What happened to blogging everyday..

Addie Jane "around" Christmas time this year!

"Baby Jack" at Christmas last year!

Addie Jane on Christmas morning last year!

Jack at Christmas this year (looking like a first grader)

Thanks for the pic Jec!

Blogging is my favorite thing ever but I have been a little bit behind on everything...sorry about that. Mostly I have sorry to myself I have missed my entire monthly update on the kiddos. Probably because this month was way different, Jack changed tremendously. Walking is now running and babbling is now talking. Crazy. He has become a lot more independent, learning to play and entertain himself for a little bit. It's nice but also hard at the same time to have that child who wants you to play with them all the time, it really makes it hard to get things done. So, becoming more independent is great! Also getting a lot taller I think. He has been 18-24 month clothes for a while and they use to be a little long but not anymore they are perfect. ALSO most nights he is sleeping great and even sleeping until about 8:30 in the morning!

-saying Mama, baba, there, D, Dada, hi, bye, this, ball, daa (for dog), moo for cow, amen, and rrrr (for roll tide), bite (he sticks his entire hand in his mouth). There are probably a couple I am leaving out but ya get it he is becoming a lot more vocal.

-He knows where your eyes, nose, ears, and mouth are.

-He can point out most people if you say their name and a couple animals.

-Climbs on everything and anything.

-Eats WONDERFUL...anything.

Just a typical amazing 1 year old. Learning something new everyday!

Addie Jane is doing great as well. So sweet and thoughtful, of course she will throw her occasional terrible 2's fit but not often. She is still having a hard time sleeping and I know that is our fought I take complete responsibility. Other than that she is always saying, "I love you!," and saying the sweetest things. Finally learning to help clean up her toys, its great because she can really influence Jack to clean up his as well. She was NOT scared of Santa in the least bit, in fact she was SUPER excited about meeting him, I mean jumping up and down crying of excitement to meet him....it was adorable. (Oh yea, Jack is NOT a Santa fan ha). She has made several list this year. Usually she sits down at her desk with a real intense look on her face with a pen and paper, it's very sweet. Decided she want a car, a doll, and baby dog. I guess we will just have to see what she gets! I am so excited because Addie Jane is so expressive I can hear and see her face she will give a great performance of excitement. For example, last week I bought her some just plain normal pink panties and she goes, "oh Mama! These are so cute! I love them, where did you get them, I love them!" Extreme excitement about pink panties so I am hoping Christmas morning goes a little like that. Oh and she made a list for Jack that included a pink bike (tricycle). She is excited to about Christmas and even decided herself that we need to make Jesus a birthday cake! I thought that was SO sweet. I love her!!

Ok as for me, I really need to get on Christmas shopping because this is ridiculous. When is Christmas, oh yeahh, 3 days. GREEEAAATTT. Haha. I will get it done somehow!

Best Pictures Ever

This is my favorite picture ever!

THANK YOU HALEY!!!!!!

Christmas card 2010

Candy Boxes Christmas Card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thanksgiving

Addie Jane and Asher (isn't he just precious).....Yeah she has chocolate on her face, I swear that child will not smile normal for a picture.

Everyone at Thanksgiving enjoying the food.

Trying to get an up close picture of Jack's shirt

Jack

Kimberly and Baby D

The table all set up, looks amazing!

Look how cute...little homemade stamped labels and everything.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Maybe I didn't try hard enough but I totally never got a picture of the family together...or even just my 2 babies together...oh well! We ate way to much and then napped, it was wonderful. We went to Birmingham to my SIL's house. They all did an awesome job decorating, it looked absolutely perfect. I was WAY impressed. I was sad that I had to work and wasn't able to help but they didn't got it done. I really didn't get to take pictures at all but I took a few.....They didn't even do all the decorating justice! Also I ordered Addie Jane and Jack's shirts off Etsy for 13$ a piece they are way cute!!! Little Turkeys! We had all the good Thanksgiving food, and I ate plenty. Weight Watchers is calling my name. I need to start back up hardcore (at least until Christmas haha).

I am very thankful that we had a safe and happy holiday. This year I am so thankful that Jack is out of his colic stage because last year Thanksgiving wasn't quite as easy. I am happy that my children wake up happy and give me a couple minutes to get my head together and drink my coffee. I am thankful that my husband is doing so well in school, not to mention enjoying it. I am thankful for my job and the awesome people I work with and the friendships I have made there. I am thankful for my parents and his parents and everything they do for us and just being there in general. I am thankful for my friends for being there for me whenever I need them, for babysitting and much more. I am thankful that I have God in my life, and know I can get through anything with Him. I am thankful for so much more and thank God everyday because it all comes from Him.

