I am Thankful:

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays because for one day everyone actually stops to reflect on the amazing Blessings in their life. We so often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily lives that the blessings the Lord is pouring down us get swept away. Sometimes I will randomly get a wave of emotion brought on by a hug, smile, laugh or special moment that I swear is God knocking me over the head saying "I have given this moment to you, soak it in and be grateful". Being a mom of 2 has it daily challenges, especially when one is 2 and full f craziness!! But everyday is full of so many little moments that I wish I could bottle up and save so I never forget (kind of like Dumbledore's pensive!) That's why I text, blog and take pictures of every crazy little thing to try to document it so I can look back later and remember.

I could never even try to list out everything I am thankful for because I would miss more than I'd actually write out. But in the spirit of Thanksgiving here's a few (of course in no particular order!! :)):

I am thankful:

- firstly that I serve a Lord that even through our oversight, selfishness, and greediness He continues to bless us

- that I live in a country where I am free to live, think, worship and act as I choose (hearing Dianna's stories of her experiences over in Asia makes me even more proud to be an American)

- that I have a family that loves me unconditionally. They are the only ones who really know and understand me for me, and I can truly be myself around them. They will always fight for me and always have my back. I can count on them for anything!

- for my husband who knows all my quirks and loves me anyway! Who has grown up with me, been with me through the hardest times of my life and been my pillar of strength! Who lovingly points out every time I mess something up (the cookies, laundry, dinner, everything) but is grateful that I tried! Who I have watched grow into an amazing father, doctor, friend and husband! Who I love more than words can say, even though I may not say it or show it enough!

- that I married into a family that I can also just be myself with. That I actually love my "in laws" and love being around them! I have the most perfect niece and nephews and I wish I could see them more!

- for my amazing little angels! The Lord has blessed me beyond measure with these two angels and I am reminded of that daily. Words can not even begin to describe how much I love them. I now understand the term "a mother's love" because it is by far beyond any other love I've ever known! I could go on and on forever about these two! I just can't wait to see the plans unfold that God has in store for their lives. I know He has something great in store for them!

- that I am blessed to be able to stay home with my little ones. Yes I loved my job and occasionally miss the craziness that teaching brought. I would never give it up. Sometimes Caleb makes me want to just scream but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

- for the path the Lord has brought me down. For all the friends and memories I've made along the way! For the friends I can count on when I need to vent, parenting tips, or just to have a real conversation with when I've only been around little ones all day!

I really could go on and on and have babbled enough already but isn't that what this time is about. We get caught up in all the great food and fellowship (yes I love that too and will be stuffing my face tomorrow) but I don't want us to forget what Thanksgiving is truly about! Recognizing our blessings and giving Thanks for them all!

I pray this next year brings you even more things to be thankful for! And that we slow down enough to notice them and soak them all in!

Kennedy 4 months

I know I sound like a broken record but I can't believe you are 4 months old! The doctor today said you were ready for solid food and I thought she was crazy because I feel like you just got here! You're just getting way to big. Its going even faster with you than it did with Caleb! I thought it didn't get any easier than it was with Caleb. Ok well until he hit about 12 months and developed an attitude, but as a baby he was a perfect baby! But you have proven me wrong. You are the happiest smiliest squealist thing I've ever seen. You smile at everyone and are just so laid back. This month you have discovered your voice. So you will just lay there squealing and playing forever. You've even rubbed a huge bald spot in your head from constantly turning your head all around to see whats going on. You started rolling over and when on the floor playing you spin in circles squirming so much. I love it when we are playing and you grab and rub my face. Its like you are just trying to learn as much about Momma's face as you can. Your face just lights up when you see your Bubby. You laugh and squeal watching him play. The only time you cry, and most of the time its just grunts, is when you are tired, hungry or dirty. You are a GREAT sleeper. You'll sleep 10-12 hours a night (a couple nights were even longer than that. I had to check to make sure you were ok because you were out sleeping your brother!) During the day you just go with the flow and nap as you can because we are out and about so much. Hopefully we can get you on a routine soon.
4 month stats:
16 lbs 8 oz (95%) , 25 1/2" long (90%), head is in the 25-50th% 14 cm I think. (she wrote 41 but I think she meant 14)

Nice big bald spot! :) But besides that your hair is growing, slowly but surely!!

Playing with Caleb. Of course I stopped filming right when Caleb came back over to play with her.

