Farewell 2012

Oh 2012 what a year you have been!

We welcomed our sweet boy into the world
watched him grow and have so many firsts
Celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary
Mia started pre-k
and became a big girl in the blink of an eye
I left my job of 11 years and embarked on a new nursing adventure
....
As I sit and look back on the year and try to come up with a list of all the things we have done, I find it hard to put into words.
It has absolutely flown by.
I find myself constantly wanting time to slow down, for the days to stop going by so fast, for my kids to stop growing before my eyes.

My focus this next year is to just be in the present
to simplify
to appreciate every day
every giggle
every cry
every early morning
every late night
every kiss
every cuddle
(from the kiddos and Caleb!)
To soak it all in and lock it away in my heart and soul
To enjoy life and all that comes with it

I wish that for all of my family and friends as well

Cheers to you 2012!
You have been a great year
Thanks for all the wonderful times and memories!

Never enough!

It seems no matter how much I feed Marshall this is what he does when the food is gone

That was lunch time, This was snack time

I'm telling you I could feed him forever and he would still be upset when the food ran out!
This little dude loves to eat!
Let's hope he stays this way and doesn't become the picky little bird that Mia is!

**Tonight for dinner he had a whole grilled cheese, a serving of mixed veggies and a half a banana- and he didn't cry afterward! I guess he had finally had enough! (He's not even 1 yet! What am I going to do when he is a teenager?!? Better start a food savings account now!)

Kind of a big deal!

 A couple of weeks before Christmas Mia asked if she could get her ears pierced.
I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to do it until she wanted it done.
I was pretty excited when she said she was ready!
So for Christmas we got her some earrings!

 The next day she was ready for action!
So we braved the mall and got it done!
We had to wait in line for 45 minutes!
But my girl was so excited and so brave!

She cried a little right after it was done.
Even though I had warned her that it would hurt, I think she was a bit shocked by it!
But it didn't take long til my girl was all smiles and so proud of her new earrings!

Man, another huge milestone in her life.
So glad I get to be a part of it!

Buddies!

Melissa and Savannah came back in to town for Christmas, so we got to spend some more time with them!
We met them at a park and the girls got to play and us moms got to visit!
I just love seeing my lifelong friend and seeing our girls play together does my heart good!

We were spoiled by these two close visits!
We're gonna have to plan the next trip!
Maybe we can go to Washington to see them?!?

Christmas 2012

My mom and Momo came for Christmas this year!
We were so excited to have them!
Mia has been counting down for like 2 weeks.
They arrived Friday afternoon and we have been having a blast!
I had to work Saturday and Sunday so Mia got to spend lots of special time with her Mama d (Grandma) and Momo (Great Grandma!)

Christmas eve morning we played Skip-bo together.
This was really cool to me because it was Momo and Popo that taught me how to play when I was a little girl! Though I am pretty sure I wasn't as young as Mia- and that girl can play!
She strategizes and everything! The first game she won in just one round!

This year Mia decided that we should leave Santa some Rocky Road candy instead of cookies, since it is our specialty!

 Love this picture of my best mom and my best girl!

 Santa sure did come to our house!

Mia was over the moon about her gymnastics beam!

(But she was a little disappointed that Santa didn't also bring her the gymnastics bar that she asked for. 

Someday she will understand!)

 Marshall enjoyed all of the fun and excitement!

I am so not good with the camera lately!

We had the whole family over for our traditional prime rib and home made shells and cheese dinner and I hardly too any pics!

Oh well that just means I was too busy enjoying myself to take pics right?!?

We had a wonderful Christmas!

Thanks so much mom and momo for coming to be with us and for making the holiday that much more special!

We love you and miss you already!
***I made this special version of the Nail Family Tree for Momo!

 She loved it!

I envisioned it about 3 weeks before Christmas and I was able to take my vision and make it a reality!
I am quite proud of how it turned out and so pleased that Momo loves it so much!

'Twas the night before...

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!

The baby whisperer!

Never underestimate the power of Baby Einstein!

This boy can be in the worst mood and all we have to do is stick one of the Baby Einstein DVDs in.

It's like a miracle!

A life saver some days!

He has started to anticipate the scenes and even mimics the characters!

He laughs and giggles and sings along!

Gotta love it!

Santa!