Although, on a lighter note...... one thing I am NOT thankful for is.....Mary Ella introducing Addie Jane to Barney, I am not a fan of that hahaha. But I suppose you gotta deal with a couple bad things every once and a while.

Guess what?!? Today is ALABAMA V. AUBURN!!

Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli (5 to 6 cups)

Bacon (10 to 12 pieces cooked and crumbled)

1 medium red onion (chopped)

Raisins (or I like craisins)

1 cup mayo

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 tsp. sugar

Put first 4 ingredients into a bowl. Mix remaining 3 ingredients in a separate bowl then pour on top of the broccoli mixture :)

Hashbrown Casserole

2 lbs Hashbrowns (southern style)

1 stick melted butter

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 pint sour cream

1/2 cup chopped onion (white or yellow)

1 pkg shredded cheese

Topping:

Crush corn flakes

3 tbsp melted butter

Mix all ingredients together in a 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with corns flakes. Top with butter. Bake 350 for 1 hour.

OMG

Typical.....in the last couple if weeks I have took several pictures on my small camera (the kind that you can just stick in your back pocket or purse) and I also took it with me to Margarita Ball this weekend. This morning I go to upload the photos to my computer and it says that it cannot import any of the files because they are in an unrecognizable format??? Seriously? OK..... So basically I can't upload any recent pictures. NOT COOL. But at least it is Thanksgiving in a couple days, which mean GREAT food, family, fun, and PICTURES. I will be sure to get my good camera out for that one!

Well, it is back to watching Barney and folding laundry....what a joy?!?

AHHH

Ahhh......I have been too tired to blog?? What is wrong with me!?? My theory is the kids are getting a little older and very mobile in their ability to get into everything. My friend Lauren made me realize Thursday that I didn't sit down for an entire hour, and not much the whole day. She said I was constantly running around the house picking up after the kids or the dog. WOW. I guess I just didn't notice. Oh well. Lauren came in town and we went an ate lunch. Yea...cheese fries from Wings. Probably not the best idea since I have Margarita Ball (charity ball in Huntsville) to go to tonight. Also, Thanksgiving is next week and I should probably be saving my calories for that, right? Yeah I should. Anyways, kids are good. Jentry is good. I am good. Why? Because 4 out of the last 5 nights Jack has slept through the night. I love it. He seems very happy in the morning and so much better throughout the day. So I got my dress Thursday night Lauren, Jack, and I went shopping and it was quite successful, considering the cheese fries I had ate earlier that day. Hysterical. I am planning on taking a lot of pictures can't wait. I haven't gotten all dressed up and hair done, make up with eye liner and all in a VERY long time....like pre-kids. So it'll be fun to get fancy (as Jent says). Anyway it is Saturday morning Jack and I have been up since 6:00 still waiting on Jent and Addie Jane. I still don't have any shoes to wear and that is kinda a problem I only have a few hours and I really don't wanna buy any. So we will see!!! Today I am still going to clean my carpet and fold all my laundry (4 loads). Still have a LOT to do before tonight. I really wanna go over to my SIL's house see my nephew and their new home. Ugh, I feel disconnected with the world lately. Busy. Working mom + mom that stays at home with both kids on her days off= never getting things done. Especially with 2 kids under 3. You know what I am saying?? There are just certain things you cannot do with little kids around. But then it comes down to....I know I need to do all these things around the house but what if I just wanna lay on the couch and watch Housewives of Beverly Hills??? Yea right. I have come to an understanding that being a mom you do not get time for yourself anymore. For me time to myself is going to the grocery store with maybe just one of the kids instead of BOTH. Oh well, I am sure things will get easier with time....not that they are extra hard just super busy. I am somewhat of a clean freak and it bothers me when my house isn't clean. I have so much I know I need to do like....decorate for Christmas, re-do my living room, decorate outside and everything, clean my bathroom, fold and put my laundry, clean kitchen...so.... I feel as though I always have that little list in the back of my head. The worst part is I can't take off work cause we need the money, so that's 3 days that I can't do anything. Saturdays lately have been hard, Jentry has school until 12:30-1:00 so I have usually have the kids in the morning and the house becomes worse than before which just adds to everything. When I do get a sitter I just need up spending all that time around the house clean closets and house stuff that it doesn't leave much time for me. Sorry I just had to vent and get that out remind myself for the future. AHH UGH, why am blogging and not getting this stuff done??? AHhhhh ok I am going now!!

Post pictures soon!

my child.

