Ready for Christmas

Were excited about Christmas around here. As we enjoy the holiday season, I am so very grateful for many, many blessings. Most of all I want to never forget the "reason for the season". How blessed we are to have such a loving Savior that loves us unconditionally. I want to remember this holiday is about His birth.

We put our tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving (the day we always do it), it was a nasty day, lots of rain and cold, but that didn't stop us.

We enjoyed some really fun days with Blake, Kyle and Darlene. They came in town for a few days and we packed lots of activities in. I REALLY wish they lived closer. We miss them already. Ilove this shot of my mom and all her grandkids.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful today for SO much. Here's my list of blessings, I will probably not finish it today.

1. God's grace

2. My family

3. The health of my family and myself

4. My sweet husband!

5. Waking up to the cutest little faces every morning

6. Awesome grandparents for my children

7. My dog, who I neglect these days (he's still so faithful)

8. Sonic Diet Coke, my hero

9. Being able to stay home with my babies

10. The way my parents raised me

to be continued. Happy Thanksgiving!

Just an update

Our lives seem to be busy these days. We are excited about Thanksgiving. Matt is going to be home with us all week next week. We have big plans to do some things around the house whitle he's on vacation....I can't wait! I love when I can recruit him to help me.

Anna Claire had a cute little Thanksgiving feast today at her preschool. We got to go and it was so cute to see her with all of her friends. She loves her school. They were all dressed like Indians.

We are going to Monroe on Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, and Friday I hope to do some major shopping with the rest of Shreveport. I LOVE it, it gets me in the spirit. The more the merry! I can't wait to get the Christmas decorations out too...oh yeah that's another thing for me to add to our list next week :) HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Look Alike?

Leighton is 6 months old

I can't believe he's 6 months already! Leighton is a happy baby and is getting lots of personality. Here's what he's doing at 6 months:

-rolling around everywhere

-laughing at his sister (his eyes follow her everywhere she goes)

-just about to crawl...he rocks back and forth on his hands and knees

-sleeping (most nights) 8 hours at a time

-still sleeping on and off all day, he only stays up 2-3 hours at a time

-eating baby food and LOVES it, if you are eating around him he stares your food down

-loves his crib--still dosen't like to be rocked, he loves to lay in his crib and hold his bunny to fall sleep. I always napped with Anna Claire....he wont' do it :(

-loves to hold toys and gets very excited about new ones

-grabbing everything in sight

-LOVES to be held---he's a little spoiled

-crys when we walk out of the room

-I thinks he's teething

-Very cuddly and loveable

-jumps a lot when you hold him up

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween despite the fact that most of us are sick! Anna Claire had a great time trick or treating and I think Leighton had fun too. We went on our street to a few houses and then just came back to our house and handed out candy, which Anna Claire and Merritt thought was SO MUCH FUN. They were flagging down people to come over so they could give them candy...glad I bought plenty.

What's been going on?

Anna Claire has been doing gymnastics since she was 18 months old and still love it so much. I took lots of pictures last week and will post more later.....when I have my computer back. She is really getting good at it.

Ballet is fun too and she is enjoying it as well, but I think gymnastics is her thing (for now anyway.)

She is enjoying preschool so much. I love her sweet class and teacher.

We are getting ready for Halloween...it feels like we've been celebrating it for weeks. After going to party's, wearing costumes everyday, etc. I guess Anna Claire will decide Wednesday what she'll be. For one party we were a cheerleader (just dress up we already had), for something else we went to she was a cat (her real costume, well the second one) or she may just be Ariel, the first costume my mom bought her. We'll know when it's time to trick or treat and not a second before.

Leighton is going to be Tweety Bird. He won't change his mind I'm sure. He is such a sweet baby. Time is flying by, he is almost six months old. I can't believe it. It really does make me sad to watch these kids get big. I baby them SOOOO much and I bet I always will.

