Crafty Christmas

I sure didn't think I was going to have time to do anything 'homeade' this year for Christmas, but I had time to sneak in a few things. Some things I had to take pictures of for future reference in case I wanted to do them again. Here are some of them:

Cinnamon Honey Butter. Recipe here. I quadrupled the recipe to make enough for 12 8oz. jars. It also killed my old faithful hand mixer I got as a wedding gift.

Saints painting thingy for my brother and sister-in-law who are avid fans and have a Saints themed room.

Some of my bible verse inspired art prints I made into greeting cards. I did 2 prints of 6 designs for a pack of 12 cards.

A cross for my MIL. She has been bugging me for one since she saw one I did years ago. Due to time constraints I had to make hers smaller, but she was still pleased.

I did these last two for my nieces who are getting their rooms redone for Christmas. I made them to match their new colors/patterns.

(note: I wish I could take credit for painting the design of the board on this one, but I didn't, just the letters)

Bump-14 weeks

For record keeping sake...

We went this morning for Leyton's 3 year check-up. He got 2 thumbs up and we loved his new pediatrician! Here are the stats:

31 lbs (45%)

38.75 inches (70%)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Leyton!

Leyton,

For about a week now you have been saying " Next week, I'm gonna be free years old, I'm gonna be free years old!"

It is next week, and you are three years old.

I know no better way to describe you than an absolute mess. A smart, ferocious, precious, sweet, wild, bull-headed, defiant three year old. You are amazing. You have changed so much in a year and constantly wow me with everything you know.

About 6 months ago, we moved away from everything you knew as home. I was so worried as to how you would adapt, but I should have known better. You are absolutely thriving. You love being close to your grandparents and family (and getting spoiled rotten). You love "school." You practically run away from me every morning when we get there because you cannot get to your classroom fast enough. All the teachers tell me how smart and talkative you are. And when we pick you up you run as fast as you can to the church offices to say hey to everyone on staff. You are such a people person. No matter where we are whenever someone walks through the door you run to greet them and give hugs- whether you know them or not.

Right now, you love everything that has to do with choo-choo trains, especially Thomas the Train. You also love tractors, Lightning McQueen, 'Mater and anything else with a motor. You love to have dance parties with us in the living room, especially break dancing. You love to run in circles around the house saying 'get me!' while me or daddy chases you. You love to be tickled mercilessly. You love to play outside with your baseball tee and love going to the playground and the zoo. You love entertaining people. You are a very routined child in so many ways. You have to have things a certain way and no other way will do. You are so stubborn and defiant. Sometimes (most of the time), you do things just for the mere fact of challenging me and daddy. You get madder than a hornet and are capable throw a fit like none I have ever witnessed. When you get really mad, your shoes come flying off and even sometimes your clothes. Lately in the midst of your fits you will yell "Let me be happy!" This is both pitiful and hilarious at the same time.

You have begun doing so many 'big boy' things this past year and are getting so independent - telling us that you can do it "all by myself." You started using the potty, drinking from big boy cups, you moved from the high chair to a booster to now you insist on no booster. You also love to help me with chores, like the laundry or unloading the dishwasher. It is so cute to see you walking down the hall with a stack of towels to put away. It is bittersweet to see you grow up so quickly.

Every night before we go to bed, daddy and I come in your room to check on you and watch you sleep for a moment. It is so sweet to see my wild child be so still and peaceful. My favorite times of day with you are first thing in the morning and right before bedtime. It is the only times that you will curl up next to me and snuggle with your head on my shoulder and just be still. I hope you never outgrow that, but I know one day soon (too soon) you will.

Leyton, soon you are going to be a big brother. Can you believe it? Right now, you are 100% convinced that it will be a little brother. You refuse to even entertain the idea that it could possibly be a sister. When daddy asked you if you would be upset if it was a sister you said "No, I'm not gonna be sad because it's not a girl, it's a boy!" And you want to name the baby "Scooter Poo Poo." I'm so glad we have that settled. I cannot wait to see you in your new role. You will be an amazing brother. You will be able to teach our new little one so many things, and I know he or she will worship the ground you walk on.

Daddy and I are so proud of the little boy you are becoming. We love watching you grow and learn new things. There are so many things about you right now that I want to remember forever. I have always heard the phrase about feeling your heart swell and I never understood it until you. I sometimes can literally feel my heart swell with joy. I pray every night that God will help us guide you in the right direction. Speaking of prayer, sometimes during dinner you politely remind us that we need to pray. And when you pray, you keep it simple and pray for the choo choo trains and choo choo tracks.

