This is NOT January weather.

We live in a place that snows in the winter.

Some years are better than others.

Some years are worse than others.



This is what January is suppose to look like.
(pic taken this time last year)



But, this year I feel like I'm dreaming.

We've been absolutely loving this warm spell in the middle of January!

I'm talking....

(1) NO snow.

(2) Green grass.

(3) Playing outside in just a light jacket.

(4) Yesterday it was nearly 50* F

Unbelievable

**blink**

Am I still in California??

Wait.

NOPE!

It's motivated me to {finally} take down all the Christmas crap stuff.

I'm not getting tooooo comfortable with this heat wave though.

Snow is coming.

Soon.

Like tomorrow soon.

Like 8" plus.

Oh well.

It was fun while it lasted.

A {not so fun} 10 month celebration.

Mason is generally a very happy baby.

Except when he's sick or teething.

And when he's sick AND teething....you don't want to be a guest overnight in our home.

Trust me.

When he wakes up he let's the whole house know it.

(Although Kensie and Greg NEVER wake up from his cries...those two sleep like rocks!)

During the day he is easily distracted.

But at night? It's a different story.

And (unlike Kensie as a baby) he does not go back to sleep without intervention.

He needs:

(a) a bottle

(b) mommy

(c) cuddling

So last night I was up from 2am-4am.

Happy 10 months little guy....

I hope you get those 2 front teeth soon.

You deserve it.

I deserve it.

***

On that note...this is a good post to tell you two things:
(1) I LOVE my role as a mother and absolutely think it is worth it to have kids.
(2) But, there are days like today, when I'm exhausted and wonder, "Can we just get to the next stage already!?!?"


Then I read THIS ARTICLE from a gal that (in my opinion) totally "gets it" as a mom.
I was so encouraged.
Read it.
If you have little ones, you will be encouraged too.

10 months and moving fast!

Holy smokes! Is it really possible that Mason will be 10 months tomorrow??

Unbelievable.

What's even more unbelievable is how fast this kid is growing, learning and moving.

He's been army crawling for while now but just recently started cruising along furniture up on his feet.

And boy, is he happy about it....

New Year's Day {3 years ago}

It was January 1, 2009.

I woke up early and slipped out of our warm bed. The sun was just coming up. Greg was still fast asleep. I tip-toed to the closet to grab my yoga pants and a coat. Something comfy and warm. I had to run an errand. A short errand, but one that required getting dressed. I knew exactly what I needed to buy.

I quietly snuck out the front door and clicked it shut. Fifteen minutes later I was back with a plastic Walgreen's bag draped around my wrist. Inside the bag was a box. One small item that always costs more than you think. I was so excited to show Greg my little New Year's surprise but alas, he was still sleeping and I decided to wait. And wait. And wait.

Then I heard the bedroom door slowly squeak. He emerged scratching his head and squinting his eyes. Heading straight for the bathroom, I rushed down the hallway to beat him to the door. He gave me a warm bear hug and whispered "Happy New Year babe".  I quickly held up my Walgreen's bag and raised my brows with excitement, "I have a surprise for you...if you want to see it." His brows quickly matched mine. He knew what it was. And he knew why I was excited.

Yes. Inside that box was a pregnancy test. I was already a couple days late and just had that feeling. We had been trying for 6 months and were ready to start a family. So I opened the box, looked up at my scruffy handsome man and gazed into those familiar hazel eyes, "Should we take the test and see?" He replied with a sweet and silent grin.

It was such a special time for us. We prayed together as we waited for the results. Even though I knew in my gut that I was in fact carrying a baby inside...we still prayed that no matter what the results we would trust God.

And He decided to bless us with a baby. Nine months later she was born. Her name...Kensie Michelle. And just like that, I became a mom. And then nine months after that I was pregnant again. This time, a boy. And nine months later we had Mason Gregory. I felt like I became a mom all over again.

Anyway, it's my favorite New Year's memory.

Fast forward>>>>

Here's our little family today....January 1, 2012.

Can't imagine life without them.

A merry holiday indeed...

We started the week with some sickies in the house but our holidays ended well...take a look!

Dec 20--I woke up feeling nauseous with zero energy. I also decided it was time to take Mason to the doctor's. He had been sick for far too long (nasty cough, runny nose, waking up frequently at night). I can't remember the boy NOT being sick. And a few hours later we walked out of that doctor's office diagnosed with a sinus infection and a prescription for antibiotics (praise the Lord for medicine!) I was hopeful he would be healthy by Christmas Day. I, however, felt worse as the day went on. Chills. Sweating. Chills. Sweating. Achy. Weak. Nauseous. Kensie was also getting over her own sniffles while simultaneously being disobedient. Great day. Pshhhh.

