Knee Deep In Fun!!!

We had been watching the weather all week long. Snow was on the way. When would it come and how much would we get was the question. Would we have a white Christmas? It looked like we were going to get lucky this year! It had to start before midnight for it to officially count as a white Christmas and it did! It started Christmas evening and lasted well into the next morning dropping anywhere from 4-6 inches! We woke up to a beautiful sight!

Matt and Jake were anxious to get out there and play however we have nothing appropriate to wear in this kind of weather. Poor Jake had baggies on his feet and socks on his hands! I really thought he would only stay out a few minutes, but he would have stayed out there ALL DAY if we would have let him!

I love days like this too. I like to stay inside in my p.j's and stay warm by the fire!
The snow is pretty from the window:)

Although we don't have the appropriate clothes, we do have a sled. I have no clue why we have one or where it came from, but it provided hours of snowy fun!

This boy had a blast in snow up to his little knees!

Later on in the day Matt went out and picked up my sister and brother to join us for the fun!

We had a great time hanging out together and enjoyed the beautiful winter wonderland of Christmas 2010!

Our Very Merry Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas season celebrating the birth of our Savior and spending time with our families! We had our fill of Christmas cheer, Christmas cookies, and lots of Christmas presents!

On Christmas Eve we loaded up and headed to my mom's house to celebrate with my family. We always have appetizers and exchange gifts with everyone. It is always loads of fun!

Here is my dad with all of his girls...

And my parents with all their grandkids...

My grandma loved on Brooklyn while we helped Jake open all his gifts!

All the kids waited so patiently until it was present time!!!

After all the gifts were open and all the cookies were eaten...we got the little ones in their Christmas p.j's. They looked so sweet and were now ready to head home to wait for Santa!

Christmas morning, Jake woke up around 7:30. Matt went in his room to get him and to let him know that Santa did arrive!

Jake must have been a really good boy this year!The highlight this year was his Buzz Lightyear!

Brooklyn got her first sock monkey (just like Jake did on his first Christmas) and some new clothes!

I think she likes them:)

Matt's parents stopped by a little later that morning for a Christmas breakfast.

Of course they spoiled Jake and brought him all three Toy Story movies!

After we got everything cleaned up we were able to hang out as a family. We took naps and enjoyed being by the warm fire!

By late afternoon we got cleaned up and headed to see my Grandpa!

It was great to see him and wish him a Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas day ended with one more stop at my mom's for a delicious Christmas dinner! We ate a lot and just relaxed and enjoyed our time together watching the snow begin to fall!

We had a very Merry Christmas together!

My Loves...

So I told you yesterday that my sweet and very talented friend Julie from Come Rain or Shine photography, came over to our home to do a photo shoot with our family. I wanted a few of all of us, but wanted to mainly capture my baby girl! I didn't expect to see the outcome for a while because she had a few shoots that were ahead of ours that she needed to finish. This morning though she posted a few for me to look at that she worked on last night. I have to say that I am beyond happy with what she got! I absolutely LOVE them!

These are a few of my all time favorite (so far)!

Me and my sweet girl...

My loves...

Our precious gift from God...

Pure sweetness...

The little blanket that Brooklyn is using has been in our family for years. My Grandma was brought home from the hospital in it. She then brought all of her kids home in it and my mom used it with all of us. Now my sister and I have used it with our kids!

My little angel...

I am so thankful for my little blessings!

Monogrammed for You!

I love all things monogrammed! I don't have that much of it, but the little bit I do, I love! Many people blessed little Brooklyn with some of the most precious monogrammed gifts! They are so pretty and I love them all!

Today, my friend Julie from Come Rain or Shine Photography, came and did a little photo shoot for us. I wanted some family shots along with some cute ones of Brooklyn as a newborn. I didn't get newborn pictures of Jake and I kind of wish I did, but there is just something about a little girl and some pink bows that I didn't want to miss!

