Weekend Fun

I hope y'all have had a good weekend! Ours has been busy, but so fun! Jacob had Friday night free, so we packed the night full of fun family things! We went and ate Mexican, then we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. Lily just loves the lights this year. It is so precious to hear her oooh and aaah over them.

When we got home, we let the kids open their Christmas pajamas.

Lily is a pro at ripping the presents open this year, but Levi is still trying to figure out what he's supposed to do. I'm sure it's not going to take him long with the way he loves to rip up magazines and books! Ha.

 The best picture we could get.

 Love the little hiney!

After we got the kids to bed, Jacob and I enjoyed hot chocolate and watched a Christmas movie (I can't even remember the name of it now...mommy brain!) It was such a good evening to be together as a family.

Saturday morning Jacob took Lily on a date for breakfast at Starbucks. We can tell that Jacob's being gone so much is taking a toll on his and Lily's relationship, so he skipped a meeting at church to spend time with her. I'm very thankful that the daddy/daughter relationship is important to him - even now when she's little. After they had breakfast, they went to Target and shopped for some Christmas presents for me and Levi. 

Saturday afternoon I ran to the grocery store and we did some baking. Later in the afternoon I took the kids to visit Memaw and my Mom while Jacob was at a men's prayer meeting.

Ridley and Lily admiring Memaw's tree. 

Sunday was a normal busy day, plus Jacob had to play in Christmas programs in the afternoon and evening. Getting ready and out the door to church is always a challenge without him, but we managed and actually made it on time!

I was hoping to get some pictures of the kids (sitting together) in their Christmasy clothes, but they didn't really cooperate. Oh well. I made Levi's tie and just love how it turned out! Can't wait to make some more!

I'm thankful for the sweet memories we made together this weekend! My heart is full!

Visiting Pawpaw

Jacob was free on Thursday morning, so we went over to visit Pawpaw. Poor Pawpaw has fallen twice in the last week, and really hasn't been doing well. We were really excited that he was perky and feeling pretty good when we were there. He loved seeing the kids!

 Levi loved the bells!

 Jacob's mom and sister came over too and Lily had fun playing with Aunt Elizabeth.

 Nanny passed away two years ago this week. It is still so hard on Pawpaw. He says that he thinks about her all the time.

 Pawpaw and Levi

Lily and Elizabeth playing Away In A Manger - Lily's favorite song right now.

Making Snowmen

The other night, I found an awesome foam snowman making kit at Target on clearance for $3.75. Wednesday morning Jacob had some time off, so he and Lily made snowmen together.

 Lily had so much fun with the foam stickers. I'm going to have to get some more to do other projects.

 She kept sticking and then re-sticking. So funny!

 Sweet girl!

 Lots of concentration!

Lily did have some guidance with the sticker placement! Ha!

The finished product! We stuck magnets on their backs so our refrigerator is their new home.

Lily is going to help me make some for me and Levi so our snowman family is complete. The kit came with enough stuff to make 20 snowmen! We shared some with my nephew and we have enough to make more next year.

Busy Week

 Last week was such a crazy busy week for us! We spent most of the days inside since it was pretty cold and rainy a lot of the week. Monday night I took the kids to my youngest brother's basketball game. His team did a great job and won by a few points. Lily and Levi were good, but it was such a blessing to have the help of my sweet family! Lily sat with my Mom for the first half of the game, and my sister and brother-in-law played with Levi when I had to take Lily to the potty.

I need to do an update on Levi's eyes since he's been doing the patch and wearing his glasses. I'll try to do that this week!

Lily played dress-up in some way-too-big-for-mommy maternity clothes. Ha!

Putting a diaper on her doll.

On Tuesday night, the adult orchestra Jacob conducts had their concert, so the kids and I packed up and went to it. Jacob had youth orchestra rehearsal before the concert, so the kids and I just played together and walked around. The concert started at Lily and Levi's bedtime - they were troopers, but we ended up playing in the nursery at the church. I was able to hear some of the songs, so that was nice! There was a reception afterwards, and everyone enjoyed seeing Lily and Levi. We finally got home around 10:30! The kids did a great job and even slept in a little bit the next morning!

