Raising road warriors!

Here we gooooo!! On an adventure! Mabel's first long car ride! I did not go to bed until 3am and Gus was so excited that he came busting into our room shortly before 7am! We hit chick-fil-a on our way out and were on the road for 10am. Both kids were asleep by noon and we stopped for potty/stretch/nursing break around 1:15. We thought we would let Gus take the wheel and Mabel be his navigator, hence the picture!

With only 4 hours of sleep, mommy needed some caffeine so $6.00 later we are hoppin'!! Enjoy the ride!!

Merry Christmas!!

Mabel's first Christmas!  She is discovering her voice and it is just the cutest thing!!  Lots of gooooing, cooooing and squawking going on!  As of now it is really cute, but I don't know how much her daddy and brother will be able to handle!  I guess they should just get used to it, because that is life with a girl!!  We had a wonderful holiday and Santa was very good to all of us! 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

Momma's boy, daddy's girl

There is truth to this. Lots of truth in our house! No doubt our kids love us and we love them more than they will ever be able to comprehend. Bedtime was always jake and i reading to Gus, then I would lay with him until he fell asleep. Once Mabel was born things changed and I would nurse her, Jake would read to Gus and then we would trade kids, mommy's boy, daddy's girl!

Mabel got used to daddy real quick and she is just enthralled with his beard! Last night I got to see with my own eyes, daddy's girl and her nighttime routine. He holds her and sings to her while she continually runs her baby fingers through his beard until she is fast asleep! It just made me melt.

Gus has always been a momma's boy and I just love it. Yes, it can be difficult at times when I am the only one he will "want or need", but at the end of the day I am thankful for those sweet and special moments. It really warms me to see Mabel so set in her ways at just 5 months old!

I am not sure who will miss the beard more, me or Mabel....there are no plans of shaving it so no worries here!!

Elf happenings

Flying through the living room, chillin in the fridge and kickin it in the village are a few of his most recent stops!!

Santa babies

Gus is just head over heels for Christmas! It has been so fun! He now calls Santa Claus "Santa Baby"! It is too cute when he tells us that he will ask Santa baby to bring it to him! This Santa hat has been the best $2 bucks!!

Yesterday morning as soon as he work up he put it in and came to wake me up! It was adorable and he was so proud!

The most wonderful time of the year!

To say that I like Christmas is an understatement!  I love it! I think my love for Christmas has rubbed off on my little shadow, Gus.  Every night we read at least 10 different Christmas stories and each night he tells me that this is "The best Christmas ever!"

Here is what we have done so far to get in the Christmas spirit!  Grab a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the show!

Singing Jingle Bells while decorating the tree!

Handful of Candy Canes ready to be hung, re-hung, hung and then eaten!

Countdown to Christmas ~ Made by Mommy!

Concentrating really hard on that "armourment"!

Rearranging candy canes the next morning!

Some decorating!

Posing for a picture in front of the tree!

Silly times with Buttercup's "elf giddy-up"

Sweetness!

Walking up to see Santa!

Not a fan of this man, Momma!  NOT AT ALL!

Comfy in Pinki's arms!  Right where I want to be!

Elf dog?!

It ain't the Grizwald's, but we love it!

Mabel turns 5 months old and we celebrate 6years of marriage!

A little Amy Grant Christmas while the heater repairman accesses the situation!  This was on our anniversary...one to go down in the books!

John-John replaced out stockings with Mommy and Daddy's socks, Gus' undies and Mabel's cloth diaper!

Best of buds!

Really, Mommy?!?!

Attended the brutal Saints v. Titans game - hence my eyes....that damn game nearly killed me!

A little nose scratchin' before the school Christmas program!

Made a gingerbread house!

Adding the details!

Daddy taking him to the top to add the star we made!

So, so proud :-)

Who WHAT?  Oh, Who Dat!!

Intense moment in the game?

Saints WIN!!

Made a gingerbread man!

5 month photo shoot!

Getting ready for cookies for Santa Claus!

Little decorator!

Gus did this on his own...no guidance needed! :-)

Finished products!!

John-John lately....