I wasn't sure what to dress her in today, but yesterday afternoon my sister Allison and I went out and did a little shopping. I found the cutest bloomers ever! I fell in love with them!

Julie did a GREAT job capturing my sweet baby girl! I can't wait to see how they turned out! I will post them as soon as she finishes working on them!

Four Generations of Love

One of the biggest blessings in my life is to have a mom and a grandma who love the Lord and love their families. I am very close to my grandma and to my mom and love them both dearly.

Last week they stopped by for a little visit with us and I wanted to take this picture.

Here we are! Four generations!

What a special picture this is to me!

I love all these girls!

Thursday's Thoughts

1. Since Brooklyn has been born we have pretty much not left our house. One reason is because it is way to cold for her and for me:). There is also so much sickness going around and we do not want any of it!!! I don't mind being at home at all! I love just hanging out with Jake and Brooklyn and am enjoying the slower pace we have been keeping!

We did however have to go out to the doctor this week. Our first trip was on Monday for her first check up. Everything checked out great except for her jaundice levels. I thought she looked a little "yellowish" and sure enough her levels were borderline, so we had to go back Wednesday for another check. This time her levels had gone down which was great news!

She had dropped a little bit of weight since leaving the hospital last week. She is now almost back up to her birth weight (8lbs 2oz). She weighed in at 8 lbs Wednesday which means she actually gained 6oz since her check up on Monday! Way to eat girl!!!

My sweet baby girl sleeping soundly! I love her little puckered lips!

Just precious!

2. My Grandma gave Jake an Advent calendar this year for him to open. He looks forward to opening up each box and loves finding the piece of chocolate inside each night! He asks ALL THE TIME if he can open up his calendar!

This might be his favorite tradition each Christmas. Ha!

3. One thing that I am soooo looking forward to is our annual Christmas cookie baking day with my mom, sisters, and Grandma!

We have planned to meet next Tuesday for a day of fun!

I have a few cookie ideas that I am going to be making. I love to make my Thin Mint cookies using the Ritz crackers. They have become one of my favorites to make. I think I am also going to make chocolate covered pretzels and M&M cookies. Matt's favorite Christmas cookies are Snickerdoodles. Maybe I will make him some of those. My sister is bringing the sugar cookies for the kids to decorate. That should be messy and fun! My mom is planning on doing the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey kiss on top. I am also going to ask her to make her yummy Magic Cookie Bars!

It is always a great day baking together and the outcome is always delicious!

The Icing on the Cake

One of the questions that I get asked a lot these days is "How is Jake adjusting?" Well, for the most part he has done well in his new big brother role, but I will say I have noticed some certain behaviors that he has never done before. Bless his little heart!

Jake showing off his new "Big Brother" jammies.

For instance...he still sleeps in his crib. He has never tried to climb out. I thought about switching him to a big boy bed, but I really didn't see the need to. But, the little stinker fell out of his crib the other day during nap time because he was playing around up there! I think it scared the mess out of him though because he hasn't attempted it again.

He is also testing our limits. The other day he got in my pocket book, took out my chap stick and started "writing" on all his toys. He then stuck his finger in it.

He treats Brooklyn very sweet though and will help me (most of the time) if I ask him to. He asks to hold her and gives her lots of hugs and kisses!

But this afternoon was the icing on the cake (literally).

Matt and I were getting ready to have lunch. It got pretty quiet all of a sudden so I peeked around the corner to the kitchen and this is what I found...

Mimi decided to send over some chocolate cupcakes and I guess Jake just couldn't resist! The fridge was the perfect "hiding place". Matt and I just started laughing! We just couldn't help it! He finished off the first one and it looks like the next one was close by!

That little stinker!

I love you, Bubba! You are doing a great job at being a BIG brother! I am proud of you!

XOXOXOX!

Simply Sweet!!!

I cannot believe she is here! She is just as precious as can be and has already stolen our hearts! She is the prettiest little girl I have ever seen and she is a gift to us!

