A New Member

Before Christmas we got to have a little celebration with Cliff and his girl friend Jess.  They brought over a few gifts for the kids.

We then found out 2 days before Christmas that Cliff and Jess were engaged.  We are excited to welcome Jess to our family.

Christmas In Cincinnati

This year we spent Christmas in Cincinnati.  The weather was wonderful which made it not feel like Christmas at all but it was nice to be able to go for walks and to let the kids free, for us and for the adults;)  My parents church put on a Christmas show that was outstanding.  It touched my heart from the moment it started, saying I loved it was an understatement.  Gracie got to see the story of Christ's Birth and so many cool things that was part of the bible story that we take for granted.  I know she did not understood every part but she loved it and she and my nephew Aiden who is 18 months sat through the hour and a half production.  That in itself should tell you how good it was, they made it kid friendly but something adults would watch and understand what Christ did for us, it was very cool.  Because I loved the show so much I thought I would let you see the little video they played for the kids.  The words & music were done by their band and vocalist live.  Hope you enjoy, this song has been stuck in my head.

We have been explaining to Gracie why we celebrate Christmas.  We asked her Christmas morning who's Birthday it was, she then replied by naming everyone in the room.  We then went back to how it was Jesus' birthday.  This has been a fun time of teaching,  Here are some great pictures from Christmas morning.

 Santa's Little Helper

Gracie helped pass out stockings & gifts

 my nephew Aiden & Gracie

they got along really well

 Gracie with her new Princess shirt & paints

 Aiden wearing the hooded towel that I made

Nolan with some stocking stuffers

Schenk Cousins

Cutest Picture.  These kids did pretty good to let us dress them up and take the quickest pictures we could of them.  Once I took maybe 6 pictures we let them run wild until lunch.

my favorite 

for mema

Our Little Christmas~Part 2

Before heading to Cincinnati we had our own little Christmas.

her  dress she got from her cousin Jessica

slippers that I got from a friend

the hooded towel I made

Gracie has been asking for a guitar since June.  I finnaly found one this summer at a garage sale.  It looks s though it was never used and is ger favorite colors

Our Little Christmas~Part 1

This year has been fun to sit down and explain Christmas to Gracie.  Although she was able to take it all in last year this year everything is still new to her.  She loves everything about Christmas.  It has been a lot of fun.

 Most of my Christmas decorations have been handed down to me from my Grandma.  Going through them this year has been sad.  The just remind me of how much my grandma meant and how much she will be missed this year.  It will be strange not having her.

 Troy & Gracie setting up the manger.

 a quick shot of the 3 of us

so fun to see 4 of these on the mantel

Visiting Cincinnati

One week in December Gracie, Nolan, & I headed to Cincinnati for a week to stay with my parents.  Troy had lots of work to do and we were pretty sure our days would be empty so I thought I would spend sometime with my family.  Here is a little recap of the relaxing time we had.

 Nolan Sleeping through our Walk

 Carson the watch dog

 Carson playing princess

 Alex & Gracie building a tower

Nina put Gracie's hair in a few curlers

Nolan 1 Month

This first month has been very busy.  My parents were here, Troy's whole family was in town for Thanksgiving and then Troy's mom stayed for the week after.  I then made my first long distance travel to Cincinnati to stay with my parents while Troy did a lot of recruiting.  My recovery time for baby #2 was much better then last time.  First I did not tear as bad and my emotions seemed to be almost back on track by 2 1/2 weeks, much sooner then with Gracie.  I am thankful to feel like I am able to control my emotions.  However my body does seem to be a little off balance still.  During the first month I fell down both sets of our steps in our house, both times I landed on my right leg.  I even took a trip to the triage the day before thanksgiving due to the size of my foot but it was fine just very bruised.  They offered crutches but with a 3 year old and new baby I thought that just wont work.

As for Nolan he is eating like a champ.  I have gotten him to about 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day but after 8pm it is every 2 hours, he likes to cluster feed.  He is usually out at 10:30 or at the latest 1am and then he is out for the night.  He sleeps anywhere from 5 to 7 hours he then will wake up to eat and then goes back down.  He seems to sleep in the best on the mornings I need to get up with Gracie;)

What have we seen him do:
Roll over, smile, spits up a lot, more gas then a child that size should have, he loves to hold our finger and if you hold his hands together it will help relax him, he loves being swaddled for bed, sleeps the best in his car seat

At Nolan's 1 Month Check Up:

Height: - 22 1/4 - 80%

Weight: 10 1/2lbs - 70% - proof of how much this little guy is eating

Head: 14"- 60% -

Info:  His umbilical hernia is still being watch but is looking much better

Country Elf

Just in case you are not on facebook I thought I would share this with you....enjoy;)

Pictures of Nolan

Here are just a few of my favorites of our little peanut.

Sibling Love

I wanted to get a couple of pictures of Gracie and Nolan together.  I have always heard when this is planned it does not always go that well.  It was a little interesting to get Gracie to pose the way we wanted but I did manage to get a couple of cute ones.

 this one was just funny