a christmas recap

Christmas this year was on a whole other level. Caleb really understood and got it all in a way that he hadn't before - which made it both a lot of fun and exhausting! He started asking for Christmas back before it was even Thanksgiving. He would look at the calendar and ask why Christmas wasn't on there yet and he would look in the living room and ask why we didn't have a tree yet. I think that he was genuinely concerned that everyone else was having Christmas and we were missing it! When it was finally December, I put the little Christmas picture onto his calendar that hangs on the fridge. When he saw it, he got so excited and said, "Good job mommy! Good job putting on Christmas picture!" And when he saw us putting up the tree, he literally gasped and said, "It's beautiful! Hooray! We decorate the Christmas tree!"

Once it was decorated, every time he would walk past the tree, he would stop and give us a hug and in a very sweet, quiet voice he would say, "Merry Christmas mommy and daddy." Ummm, talk about a heart-melter!

We also decorated our annual gingerbread houses. We got each of the kids their own, so as to avoid any unnecessary arguing. They did both get upset because their tiny fingers just could not hold onto the little pieces of candy. Next year, I will definitely only put out larger pieces for them to use. Still, it was fun, and I love seeing their masterpieces displayed all month long.

I'm sad as I go through our pictures because there is so much that we did that I didn't get photographed.  I want to capture it all, but when you are dealing with two little people, you really need both your hands free and not holding a camera! Something else for me to try and improve on this year.

I used to be sad to see Christmas go, but I have to say that this year I really wasn't. I still love it and it's still my favorite time of year, but this year I was definitely craving routine and simplicity. And I knew that the kids, especially Caleb, needed that too.

So here we are, mid-way through January and considering this blog updated!  Now onto current events!

our fall in pictures.....finally!

just a few of my favorites.

next up.....Christmas pictures!

family pictures

so back in the fall, we finally got around to getting family pictures made with my parents and brothers. none of them seem to like getting their pictures made, so it had been something we had been putting off for a long time. but the kiddos were due to have their pictures done again so i told everyone else they needed to show up too! it ended up being a cold day, and the kids were not entirely cooperative - Makayla had decided to skip her nap that day and Caleb just wanted to run off and play. but as always, Jennifer came through for us and somehow managed to get some good shots of our wild bunch.

these were just a few of my favorites.

yes, i know it's a lot of pictures, but i love these people, and i could look at them all day long. and believe it not, that was narrowed down by a lot! really though, i love having pictures made of the kids, because i feel like we are capturing that brief moment and helping ourselves remember what they were like at that exact time. they are growing so quickly - i already find myself looking back at baby pictures and not being able to completely remember what it was like when they were that small. that is one reason that keeping up with this blog is one of my resolutions for the new year. there is so much that i want to document, and i am determined to make it more of a priority this year. so i hope to do a quick fall and winter recap post in pictures and then stay better updated with the day-to-day.

be back soon!

|all photos by Jennifer Dunaway Photography|

2 years old

last week, baby girl went and turned two years old on us.  i have repeatedly asked my children to slow down and not grow up so fast, but my pleas have been ignored.  it's not that their current ages are particularly easy - in fact, many days end with me wanting to pull my hair out.  but their current ages are completely precious, and i find myself falling more in love with them every day. 

my sweet Makayla Brynn:

you have one of the sweetest, most lovable personalities - and i am not simply saying that because i am your mother!  everyone tells us how sweet and happy you are - no one can be around you long without smiling.  you have even had teachers in the church nursery request that you be in their room! 

you adore your big brother.  when he is at school, you are constantly looking for him and asking me where he is.  you all play wonderfully together and fight wonderfully together!  you are most definitely not a push-over and can hold your own with him! 

you are such a talker!  you have caught your daddy and me by complete surprise with the amount of words you have.  and you talk non-stop, which reminds us that you are a) a girl  and b) my daughter!

your favorite food is macaroni and cheese - lucky for you, it's considered a vegetable in the south! you seriously cannot shovel it into your mouth fast enough! 

you are definitely a girly-girl.  lately your accessory of choice is your princess crown, but you like to mix it up!  and i must say that i have a blast dressing you up every day!

you always check on us and make sure we're ok - any time we cough or sneeze or anything, you'll ask "are you ok?" and wait to make sure we say yes.  it doesn't matter if we sneeze 4 times in a row, you will ask after each one. 

precious girl - i am so grateful that i get to be your mommy.  you brighten our days and make our world a happier place.  you are such an incredible blessing.  i love you so much!

happy birthday baby girl!

love,

mommy