Please Pray for Ethan

This if from Ethan Powells website (he is a precious little 10 month old with Leukemia that is from Shreveport)....this is the latest update. LET"S PRAY for this baby today! He needs a miracle.

http://www.ethanpowell.com/

His dad writes:


October 18- Day 250

1st Update/3:07pm [Ben] - Imagine reliving your worst nightmare many times over the course of 250 days. Every morning you wake up to find that your child is slowly dying and you can do absolutely nothing to stop it. You depend on an invisible being and you have to put all of your trust and your faith into knowing that HE will provide. That is where I am right now. And as scary as it is I DO STILL BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN AND WILL HEAL! I am asking that you stand behind MARK 11:21-23 and ask that GOD HEAL ETHAN! It only takes the FAITH of one pure hearted individual. I am begging you to stand with me in case I do not have the strength. The next 3 weeks will tell us more about whether the doctors expect him to live or whether or not they will give us a life expectancy.

Ethan is now at his last option. A few minutes ago they gave him more of my cells. (We have been working frantically and fast.) These cells did not work the first time. So basically, this doesn't seem to me like it will work. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK IS PRAYER. Things are a bit complicated here, I will update as I have the opportunities. Becky is going to step away from updates awhile to spend more time with Ethan. Please! Please! Please! Fire up the prayer chain. Call up your churches and friends, get together and pray. I am typing through tears asking for you to do one thing.... BeLIeVe! PRAYER WORKS!!!

Leighton is 5 months old

I can't believe my angel is 5 months old already! Wow, time does fly. I love this boy!!!

here's what he's doing at 5 months

a lot of smiling

watching his sister---he always has his eye on her

loving his baby food

loving his crib..he's very independent and wants to fall asleep in his crib with his bunny...no rocking this boy.

he's very ticklish

loves outdoors

I think he will crawl soon, he puts his legs under him like he's about to crawl

6th Year Anniversary

Matt and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary over the weekend. We had a great time...grandma and grandpa babysat and we went out for the 1st time alone since Leighton has been with us :) We had a great dinner. ---Thanks grandma and grandpa! It is always so good to have that time alone with each other...I miss it.

Matt is my best friend and such an awesome dad.

Here are 6 things I love about being married to him:

1. he spoils me...always bringing me things he knows I love during the day when I'm home with the kiddos
2. he puts me and the kids before everything else
3. he works hard so that I can stay home and NEVER complains
4. he trusts my judgement and never questions me about anything
5. he is very easy going....this is a must with me being so high strung :)
6. he is such a sweet and giving daddy.....the kids and I feel truly blessed to have him in our lives!

New Leighton Pictures

Leighton loves the johnny jump up, just like Anna Claire did!

Pampered!

The benefits of having a hair stylist as an aunt! Anna Claire loves being pampered by her Aunt Angie. What fun! The place where my sister works has Popsicles for the kids to eat while they are getting their hair done.

Leighton Laughing

Daddy's Girl

Anna Claire is reaping the benefits of being a daddy's girl. Dad went to Orlando on business last week and brought her lots of goodies back, here are two of them (the lolly pop and the Tinkerbell leotard)

Leighton is 4 Monts Old

Here are some pictures of my favorite 4 month old! Leighton is doing so much fun, he's rolling over from his belly to his back and almost from his back to belly. He holds toys and has really started talking to us...loudly. It is so sweet to hear his precious little voice. He had his 4 month check up and weighed in at 16lb 4 oz. He's growing just fine, to say the least.

Our pediatrician noticed he has tongue tie, a fairly common and easy to correct condition in infants. He is not experiencing any problems with it so far, but we want to make sure it won't affect his speech so we are going to see an ENT about it on Wednesday. click link to read about it http://children.webmd.com/tc/Tongue-Tie-Topic-Overview

Brother and Sister holding hands

4 Leighton Warren's

Leighton Wilson III (Grandpa) , Leighton Wilson, Jr.(Great Grandad) holding baby Leigton Matthew Warren, Jr. and Leighton Matthew (Our daddy)

First Day of Preschool

Our first day of preshool went okay. Anna Claire was a little clingy to me when we got there and another child was SCEAMING! I think she'll be okay once everyone gets settled into the class. She loves her teacher and friends in the class. It is a VERY sweet little school and I am VERY pleased with everything so far.

