Christmas Day

The kids didn't wake up any earlier than normal, so we started around 8:30, later than most families I'm sure. First we read about Jesus' birth from Luke, took a photo on the stairs, then started on presents

 Before

 After

And in between

 Maggie opens Rapunzel PJ's and will not let them go! 

She and Will both put on their new pajamas

After presents we had a yummy pancake breakfast- well almost brunch by the time we got to it. Eggs, pancakes and fruit (supplied by my mom). This was our first Christmas morning in our own house. Because of traveling and family commitments, we always had our Christmas morning on Christmas Eve then drove up that afternoon. Being in our own home was nice and will likely be even nicer next year 'cause it'll feel more like home. Daniel's mom stopped by with presents and to see the new house then we took it easy all day- stayed in pj's, watched movies and played with toys. 

Merry Christmas!

To my son on your birthday

Dear Will,
Happy 5th birthday!! Five years old, oh my goodness, you're growing too fast! The transition from 3 to 4 was tough- but I knew 5 would be harder. Even though 5T clothes are out there, you're not a toddler any more and barely preschool aged. In fact, you'll go to Kindergarten this year and I won't get to spend all day with you anymore. Fortunately, you have a December birthday so I still have 8-9 months before this happens, but 5 is a turning point. It's the beginning of your journey into a new kind of independence. Way past the feed/dress yourself/start forming your own opinions independence and into allowing other people besides mom and dad help form your opinions/decisions independence. Don't get me wrong, I'm blessed and thrilled to celebrate another birthday with you and to have a healthy, strong, growing big boy, but this growing-up business is still bittersweet for a mommy.

Five years ago, you arrived at 12:11a.m. and weren't even 6 pounds- 5.13 to be exact. Just a tiny little thing, but strong and I loved every minute of it. You were the first baby to grow in my womb, push out my belly button and go to sleep with my heartbeat as your lullaby. Yours was the first nursery we decorated and you were the first baby to fill our home with love, cries, kisses and bottles. You are the only one of your siblings that will remember our home in Birmingham. Our first home. You're very special to me, son and will always have a piece of my heart.

I love you so much, Will! You still enjoy imaginative play, particularly with superheroes, and can keep yourself well entertained. You can also be a chatterbox, though, and hang with mommy & daddy just to talk our ears off and you enjoy doing things as a family. We enjoy all these things about you. You love your baby brother so much, as you did your sister, and already talk about things you'll do together and what you'll teach him when he gets bigger. I love this about you-- you have such a big heart, buddy. I pray you always carry that love for others and are never afraid to let your light shine! You have become more interested in watching TV this year and in recent weeks video games-- mostly Agent Dash on daddy's cell phone-- which is kind of a bummer, but it hasn't affected your desire to play outside, with toys or learn new things, so I guess it's okay. I'm still amazed by how independent you can be -- sometimes waking up and eating breakfast before I even know you're up. And you've become a very good helper to me this year! You've always helped, but have really been a lifesaver, especially since Jake's birth. I love how you're so interested in the world around you and how things work- asking questions both when I'm sewing or baking and when daddy is working on the computer or the house. I'm so proud to call you my son and even though I'm a little sad that your 4th year is gone, I'm excited to see what 5 will bring. I love you soooo much, son. Happy Birthday, Will!!!

Merry Christmas

Imagine. You're pregnant with your first child- or your wife is- you have just traveled a long way and you go into labor. You go to the hospital but they're all filled up and can't make room for you. There's a storage closet right outside the hospital they allow you to use to birth your child. How scared would you be? This is about as modern-day equivalent as I can think to describe what Mary and Joseph went through to bring our savior, Jesus Christ, into this world. Such humble beginnings for Him who came to save us and give those who believe eternal life. A life after our life here on earth ends. A far better life than we can ever imagine or understand as finite beings. He truly is the best gift of all.
You know we just relocated to Nashville from Birmingham and as such are visiting churches to find where we "belong"- where God is leading us, where our church home will be. The sermon last Sunday really hit home with me: he told us to put down our to-do lists and focus on loving one another. Isn't that what Christmas is really about? Sharing the love God gave us when he sent his only son to save us? The answer is Yes. I know this, I believe this. Yet I am so guilty of forging ahead with my to-do lists instead of focusing on the true meaning of this season. Particularly this year with packing and moving and unpacking right in the middle of the holidays, I find I just can't keep up with all I have to do, despite how much sleep I lose. But does any of this really matter? No. What matters is Christ. And sharing his love and telling others about his gift of eternal life. I pray you've been better at remembering that this season than I have. Today I'm going to set aside my list and focus on my family- sharing Christ's love with them. I hope you do too.
Merry CHRISTmas!!

