December in Texas!

Spencer is becoming quite the builder. He builds things out of his imagination all the time. He had some help from Brant for this beauty, though. 

Spencer also loves to take pictures. This one is pretty good for a 5 year old. 

There's a grocery store in Texas called HEB (Literally stands for Here Everything's Better). It's our favorite grocery store and we happen to know the general manager which meant we got a VIP tour complete with dinner and an HEBuddy visit! You can tell Spence is excited since he usually doesn't run up and hug giant grocery bags. 

We've had some sick days this month which meant lots of cuddles. Spencer had a stomach bug and is still super paranoid about throwing up. Almost every day he asks me if he's going to throw up again. Poor little guy. Gav was being a pirate here with his telescope. 

For some reason Spencer enjoys giving other people shots, but definitely does not like getting them. He and Gavin got their flu shots a little while ago and he was not a happy camper. 

Here's this year's gingerbread house along with 3 silly boys!

We had the Olsons and Thurgoods over for Christmas Eve dinner. This is the only picture I took (why do I not think to take a picture until after everything's over?), but I'm glad it shows Spencer's and Tucker's matching shirts and they are enjoying their pie and ice cream. 

On Christmas Eve we have a tradition of opening up a new game and playing it together. Gator Golf was a huge hit! 

The best (and cutest!) Christmas present ever! 

I love watching everyone open presents on Christmas morning! 

Gavin's new scooter from Grandpa Rich and Grandma Pam. 

All of the boys' presents. There were lots of cars!

Baby Tyler's presents. He was obviously ecstatic. 

Spencer got right to work building his new Captain America legos and Gavin's Batman legos. 

We had a great Christmas and are grateful for our little family! Here's a picture of Gavin doing some 'tummy time' with Tyler. Whenever I put Tyler on his tummy Gavin wants to show me that he can do it too. :)

November 2012

Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye! Tyler has no chance of escaping it. 

Gavin always says, "Hold you! Hold you!" whenever I'm holding Tyler because he wants me to hold him instead. This is how I can hold both of them at the same time. 

Our first camping trip with three boys! They all did a great job, including Tyler who wasn't even 5 weeks old yet. 

It was a little chilly the other morning (in the 60s) so Gavin wanted his gloves and hat on. Living in Texas he of course needed sunglasses too. 

I love this picture Spencer drew of our backyard. It has our swing set (which I drew), a tree, the sky, a fire ant mound...it's the brown thing under the tree. We get a lot of fire ants. 

Spencer's first letter to Santa. He thought it would be best to draw all of the things he wanted like a transformer, a new bike, and legos. He told me what he wanted to write so I helped him out. It says, "Dear Santa, This is for you! Love, Spencer". We put it in the mailbox to send it to the North Pole. 

Brant trying to get Tyler to smile. I got the first smile, though, just a few minutes later. :)

Love the bib, thanks April and Frances! 

I forgot to take a picture of our Thanksgiving feast so I got one afterwards. So thankful for all of our blessings!

October 2012

Life is crazy with three little boys. I think Tyler's saying, 'Its so loud in here!' It sure is, but it's a lot of fun too.

Gavin was helping Brant take out his Mom's suitcase. 

Playing outside on a nice sunny day in the Fall!

Spencer's first Pre-K field trip to the pumpkin patch. 

Ready for Trunk or Treat! Gavin was a pumpkin at first, but then wanted to be Batman like Spencer.

Carving pumpkins with the Wildes. Spencer's pumpkin was spiderman. 

Time for trick-or-treating! Gavin was willing to be a pumpkin and Tyler didn't have much say in being a giraffe. Such cute boys, so glad they're ours!

Newborn Pictures of Tyler Erich

Our friend Lauren Bertoldo not only threw Marcie a baby shower, but then offered to take newborn pictures as well (for those in the College Station area, her website is http://luluphotography.com/ and she is amazing)!

So, without further ado, a few of our favorites of Tyler (and his big brothers).

 

Tyler Erich Christensen Has Arrived!

At 2:49am on October 8th, we excitedly welcomed Tyler Erich Christensen to the family! At 8 lbs 3 oz and 21 1/4 inches, Tyler wasn't a small kid and he's been a great sleeper and eater so far. He's got some mean dimples when he smiles and we're excited for him to start showing more and more of his personality.

Marcie did a phenomenal job, despite the fact that Tyler came so quickly that 1) the nurses had to deliver him and 2) there was no time for painkillers of any kind. She was very, very brave. Although mothers in labor have immunity from any and all repercussions related to things they do (i.e., break their husband's hand) or say (i.e., swear like a sailor), I do have to share one quote from Marcie that made the nurse bust out laughing: when informed that the baby was coming too quickly for an epidural, Marcie (in pain) said 'Yeah, well that hypnobirthing stuff is just stupid, because this hurts!' It was pretty awesome.

Anyway, on to the pictures:

 

Marcie on Thursday the 4th, the day of her baby shower and just a few days before Tyler was born.

 

 Marcie and Tyler just a few minutes after he was born!

 Me and Tyler just hanging out on the 'guest bed' in Marcie's recovery room. Not the comfiest, but it's not like I could complain at the time, right? I mean, Marcie just gave birth with no painkillers, I'm not about to start complaining about the relative lack of cushioning in the couch...

 Little Tyler giving us quite the yawn.

 The two best big brothers in the world, Gavin and Spencer, along with me and Tyler.

 Gavin holding his little brother for the first time. Gavin is still learning the idea of 'personal space' but he's starting to adjust to not being the youngest in the family.

 Spencer holding Tyler. Spencer has been unbelievably helpful and happy this past week. He's really stepped up to the plate and helped keep Gavin happy so that Marcie and I could spend time with Tyler. We couldn't be more proud of Spencer and his brotherly awesomeness.

 Marcie and her three boys! She'll kill me for posting this picture online due to the little skin she's showing, but I love this picture.

 Not sure what happened here...but let's just say we're still teaching Spencer how to best hold little babies...

...a fact that Spencer seems to realize, as he looks rather confused as well about why Tyler isn't just sitting up on his own!

 

Tyler, hanging out after eating. Though we're not sure what gang sign he's flashing in the first picture, we think he's a pretty cute kid.

With Tyler sleeping calmly, we thought it would be fun to have a crazy picture with the other boys.

Thankfully, my mom flew in the day after we got back from the Hospital. She's been a great help and we're very grateful she can stay this whole week with us.

 My mom brought the boys all sorts of Ohio State gear, and they love it! Here, Spencer is signaling touchdown, while Gavin is starting to signal a first down. Needless to say, I am a very proud father.

Gavin wrapping up his 'first down' signal.

Spencer really has been amazing this past week. Here's a great picture of him after lining up (and counting, of course) all 39 of his LEGO guys. 

We're very grateful to have been blessed with such a healthy, happy baby boy. We're grateful for all those who helped us this last week with babysitting, food, and general support. We feel very blessed to have such great friends and family!

Preschool!

 Spencer's first day of preschool! 

Here he is with his teacher. 

 As I walked out he was just playing unaware of what a big change this was. I got a little teary eyed, but I know he will love preschool so I'm mostly excited for him. 

Gavin and I had some one on one time for the first time ever while Spencer was at school. Even though we miss Spencer, we had a fun time playing and Spencer's back before we know it.