't really take pictures during the ceremony so I only have pictures to post from the reception. Enjoy.  

Ruby looked radiant on her big day.

Devin dancing with the bride.

Ruby teaching Devin a few moves while Larry looks on.

After the lessons from Ruby, time for Devin to hit the floor on his own.

Then he quickly got a partner...

And started to give lessons himself! 

All those dancing wore him out!

While Devin was dancing, Serena was just chillin' with Heather & Pascual.

Happy 4 Months Old!

Serena is 4 months old already! Wow-I can't believe it. Enjoy the pictures.

Like Brother, Like Sister(4)

Here's our 4th month comparison pictures: I think Serena's starting to look a bit more girlish while when Devin was at 4 months is definitely all boy. Your opinion?

Serena at 4 months...

Devin at 4 months.

A Happy Girl!

Here's Serena smiling & laughing. She generally smiles back when being smiled at. Or she would smile to get your attention, like she often does with Devin. The other night, Devin made a sound that caused Serena to laugh & laugh. We only caught a bit of it on the video clip below. Then Devin decided it was enough & put his hand over the lens. Enjoy.

Smiling Serena.

Laughing Serena.

One Man Band

A few days ago when I was in the kitchen making dinner with Serena, Devin yelled out for my help. I walked into his room, and found him sitting in front of his keyboard with his guitar. His reason for my help? He wanted to strap the microphone somewhere so he could sing while playing the guitar & keyboard! So I helped him by strapping the microphone onto the keyboard stand. The next day when he woke up, he wanted to play the drums & keyboard this time so I helped him with moving the drums by the keyboards. He is too funny-he just wanted to do everything at once! 

Brotherly Love-Part Deux

Devin had such a good laugh when I was taking these photos. Meanwhile, Serena was letting her big brother hold her & hope for the best...lol. But Devin was really good and obviously had a great time. Enjoy the photos.

Brotherly Love

Devin is really sweet these days...he used to interact with Serena only once in a while, bringing her a toy, places it on her & walks away. But lately he actually wanted to be close to her. And he talks to her too! Like telling her what he would be doing: "Serena, I'm going to sleep" or the other day, bumping his head, "Serena, I'm hurt!" or "Good job, Serena" when she grabs hold of the rings on her playmat & pulls them off. I think his big brother instincts are kicking in!

The other day I laid Serena down for her tummy time & Devin just came right over, lying down next to her! Wow,I couldn't get my camera fast enough! 

Devin offering his brotherly support during Serena's tummy time.

"OK lady-this is hard work. Please hurry and take the picture!"

Little Drummer Boy

For the longest time, Devin wanted to play the drums (amongst other musical instruments). When he was a little over two, I bought him these plastic drums where you can also play in the bath tub. Then slowly, my pots & pans started to show up as part of his ensemble. And recently he discovered that a drum set can't do without the cymbals, so now the lids to the pots & pans made their appearances as well. This past Sunday, he will probably never forget...he got to play the "grown-up" drum set at church. Orlando, the drummer from the praise & worship team gave Devin his drum sticks and invited him up on the stage to play after church...wow, he was ecstatic!

Playing the grown up drums!

He sure looks like he know what he was doing...

...definitely not bad for a beginner!

On the way home, he fell asleep with the drum sticks in his hands...he was so cute. We were looking to buy him a drum set (the electronic ones so it's not so loud) the week before...so, what did we do?!

We bought him his own drum set...

...and not the electronic ones!

Yes, they are pretty loud.

We should have bought our neighbors some earplugs, but so far so good. We told Devin not to play too loud & only at certain hours. Andrew point it out that it's like getting him a Porsche & told him he could only drive 50 mph...But Devin seems to be ok with it and he is just loving the drum set!