We took the kiddos to see Santa tonight!
Our plan was to take them to Bass Proshop like we have done the last couple of years.
We were hoping that if we went on a Wednesday at 4:30 it wouldn't be too bad.
We got there and it didn't look too busy, we went to get in line and the elf handed us a ticket that stated we could come back to get in line at 7:30!!!!
Uummm- no thanks!
I convinced Caleb to try the mall and we happened to park at exactly the right entrance, walked in and there was only 3 people ahead of us!
Booyah!
And then Marshall didn't even cry!
Mia acted a bit apprehensive at first, but she put her brave face on and did it!
Santa made a special point of telling me how he was so pleased that Mia said "I would like..." rather then just jump in with I want or Give me. He said that she was only the 3rd child that had been polite this year. That is really a sad statement about our community. But I was very proud of my girl! She is so sweet and polite. Keep it up angel baby!
We went out to eat and were home by 7:15!
Take that Bass Proshop!

11 Months Old!

My babe is 11 months old today!

What a precious little guy he is!
He is way more mobile these days.
He just started to crawl on his hands and knees this last week.
But if he wants to get somewhere fast he reverts to his speedy inch worm!
He is really pulling himself up on lots of things!
His favorite is his piano.
We tried out Gymboree this month.
Marshall wasn't a huge fan.
He sure enjoyed playing and spending time with Mommy, but he really wasn't interested in the activities there.
So we will put that on hold and try again in a couple of months.
He continues to learn new words.
Mama, however, is not one of them :(
He says Bye Bye, Bite, yum-yums (milk), dada and daddy (of course!) and Hi.
The other day Caleb walked into the room and he said "Hi Dad!" clear as day!
Then I taught him to say Work. I would say "Marshall, where is Daddy?" and he would answer with Work.
Of course when Daddy got home I couldn't get him to say it!
He still loves to eat!
Mac n cheese and hot dogs are the new faves!
The other day I just put both on the tray of his highchair and let him go to town.

He needed a bath after that one!
He had mac n cheese in his eyelashes!
He is just the sweetest little dude I could have asked for!
He definitely completes our family!
Looking forward to his first Christmas in a few days!
Cheers to 11 months little man!
We love you so...

Mistletoe

What a difference a year makes!

2011

 2012

Let the fork begin!

This boy loves his food!
Today he had hot dogs for the first time!
Then I was feeding him peaches with a fork and he grabbed it out of my hand and started to feed himself!
Such a big boy!

Big Girl Dentist

I decided to take Mia to my dentist.
We each had an appt!
She went first then me!
Easy, peasy!

My girl wants so badly to be all grown up.
She begged me to let her go back by herself.
Not yet Angel Baby.
You might be ready, but Mama is not!

Anyway here are some cute pics I snapped of my big girl!

She was so good, the hygienist kept saying how impressed she was.
It is such a compliment when people think she is as awesome as I think she is!
Makes my heart soar!

Another big milestone!

I have begun the weaning process!
My boy now gets his noon time milk from a sippy cup!
He is such a big boy!
I think that this time is going to be a bit harder for me then it was with Mia.
This is my last baby.
While part of me is so ready to be done with breastfeeding and all that goes along with it,
ie: wearing the right bra, thinking about the logistics of breastfeeding when I pick out my outfit for the day, limited caffeine, no alcohol, no chocolate (upsets marshall's stomach for some reason!), pumping etc...
Another part of me is going to miss it.
It's the end of an era in my life for sure.
All my life I dreamed about having babies and mine are growing too fast!
Slow down!
(I find myself saying that all the time these days!)

Cheers to you my sweet boy!
Don't worry about me, I'll be ok...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best Friends

This week we had the special treat of having my longest friend and her daughter come for a visit!

It was especially cool for us as our daughters are the age we were when we first met!

 It was so wonderful to see her and catch up and to watch our girls play together!

I really loved the fact that we still have such a strong bond even though we have both changed and grown and been through so much.

I guess that is what 30 years of friendship will do for you!

Kind of a big deal!!

Caleb and Mia decided now is the time for her to start learning how to ride her bike without training wheels!
He took her to the greenbelt in our neighborhood and they practiced!

She has so much fun and really felt like a big girl!
She has a long way to go, but she has her daddy right beside her!
Love these two!