We got our Christmas tree last Saturday, but we didn't get it decorated until this past Friday night! We were hoping to find a time where we could decorate it all together, but Jacob has been sooo busy, it just wasn't working out. Lily and I started putting the lights on on Thursday, then then half the lights didn't work...of course! Friday night we finally got some more and we were able to finish decorating it.

Jacob got to help Lily put on the first ornament right as he was walking out the door to go to the 5th performance of The Nutcracker. My poor husband has hardly been at home the last week or so. We are thankful for all the Christmas gigs, but it is definitely wearing on our family. Just to give you an idea of what I mean... from Wednesday night to Sunday afternoon, He played in 8 performances of The Nutcracker on top of several other rehearsals/Christmas programs. Yesterday he was gone from home for 13 hours, and today he was gone 9!  Christmas season for a musician = Craziness!! We are all counting the days to when he's done for the year!

Thursday night the kids and I met my sister and her family at the mall to walk. It was fun, although slightly crazy trying to maneuver two strollers through the crowd of people moving along at a very slow pace. Myra took Ridley and Lily on the carousel when we finished. So fun!

Ripping up a magazine kept Levi occupied for 20 minutes on Saturday!

Lily and I made sugar cookies on Saturday afternoon. It was so much fun! I hope to make this a Christmas tradition.

Of course she enjoyed licking her fingers and snitching cookie dough. Silly girl!

Sweet girl ready to head to church.

We had dinner with Jacob's family and then came home for naps before going back to church. What a crazy week! I'm thankful that it's over, but I love the sweet memories with my children!

Hope y'all had a good week!

27 weeks

27 weeks with Baby Boy #2

• I had a midwife appointment this week and the heartbeat was good and my blood pressure was good. 
• I'm measuring 24 weeks, but I've measured small with all my babies. 
• Gained 10 lbs so far. 
• Feeling good, and sleeping really well!
• Exercising everyday - like walking, prenatal aerobics dvd, prenatal pilates dvd, or my own little exercise routine made up from parts of each dvd as well as squats and hula hooping.
• I can still wear some regular clothes, just a size bigger than normal (outfit pictured is a regular skirt and a regular shirt I just got at Old Navy for $8!). I did order several maternity shirts from Kohls - can't wait to get them! Hopefully they'll fit! Ha.
• Little Man moves all the time! He's definitely more active than Lily or Levi were.
• He still has no name and we haven't really talked about names recently. He may just be named once we see him.
• We found out last week that my hubby's cousin and his wife are having a baby boy just 7 weeks after us! It'll be neat to have little boys so close. I hope they will be best friends!

Giving Thanks...a week late

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good: His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

23 months

Wow! We almost have a 2 year old!

• Lately Lily has been developing more into a little girl. She's understanding more and figuring out things about life. 
• Sometimes her stubbornness and wanting to do things her own way gets her hurt or needing discipline.
• She loves reading and gets so excited when we go to the library!
• When I'm doing my hair and make up, she sits on the bathroom counter and pretends to hers. It's so funny to watch her do everything I do.

 

• Every morning for about 30 minutes during Levi's nap, Lily has quiet time in her bed. She plays with dolls or reads books, or just rests.
• She loves talking on the phone to Jacob (or anyone who will talk to her).
• She's talking in long sentences.
• She is such a Daddy's girl - loves going places with him, being outside with him, doing whatever he's doing. So sweet!

• She's a climber - I'm constantly finding her on the arm or back of the couch, standing on our kitchen stools or table, on the kitchen counter, etc. She can climb into her crib, but hasn't tried climbing out yet. Yes, she climbed into the high chair to eat her snack. She is such a mess!

What a spunky girl! I'm so thankful God added her to our home.