Three Months...already!

Really, Emma, stop growing up so fast!!!! Everyday, you are growing and changing, and developing more and more personality! And it's a really sweet, pleasant personality! You are a very happy little baby girl and I think Mommy and Daddy can't even remember what it was like before you arrived to bless our lives!
Highlights of Emma:

• I should definitely say that you smile alot. All the time, almost. I think it's fairly evident since I post your smiley pics all over this blog. Your smile really makes my day. It's contagious.
• You love your brother. You follow him with your head and your eyes. Even when he is a little "crazy" around you, it doesn't seem to phase you.
• You are a great eater and a great sleeper.
• The past few weeks, you have really found your voice. You even started giggling at us! It's so stinkin cute! You really giggle when Mommy pretends to sneeze. The other night, you and Daddy "talked" to eachother for almost an hour. You like to mimic sounds with your sweet little voice.
• Okay, so you are not such a big fan of tummy time. What baby is? You are pretty lazy when it comes to lifting your head, but you are starting to work on it.
• You are a spitter! Burpcloths were a cute accessory when your brother was a baby. But with you, I can't be without a burpbloth for any length of time. You generate a lot of laundry.
• You are just a content baby...you don't really seem to mind entertaining yourself while I have to deal with your brother. He might be a little more high-maintenance at the moment. It will be your turn soon enough!
• You are fitting well in 3-6 month clothes and are still in size 1 diapers.
• It seems like you are really trying to be a thumbsucker like your brother. You just can't quite figure it out just yet. You have really discovered your hands the past week or so. You are batting at your toys and bringing your hands together to try to figure things out.
• You are beautiful.
  

And what's with the serious face, Connell!?!?!?!?!

Being Thankful

It seems as though the older (yikes) I get, the more I truly appreciate the meaning and true spirit of Thanksgiving. And now being the mother of two beautiful children, I am finding myself with more of a spirit of Thanksgiving all throughout the year. Some days, of course, it's easier than others to keep a thankful spirit and attitude. But looking at the faces of my sweet babies, I can't help but be full of thanks for so many blessings.
We traveled to Memphis/Olive Branch to be with our family and friends to celebrate this wonderful holiday. This was Emma's first trip and so for many of our family and friends, this was their first time to meet her. She was a great traveler, and was sweet and smiley for everyone! We had delicious meals and fun family time. We are looking forward to doing it again in a few weeks for Christmas!

Meme & Emma
Papa & Connell

Emma smiling at Grandma & Grandpa

While we were in town, our friend Barb (who works at the BNSF Railroad) offered to take Connell to see the trains! He was so excited!

Grandpa, Connell & Daddy with the 'BIG CHOO CHOO'

My sweet boy!

I am sooooo thankful for our little family!

Tim & our Godson, Gus!

Connell & Gus
Emma looks a little bored with all of this!

Kisses!

love the hat!!!!
Emma & Mommy's self-portrait

Thank you, Lord, for this sweet, healthy baby girl you gave us this year.

Getting Ready to Give Thanks

Today we spent the day at home preparing for our trip to Memphis/Olive Branch for Thanksgiving. This will be our first road trip since Emma has joined us...lots to do and LOTS to pack.
We did take a break to make some "Turkey Hands" for the grandparents. Even Emma made one! She then dozed in her bouncy while reading a book! ha!

It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas!

What? It's not even Thanksgiving yet. I know. We've never decorated our home this early, but frankly, this weekend was our best opportunity and I needed all the help I could get to get this done. Tim is always a huge help with dragging everything down from the attic and even helping to decorate the trees. And this year, Connell was quite the little helper too! We are so excited to see Christmas thru the eyes of our little boy. And Emma, she was a big help too...she napped well so we could accomplish our work and when she was awake, she was smiley and happy!!! I think she likes all the lights!

Connell & Daddy went outside to do the outdoor decorations.

Oh Emma, I know I promised not to do the big hairbow thing to you, but who knew it would be so stinkin' cute!!! :)

Hanging ornaments...so serious!

taken with my phone, so not a great pic, but SUPER smile!

Under the Weather

Connell began the week a little under the weather with a lowgrade fever, cough and runny nose. Thankfully, it only lasted a few days. He had to miss Mother's Day Out on Tuesday, but was back in business on Thursday. Of course, now poor Emma is congested a bit...it's hard to keep Connell away from her so I suppose we are in for many years of germ-sharing. Oh well!