Jake is 3 months old!

Jake turned 3 months old on Monday (17th) and is moving from the newborn to infant stage! It doesn't last long and is so sad to watch these sweet cuddly moments fly by-- that sleepy, cuddly, smell-like-no-other newborn phase-- pass us by. But it's also fun to watch him grow into himself and see his little personality really bloom.
Baby boy has definitely found his hands this month! Aside from chewing on them ALL.THE.TIME, he just looks at them and has grabbed the hanging toys on his play mat. Jake smiles a lot, especially when people talk to him- he loves his big brother and sister for sure- plus he's laughed a few times too. Oh how I love a newborn baby's laugh! Well, I have loved all my kids' laughs at all ages, but the first ones are so sweet. :) He rolls side to side a lot and has almost rolled over from both belly to back and back to belly but he's not there yet. Not surprisingly, he doesn't like belly time. That's 3 for 3. I love love love his sweet baby voice and he's been talking more this month- particularly this week- I could just eat him up! Precious. Jake has officially graduated into 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers, both graduations took place slightly after turning 2 months. In fact, he is so long he may not last in his 0-3 much longer. Growing boy!
I love you sweet Jakie-poo and am so glad to be called your mommy!!

To be a man

Sometimes I love my husband. And sometimes I really really love my husband. He has many admirable qualities and his desire to be a man of God is top. He lives to be the kind of husband and father God wants him to be. Read about onne of the many reasons I love my hubby:

http://lotekness.net/?p=1086

So proud to call him mine. :)

Opryland Hotel

Once upon a time two young people met and fell in love. We'll call them Daniel and Amanda. The couple discussed marriage and Daniel told Amanda how he always wanted to propose to his future wife at the Opryland Hotel. He took her ring shopping sometime before Christmas and the couple visited the hotel a couple weeks after said ring shopping. You know what happens next, right? Yes, you're waiting for the proposal. The beautiful, romantic part of the story. Where Daniel took Amanda behind the cascading waterfall, gussied her up with compliments, told her he couldn't live without her then got down on one knee and asked Amanda to be his wife then teared-up when she said yes. A proposal every girl dreams of. Well, don't hold your breath. Didn't happen. That was December 2003 and they haven't been back since.
Until now.
All kidding aside, I wasn't traumatized or anything, but once we moved to Birmingham we had too many family commitments in December to find time for Opryland while in town. Now we're back and live even closer than we did before the B'ham move! My sister wanted to take her kids as well so she met us there to look at all the beautiful lights. We shared a fun evening.

Our little family :)

Tree Time

Let's just get it out in the open: this is not the best time of year to move. There. I said it. Whew, that was a load off! Seriously though, this is a crazy time of year to move especially re-locating from state to state. Yet, both homes we've purchased have been around the holidays. If we ever move again, maybe we can time it better. :)
So with everything going on, I don't plan to decorate much this year, but do want the kids (and who am I kidding, me too) to have a Christmas Tree. We worked on it last weekend with our traditional mugs of hot chocolate and Christmas music in the background. We had cookies this year too. :)

hubby singing Christmas songs while preparing the tree....I think I'm rubbing off on him :)

 Jake's first Christmas! He gets front row seat to the tree show

 everyone helping

except the photographer

 and this guy

 Daniel placed a couple of our childhood ornaments next to each other on the tree, awww

The tree was up about 2 days before Lil Bit knocked it down. True story. I was working on Christmas cards while Maggie was walking around in her gait trainer mostly in the kitchen where I was. Then I hear a clatter in the other room and found Maggie looking at the tree and reaching out for an ornament. I told her no the tree is not to touch, just to look and asked her to back away. As she did, she must have pulled the tree skirt with her wheels because the tree started to fall. Fortunately I caught the tree before it fell on her but the tree stand broke.

We have it back up with a different stand that doesn't quite fit but is a solid, temporary solution though it does have a slight lean. So we're a little Charlie Brown this year but we'll still have a place to open presents.