Monday, February 11, 2013

Christmas and 9 months


'Tis the Season... to be completely overwhelmed, to have so many good intentions as a mom, to have so many plans... This year was the first year that you, Eli, could really understand all of the fun things about the Christmas season and start to begin to understand what Christmas REALLY is about so in the spirit of that I wanted to start making some REAL memories and do Christmas up right! And of course, it was your FIRST Christmas, Leo and Liam, so added pressure there! So I think I went a little overboard in my mind and had all of these things that I wanted to do in this already crazy time that I think I made myself a little crazy. BUT we had a great Christmas season: full of lots of time together with each other, with family, making memories, and each of you are growing and changing by the second. 
Leo and Liam, you started CRAWLING this month...and boy have our lives changed. I tell everyone that asks (and those that don't ask even) that Eli spoiled us. In his 3.5 years of life he has not once messed with an outlet, a lamp, one of my pretties, etc... and Liam, in less than 12 hours of crawling, you managed to pull something out of an outlet, try to take the Christmas tree down and countless other things. We can't turn our back for a second! Liam, you took your first crawls when I put my cellphone out a few feet in front of you and enticed you with it and keep pulling it further and further away. At such a young age, you already know the importance of that thing! And about a week later, despite our lack of trying to discourage you, Leo you started crawling in much the same way! You both have been so fun to watch but you forget that you can get where you want to go when you are really wanting something...you just sit there and cry until we take you! You both decided that you will hold your bottles during feeding times- Liam, I think you started around the end of last month and Leo you started around the beginning of this month and this has been nice for momma and daddy...a little freedom if we want to get things done. Later, towards the end of this month you both have been perfecting the art of pulling up: in your crib, on your toys, on the couch, in Eli's room (which you still LOVE to play in). You both think you are hot stuff being able to do all of these new things. With your new mobility comes new territory...you are getting to play a lot in the kitchen when we are cooking and cleaning up and in momma and daddy's room when we are in there working or getting ready. Liam, right at Christmas, Aunt Jessica asked if you had any teeth yet because Leo had had his one for awhile and I said no you didn't and I reached in your mouth just to check and you had TWO on the bottom just poking through! Liam, you also started clapping this month and you are VERY proud of yourself...it is the cutest thing. All you have to do is say "Yay!" and you start clapping! As far as eating, still eating bottles about 4 times a day and then once in the early wee hours of the morning. You eat sweet potatoes and avocados at every meal and then we mix in a veggie like asparagus or green bean and lately we have started more fruit... banana and an applesauce that you are liking more! All in all you are good eaters!

Eli- This month you continued to go to your "new school" at "Cross Church" and every time you see the crosses you scream "MY SCHOOL!!!". It is the cutest thing! I think you are really liking it and learning a lot. You and I also got to go on a train ride with Santa and that was a lot of fun...you were so good this season with Santa and were not afraid at all (maybe a little timid but did really well- so proud of you)! You LOVED the train ride and talked to whole time about everything you could see out the window. We will definitely do something like this again. You are already talking about a train birthday party- nothing like planning ahead! You and brothers got to go downtown in Rogers to the train caboose and sit in Santa's lap and get your picture taken and you told him you wanted a kitchen and a mower for Christmas! You talked about this for quite some time after doing it so I think it was lots of fun.





















Something new this year was our Elf, Happy, that came allllll the way from the North Pole to help us make Christmas a little more fun. You named him Happy and every morning Happy would be hiding some place else. Every now and then Happy would leave you notes reminding you about why we celebrate Christmas (Jesus' birthday) and how Jesus wants you to act all the time, not just to get presents from Santa. Happy had to go home to the North Pole after he watched you open presents but he was fun to have around! We found out some other elves did things differently at other people's houses but that's ok because we always do things a bit differently at our house anyway, right? 


Random Pictures from our month (holiday crafts, trips, friends, family, etc):




































Proof of how much trouble you get in to!


First time in the shopping cart!!! at Sam's...where else??



Some of our Christmas decorations!





