Christmas

Rusty and I had took turns with the stomach flu, and therefore Reese extended his stay with his grandparents. Santa came to grandma and grandpas house this year and then his house in the afternoon. Between Christmas plans being turned upside down and several birthday celebrations the child is very confused I am sure. We still have 1 more Christmas celebration next week, so I am sure Reese will forever think we get gifts every other week for the rest of the year. He has enjoyed his train set non stop. He was so excited over all his gifts.

We also celebrated his third birthday yesterday. I cant believe my baby is already 3. The time has really passed. We were looking at baby pictures last night and were reminded how quickly they grow up. He has been such a blessing to us and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for him.

Caleigh loved her first Christmas. The biggest hits were the wrapping paper, tissue paper and teethers.

The best gift we could ever receive (besides having Reese on Christmas of course) came yesterday. We got an unexpected call from Rusty's brother Bradley. He arrived back in the US from Afghanistan on Christmas Eve. We are thrilled to have him back for good.

Ode to the Swing

I am a bit sad and nostalgic about selling my swing. Reese could have lived in the swing if I would have let him. I remember being worried he wouldn't learn to take naps if he wasn't in it. I can remember at time in GA where he took a 4 hr nap in it and I had all Sunday afternoon to work on scrapbooks for Mothers Day for the grandparents. I even had a page in the scrapbook called "Just a Swinging" with pictures of him in the swing over time. I can still see him as a baby in his swing all swaddled and happy. I have alot of pictures and memories of him in the swing.

Caleigh has never really been into the swing. She sits in it some but it wasn't the life saver that it was with Reese. I decided it was taking up space, she didn't use it that much and was getting a little big for it- so it was time to go. I sold it within 24 hrs and then was sad it was gone- go figure. I did take pictures of her in it right before it went bye bye. It's just another reminder that my little girl is growing up so fast. This is my favorite stage because she is so much fun and not mobile. She is really acting like she wants to crawl so I know it wont be long.

Reese and Caleigh like to laugh and talk to each other. Today he was playing with her on the floor and she pretty much rolled over to kiss him and then lay on him. It was touching and funny.

View from afar

Getting closer- and in for the kiss

So much to blog about- so little time. I still need to write about our weekend and his bday party- for a later date.

Dinner with Santa

Busy times around here. Last week we attended 2 playgroups, a dr visit, gymnastics, a bday party, went to see Christmas lights at the park, and hosted a cookie decorating party. I went to bible study, worked like a manic, worked the food drive and attended a Christmas party for our church group. I hosted 2 showers the week before and took a trip to the big city this weekend to visit family. Its no wonder Reese's bday party invite turned out to be an evite!

Last week we took the kids a local church to have Dinner with Santa. Reese had a blast doing the crafts, getting a balloon sword made and running around the gingerbread house. Reese has screamed for every prior picture with Santa or the Easter bunny. This time was no different until he saw Caleigh sit on Santa's lap- and up he went.

Decorating his ice cream cone Christmas tree

Posing for pictures didnt go so well

Reese is always wanting to touch Caleigh

Crystal came over to visit

6 months

Caleigh is 6 months today. I have always felt like 6 months was a big milestone for a baby. She is rolling all over the place and will be sitting on her own very shortly. I absolutely cant wait for her to sit up on her own to play, but the rolling is going to turn my life upside down. No longer can you leave the room because she may end up under the furniture:) She is so much fun and is a joy to be around. I love to see her light up when she hears my voice enter the room to pick her up at MDO. I would be happy if she stayed in the stage forever because I love it.

Stats:
Length- 27 1/2 in 95%
Weight- 15 lb 8 oz- 50%
How two short people have such tall kids remains a mystery!

She is now eating alot of solids and the dr today gave me the go ahead to start some foods with milk to test if she has an allergy as well. Lets hope she doesn't and that he grows out of his soon.

In other news, it was proved this week that I am not crazy because they did find gallstones. I am waiting on the call to schedule the surgical consult. Its so nice to know after months of waiting and test after test that its nothing major- and something that can be fixed. I had an endoscopy, ct scan and ultrasound in the past 2 weeks to determine this.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at the lake this year. Reese had a great time following around Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Bryan around the lake house and out for boat rides. We had a fire pit at night and one night I suggested we get out the marshmallows. He learned how to roast them the week before on his camp trip. We all debated how the proper way to roast was (I like mine burnt, Rusty likes his toasted). If Reese didn't like the way it turned out, he would fling the stick dangerously close to your face and tell you to have it. It was pretty amusing. I was even able to get some Christmas shopping done in Marble Falls with Marie on our ladies day out.We spent Thursday- Saturday with Rusty's family and then headed over to my Dads on Sat to visit my family. We also took the kids to see the lights at the walk through lights park in Marble Falls.

5 1/2 month Update

I just realized how long it has been since I have blogged. Now that I am back at work and don't have the kids napping all afternoon, my down time has dwindled.

This past weekend Caleigh and I went to Houston for Miles's Houston memorial service. It was a fantastic service to celebrate his life at his home church. Everything was signed and spoken and powerful. You could tell he was really loved by that church. It was so great to see all of his friends that we have seen grow up. Reese and Rusty were supposed to go with me, but Reese was sick all weekend. I would say we are finally all well but now Rusty is feeling sick. Just in time to go fishing at the lake of course!

The weekend before I was sick so Reese stayed with his grandparents. They took him camping and he had the time of his life. The camping trip was planned- the extended stay due to me being sick while Rusty was hunting wasn't. It was a fun girls weekend. You forget how easy it is with 1 kid- who isn't mobile. She was a great sport helping mom and I do our Christmas shopping in Toys R Us. We would hold things up and ask her if she wanted it for Christmas-- I guess that's as good as you get with an infants Christmas list:)

Caleigh has started to roll all over the place. She is never where I leave her anymore. Let the craziness begin!

Playing with Ella when our homegroup was over for dinner
Visting Aunt Heather at the memorial service
Visiting Cousin Aaron at the memorial
Ready for Thanksgiving
Reese and Caleigh play well together
Ready for church. Granny was here so we had to wear shoes.
She was a good sport as we tried on all of her Christmas clothes to decide what she should wear for her pictures. This one was too small so we took a one time picture in it. She didn't care for the fur around the neck

fire station

Caleigh is 5 months today. When I took her to the dr on Sat she was 14 lb and 10 oz. I recently saw a picture of Reese at this age and he was chunky as well. I forget he ever was since he has been so skinny for so long.

Yesterday I took both kids to the local fire station. Reese isn't feeling 100% and as a result he was acting crazy. I even caught him jumping on the bed during our tour. Don't you love how your kids are well behaved until you are around 25 other people- then they act like crazy people. He had a great time and is still talking about the boats they had there.

Caleigh was laughing at the firemen talking to her