My Sweet Leighton

Leighton is a JOY! We are enjoying every second with our sweet, very cuddly baby boy. I love his feet, I really love his legs and his cheeks too. I could just sqeeze him and well I do squeeze him! He is a really happy baby...smiling all the time, cooing some and laughing. He loves his daddy, when he hears Matt's voice he looks all around, especially when Matt has been at work all day and first comes in.
He is 4 Months old now. We gave him a little rice cereal for the first time last night and he loved it. I'm going to try to post a short video. He is sleeping really well at night (anywhere from 6-8 hours) and still naps a lot throughout the day. He is very easy to take places these days and I think he really enjoys new places and taking it all in.
Bath time remains his very favorite! He kicks those legs like crazy in the tub.

All the September's

For some reason I love September. I love when fall arrives and the memories I have of every September. It reminds me of my parents for some reason, the day I married my Matt, and all of the many fun memories in the fall with my girl.

September 2004

September 2005

September 2006

September 2007

My Favorite 3 Year Old!

My sweet Anna Claire will start pre-school tommorw. I can't believe my baby is old enough to start preshcool. This is a milestone that reminds me how time flys. I know it's only pre school, but it makes me realize my baby is not a baby anymore which is hard to swallow. I think of the past 3 years and the days have been filled with so many good times. I remain thankful everyday for the amount of time I've been able to spend with her....I love being home with my kids and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's funny I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday....better yet an hour ago, that day was so amazing to Matt and I. We were talking just last night as she slept about how much she means to us and how blessed we feel to have her. Anna Claire is so many things to me. Here is a list of the things I see when I look at my girl:

Love

Happiness

Childhood being what it should be

Laughter

Girlyness (I think I made up this word)

Drama

God's amazing blessings

Beauty

Tippy toes (since she's been able to walk)

My best girl (something we say to each other)

Joy

High High Energy---lots and lots of this one

Smiles

Sensitivity

Knowledge

Silly

Curls

Pink

Everything we could ever ask for in a daughter

Here is a list from Grandma Warren:

Bubbles!

That twinkle in her eyes when she looks at you with so much love!

That little chipped tooth reminds me of how tough she is, even as a just-walking one-year-old! And with all those bumps and bruises you know she fell hard, but always gets back up!

God's gift to us...what a priviledge to have Anna Claire in our lives!

Intelligence! No use even trying to fool her! HA!

"Gynasics" moves and flips!

Those giggles when you tickle!

Sweet and caring!

Music Lover!

Sleep talking!

Good medicine when I'm feeling bad; she can always perk you up like she has magical powers to heal!

Ever since she could say "Outside", she loves BEING outside!

Teasing and playfulness!

Those "alligator" tears when she doesn't get her way!

Curiosity!

Hugs and kisses!

Sister and Brother!

Best Tea Party Ever

Anna Claire decided to have a tea party (with no tea). She had us wait in our room while she got it ready. Boy was it a sweet tea party!

Also Leighton is rolling from his belly to his back now....so cute. He loves his crib, his favorite thing to do is lay on his tummy and hold his head up and arch his back.

Swimming!

The month of August so far has been filled with many pool days. Anna Claire asks to swim EVERYDAY! Leighton likes it too, so everyones happy at the pool.

Just an update!

There's not a whole lot going on here to report. Were staying busy this week. We got Anna Claire signed up for ballet and tap. She is SO excited and can't wait to start. She is in a leotard as I type, well that's really nothing new....she's always in a leotard. We have been doing a lot of swimming this week, playing in the sprinkler, really just about anything to keep cool! My girl loves the water!

Leighton is doing great and he's 3 MONTHS OLD...I can't believe it. He's so sweet and loves to play. HE is really looking around and laughing a lot. One of my favorite things about him are his kissable fat feet.

He's starting to sleep a little better :) Mommy is VERY excited about that.