Dec 21--Mason on the mend but still crabby. Kensie on the mend but still disobedient. And me? Well, that day was a blur. All I remember was putting one movie after another in the DVD player for Kensie to watch while I laid on the couch. All day. I was miserable with the flu. Both kids had their flu shots in the fall so at least I knew I wouldn't pass it to them.


still in the mood for a pic despite the yuckies...love those two!

 Dec 22--Started to freak out a little. My body was revolting against me. Along with the flu I started hacking away with a deep and painful cough. Awesome. We were planning to have Greg's family over on Christmas Eve. Things were not looking good. At all.
Dec 23--Woke up for the first time not feeling totally sick to my stomach. My fever broke. A miracle! My cough continued but I didn't care. I felt 1000 times better! Mason had successfully slept another 12 hour night in a row. Christmas was looking a little brighter....

Dec 24--I felt 80% normal again. I rushed Kensie to the mall in the morning to see Santa last minute. She absolutely loved it...in her mellow sweet way. She chatted about it the whole way there and home. (Similar to our Disneyland experience).

We went ahead and had the party with Greg's family at night. Total success! I've never seen so much generosity from one family in my life! We are blessed.

Dec 25--Christmas morning with my little family. Loved every second. Time with just my hubs and my kids. Utterly overwhelmed with joy. They are so precious to me. And feeling healthy was the best gift I could have asked for. So thankful.



I could go on about the nice gifts we exchanged and tell you I have the greatest husband in the world who probably outdid himself this year by totally surpassing all my expectations--which he did. Maybe another post on that.

But, I really saw the importance of Christ this year. And how he blesses us with relationships. And how that's really all that matters.



Kensie was so excited to receive this nativity set as a gift.
She often picks baby Jesus up and presses him to her cheek for a "hug".



And can I just say...Christmas is even more fun now that we have kids. Oh.my.gosh. I've heard the best years are only to come! Cannot wait.

Merry Christmas!

A surprise date and my first try at picnik {unrelated}...

Last night I was able to surprise Greg with a date! We have not gone out (just the two of us) since before Mason was born.

Seriously. I know. Too too long.

This was just one surprise out of twelve. The idea is not new by any means. But, it's new to us! It's called {get ready!} "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Original I know.

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...."

{now it's stuck in your head huh?}

Each day {for 12 days} you give your spouse a little present leading up to Christmas Day.

It could be as small as his favorite candy bar left on the seat of his car.

Or a kind note listing your favorite qualities about him.

Or like last night, a surprise date!

A gal at my church started the idea by inviting a bunch of us ladies to join her via FB!

Thanks Susan! It's been such a good way to stretch my love for my husband. He's worth it.

:)

I started by taking him to his favorite place to eat....

B Dub's! Oh yeah.

...and then drove around without telling him what we were doing next...

Ice skating...

...with Santa no less!



This is just like the dates we had while dating in college. So many good memories then. It was so fun going back in time for a night and feeling like kids again!

***

In other news, I've officially used picnik for the first time!

And, I'm hooked.

It definitely takes some time but, worth the extra few minutes. And I LOVE that I can make a collage. It's just so hard to pick one ya know??
:)

Miss Kensie will be a flower girl for the first time in a couple weeks (first for my Mama and Terry), and then again next June (for Greg's brother--Elliot and Jessica). She will be wearing the above dress in both. It was found for $10 (can you believe it??) at a garage sale and has never been worn! Jessica's Mom bought it and has graciously given it to us! Kensie is absolutely in love with that dress, as am I...and asks to try it on all the time. I usually say no in order to minimize the risk of ruining that beautiful gown before said weddings. But, I wanted to see how much she has grown. It was way too long when she first wore it about 2 months ago...and now she can walk without stepping on it! Yay...no alterations!

Here's hoping she will actually walk down the aisle.

***

Hope you are all enjoying the holidays!

We have our first family party today...busy busy!

The attention span of a 2 year old...

...is kinda like a squirrel.

She started out singing her favorite Christmas songs and just like when a squirrel sees a nut, she quickly goes in a different direction. You'll see what I mean...

I'm probably the only one that understands every word. But, in case you missed it here's the order of events...

• Starts by making up a little diddy, "Baby Jesus, I luv youuuu!".
• If you listen carefully she then sings the "B-I-B-L-E".
• Trying to get back to the Christmas tunes she then sings, "Jingle Bells".
• Makes it through the first verse (twice) and decides to sing her "A,B,C's" (version from Super Why on PBS)
• Nope. "No mo songs" Mama.
• Decides to try "Jingle Bells" again.
• During her swivel dance move she gets distracted and plays peek-a-boo through the back of the chair with Mason. "I see you!"
• Realizes I'm recording and begs, "Kensie see da picture?".
• Forced to say says "Merry Christmas".
• Nears a meltdown cuz she still wants to "look da picture".
• I cut her off and say bye.
• THE END.