Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Jesus' birthday. Here are some highlights from our Christmas celebrations for you. I tried matching the pictures with some Christmas songs for fun.

O Christmas Tree
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Over the River and through the Woods
...to Grandmother's house we go.


Have a Holly Jolly Christmas


I Saw Mommy (or Nanna) Kissing... Joshua


'Twas the night before Christmas
Sleep Well Little Children

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree


Joy to the World!


I'll be home for Christmas





It's the most wonderful time of the year





Jolly Old Saint... Joshua


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Rachel at 6 months


On December 9th Rachel turned 6 months old. She's now half a year. I can hardly believe it. I just noticed that my last post was a while ago and I also noticed that I said Rachel was sleeping through the night. Well, two comments from that last post: 1) these kiddos sure have been keeping me busy. Right now they are both down for a nap, hurrah! and 2) she's not sleeping through the night anymore although I'm still hopeful that it will happen again.

We went to the doctor this week for Rachel's 6 month well visit and a sick visit for Josh. They both actually have colds right now, tis the season. Josh got a cold first and Rachel has just a little runny nose. I've tried to keep Josh off of her but he just loves to kiss on her and rub that runny nose all over her. Yuck! If only he loved to rub it into a kleenex, we would all be better.

So, here are her stats: She weighs 17lbs and 9.8 ozs. (76%). She is 28 inches long (97%). Her head circumference is 16.75 (48%). She is eating rice cereal, oatmeal, and applesauce. I wanted to start her on a vegetable first but she was uncomfortable from the rice cereal and I knew she needed something to help with that. The doctor recommended giving her some juice but I didn't have any so I gave her applesauce and it helped her take care of business. We will try a vegetable tomorrow and add on after that. While I don't want her to grow up to fast, I am eager to get out of this baby food stage. It seems to last forever. Oh well, that's just the way it goes. One pureed food at a time.



Here's a classic picture of Rachel sucking her thumb. I just love it!
Notice her teddy bear? IT says "My First Christmas."


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Thankful for Family




Everyday I am thankful for the blessings God has given me. At the top of that list is my family. I'm thankful for how sweet my little toddler is when he gives out kisses I haven't asked asked for, how he smiles at me, how he cares for his sister and how he's learning to serve others. I'm thankful for the bundle of joy I have sitting in my lap right now watching my every move, Miss Rachel. She's full of smiles, easy to tickle, growing up fast, and sleeps through the night- yeah! I'm thankful for my husband and best friend, Jason; for the humor he brings to our relationship and family, for cooking and helping out, and so much more. Lastly, I'm thankful my friends and family who answer my questions, encourage, support and love me. Thank you!



Unfortunately we didn't take that many family photos. I'm sorry. Here are some though. Compare this one to last year of Josh.




Ace teaching Josh how to build





Our 1st Trip to the Zoo!


Monday, November 10, 2008

Rachel at 5 months





I missed posting an update after Rachel's 4 month visit to the pediatrician's office so I making up for it now.

At 4 months, Rachel weighed just under 16 lbs (77%), was 25 1/4 inches tall (79%), and her head measured 16 1/4 (55%). Her personality is really starting to show. She loves attention. She gets really excited when I drink from my water bottle or read a book to her. She wants to gnaw on both of these objects. She has been rolling over from back to tummy for about three weeks now and can almost sit up on her own.

She's sleeping better some nights, but not all. I'm hopeful ever night that this will be the one when she decides to sleep through the night, but it has not happened again. A good night is waking up at 1:30 or 3:30 and again at 5:30 though sometimes later. The good news about sleeping is that she goes down well at night and mostly for naps. I give her a blankie, she grabs it, and sticks her thumb in her mouth. I love it!


Here's Miss Rachel in our family crib and christening gown.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy Halloween!



We hope you had a great Halloween! We dressed up, gave out some candy at the house, and then headed down the street to hang out with our neighbors on the cool autumn night. We enjoyed snacks and good drinks while staying warm by the fire pit in their front yard. Josh quickly figured out how to trick-or-treat. He grabbed a bucket and started walking around with it. We let him run around and have a few treats too (some M-n-Ms and Dum-Dums). Soon, it was way past bedtime and we all went to sleep. I'm still playing catch up since we've been out of town but hope to get some new posts up soon.

Here are some photos of my two little pumpkins from Halloween night. : )




Sunday, October 12, 2008

My Birthday Weekend!

Last weekend I turned THIRTY!

Friday night, Jason and I went out for the first time just the two of us. Well, it wasn't the first time. It's the first time since Rachel's been born. Our babysitter was wonderful so we felt comfortable too. Our plans changed all in a matter of minutes when the restaurant we planned to go to was closed. That's right, not longer in business closed. So, we decided to go to the mall and get dinner, then see a movie. Then, our plans changed again when we got to the mall. We've always thought about going to Medieval Times but didn't want to with kids. So, we checked to see if we could make the show and got tickets.

Medieval Times was an interesting event. Cheesy, but still fun. I think I secretly enjoyed the girls next to me celebrating their 9th birthday party as much as the jousting. I just got all giggly on the inside about having a girl who's going to act like them later in life and was excited. Also, I enjoyed their screaming and enthusiasm for the Blue Knight who we were rooting for, and he won!

Saturday night, I went out with my girlfriends to Aqua Terra, a great restaurant in historic Buford. We had a great time and excellent food. I shared filet mignon with Bethany and then got an amazing chocolate cake for dessert. Hm! Thank you all for coming out and celebrating with me!!!! I really enjoyed our first girls night out and can't wait to have another one again.



Oh, and since Friday night was so last minute we forgot our camera. We ended up buying a disposable one and will someday get the pictures developed and posted. Just not sure how fast that will happen. Boy have times changed.

Finally Sunday, we went to church, enjoyed Life Group, went pumpkin picking, and had dinner at Chipotle. Here's Josh with his buddy Isaac.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A weekend in Rock Hill, SC

It's been a few weeks now, but here are some photos from our trip to Rock Hill to visit Jason's family. We enjoyed good times outside playing on the trampoline, eating barbeque, picking apples and grapes, exploring the chicken coop and more.



Cousin Noelle eating the table : )


Josh, Rachel, Wayne, and Noelle




Just one of the many hummingbirds outside their house.


Josh loving on his Gee.


Can we say static electricity?




Naomi and Rachel


Cynthia and Noelle
Rachel and Gee
Ethan and Josh playing in the rocks.
What boys like to do.

Hmm... yellow watermelon.

Yummy!

Produce from their family's garden. Thanks, it was all wonderful!