Not sure where exactly I went wrong here....actually I know exactly where I went wrong....I got up every time Jack cried and still do......so now......Jack is over 365 days old and....he has probably slept through the night all of 10-20 of them. I sometimes just 6 hours straight, that is dream, but most nights are like last night....I get 2-3 hours straight. I feel like I have a newborn all the time. He was doing better sleeping but then he got sick and since then I feel like it has been worse than ever. He is better now so it is sleep boot camp time. I am going to let him cry and just pray it works this time. In the past it has helped but never been consistent. I have decided I can't live like this anymore, so Jack can just deal with it ha! Just a side note for me to remember this crazy time with toddlers.

Today it is beautiful outside so we are heading to the park and a long walk. It is suppose to be 70-75..perfect day :) I will post pictures later today.

Pictures from Jack's first birthday

Jack's Alabama footbal cake....I didn't have my camera to take picture before but of course it was awesome! My mom made it and I was very suprised and happy that she, being a big Auburn Fan, would even make an Alabama cake! She must really love Jack!

My dad trying to have a talk with Jack to become an Auburn Fan. Not to worry though Jack is smarter than that!

Hugging my little nugget as a 11 month old for the last time!!!

Digging in some cake!

Doing a little dance!

No need for hands

Roll tide!!

Katie and Addie Jane

Charlie

Addie Jane and Mary Ella

Me and Betsy

I'm back with a long post!

My grandparent's Christmas card

Addie Jane and Mary Ella in their Alabama dresses

Our Bama pumpkin

My pumpkins Sully and Mike from Monsters Inc. Addie Jane's favorite movie

Eeyore (let me just say with him being sick he played the part great!)

Our ador!

Addie Jane and Braelynn

Addie Jane with make up all over her face!

So...long story short......we went to the beach and had to come home a couple days early, little nugget Jack got his first ear infection. Not fun. I feel so sorry for babies and moms of babies who have chronic ear infections. That week was a little stressful going from the beach...back to work...and sick baby. That got all cleared up and good to go then on to the next week. That following Tuesday, Jack had is one year doctor appointment which went great! He is 26.10 pounds and 32 inches tall! 85 percentile for both weight and height. The doctor was doing the "muscle test" on Jack and said...."wow...he is very stout he isn't squishy at all, very nice." Jentry was very glad to here that! He had to have 4 shots, that on the other hand was not so great. Then that Weekend we got celebrate Jack turning one! Can you believe he is one??? We went to Florence and celebrated by watching Alabama play Tennessee and kick some butt, which is exactly what Jack wanted, duh! We had a great weekend, took some wonderful pictures and played all night and all day! That following Thursday Addie Jane began to run a fever, cough, and running nose....then Jack had the fever and cough and runny nose. I left half a day on Friday from work and then had to miss Monday. No work=No money. That weekend we tried to go out a little bit for Halloween but it didn't really work out, although they did look adorable in their costumes as Piglet and Eeyore. We wen to the church for a little bit and then went by Melanie's "mel-mel" to see her cats. Addie Jane wouldn't stop talking about going over there. We stayed over their and hung out for while. They have 2 dogs and 2 cats so the kids were pretty occupied. But still with no sleep I went crazy. No sleep, crying babies, and nothing I could do to help. Well I prayed and prayed and then this Thursday wouldn't ya know it that Lord answered my prayers and they slept GREAT! He can do amazing things. Which now brings us to this weekend. Which would have been perfect and still is if you don't count Alabama loosing to LSU today. I mean I am just not use to Alabama not winning. I am of course still a big big big fan but it never helps my mood when they loose. So that sums up that last couple of weeks; sick, better, sick, better (well...getting better).

On our way home from Jentry's parents house tonight Jentry looked at me and said, "I think I am going to be an Oregon fan (who is #1 right now)." I just laughed and said yea.....I mean they aren't in the SEC anyway let's just do it. Ha! Tonight we were playing in the playroom after we got home and we asked Addie Jane what she was thinking about because she had this look of confusion on her face. Well, she said "Dada Bear I think I am Oregon fan too, but I still love Big Al." CRACK ME UP! Kids hear everything.

We have been talking a lot lately about Santa "Ho-ho" and what we want for Christmas and what not and Addie Jane has decided she wants a bike, which is really a tricycle, and Addie Jane says Jack needs to ask for a new attitude. That girl has got some ears. Then I told her that Jack is just little and can't talk so sometimes he just gets upset a little easier than she does and we just have to be patient and show him how to behave. She comes back at me and says "well mom...Ho-Ho isn't going to give him anything in less he starts haveing (behaving but she just doesn't say the "be" part) but if he can then he needs a new swing, I can just talk for Jack." She constantly makes me laugh.

One more story/quote I want to remember is one day Addie Jane came home from my mom's house and said "Mom, Mona gave me a coke." Very seriously look on her face. Then she goes on to say, "Mona said don't tell me Mommy, but I am telling you cause I know I am not suppose to have coke......and it was diet." I laughed so hard and said thank you for telling me that was very sweet. So I call my mom to tell her what Addie Jane said, thinking Addie Jane made it up, but sure enough Mona (my mom) had giving her 3 sips of coke!!! Hey, at least she is being honest.