Watching "Pooh" with Pooh

She looks like she's feeling good!

I Love my Cupcake!

Pictures of Emma ... just because I can't get enough of her sweet face ... and so you can judge for yourself if you think her hair is coming in RED ...

Slumber Party!

Taylor and Reagan spent the night with us Friday night and Connell was so excited! He rarely (if ever) at this point in his life protests bedtime, but he did this night. But luckily, all children were in bed by 9 - especially good for me since Tim was in Memphis for the night so I was on my own with all 4! And then they were all awake by 6am! HELLO kids - Saturday morning. SLEEP AT LEAST UNTIL 7 please!!!!

It was a joy to have so much laughter in our home for the night! We love Rea/Tay!!!!

Pics from the week...

Monday we had MOPS and then my friend Allison came by for a little bit. She has a 3 year old and a baby boy. Here is Emma and Ryan on their little playdate.
We had a really great week. Didn't do a whole lot (which was nice) but tried to get some things done around the house. As a follow up from my previous post, I really just tried to enjoy "moments" this week. Emma and Connell were awesome this week! I am so blessed to be their mommy!
On another note, I realize that I need a pic of them together for the top of my blog. However, that is easier said than done. For example, we tried a little photo taking, and it's probably a bit scary for Emma. But these are pretty cute...


And while I was on the floor trying to get pics of Emma, Connell was standing on the table. He shouldn't be doing that, but he looked cute!

Finished off the week with a trip to the huge shopping event - Christmas Village! It's such a crazy mess, but I love all the cute stuff I find. Look at this and guess who will be so precious in it for her very first Christmas!!!!!

Big thanks to my super hubby for taking care of the kids while I had my girly time! This was the first time he kept both of them (and for an extended period) and they had a blast! He even took them both out to lunch...sweet daddy!!!

Hope you all had a good week! Have a wonderful weekend!!! We are in for more perfect FALL weather here!

Moments...

I can't believe it's November. I find myself coming (finally) out of the "newborn" fog, and now I am finding that the holidays are upon us...and I am SOOOOO not ready! Where did the time go?

Even though almost daily I feel tired, overwelmed, and challenged as a mommy/wife/friend, lately I have also felt like I wish I could FREEZE time right now and stay put for a while. I am having so many of those "aaaahhhh - I love my life" moments lately.

My husband is awesome! Just in general...awesome! He goes places and does things with me that I am quite sure other husbands just don't do. He cleans, cooks, loves me, loves our children with a big huge LOVE and I am soooooo glad he is mine! He has just started a new job and is doing well and I am so grateful that he works so hard so I can be the stay-at-home Mommy I always dreamed of being.

Connell - wow! He is officially 2 1/2 now...he is turning into such a little man and he just blows me away lately with his sentences. He is doing great with using the potty! And he is such a sweetheart. This past weekend, he would just come up and love on me and say "my mommy" (or my daddy, my baby Emma, etc). He says "love you" all the time now. He is so proud of his baby sister...he always wants to tell everyone about her. There are plenty of moments in the day where Connell makes me absolutley crazy, but in the next second, I am reminded how sweet and precious he is. And how quicky he is growing up, and how I really really need to cherish these days with him!

Emma - She is such a good baby girl! She is smiling, cooing and happy! She loves Connell (even when he isn't so gentle). She smiles at him first thing when he gives her a good morning kiss. She is nursing well and sleeping great at night. And Emma is a fantastic little shopping partner :) Mommy's dream!!!!!

I must be feeling sentimental tonight!

Sharing! Big boy Again - the sweetest thing!!!love

Happy Halloween!

Connell reading his sister a Halloween story!
Heather, this is for you!
Emma's FIRST time wearing a hairbow!

Sweet, sweet baby girl!
Check out the butterfly & the ninja! We had to stop by the Jacobs' to trick or treat!Fun story here - Connell gets 2 M&Ms when he keeps his big boy pants dry and peepees in the potty. He is so cute when he says "2 memmemmems please!" So Tim and I decided to be 2 M&Ms - cheapest costumes ever! We were POTTY TREATS!!! Connell thought it was hilarious!
Connell & Jackson at Aunt Kristy's
Taylor & Reagan
A Rose & a Butterfly

Amber and Emma

Sweet baby shoes! Thank you Rachel!

Mommy & Emma