Christmas 2012

We have had a really great Christmas.
Christmas morning with Brooks was so fun.
He didn't completely understand Santa but he was able to get really excited about all his toys and loved all that goes along with Christmas.
I think next year he will really understand it more.
I never knew it would be so fun to give your child gifts that you know they will enjoy.
I am thankful we are able to provide him with a fun Christmas.
He gave us a cute look on Christmas morning like "is this all for me?".
I love the idea of kids getting fun gifts at Christmas for no real reason at all,
because it reminds me of God's grace and mercy for us,
he gives us countless blessings for no real reason other than because he loves us. period.

We have had lots of fun family time and Brooks hasn't been to bed before about 9:30 in about a week!
Schedule is very out of wack but that's ok!
I always get a little sad after the holidays are over, but I am ready to meet this new baby!
It could come any day now. I just wanted to make it through Christmas but now I am over this pregnancy!
Seriously over it!
Can't wait to meet you little one!

Some Christmas pics.

Orchard Run grandkids at neighborhood caroling party

Santa came to the neighborhood caroling party and Brooks was terrified!

love these little ones

Brooks helping hand out presents at Momores

Christmas morning

playing with the train at Memaw and D-daddy's house

Visiting the house with all the blow ups in Brookhaven on Christmas Eve

Big Boy

Our big news to report here,
Brooks has moved to a big boy bed!
He has done really well so far.
He fell out once last night but it didn't phase him,
he went right back to sleep.
I got sad as I was getting some of his things out of his crib and cleaning out his drawers.
I was so excited to get him in his new room and get him situated in the new bed before the baby comes but then I got all sentimental,
it is so easy to want to rush him into new stages and get excited about what's next,
but I feel like time is moving so fast and I can't ever get it back.
Of course there are some stages that I will gladly leave behind,
and as they say, the days are long but the years are short.
I'm thankful I get to fill that crib soon with a new baby!
I'm thankful I get the privilege and blessing of watching another baby grow up under our roof.
I am not sure how long we will be able to make it work financially without me working,
hopefully at least until our youngest kiddo is in school,
but I just want to cherish every day that I do have at home now.
Even when I get frustrated and tired of the day to day routine with a toddler,
I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Playing at Lanier's 2nd birthday party

having a "car wash" on a warm December day

he is all boy!

playing with his buddy Piper

in awe of the trains at the botanical gardens!
He is constantly saying "choo choo"

Brooks always LOVES having a buddy, especially cousins

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I LOVE this time of year!
And Brooks is starting to learn all the fun things about Christmas time!
We decorated our house after he went to bed and when he woke up the next morning he was in awe of the tree and all the other decorations! He noticed every little thing!
He loves to carry around the Georgia Santa.
It's so fun to watch him get excited about all the little things.
He's starting to take an interest in certain things like the movie Cars, Thomas the Train, Santa, and Rudolph.
I think it's going to make Christmas morning so fun!
We are about 5 weeks away from baby #2 and I am starting to have that feeling that I need to get everything in order around the house!
But I feel so big that I don't want to do anything around the house!

I swear this kid gets cuter by the day!
We love the heck out of him and I can't believe we are bringing another one into the world so soon!
It's hard to imagine having room for more love, but I know we will!
God is so good!

Seeing Santa for the first time in Highlands, he was NOT happy about it

come on Santa, look at the camera!

He loves Rudolph!

Picking out our Christmas Tree in Highlands

He loves making dirt piles in the backyard and moving them from one place to another,
such a boy

Cousins spend the night, so fun!

A little nervous about the fireworks at the lighting of the Macy's Tree

Brooks loves playing with Maizy and Piper!

obsessed with the cars at the toy store in Highlands!

never too cold for Sweet Treats!

Your Choice

I feel like recently I have been constantly aware of people around me who are struggling with different hard life circumstances,

I think part of it is just getting older, 

the more life experience I have the more pain I see.

life can be so hard,

I see it in all ages.

And I know that some struggles are huge, 

and some can be seemingly small,

but a struggle is a struggle and it's hard,
we are always left with a choice,

we can choose how we respond to what life brings us,
the big things and the small things,
everyday we have a choice,
we can have an attitude of self pity,
or an attitude that is steadfast on Jesus,
one that says I am made for something greater than this world can offer,
I feel like I have been really wrestling with this daily,
unfortunately I often choose on attitude of self pity when things aren't going my way,
I let the inconvenient little things get me all fired up, (a messy toddler, a puppy the chews, traffic, miscommunication, clothes that don't fit, a toddler tantrum, people who aren't like me..........etc) just ask my husband,
As our family approaches a new season of life adding another person to our world,
I know amidst the great joy, things will also get more complicated,
more stressful,
more exhausting,
more inconvenient,
but in those tough moments I want to choose an attitude of thankfulness and peace.

In scripture when Paul is writing letters under extreme stress from prison and while he is trying to plant churches under the roman empire he reminds us " don't be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and THANKSGIVING present your request to God"
You see the key here is beginning to approach God with a thankful heart,
when you are thankful,
you look to the things that you DO have,
you don't focus on things that you don't have,
We can't always change what life brings us,
God promises there will be struggle, big and small,
and I believe we should always feel that we can cry out to our God,
But I hope through the help of the Holy Spirit in me that I will have the strength to choose an attitude that is steadfast on Jesus.
For our present anxiety will always lose to the power in light of Gods future grace.
This Thanksgiving I will remember that a thankful heart is the first step in calming my anxiety and preventing the struggles from this world from chipping away at my heart.

Boo 2012

This year was Brooks first year trick or treating,

and boy was it cute!

We went out with the Stanfill's and had a great time!

Brooks really got the hang of it after a few houses,

he got upset though when he couldn't eat his candy after every house.

He started biting into the candy with the wrapper still on.

Daye sure is funny!

They're just the cutest!

I love our little Sheriff!

On another note,

We went through the car wash last weekend and then came home and Brooks had his own car wash,

he LOVED it!

And we took Brooks to see his first real fire truck,

fortunately one of Trip's Young Life clubs meets in a fire station

the firemen were so sweet and let brooks ride in the truck,

he was in awe of it all! (excuse the bad iphone pics)

Fall Fun

We have been having a great fall!
I am loving this cooler weather especially now that I am in my third trimester,
I am starting to feel large and uncomfortable!
Brooks is a little character,
he's constantly talking!
He loves playing with all his cars and trains,
it's fun to see him take interests in things.
I feel like a broken record but he brings us so much joy!
He is such a fun kid!
We are trying to soak up this time with just him before baby number 2 arrives.
It's sweet time that we will never get back.
However, he is definitely a toddler with a short fuse.
My prayer these days is to have discipline to discipline,
I am learning that it can be so much easier to ignore the behavior,
pretend I didn't see it, make excuses for it,
but I want to be sure I put the hard work in now,
so that hopefully I'll have an easier time in the teen years!
hopefully....
Lord help me!

burts farm

They're just the cutest!

family hay ride

a perfect fall day!

I want to freeze them!

pumpkin carving

mema and d-daddy with all the kiddos

making pizza

our pumpkins

Brooks first trip to the Zoo

sticking his head through this board was probably his favorite part!

Brooks loves playing with Caleb!

The train was a huge hit!
We love time with the Chandlers!