Oh Smiley, Snowy Day!

We had snow again overnight, so we decided that we were definitely staying inside today.  We all put on warm, comfy pajamas and we've settled in for a day of fun in the house!

Matthew started the day out by being my kitchen helper for breakfast!

Then John Michael also wanted in on the action, plus he wanted his picture taken too!

What cute kitchen helpers I had this morning!

Biiig yawn!  It is such hard work helping out in the kitchen!

Jack even had his picture taken this morning.  He must have been extra good!

Then, we ate breakfast, and don't worry I know you're not supposed to put bouncy seats on raised surfaces (duh), but I was right there and Matthew is so little, he's not going anywhere!

After playing for a while, Matthew decided to take a nap in his own big boy bed!  He was tired from watching JM play all morning.

Then, John Michael and I played and played and played the rest of the morning.  He's drumming here.  He calls it "dum"!

While I fixed lunch, the smiles really started!  John Michael pushed Matthew's swing for him (which he's really not supposed to be doing) and Matthew just lit up!

Oh, those chubby little cheeks!

Now that's a smile right there!

And after all was said and done, John Michael brought Matthew his Santa plate and said "Eeeeat!"  It was time for lunch!

Name Change?

John Michael has decided that he doesn't like the name Matthew.  He can't quite say it, anyway!  So, he has decided to call Matthew "Night Night", except when JM tells you night night he says "Not Not!"

I guess Matthew IS asleep a lot!  It's so funny because JM is just observing that Matthew's asleep but he's saying it constantly now!  What do you think?!  Should we change his name to Not Not!!!!

I don't think he looks like a Night Night, just a Matthew!

And just for fun, here's JM up to his old vacuuming antics!  He loves the vacuum and the swiffer.   You'd better believe in a few years I'm going to start letting him vacuum and swiffer for real!

I'm too tired to write about my first day solo taking the boys out by myself.  It's a doozie with one thing after another, but we survived and luckily it was a night that a sweet friend from Sunday School was bringing us dinner!  Yay.  Have a happy day!

Our Christmas 2009

How was our Christmas?  Well, can you see the big smile on my face?  It was fantastic!  It was the first white Christmas we have ever had.  We had about 3 inches and it was so pretty to wake up to on Christmas day in our own house. We stayed put this year and we were apart from our families for the first time ever.

We were definitely sad about it but we had a great day anyway.  It was nice just being laid back and having breakfast and opening presents and not having to make sure we were dressed and out the door for any specific occasion, like going to a different set of parent's house (no offense to our parents!)

Our mantle with all the beautiful Christmas cards we received from family and friends.

Making sugar cookies on Christmas eve!  We made "stahs" of course, and we also made hearts because JM can point out hearts now!  I also made a few Christmas trees.  These never got iced because Matthew has been taking up around 3-4 hours of our evening trying to get him good and settled for bed.  More about that later.

JM got a basketball goal and he loves it! 

Jackson had to check out the snow when he woke up

We had a breakfast of grits casserole, pigs n a blanket, and monkey bread!

Dada helped JM open his presents

JM loves his nautical Mickey Mouse that Uncle Ray got him.  He's huge and he matches JM's nautical room!

Jordan finally got a new pair of New Balance!

We thought this was funny, both babies crying at once!

Santa even brought Jackson a present even though he's naughty sometimes.  Can you see JM's hand in the picture?  Well, he grabbed the bone and put it in his mouth.  That's why he's crying in the picture above!

Looking out the front at the snow!

JM and Jackson just had to check out the snow.  You can even see JM's breath in this picture.  It was coooold!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We are just glad that we have our health and that we have family to celebrate with.  We are so thankful for our families and all they do for us and everything they've done in the last month since Matthew was born!  Too bad the holidays are over, I love having my tree on during the day!

 

Which is Which?!

We have had a wonderful, low-key Christmas at our very own home this year.  It's been nice but I am tired!  It's fun to see your kiddos opening presents and having fun.  I will do a Christmas post perhaps tomorrow, but I just HAD to post a few pictures that we've been looking at tonight.  I've been tricking Jordan all night as to which baby is which!  I have to say, I've stumped him a few times!

Can you tell the difference between John Michael vs. Matthew's baby pictures?!  We're starting to see how much they are alike but also the little things about each of them that is different!

 

 

 

Verse O' the Day:

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26

Christmas in Dixie

I may not be IN Dixie this Christmas, but that's exactly where my heart is!  I'm definitely going to be missing everyone and the breakfast, desserts and traditions, but we are going to be getting a big white Christmas this year so it may help make up for us being at home as our own family of four this year.

Being from the South you basically never get a white Christmas, so we are so excited!  Merry Christmas, y'all!

 

 

Ho, Ho, NO!

We went to visit Santa yesterday and it didn't go so well!  Last year was fine because JM was so small...

This year was a little different!  JM wasn't really all that scared of Santa, but he just didn't want to do it.  And lately, if JM doesn't want to do it, it's like pulling teeth to get him to do it.  He's so hard-headed, I have NO idea where he gets that from!!

At least this Santa was a really good looking Santa.  He looked like the real guy up at the North Pole!

Can you see him clutching onto Gaga's sweater?!  Oh well, there's always next year!

One of the main reasons JM didn't want to visit with Santa was because of the truck and tractor rides at the Food Court!  Can you see him looking at them?  That's what he really wanted to do!

So we let him ride the trucks...

and the tractor!  All in all, it was a fun day!

And what post would be complete without pictures of both boys!  Gaga caught Matthew hanging out on his changing table and she got some cute pictures of him.  He's oh-so sweet!

Not AGAIN!!

Caution: this post contains lots and lots of talk about nursing, so if you're a male (you know, like my dad or specifically, my brother) move right on along!

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I swore that it would never happen again...I swore that with the second baby I had all the information and knowledge to prevent it from happening AGAIN.  What am I talking about?  Mastitis.  Yuck.

It happened when John Michael was two weeks old and it struck again last night.  I was literally sick as a dog the first time, talk about the worse flu you have ever had.  So, when I started feeling chills, fever and noticed a red, hard lump I thought OH NO...not again!  Matthew slept for 5 1/2 hours the night before so I think that's what got this started.

Needless to say, I had to go to the ER last night because my Dr would not call in antibiotics over the phone without looking at it.  I nursed Matthew right before I left and prayed and prayed that they could see me very quickly because Jordan's Mom was staying at home with a purely breastfed baby who was bound to get hungry soon.  A mama and her breastfed baby are not soon parted, you know.

God must have been watching over us because we were in and out of the ER within an hour!  I explained what was going on and told them it would literally take 3 minutes to look at it and then write the prescription, PLUS I had a tiny baby at home that I had to get back to quickly so that he could eat!

Basically, I am not nearly as sick as last time and I am so thankful for that.  I am also thankful that Jordan's mom and sister happened to drive in yesterday so that they can help take care of JM while Jordan helps take care of me and baby Matthew.  I am now bed-bound for the day and I have to take it easy and rest for at least another day.  It's so hard to do around the holidays!

Speaking of my loving husband, I am so thankful for paternity leave.  He has been home a good bit and I am so thankful for all of his help.  He and JM have been reading lots of books and going on father/son outings.

John Michael loves to read books!

But he also is having his share of adjustment issues!

And just for fun, I have a few random pictures from the past week or so.  Mimi and Papa were in town and we had a great time!  We went out to eat and took pictures by the giant Christmas tree at a local outdoor shopping mall.

Matthew has been enjoying the swing, but he doesn't like it to be on!

And he's also been enjoying some tunny time on the floor!

Verse O the Day:

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Romans 8:26