Also I just want to add in there that I have lost 35 pounds since May! I am pumped. I would like to loose another 20 by this coming May. That would be awesome but still I am pretty proud of myself just need to stay with it because holidays are coming up and I love me some good home cooking!

Internet issues....

OK! I am going crazy...1. Our internet is broken and 2. The kids have been sick since Friday. I haven't slept in days and I feel like I am going to crack any minute. This weekend and beginning of the week has by far been the hardest time I have had with the kids. Running nose, sneezing, coughing, fever, medicine, and a lot of crying/whining. I am praying constantly that the kids get better. I know I can handle this but oh my.....it has been hard. I have a lot to blog about and when I get home today I hope my internet works so in the little time I have between laying Jack down and him waking up at least once every 2 hours...I can at least relax and blog about our weekend and what not!

Happy Birthday Jack

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!

We love you so much.

You are such an amazing boy. You walk everywhere. Talk about, eventhough it doesn't really make since to us, we know you know what you are talking about. You went to the doctor last week for your first ear infection. You weighted 26.14lbs (and thats with you not eating great a couple days in a row) you are pretty chunky. WE LOVE IT! You have started saying "uh-oh" a lot and also looking at us, tilting you head, and saying "ohhhhhhhh." Your mouth looks adorable when you do that. You think it is hysterical and laugh at yourself. You are the hardest child in the world to change clothes or diaper. I sometimes sit on top of you (not putting all my weight on you obviously) just to put your shirt on. You laugh at that too. You smile a lot. You have 6 teeth on top and only 2 on bottom. As usual you are great eater, no worries there. You have switched to whole milk, so far the switch has been easy! Learning to walk in your shoes was a task in the beginning but now it is going great. You are pretty obsessed with bathtime. YAY. Taking bath with big sister is the best. I walk out of the bathroom looking like I took a bath too because y'all splash so much, but it is pretty amusing. Did I mention yet....that you are obsessed with me? You are, I think you have some seperation issues. We are going to try to work on them, I am thinking a little mother's morning out should do the trick. :) Not that I don't love the snuggle time you give me cause it is wonderful, it just you are heavy and sometimes you kinda hurt my back. HA. Can't wait to post pictures from you birthday fun. Alabama plays Tennessee this weekend so excited. They won last year. It was the day we came home from the hospital, I thought your dad was going to have a heart attack if we missed kick off for the game. It was so wonderful bringing you home from the hospital and watching a football game just me,

you, and Daddy. Alabama has only lost one game in the year you have been born (I just want you to remember that).

I love you dearly Jack-a-roonie.

Beach Time

My adorable babies
Jessica with her catch and John with his!
Me and Jent
Haha I love this picture cracks me up!
3 boys! Jack 11 and half months, Deacon 3 months, and Jeremiah 9 months.
Addie Jane and Jent fishing on the beach
Love this picture
Jerrry!
Baby D

We are so blessed. We had such an amazing trip, although a little crazy with 2 very young children of my own and my 2 nephews, we made the best out of it. We all found it funny the last year we all went we all stayed up until 12:00 played games and watched movies. This year after a day on the beach with babies, we barely made till 9:00. Ha, funny how things change. Jack LOVED LOVED LOVED the ocean. He would walk right in there as if he had no fear at all. The waves would knock him down and he would just laugh and get back up. Hysterical. Addie Jane was fearless as usually and bossing Jack around. She had a wonderful time fishing with Daddy and playing with the babies. She is a pro-big sister. I am very proud of her. Jeremiah ate sand like it was going out of style. Pretty much one of the cutest/funniest things I have ever seen. Deacon chilled out on a blanket with some major cute outfits on most of the time. The boys (Jent and B-I-L's) fished any chance they got and the one night I went down to fish with them I basically caught the biggest fish ever, until it ate the line (hook, bait, liter....all of it). My brother-in-law John seemed to think it was a huge shark, and I def agree with him, he is a wise man :) He caught a 22 lb red fish one night, it was masive (check out the picture). Oh yes, and by the way they caught 6 baby sharks between 1 and 2 feet long in about an hour....in the middle of the day. Anyone else not feeling great about swimming in the water after that...yea I didn't! Have I mentioned yet, that I basically didn't stop eating the entire time I was down there?? Yes, great food. Very pleased. Jentry and I got to go out on the date one afternoon, it was awesome! I ate fried shrimp and fish. I know it made me just a little fatter but it was totally worth it. Thank you Janey and Boss for our wonderful vacation and Christmas present! It was great!

I will post more pictures soon...I have a ton!