Caleb 23 months

Well this is Caleb's last monthly post. I guess starting next month he'll just be 2. For about a month I've started saying he'll be 2 in Dec. instead of 23 months so we are transitioning. Its funny the random milestones that are hard to let go off.
I'll randomly think of things he's been up to and say don't forget to put this on his blog but I know I'll forget half of them. But here's what he's been up to this month:
He knows all the basic colors
Counts objects consistently to 3 but has gotten up to about 5
Loves animals and recognizes most basic animals and their sounds
Can throw some killer fits! Yet his teachers still think I'm crazy when I say anything about that. Because he is nothing but happy at school. Which is great. He LOVES it up there. Sam and Santiago are his little buddies at school. He's always telling me about "Sam and Ago" "Shasha and Shasha" (Sheila and Sharon) are his teachers.
He LOVES Diego "Doe Doe Doe" tries to sing the opening song and gets upset when the animals are in trouble "trouble trouble"
He loves to read. His favorites now are Llama Llama books, Cool Time Song (if he picks this one you are stuck reading it at least 5-6 times he loves making the animal motions and sounds), The Rainbow book and Goodnight Moon
He'll try to "spell" his name when coloring "C A B DayDuB" occasionally he'll get the L in there.
We are working on saying how old he is. Its hit or miss.
He LOVES weekends when DaDas off and we get to go get "No Nuts" for breakfast! He eats one bite of each one and then trade it for another one.
After spending a little time with him, you really do start to pick up Caleb language. You can understand more and more every day. I think he's a little echo! Copying everything you say sometimes. (that is scary!) He does still mix up B's for D's but has gotten better about M's and N's. And as DaDa learned yesterday from the major fit he threw, when he says Apple juice, he actually wants orange juice! The spawn of Satan (as Nanner would say) comes out when he takes a sip of apple juice and its not orange juice! I forgot to mention that to DaDa when I heard him in the kitchen asking for apple juice! Oh well it was a funny sight to see.
He adores his "Sissy" and just starts grinning from ear to ear and screaming "sissy sissy" when he first sees her in the morning.
He greats me every morning with a huge grin and a "Hi Momma" when I open his door.
Has started waking up some at night the last couple nights and getting up earlier. Since he started sleeping through the night (very early on) he has ALWAYS been a great sleeper. Occasionally if a tooth was coming in he'd get up but rarely ever did he wake up in the middle of the night. So this is not a fun new habit. But hopefully this is a little stage that will pass.
Basically Caleb loves to play, loves to laugh, runs, climbs and jumps whenever possible and (most of the time) is a happy funny awesome little man who gives great hugs and kisses on command! :)
Caleb- Mommy loves you so much and I can't believe how big and smart you have gotten! You amaze me more and more every day! I can't even believe you are going to be 2 next month!! You just need to stop growing up so fast!

Putting his money in his piggy bank. MiMi bet on a horse with Caleb's name that won so she sent him the money to put in his piggy.

Daddy's little helper.Caleb chasing his friend Rob around the living room

Caleb's newest obsession!

Mickey and Minnie Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. Caleb loved every part of it, especially the suckers!!!

Getting ready for the trick or treaters.

Caleb digging through the candy for suckers!

My little Minnie Mouse

I'm taking as many pictures as I can before she's able to run away from me too! These are teh easy photo shoots.

She loved chewing on her tutu

Our one family shot and one of 2 pictures with Caleb's ears on! The shoes and gloves never made an appearance

So the story of the weekend was the dum dum suckers! Caleb went through at least 50 suckers this weekend, at least. He didn't eat them all, thank goodness. He would unwrap them, run around with 5 or 6, lick on them a little, throw them down and find some more! He never had less than 3-4 suckers in his hands at a time for 2 days straight.

I got 1 Mickey Mouse picture! His whole costume was so cute but I never got it all on. Oh well he still looked cute and most importantly, had a blast.

Caleb's 1st house and when Ted opened the door, Caleb shot in and climbed up his stairs!!!

Tyler and YaBe's good purchase. Caleb loved playing with it.

He'd run up to them and say/sign "please" :)

run run run

stop and check out what I've gotten and run some more
suckers suckers suckers!
My 2 favorite boys! We were so glad Dada was able to have the day off to join in all the festivities
My sweet Minnie Mouse and Mama

We had a great day and after all the fun, we came in and watched the Saints pull off a victory! I hope they have turned it around and are ready to finish out the rest of the season strong!