Jingle all the way!

Merry Christmas from the littlest Little!!

Little pics

The Little family got together a couple of weeks ago and had pictures made. Here is the outcome:

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!
We didn't get to Christmas cards this year, but know that you're loved and thought of during this Christmas season and throughout the year!

I want to take this time to say thank you. Your love and support is amazing and overwhelming. Thank you for loving me and my family enough to take time out of your busy schedule to keep up with us.



May the joy, wonder and miracle of Christmas be yours this season.

Interesting articles and blogs

I love this website. Her etsy shop is so cute. She also has wonderful crafty things on her blog like this and printables like this.

I've said this for a long time and I even have the background on my phone - and it's been there for going on two years.

Be present.

I've been reading this book and attempting to live a more positive, joy-filled life. Here are some free resources that I've found helpful over the past few weeks.

Probably a little late for advent considering we have only six more days until Christmas, but I really like the scriptures in these free printables...and I think they could be printed out and looked at/hung up for lots of different reasons than just advent.

I love this new thing on Bible Gateway where you can have two different versions of the same Bible verse side by side to compare. I don't know if this has always been an option, but it's new to me.

Thank you, PW. You are so good at reminding me to take a deep breath during the busyness of this season. She always seems to have just the right things to say, whether I need a good laugh, a good cry, a breather or a story that reminds me that I'm not alone in my awkward or humiliating experiences.

I guess I've been thirsty lately because this passage quenched my parched spirit.

Music

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite Avett Brothers songs from their new album.

Another is Waiting
Morning Song
Bring Your Love to Me (I couldn't find a great video)


This is one of my current faves:



And as much as Christina Aguilera gets on my nerves, she does have a beautiful voice. I love this song she sings with A Great Big World:

Funnies from the littlest Littles - part 1

X: My pumpkin is sooooo heavy! But it's okay because I have my big man muscles on.

I've been telling Amelia Jayne the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears recently. I don't read a book, but just tell the story. When I get to Baby Bear's part, I usually say (in a high-pitched voice)
"Someone's been sitting in my chair. And they broke it to pieces. Boo hoo hoo!"
Yesterday Amelia Jayne brought a crayon to me that she had found in their coloring box. And this is what she said to me:
"My crayon broken to pieces! Boo hoo hoo."
Oh my goodness how cute she is!!

AJ: Knock, knock.
Me to David: Did she just say knock, knock? Like, she's telling us a joke?
David to me: I think she did.
AJ again: Knock, knock.
Me: Who's there?
AJ: I don't know!

X: Mommy, I can't get upstairs to you! The garlic is in the way!!
(He was calling garland, garlic. Sometimes you hate to correct them when they're so darned cute!!)

Pictures

It's everything in me not to apologize about this.

But it's something that I feel strongly about not apologizing for.

 

I don't take a lot of pictures.

 

I realize that in the blogging world, that's somewhat taboo.

Everyone has to have a picture of everything.

Everywhere you go.

Everything you do.

Every person you see, event you experience, and even food you consume.

 

But here's why I'm choosing not to apologize:

When I spend my energy thinking about taking pictures, I forget to live in the moment.

When I am constantly fumbling with my phone or camera, or just remembering to do such a thing, then I find I can't really enjoy the people I'm with in the moment.

 

And after the event is over, when I realize I took not one single picture, I tend to feel guilty.

But why?

I don't need to feel guilt.

I felt love.

I felt compassion.

I felt joy.

I felt fulfilled.

In the moment.

 

I love the past. And I love memories.

But I don't want to be so burdened with it that I can't enjoy where I am in the moment.

 

I guess this is me giving me permission to let it go.

I can't be good at everything.

 

So, what my blog lacks in pictures, it makes up for in living in the moment.

I do my best to share with you events, thoughts, ideas and inspirations.

Hopefully, every once in a while I'll share a photo or two, also.

 

When I remember.

 

Here are my two biggest supporters of living in the moment:

 

 

Amelia Jayne Update - 2 years

Remember this post from 6 months ago? Or even this one from 3 months ago? So much happens in just a few short months!!

