9 month pictures

My little guy at (barely) 9 months old... These pics were taken on the eve of his 10 month birthday, so technically he was still 9 months old, right?

 Raleigh is ALMOST walking... he stands alone for as long as he wants, but then he sits down before he takes off. I should be really excited, but I kinda don't want these last few baby days to be over. I'm tempted to pick him up every time he tries to stand. :)

 He is STILL not sleeping through the night, or napping, but that will come with time -- and I don't know any 17 year olds that don't sleep through the night... besides, he doesn't have a grumpy disposition (ever!) so I'm not too concerned with it. Although, I would really like a full night of sleep. People told me that SJ wasn't normal for sleeping through the night in her first month of life... I thought they were crazy, but they were right.

 He's SUCH a loving, fun child to be around. He loves to play games like patty cake, or peek a boo. He likes for you to crawl on the floor beside him and mock him.. he also likes for you to pretend to take his passy and try to put it in your mouth... and he thinks that burping is absolutely the funniest thing in world. Needless to say, he is all boy!

 His favorite songs are "If You're Happy and You Know It", "The Wheels on the Bus", and "One Little Duck"  --- and he also loves to "ride a little horsey down to town"

 He's a whopping 25 pounds and is wearing 18 months clothes. He's in the 95+ percentile on both height and weight --- and he is the most inquisitive little guy on the planet!

Juicy!

Raleigh's 9 months old and I haven't posted one ding-dang picture of his favorite thing in the world... or anything really, because like I said - he's 9 months old. He's all over the place. He's everywhere. He's up. He's down. He's crawling faster than the speed of light. He's putting everything in his mouth (along with his SIX teeth)... and I mean, everything. He's knocking stuff over. He's picking things up. He's saying about 15-20 words... his favorite of which is DADDY! and I'm pretty sure the other day he told me to "Stop"... oh yeah, my hands are FULL! But I wouldn't have it any other way, little boys are totally different from little girls --- and I love it! He's a whole new world of crazy chaos that I just can't get enough of!

I will post his nine month pics soon -- but until then, here are some really juicy pictures of our little fat-boy!

 Eyelashes <3

 Ohhhh, he's gonna hate me for this one someday but I just love this heiny!:

 Splash!!

 oh, this face:

Christmas Book Advent Calendar

Back in November, I began my search for the perfect Advent Calendar.

 There's nothing like counting down the days to Christmas with your little ones! When I was a kid, we always had the fun ones that were made of cardboard or paper and when you punched out the number, there was a piece of chocolate inside. With SJ, we had a felt one shaped like a Christmas tree with a wooden candy cane that you could place inside of each number... with 24 being the star. But, it still wasn't my favorite and I knew there had so be something better. SO, I set out on a search --- a google search, and I am so glad that I did! While I was searching through page after page of great ideas, I stumbled across this one and I KNEW it was perfect for us.

I had stumbled across http://www.babyccino.com/ before, but only once or twice - and ever since I stole found this idea over there, I have been a faithful follower!

Their idea is simple --

Find 24 Christmas Books

Wrap them in simple paper

Label them 1-24, alternating book sizes

Open and read one a day during the month of December until Christmas Eve.

Here is the picture that they have on their website:

And HERE is a link to their post, including some of the books that they used.

Since I am cheap a bargain shopper, I waited until after Christmas when all the books would be on clearance to start my book shopping. We'll have a blast with this in December of 2011.

Here are the books that we found:

I plan on wrapping these up and packing them away with all of our Christmas decorations. That way, they'll even be a suprise to me next year as we're opening them, b/c I know I won't remember which book is which. I will wrap them in brown wrapping paper - and I will add the labels next year. Also, I don't think that any advent calendar is comeplete without some kind of candy, I'll probaby tie a candy cane into my label bows.

I went with several different kinds of books b/c next year I will have to cater to an almost 2 year old and an 8 yr. old. (that sounds so weird!)

This one might be my favorite, I don't think that I have ever seen a more detailed pop-up book! It's the one in the picture that is titled The 12 Days of Christmas.

But the most special book in the whole bunch is this one:

 When we cracked it open to read it this year on Christmas Eve, I smiled when I saw this:

So, before I wrap these up - I will be sure to write inside each and every one of these books the date, and who they were from (if someone hasn't already) - so that years from now, my kids will smile too.

