Iron Bowl

So, the Iron Bowl didn't turn out so great for Auburn this year.  Oh, well War Eagle anyway!  We love our Auburn Tigers no matter what! We continued our Thanksgiving weekend with some sweet time at home as a family of 3 for a couple more weeks.  

It doesn't get much better than football, frying a turkey, getting a Christmas tree, hot chocolate, decorating for Christmas, a little yard work, and some naps! 

Now, small confession: the house is decorated, but the tree still needs some help.  It is pretty pitiful to have a Christmas tree in your house for 5 days now without lights or ornaments.  Caroline has no idea how much better it is going to get.  She probably just thinks she has crazy parents who brought in an enormous tree to sit in the house.  Hopefully, by tonight though!   Pics to come.

Merry Christmas!

Holidays

HALLOWEEN:

I just realized I never posted any pics from our trick or treating. Anyway, we had a great night and Caroline loved going house to house.  The only candy she cared anything about was a lollipop - which worked in great favor for her pregnant mama!

Bryce and C cruising in the wagon.  

and sweet Knox in the other wagon. 

C has perfected saying "cheese,"  kind of looking in the direction of the camera, and fake smiling.  

BIRMINGHAM:

Our holidays look a little different this year.   With baby #2 coming very soon and my family scattered everywhere, we are not spending anytime in Bham over the holidays.  So, a couple weeks ago Caroline and I spent some great time with Mimi (as well as lots of other friends and fam in Bham).      

We always love going to Mimi's house!

C loved all the attention from Matt and Christian too.

I also did most all my Christmas shopping that week. While at the mall one night, C rode her first carousel.  As she is with most things, she was a bit hesitant at first and then loved it by the 3rd or 4th loop around.  

THANKSGIVING:

We spent Thanksgiving in town with John's family and it was wonderful.  I don't remember the last time John had 4 days off work and we were in town the whole time.  It made the long weekend so relaxing and enjoyable.  Sadly, I didn't take many pictures though.  

This is C at her Thanksgiving feast at school on Tuesday.   

And the only picture I actually have from Thanksgiving day.  I only took this because it made me laugh.  As soon as C finished her meal, she had this set up on the floor next to the dining room table.  

My mother-in-law makes an amazing Thanksgiving meal all by herself.  What a treat to just show up and eat!  And my father-in-law played with Caroline most of the afternoon so John and I could join the rest of the family at a movie.  Thank you for a great day Papa and Yaya!   

Rainy Day

This little girl was thrilled about the rain today.  As soon as we finished breakfast, she was out the door! 

Happy Monday!

More Fall Fun

Enjoying the nice weather and playing outside with bubbles 

C picked out her clothes here too :)

Storytime on Halloween

A visit with Aunt E

A birthday party

Sweet friends 

A wedding reception in Bham for Matt and Natalie 

We missed Linsey and the babies!

We love this time of year!  Getting very excited for Thanksgiving in one week! 

Changes

My nesting is in full swing lately and, as a result, we have been quite productive around the house these days.  

Our guest room is now a nursery

Big sister is rocking the twin bed

 Since I am no longer working our office is now a playroom (still a work in progress). 

AND after 3.5 months of not having a working dishwasher, we have a fixed dishwasher!  

Don't ask why it took that long to fix.  I don't even care I just know it only takes me about 5 mins to clean the kitchen now.  Never been so thankful for an appliance in my life! 

One More

This is for sure the last post of Caroline's birthday, but I do want an update for my records on what she is doing right now.  

When we went to the doc for C's 2 year check up, she weighed 26 lbs and was 34 inches tall.  A little petite for her age, but growing for sure!

  C is still miss chatty.  I feel like we have full-on conversations.  It is so fun talking with her.  Every once and a while I cannot understand a word she says.  When I try to guess what she is saying, she just laughs and giggles if I am not right.  She totally knows when I cannot figure it out and thinks it is hilarious.  She is a total sponge and repeats everything.   

She has moved to a big girl bed as of a week ago.  She seems to love it and has had no issues adjusting.  I think she loves that we can cuddle up with her and snuggle in bed now.  She hasn't even gone to look in the nursery for her crib.  Sleeping still remains one of the major things I am so grateful for with Caroline.  She still about 11-12 hours at night and takes a 2.5 to 3 hour afternoon nap.  I am afraid and preparing myself I might never have another child that sleeps this much each day.     

She LOVES her baby dolls (hoping this is a good sign of a real baby coming soon)! She loves feeding them, strolling them, making sure they are wrapped in their blankie, and of course "changing" their diapers.

She also loves coloring and putting puzzles together.  We got a new coloring book the other day and within 2 days she had literally colored over every inch of paper in the book.   

Dancing and singing continue to be favorites as well.  One song we have been singing for a while now is "Jesus Love Me" and C is very close to singing the whole thing on her own.  She prefers to do it alone already, but still needs a little help.  Just last night, John tried to sing with her and she would not let him.  I could listen to her sing it all day long.  Some of the sweetest sounds and words I have ever heard!     

I am learning Caroline likes to know the expectations and boundaries.  She responds best to this method.  Don't quickly pull her away from something she is focused on and enjoying.  She likes to take her time and doesn't want to be rushed.  She has always been this way.  I appreciate this quality in Caroline.  Especially, in this hurried and busy life we live.  She is a good reminder for me to slow down.     

Other things to note:

• Loves school and her teachers - talks about them all the time
• Not interested in potty training, but loves to tell me when she needs to go to the bathroom.  No desire to sit on the potty though 
• Loves books
• Does not like getting dressed 
• Loves to take her shoes and socks off and put her socks on her hands to make "puppets" 
• Timeout and temper tantrums are almost always daily occurrences   
• C has just learned that a red light means "stop" and green light means "go" So, while driving around town she is always quick to tell me if the light is red or green
• She knows all the main colors and basic shapes (heart, triangle, circle, square). 
• Can count to 10, but usually forgets 7

C, it is an absolute joy to be your mother!  We could not have asked for an easier child .  We love watching you grow and learn each day.  We cannot wait to see what the Lord has prepared for you!   

M + N

In the midst of birthday celebrations and Halloween, I have not had the chance to share pictures from another very big and special event!  

My brother, Matt, got married!  

Natalie and Matt

Two weeks ago we jetted across the country for the weekend to the quaint, northwestern town of Port Townsend (outside Seattle). 

This is close to where Matt has lived for the past 6ish years and where Matt and Natalie live now.  It is a beautiful part of the country so it felt like a little vacation for us too.  

(To document pregnancy a little too - me at 31 weeks)

They had a small and intimate wedding which made it really fun to be with the same people all weekend.  Fun to see more of their life and friends out west.  We especially loved getting to know Natalie's family more. 

The church

Post ceremony pics

Matt is in the Navy.  So, they had a traditional military exit.  

Wings on the cake since Matt is a pilot.  

Cutting the cake with his new sword.  I loved all the military traditions they included.  

Reception Dinner

Congrats M and N!  We are thrilled for you and loved spending this special weekend together.  We are so excited to have Natalie join our family!