Monday, November 18th marked another milestone for my baby girl. She had her two-year well visit at the doctor. I cannot even explain to you how incredible that little girl was. Her doctor commented on how amazingly well behaved she was, especially for a two year old. She didn't squirm or fuss or even bat an eyelash while he looked her over.
She got the flu vaccine "mist" where you sniff the liquid vaccine up your nose. The nurse had Xander do it first so AJ could see what to do. She continued to talk to her and prepare her for what was about to happen. The nurse told me that it was hit or miss with little ones and that it might not go well. She was probably preparing me, too.
She squirted it up AJ's nose. I said, "Sniff, Amelia Jayne. Like this." She did exactly that. No tears. No fussing. For the second nostril she was just as good. The nurse was astounded. She said she won the award for best 2-year old to take that form of the vaccine.
Then came the vaccine that needed to be injected. I held my baby girl's arms and looked in her eyes, all the while telling her it would hurt a little, but that she would be okay and that I would be right there with her.
You know the 18 month and 2 year visits are typically the worst, right? The kid has memories of doctor's visits past and the shots they've already gotten. And I was bracing myself for her meltdown.
Not that day.
Not for that sweet thing.
The shot went in, she looked at me with her "surprise" face and then sat up and examined her boo boo. She was slightly concerned when a drop of blood appeared, but the Sesame Street Band-Aid went on and she was just fine.

She did cry that night when I took her Band-Aid off and threw it away. Go figure.

Here are her stats:
Height - 35.75 inches (89th%)
Weight - 30 lbs 3 oz (85th%)
Head circumference - 18.5 inches (34th%)

Check out Xander's info when he was two.

That sweet little 2-year old got her first haircut a couple of weeks ago. I'd been debating for some time. She's had a good bit of hair for quite awhile, especially on top, but the back was growing in real thin, wispy and mullet-ish. I decided we needed to fix that. We cut it in a bob so that it would grow back more evenly, and probably thicker.
Again, I was amazed at how well that child did. She sat in the chair, wore the cape, did everything the lady told her to do, including look down, and never once squirmed. Not even when the lady used the buzzer on her neck!
I was expecting the worst, really. When Xander was her age I had to hold him. He wouldn't let the lady put a cape on him, so we both were covered in hair when it was over. He would usually cry at some point during the whole ordeal, if not throughout the whole thing. And forget about the buzzer/clipper. If the noise wasn't enough to put him over the edge then it was the tickling of his neck - he is SO ticklish and can't stand to have his neck tickled.
AJ was a different story. I am so very impressed with my baby girl.

She goes to the potty now. She can't quite get up to the toilet on her own and doesn't really like the little potty, so I still have to help her out with the process. However, she tells me 90% of the time that she needs to go. She still wakes up from naps and bedtimes with a wet diaper, but I know that sleep thing is a whole other beast. We usually go through 1-2 pull-ups a day now. Score!

She talks all the time.

If I'm talking to someone else, especially Xander, and she wants my attention she'll say, "No, no, no! Mommy, no!" Until I look at her and pay attention to what she's trying to say.

She still calls Xander, "Zenoun" and many times throughout the day I hear such things as:
"Zenoun, you want some?"
"Zenoun, you like that?"
"Zenoun, you okay?"

She is one tough cookie. When she falls down, trips, or bumps her head, she usually gets right back up, oftentimes with a "I okay, Mommy."

She can count to ten, but she won't do it on command. The only time I've heard her do it is when she's playing...and doesn't realize I'm listening.

She loves to give eskimo and butterfly kisses.

She loves to scrunch one eye up and say "Argh! I a pi-yat."
(They L-O-V-E Jake and the Neverland Pirates)

I smell her blanket so often to check and see if it needs washing that she now hands nonny to me multiple times a day so I can smell it. That thing reeks more often than not. Blech.

She's a nose-picker. I've tried to break her of this habit, but she thinks it's funny now.
I've caught her a couple of times eating her boogers. Of course I tell her not to do that and that it's disgusting. So now, when I catch her picking her nose, she stops picking it and deliberately puts her finger in her mouth or licks her finger. It's so gross. And oddly funny at the same time.

She loves for me to sing "Deck the Halls." I've done it so much that she now knows most of the words and sings along, too.

She's started joining our prayers before meals. Xander has always insisted on singing the blessing like he does at school, so that's what we do. Amelia Jayne has been good in the past to put her hands together and sometimes close her eyes, but she never really joined in the song. Now she does so whole-heartedly. It's so adorable.

This spunky little spark of life is one of the most breath-taking and dynamic people I have ever known. And she's only two! I can only imagine what's in store for that little beauty.

 

 

25 Months of Love, 2nd edition

I was looking back through old blog posts and came across this one.
I certainly have not been as good about documenting Amelia Jayne's big milestones and I just can't give her as much undivided attention, simply because I don't have it.
However, I thought it would be sweet to do something similar for her that I did for her brother almost 3 years ago.

I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

God was gracious when He gave us Amelia Jayne. He knew how unique she would be and how perfectly she would fit into our family. I am honored to be her mother and so very proud of her. 
She has been alive 25 months (and some change). :)

Amelia Jayne,

1. I love how you make excuses to stay up at night. From more stories to water to potty to wanting to call daddy...on the phone.