Brooklyn Hope arrived this past Tuesday at 2:58pm and we are all doing well!

The hospital called at 5:45am letting us know it was time to head on in. I didn't sleep much Monday night. I wasn't nervous, just anxious. My sister Allison spent the night with us Monday night and she kept Jake along with my mom while we were in the hospital.

Matt and I just waiting for our little girl!

My whole delivery was very easy. It was very smooth and couldn't have gone better! The hardest part was getting the IV in. I HATE that!

Within 2 hours, I had my epidural, my water broke, and then a little girl!

Getting to hold my sweet Brooklyn for the first time! Amazing!

I guessed her weight to be 7 lbs 3oz. I was a bit off especially considering she was 5 days early!

She weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz and was 21 inches long!

That's my girl!

This was our nurse, Eva. She did a GREAT job at helping us move right along!

And of course Dr. Dehoff...

I couldn't wait to get my hands on my little man later on that afternoon. I missed him SOOO much! I kept thinking about him the entire time!

He has been a super big brother!

And here she is all cleaned up and ready! Pink bow and all!

Look at that hair! I could hardly believe it!

I am always ready to go home after my stay in the hospital! We were ready to begin the adventures of a family of four!

When we got home Jake wanted to hold Baby Brooklyn.

L.O.V.E this!

Sleeping beauty...

I love kissing her warm cheeks:)

Now we are all off to bed, at least for a little while:)!

Tutus, Hairbows, and Ruffles, Oh My!

Well, tomorrow is a big day for our family! We will get to welcome Brooklyn Hope to our family! We couldn't be more excited!

I am being induced tomorrow. I am feeling fine, but with the holidays approaching and me progressing pretty fast, the doctor said he would take me early. Friday was my last day of school which felt pretty strange. I started my maternity leave today because I had a doctor's appointment this morning and I wanted to get a few last minute things accomplished. I think we are ready to go now!

We will wait to hear from the hospital in the morning to tell us what time to come in. Because I am so far along already, the doctor says it won't be a long day at all!

We will keep everyone posted and we will post pics as soon as we can!

Please pray for us as we begin to be a family of four!

Some Christmas Cheer

We have been trying to enjoy as many Christmas activities that we can so far this year because when Brooklyn comes, things are going to change. I think we will be staying mostly indoors and keeping her warm and cozy!

Here are just a few things we have been up to...

Last weekend we set up our Christmas tree. The last several years we have bought a real tree at a little place right down the road. This year we opted for a fake one. I cannot believe Matt agreed to it, but I think it is simple and pretty and turned out just right for us!

One of the reasons why Matt likes to get a real tree is because that is how we got engaged...

Our special ornament looks just as pretty on this tree though!

My FAVORITE decorations to put out are these...

A few weeks ago I called my friend Faith to monogram my last stocking for Brooklyn. We have a cozy fireplace in our house and they will look so perfect hanging there by the fire.

Of course this little guy made his appearance a few days ago too...

Our Elf on the Shelf...Troy!

Here is Matt reading to Jake about our magical Christmas Elf.

Jake loves finding him each morning!

This Christmas tree is EXTRA special to me. Jake made it at school. His teacher worked extra hard to complete it before Brooklyn comes and because Jake's last day of school was Friday. She loves Jake and loves working on this special project with her kids each year!

It is FILLED with handmade ornaments. It is displayed proudly on our table for all to see!

Saturday afternoon my sisters, my mom, and a few of our friends all gathered for our annual Christmas tea! Each table is decorated in a spectacular way! This was the table my mom and sister decorated and is where we sat for the tea. It was a gingerbread theme!

So cute and yummy:)

Everything was beautiful and delicious!

Here are all of the girls from our table!

We went to church this morning and enjoyed some Christmas music and lights. We headed back tonight to see the kids perform in the church's Christmas musical.

And with our Christmas shopping pretty much done...we are waiting on just more more special gift to arrive:)!