At Nana and Pawpaw's!





I love that Eli and Leo are making the same face











Christmas Eve we went to Ft. Smith to see Nana and Pawpaw and that was fun but G'Oma got sick so we didn't get to see her so we headed back home to Rogers and we ALL went to Christmas Eve service at church with daddy. Not sure if I was crazy or smart but I was determined to get to go to church at least once during Christmas! I think everyone did pretty good given that we had been on the go all day and there was only me to three MOBILE kiddos. We'll call it a win and Jesus was happy we helped celebrate his birthday! 










Eli, Nana and Pawpaw's hearth is your "toncert" stage!



Leo, you met your second cousin Macy and flirted quite heavily and were proud of yourself!



Getting ready for Santa! You made him a picture!



Cookies and carrots



Momma and Daddy snuck out after Santa came to take pictures of the goodies!






Christmas morning was priceless. Santa brought you your kitchen, Eli and he brought brothers a cool rocking plane that plays music and you also got a few other things in your stockings. Santa even left you a note after he ate all your cookies! After that we went to Charleston and got snowed in at Gran and Grandads and it looks like it might be our only snow of the season so I'm glad we experienced it! All three of my boys have had snow on their first Christmases! We had brunch at the Wells, went back to G&G's and took naps and then the craziness ensued as everyone opened presents...you were all spoiled! And Eli, you got a sled which was perfect for the snow that day! 




The Well's Christmas Brunch























It was still snowing pretty hard and VERY cold so we opted to sled inside Christmas day!



But on the next morning...














Came inside for a bit to warm up and these two ended up in an ice chest???






















The next day we came home long enough to do laundry, sleep in our beds for a night and then off to Oma and Pop's for a couple of days to see all of your cousins there...even Nico came from Dallas! That was lots of fun except everyone ended up sick...Eli, Liam and Nico had ear infections by the end of it  but we still managed to have a great time together!

Looking at Oma's Christmas Village...hands OFF!

 fun in the snow one more time...but this time a BIG hill!



 Made a snowman with Uncle Ian!



Off to the races!



 Nico's here!



 Tres Triplets!









 Sweet Aidan sleeps through it all!


Uncle Charlie shares his war stories with the boys ;)
 What's wrong with this picture? The 9month old is the 3 year old's toy and the 3 year old is on the 9 month old's toy!







So Christmas was jam packed with baking cookies, making ornaments, wrapping presents, reading books, and of course watching the Polar Express and Frosty the Snowman about 88 times but my prayer (now that things have settled and I can really think about what traditions I want you all to remember when you get older) is that JESUS is always what you remember. He's always what shines the brightest He's always what you worship and cherish and celebrate and honor and glorify during this time and all throughout the years as you grow up and begin to build your own families. I hope we always have lots of fun during Christmas but I pray that no matter what fun we have, it never overshadows the Christ Child that came as a baby to die as a Savior for you and for me. I know that as I type this you are a toddler and two infants so this song makes no sense to you at your ages but at your ages this song makes more sense to me than it ever could and probably ever will again. So I hope that one day, this song will speak to you as much as it spoke to me this year. 

Born to Die 
Bebo Norman

They never knew a dark night
always had the Son's light
on their face
Perfect in glory
Broken by the story
of untold grace...
come that day

Majesty had come down 
Glory had succumed now 
to flesh and bone
In the arms of a manger
In the hands of strangers
that could not know
Just who they hold

Chorus:
And the angels filled the sky 
All of heaven wondered why
Why their King would choose to be 
Be a baby born to die

And all fell silent 
For the cry of an infant,
the voice of God
Was dividing history
For those with eyes to see,
the Son would shine
From earth that night

Chorus Bridge: To break the chains Of guilt and sin To find us here To pull us in So we can join in Heaven's song And with one voice around the throne Chorus: All the Angels filled the sky And I can't help but wonder why Why this King would choose to be Be a baby born for me Be a baby born Be a baby born to die

9 MONTH Photo Shoot! Mobility Rules...

















Love, Momma