2. I love how you wink at me.

3. I love how you are concerned and ask people if they are okay if they say "ouch".

4. I love your fake sneezes and your "bless yous."

5. I love how you make sure people are paying attention to you by moving to where you can look in their eyes when you want to talk to them. You do this a lot with Xander. :)

6. I love how you sing along even if you don't know the words. Your love of music is evident!

7. I love the way you say yellow!

8. I love how you always want to kiss Xander goodnight.

9. I love how you pick the chocolate chips out of cookies or pancakes and leave the rest.

10. I love how you always want to wear a jacket with a hood.

11. I love how excited you get over Jake and the Neverland Pirates...and how you sing each song in the show right along with the characters.

12. I love when you pat the couch beside you because you want me to sit with you.

13. I love how you put your hands on my face because you want me to tell you the "Mary Lou" poem.

14. I love your spirit and your determination.

15. I love how you call things "baby" instead of little.

16. I love how you ask me to sing Deck the Halls over and over and over again.

17. I love how much you love Xander, your cousins, and your friends at school and church. You talk about them and name them often. 

18. I love how you look up at me and reach for my hand when you feel insecure.

19. I love watching you play with dolls, knowing what a great mommy you will be one day.

20. I love how important reading is to you, already.

21. I love how you run everywhere, even from the kitchen to the living room. It's just in you to get places fast.

22. I love that you call yourself "Baby" when we ask you what your name is.

23. I love how brave you are - from the doctor, to haircuts, to Santa. You are one brave little girl.

24. I love how excited you get when Xander's excited. Even if you don't know what it's about.

25. I love your sweet snuggles and loud kisses.

I love you, Amelia Jayne. Every part of you. I thank God for blessing me with such a precious little girl.

Old St. Nick

Guess who we saw last week??

I met my mom and MIL at the Southern Christmas show one day last week to shop. So much fun!
I left the kids with a babysitter, but went back to get them late in the afternoon so that they could see Santa and all the cool things at the show, like the extensive and detailed model train, a fire truck from 1886, tons of decorated Christmas trees, decorations, etc.
I took them last year and they had a blast. This year was even better!!

Amelia Jayne did great with Santa Claus. Xander even asked her before we got there, "Are you going to cry when you see Santa this year, Amelia Jayne?" She said no, and stuck to her word.
She had a look of concern when she first sat with him, but quickly warmed up. He was very nice and warm. And I think it helped that Xander was excited and very talkative with the jolly guy. :)

 

 

Pumpkin patch with my punkin

Pumpkins!

Sheep!

Bunnies!

Chickens!

Friends!

 

Halloween

Xander went back and forth as to who he wanted to be for Halloween. It came down to the Hulk and Iron Man. He finally chose Iron Man.

Amelia Jayne has lots of costumes, accessories and pieces of costumes that have been given to her over the last several months, so I couldn't really justify buying her a new costume. She was the cutest little fairy princess I've ever seen, even if her costume was kind of thrown together.

 

 

Our friends Crystal and Patrick brought their little monster over to trick-or-treat with us. Keira was an adorable monster!

 

Xander's Iron Man light helped light the way when it got too dark. Bonus!

The kids were such troopers. I think all of us parents were ready to go in long before they were. We were out for over 2 hours, though by the end AJ was dragging her bucket on the ground behind her and Xander had tripped at least twice (due to the mask).
Our new neighborhood is so much fun and all the neighbors were generous, kind and friendly. Most of the houses were decorated and the kids were out in force. It was great!

 

Current Events

I'm behind on updates. Expect a few picture from the last couple of months and the events that happened, e.g., Halloween and AJ's birthday.

 

Here's a teaser until I can get the rest posted. :)

 

 

Flying with Granddaddy

My Dad came down a couple of months ago to take the kids flying. They had a blast!
I found these on my phone recently and realized I hadn't posted them.
Xander loves planes and flying. He talks about it a lot.
Being a pilot is one of the many things Xander wants to be when he grows up.

Church pics

My mom got Amelia Jayne some of the cutest little dresses for her birthday.

 

If you're wanting to compare AJ's hair from before and after her cut - the pics above were taken at church last week and the pic below was taken yesterday.

Little chefs

My babies love to cook.
Here they're assisting Daddy in making chocolate chip pancakes.

First haircut

Amelia Jayne got her first haircut last week. I had been debating on whether or not to cut her hair. I would love it to be long, but I couldn't stand the wispy, mullet-like look that she had going on. I decided to have it cut in a bob so that when it does grow out it will be more even.
These are before pics. Of course my phone died after only three pictures. I did get an "after" picture from the hair salon that I'm putting in her book.

Wine anyone?

Please, please, please go to this website!
Check out what type of wine you are according to your Meyers-Briggs profile.
I am an ESFP which makes me...

SANGRIA!!!



I love it!

I think I know what I'm having tonight... :)