Not much to report

Nothing major going on, but I wanted to post a few cute pictures. We bundled up and got outside some the other day. These are "the days". Each day is a blessing and a gift.

Well some of us bundled up. Apparently cheerleadeers don't get cold when it's 40 degrees with an open midriff.

Ballet, Happy New Year and Leighton is 8 months

Happy New Year! 2008 has brought with it some curve balls for us, but nothing we can't handle. More importantly it's brought so much happiness to our family of 4, I mean 5 with Biz. This is going to be a fun filled year :)

Matt is no longer employed, that is the curve ball. I know it will all work out and this will pass. The hardest part right now is that I have gone back to work at the Foundation, very much part time though. My boss has been super to let me get some hours in and she is always SO flexible with when I work. However, I am SO sad about leaving my kids. I have wanted to be a stay at home mom for a long time, even before I had kids. I am a firm believer in kids being with thier mommies, but I guess I'm doing what I need to, atleast I keep telling myself that :( I don't believe God made dad's to tend to kids while mom's work, but for now that's how it is. So if you see my kids out and about with thier daddy don't laugh if they are still in their pj's at 3:00pm :)

Matt is looking for something and I know he will find the perfect job!

On to brighter topics...............................


Leighton is 8 months old! WOW!

Here's what the little guy is up to:
1. Being everywhere! pulling up and crawling.
2. Getting teeth, he has 1 and getting the other bottom one and he's not real happy about it.
3. Fighting sleep. It takes a lot to get him to sleep right now.
4. Eating some table food. I mash bannanas and he loves it! He still loves his baby food too.
5. He loves his daddy. The one who can usually get him to sleep by sitting in his lap watching Baby Einstien.
6. Making lots of noise....he loves to hear himself talk.
7. He likes to go out and about. He takes it all in everywhere he goes.
8. He dosen't like mommy to leave the room.
9. Biz is at the top of his favorite list right now too. He pulls up on Biz and laughs, it's so cute.
10. He's starting to play peek a boo.

We are enjoying him so much and feel blessed to have him in our family!

Anna Claire had parent observation week at tap/ballet in December and it was so cute. I love the ballet class, it would be my first choice for her, but it's not up to me right? :) She does like it and is getting good at it. I think it's precious, I could watch all day.

I feel like my girl has grown so much latley. She just seems so big to me. I love hanging out with her. Our girl time together is SO special to me. I hope to be having those special mother daughter moments for years to come, even when she's my age. I know for me, hanging with my mom is the BEST and always has been. I know Leighton and Matt will enjoy a similar, relationship as well.

A Very Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas. We enjoyed lots of time with family and lots of yummy food. The grandparents were generous with thier gifts. We've got lots of new toys to enjoy. Matt is off all week, so we are having fun being all together this week. Here are some shots of the holidays!


Anna Claire and her tree in her room
Little Leighton's favorite gift....he went right for it as if he knew it was his! Grandma did good!Anna Claire and Grandma opening the Polly Pocket houseAnna Claire got caught peeking :)After churchWhat santa leftComing in to see what Santa leftI love the excitement in her face

Anna Claire and my sister

Gingerbread Houses and Leighton Pulling Up

Here are Matt's and Anna Claire's gingerbread houses. :) Ithink Anna Claire ate more icing than she used to decorate.

Leighton is pulling up now. He's been working on it for a while now, but a couple of days ago I went to get him from his nap and here's what I saw.

Merry Christmas

Leighton is 7 Months Old

Leighton is 7 months. Here's what my baby boy is up to:

-He's crawling everywhere and very curious.

-He can almost sit up on his own.

-He says mama. It's so sweet.

-His favorite person is his sister. He wathces her constantly

-He's eating baby food twice a day and loves it

-He still gets up in the night--sometimes 2 times.

-He naps 2-3 times a day (cat naps)

-He loves to be outside

-When I leave the room he cries and says mama

Congratulations Matt!

Matt is now a marthoner! He ran the Dallas White Rock Marathon Sunday. He did it in a VERY fast 3 hours and 16 min. (did I mention it's his first one). I can't run one mile at the pace he did all 26.2 in. :) It's so amazing to me.

I think it's the first of many marathons for him, I believe he's hooked. We are so proud of him. His dedication and hard training paid off. 26.2 miles is a LONG way!

This pic is at mile 19 I think.

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!