Christmas Festivities

We have been very busy the last couple of weeks with all kinds of Christmas fun.  Well, I thought it was fun, sometimes the babies and husband didn't feel the same.  I'll explain with pictures...

 

We're headed to the KMart parking lot to get our perfect tree. 

 

We've got the tree in, and the decorating begins!!

 

Benton was over sitting in his sissy's lap.  She didn't care, she just wanted to eat her saltines.

 

Sweet girl helping with the lights...

all while Benton snuggles with Mommy.

 



 

Now mommy gives the lights a go.

 

Haisley and Daddy decorating the tree.

 

Haisley is amazed at the tree and seriously did this pose on her own!

 

The next day we headed to the Opelika Christmas parade.  My sweet love bug in his Christmas gear. 

 

And again, Benton was over the picture taking.  Buddy, you're gonna have to get used to it...mommy loves pictures of the babies!

 

I think the most memorable part of the parade for Haisley was the horses pooping in the road.  Benton was wrapped up in Mark's jacket, so he didn't comment much on his favorite part. 

 

The next day we loaded up and went to Aunt Amanda's to visit with Uncle E, Aunt Jenny, Hunter and Chandler.  They came bearing gifts, and Haisley still insists on sleeping with her piggy bank sometimes!!

 

 

 

Benton looks like he is getting whiplash...which isn't too far from the truth.

 

Haisley was over the pictures at this point. 

 

 

More pictures to come of our Christmas fun!

 

 

Thanksgiving 2013

We spent the Saturday before Thanksgiving with my family, and were supposed to spend Thanksgiving Day with Mark's family.  Saturday when we got home from Amanda's, Haisley was acting so pitiful.  She had a slight fever, and it was the beginning of the end for our Thanksgiving week.  Haisley got sicker as the week progressed, and Benton and I joined in the sickness by about Tuesday.  By Wednesday we were all at the doctor.  The babies were diagnosed with RSV, and the doctor said I might even have it too.   As I sit here and write this, my babies are still sick.  RSV is for the birds!!  Although we didn't go anywhere for Thanksgiving, sweet Nana and Granddaddy made sure we had food!  Precious Aunt Ashley might as well be a meals on wheels program with all the food they brought!  We are so blessed and are hopefully on the road to recovery!

 

The beginning of sickness...

 

Sweet Lyndell

 

 

JJ loving on Benton

 

Mawmaw with the babies.

This sweet angel likes sleeping with his head cocked back. 

 



 

JJ brought some treats to help Haisley get through her sickness.  Haisley's Thanksgiving brunch consisted of two popscicles and marshmellows. 

 

JJ also brought a huge bear for Haisley to cuddle with.  She loves it!

 

 

Haisley is 22 Months

 Our girl is 22 months, almost two!!  WOW!!  I feel like she has transformed from a baby to a little girl so much in this one month.  I'm not sure if it is because we have Benton now or what, but it is so much fun.  It is so fun carrying on a conversation with our love bug and hearing how her little mind works.  There are a few things that I want to remember her saying:
-Haisley was eating supper the other night and I was nursing Benton on the couch.  I looked over at her and said, "I love you, Haisley Grace."  She responded with, "I love you 2, 5, 6."
-Haisley was bouncing on the couch (which is a big no no at our house) and Mark told her to stop.  She raised her hands, shrugged her shoulders, and said, "But why, I Tigger." 
-"War Eagle, firecracker field."  Although when I sing the song, she can fill in every word that I omit.
-Singing, "Hot dog, hot dog, solveeeee."
This month she has really gone from repeating what we say to thinking up her own sentences.  It is so precious!


Size:  The girl is growing by leaps and bounds.  She is in size 4 diapers, size 5 shoes, and mostly 18 month clothes.  I have no idea how much she weighs or how tall.
Teeth:  She finally cut the two top eye teeth.  It has been a long time coming...14 total.
Eating:  She eats ALL THE TIME.  Seriously, she wakes up asking to eat, goes to bed asking to eat, and all the time in between.
Skills:  She is really counting pretty good, although she skips three and four when counting to eleven.  She cannot name colors, but when given two or three to choose from, she can identify the correct one. 
Potty Training:  NIGHTMARE.  Mark and I thought it would be a good idea to try and potty train while he was off work for Benton's birth.  I cannot express in words on this blog how terrible it was.  We rolled up all rugs in the house, yet she choose to go have accidents on the rolled up rugs.  She was awesome at telling us she needed to go potty, and got a lot of poop in the potty.  Number one was a different story.  She told us she needed to go, run to the potty, sit, tell us she was all done, then stand beside the potty and pee.  I will need to stop breastfeeding before we try again, mainly because I am going to have to drink heavily to get through it.  As you can tell from the picture below, she had a ball getting treats on the potty.  OUT OF CONTROL!

 

This is were she stood when we told her we wanted her to take a picture with Benton...right in front of him. 

 

Sweet, precious, generous Aunt Amanda showers our baby girl (and now boy) with gifts all the time.  The latest gifts included this adorable jacket and Ugg boots.  (Actually, another gift of precious Christmas pjs were given just today)  We love you Aunt Amanda, thanks for being so good to us!

 

Dirty dancing move...nobody puts baby in a corner!!

 

Benton's 1st Month

Benton's first month has flown by, even more quickly than Haisley's.  I took Benton to the doctor yesterday and he was a champ.  I actually took him because he has been spitting up pretty bad.  Since we were a day early from his one month birthday, I have to go back for his shots next week.  Our sweet angel had the following stats:
Weight:  9 lbs, 2 oz ~25 %
Length:  21 inches ~25%
Weight for Length: ~50%
Head Circumference:  14.5 inches ~25%
He is definately bigger than Haisley!  He has been in size 1 diapers since we got home from the hospital.  He is mainly in newborn and 0-3 month clothes.  Sleeping at night has been quit interesting.  I swore I would be putting him in the crib from day one, but it is so much easier for him to be in our room since I am nursing him.  I have noticed a trend with him wanting to take an afternoon nap about the same time that Haisley does everyday.  Cue the Hallelujah chorus!!!  Such a blessing!  Plus, the last two days, he has taken that nap swaddled in his crib, and slept in his crib at night!!  He eats every 3 hours.  I am not nearly as bad of a schedule nazi like I was with Haisley.  With Haisley, I did not allow her to eat a minute before or after three hours.  With Benton, I will go ahead and feed him if he is screaming at 2.5 hours, and let him continue sleeping beyond the three hour mark. 
Benton has definately had a more eventful month than Haisley did.  Breastfeeding is going very good, so I feel comfortable leaving the house (minus the pumpkin patch debacle).  We are adjusting to having two little ones, and Haisley continues to be a great big sister.  She is always ready to give a paci, give hugs and kisses, and is usually pretty gentle with the little guy.  You are very loved, sweet Benton!  We can't remember our lives before you! 

 

Our little Auburn elf.