I love you so much, sweet boy, I am so proud to call you mine. Happy, Happy Birthday!

"Today you are you! That is truer than true!
There is no one alive...who is you-er than you!
I am what I am! That’s a great thing to be!
If I say so myself,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!”

~Dr. Suess

Birthday Letter Year Two

Birthday Letter Year One

20 Questions for 3 years

picture by Hannah Swain

I ran across this neat idea that I had to do and hope to keep up with. You take the same set of twenty questions (starting with age 3) and ask them near or on their birthday every year to see how their answers change (or stay) from year to year. Here is Leyton's 3 year questions and answers. There is a definite choo choo train undertone.

1. What is your favorite color? blue
2. What is your favorite toy? Thomas track
3. What is your favorite fruit? watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show? Nemo
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac n Cheese
6. What is your favorite outfit? my Halloween Dinosaur
7. What is your favorite game? Ping Pong
8. What is your favorite snack? Teddy Grahms
9. What is your favorite animal? Cow
10. What is your favorite song? The Thomas one
11. What is your favorite book? The Train one
12. Who is your best friend? um, Charlie (his friend from school)
13. What is your favorite cereal? Chocolate kind
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play
15. What is your favorite drink? Water
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my pillows and my buddies (his buddies being his stuffed animals)
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffle
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? A cupcake
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Just a choo choo train

Christmas Pinterest Projects

So my latest addiction (along with everyone else) is Pinterest. If you aren't on board, you should be. Or not. It really is addicting. I have made quite a few recipes from there, but these are the first two craft projects I have done. The first is this Christmas tree with rolled scrapbook paper. It was really easy, came out really cute and I was able to add my own touches to it.

The second was Cinnamon Applesauce ornaments. I think I remember doing some of these when I was little. Leyton just loved helping me with them. He has been so excited over everything to do with Christmas this year. I love that he loves to be my little helper. These were pretty easy and they smell SO good. My whole kitchen smelled like Christmas. I decided to leave some of them plain because I do like them in their 'natural state,' but I just had to add some pizzaz to the rest. After all everything is better with a little glitter. Since I don't need all of these ornaments, I'm giving most of them away in the party favor bags at Leyton's birthday party.

12 Week Belly Pic

Ok, here is the first belly pic thus far. I figured since I was dressed up for an engagement party it was as good a time as any...

Decking the Halls...

Updates and Such

Ok, Does anyone even still read this ol' blog? I doubt it, but thats ok. I will continue to use it to journal life's happenings- even though I've done a poor job these past few months. As you can see from the post below- we are expecting #2! I am due June 18th and we are very excited. Leyton is positive it is a boy that he will name "Scooter." We'll see.

This pregnancy has been slightly rougher than my first. I've had more dizziness, nausea, food aversions, and have had much worse exhaustion. Don't even get me started on the condition of my skin and hair. I am anything but glowing. My mom said "well you are older." Love it. Luckily, as I am nearing the 2nd trimester, things are getting better. I have yet to even take a "bump" picture. Isn't that awful? Oh and let me just say, it is true that you start showing sooner with #2. I'm already sporting a little bump. I had a checkup this morning and got to hear the sweet little heartbeat pumping away! It's still hard to believe.

Anyway, I will try to get better about updating this thing. Seems I skipped right over Halloween and Thanksgiving. In that case, here are a few pictures of our little dino from Halloween:

Knight, party of 4?

Catching up: The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race

I have been slacking lately on the old blog. I thought I would update with some pictures I took a few weeks ago from the Balloon Races in Natchez. Hopefully the next update won't take me as long to get around to!

Mitchell Farms

I found my new favorite place. About 30 minutes away is a place called Mitchell Farms in Collins. My mom had told me about it a couple of months ago and I'm glad she did! It is this huge farm in the middle of nowhere with cotton fields, sunflower fields, a peanut farm, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze (which we got lost in) and vegetable gardens galore. They also have tractors, covered trailer rides, log cabins, a choo choo train for the little ones as well as animals and anything else in between. We went with our good friends, the Ellards, and Leyton and Jackson had an absolute ball. We couldn't have asked for better Fall weather, either!