If you want to make your family a book advent calendar (why wouldn't you?), there are TONS of places that still have Christmas Books on Clearance (I didn't pay more than $5 for any of these books) --- and several places online. 

Happy Book Shopping!  

Christmas 2010 {a picture post}

Merry Christmas!!

Sweet Sarah Jane

this is a random, cheesy mom post - written late at night on the eve of my SJ's seventh birthday. The pictures aren't in order and all the words won't make sense to everyone - but they will to her. Seven years old, really?!

 I've never been more scared in my life than I was on this day, 7 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was nervous, anxious, and slightly out of my mind - I was in pain so overhwhelming that I didn't know if I was going to make it through or not. 26 hours in the hospital, and then a c-section and then you. Every emotion that I came to that hospital with left me when I saw your sweet face. Immediately, I knew my life would never be the same. You wrapped your tiny little fingers around your daddy's pinky and we both fell head over heels in love with you - our sweet Sarah Jane. You have changed us forever, for the better.

I can't believe that I just kissed my 6 year old goodnight for the last time!

These last SEVEN years with you have been more than I could have ever dreamed that they would be. You're the greatest adventure I've ever taken. I love you more than you know. ---and seven sounds so crazy to me. INSANE!

This year, I have watched you go from a very much loved only child, to a sweet big sister. I have to be honest - I was worried how you were going to re-act, especially since he was not the "sister" you had hoped and prayed daily  for... but you were a rock star! In fact, you held him before any of us did and you have been smitten ever since! You were the first person to get a giggle out of him and you're still the only one to get a guaranteed laugh. He adores you just as much as you love him. I can't wait to watch you help him grow up - you're going to be such a great big sister!! You already are.





In addition to welcoming your new brother this year, we also said goodbye to your best friend. It's been the hardest thing I've ever done to watch your heart break over this. But, I can promise you that for every tear you've shed - I have matched it with 10. There's never been anything in my life that I ever witnessed like the love between you and her - and I know that there never will be. She'd be so proud of the young lady you're becoming - because it's so much like the lady that she was. Just like her, you're beautiful inside and out. Compassionate and giving, strong and loving - All of her greatest qualities live on in you.





 Your little personality is a constant source of entertainment to me, you make me laugh every. single. day.

I can't believe that you will be seven years old tomorrow! It makes me so sad to know that those baby days are gone - I know it sounds so cliche' to say this, but time has flown by! I feel like I've blinked and here you are... seven years old and too big for snuggles!

I wanted to take a moment to remember all the things I love about my six year old, on the last day I'll ever be able to say I love you, my six year old SJ!:

 your glasses, all 7 pair (hot pink, brown, green, blue, clear, light pink, and red)

Your Love for Taylor Swiph

Your willingness to still wear bows "for me"

How you sing ALL the time, and have no idea that you're doing it

 Your fear of bugs, all bugs - any bug, even an ant!

How you know every. single. song. you hear - even if it's one you shouldn't know!

your crazy outfit combinations.

 How you are so scared of the Ocean...

Unless you are with your Daddy.

 Your make-up skillz.

Your crazy precious teeth that all decided to fall out this year.

 Your shoe obsession

your silky hair

your free spirit

 how you always try to tuck in your shirt, no matter what shirt you have on.

 your eagerness to help. with everything.

 your crazy faces!!

Berberham (Birmingham)

 that you still love barbies

 How you will sit in the bath-tub for an hour and make up the BEST songs..

♪ "they said that they'd take me to the dollar store, but they LIEDDDDDDDDDDD"♪

♪ "I am the butterfly, you are the big one, please don't crush me!"

 how much you love the Disney Channel

 you still think I'm cool.

 The sweet pictures that you draw

 How much you love to dance!

 Your love for your friends

 how great you are with Genna!

Your persistance and perseverance! 

 how you still love the simple things in life

Your smile

your contagious laugh

...and how you don't "like" to snuggle, but you will "for me"

You are the best thing that's ever happened to me - and I don't know what I would have ever done without you, or what I ever did before you. You're my little "too-dee-aye" and I love you to the moon and back... and back again, twice..no, three times --- all the way up to 1,437,899,235 times 11!  I can't wait to see you in the morning - as a seven year old.