Visiting Santa

We took Morgan to see Santa last Friday. While I was a little annoyed that the Santa at our local mall couldn't be bothered with a smile, Morgan seemed to really enjoy his visit with "PJ" {what he calls Santa...for some reason}. Also, no tears were shed, so I guess we can mark this year a success despite the grumpy Santa. 

 He looked so cute standing at the front of the line, holding Daddy's hand in anticipation.

 Waving to the big guy.

 Sitting on grumpy mcgrumpersons lap.

 What it was really all about...

yum, yum, yum

xoxo,

Ashley

Christmas Tour 2012

This year, I started out the holiday season with a bang. I mean, we even had our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving night {a first for me}. 

There was Christmas music filling the house, we were reading Christmas books by the stackful everyday, and drinking eggnog by the carton, before the calendar even turned to December. 

But, sometime between then and now I lost my steam. And yes, I'm going to go ahead and blame it on this little energy zapper taking up residence in my middle {poor guy, already getting the finger pointed at him before he's here to defend himself!}.

So although I pinned, and pinned beautiful after beautiful idea to my Christmas Pinterest board with the best of intentions of bringing those ideas to fruition in our home, it just didn't happen. But you know what, there's always next year.

So all that to say, here is what our home is looking like just a few short days before Christmas. It's not perfect, and it's not what I had envisioned, but it's cozy and it's ours. And if there's anything I've learned over the past couple of years, it's this: it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Any guesses on how many times this tree has been redecorated by tiny hands?

Next year I'd like to have four matching stockings. I may DIY some, or perhaps find a crazy good deal at after Christmas sales? 

A little ornament hung on a picture frame.

I look at this photo daily and smile.

I just love that little tush.

We all know I'm obsessed with my chalkboard...

A little deer head action much to Frank's dismay.

 

Our Christmas books. 

Morgan's favorite? Achoo Santa. Mama's favorite? The Polar Express.

Something in this photo is not like the others.

Can you spy it?

#boymomforlife

Merry Christmas!

Ashley

Christmas Cookies

We baked Christmas cookies this morning.

And, I use that word very loosely because in reality what we really did was plop some Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough squares onto a pan and throw them into the oven.

Then, we dumped canned frosting into a bowl, adding a little extra powdered sugar and fluffing it up with a mixer.

And because we were feeling extra fancy, we added a little food coloring to our store bought frosting and topped our cookies off with some festive Christmas sprinkles. 

True, they weren't "homemade" cookies, but they were made with love.
And memories were made. 

 Look at that face!

xoxo,

Ashley

Morgan-isms Vol III

1. Dora has made my 2.5 year old bilingual. He wants something opened? No, he doesn't ask us to open it, he shouts "abre, abre" over and over again until we oblige.

2. He now refers to himself as baby in the third person. "Baby up", "Baby night night", "Baby din din {aka eat}", and my personal favorite: "Baby alright".

3. He is the KING of bed time delay tactics. We always give a 5 minute warning before bed/nap time, and at that point is when he usually decides he needs something to drink, something to eat, or that we need to read 10 night night books. My favorite delay tactic though? The lets give mama a million night night kisses one :)

4. His new favorite perch is on the arm rest of one of the couches. He looks so cute all lounging up there on his hip, head propped on hand, and legs crossed. Oh the cuteness.

5. The carefree way he dances to Dora's "We did it" at the end of an episode or to any other music for that matter. My wish for him is that he could forever keep that beautiful carefree, "I'm having fun and I don't care who sees me" attitude with dancing forever and ever. 

 
6. How much of a kick he gets out of helping Grandma {aka "Ah"} and Mama by operating the Keurig to make coffee or hot cocoa. 

God, life would be mighty boring without this little fella! :)

xoxo,

Ashley

thirty-three

It's been awhile since I've shared a pregnancy update or any update for that matter. The past few weeks have been pretty rough for me and blogging and belly pics have been the furthest thing from my mind. I have written a few things down and snapped a few pics of things I want to blog about so I don't forget them, but just haven't had the motivation to post them. I'll start with a 33 week bump update.

Pregnancy: 33 weeks

How big is baby?: Estimated to be as long as 20 inches {head to toe} and almost 5 lbs.

Sleep: Not great. Getting out of bed multiple times a night has gotten difficult with the weight of my middle and some other issues I've been having lately. Luckily Frank has taken up night time duties with Mr. Morgan {yea, he still doesn't sleep through the night, so I don't want to hear about your 5 week old who is, ok?}.

Feeling: Awful? Like I said above, I've been having some other issues that have caused a lot of pain lately. I also have the general aches and pains of pregnancy and have been so. very. tired. Several weeks ago I was trying to savor the rest of what will be my last pregnancy {notice I don't insert probably in there anymore!}, but now I'm counting down the days! When I'm feeling really crappy and sorry for myself, I remind myself of the little one at the end of this journey and how we prayed and prayed for him.

Movement: It has slowed as he's getting bigger. It is definitely the bright spot in my day when I'm having a bad one.

 

Belly: Big. The button has popped. I'm getting braxton hicks contractions a lot this past week.

Countdown to baby: 5.5 weeks to go!!

xoxo,
Ashley

p.s. I know this was a really whiney update. I'm sorry about that, just being honest here. Every day I feel so thankful that we have been blessed with this little man to complete our family. Further more, the tragic events at Sandy Hook in Connecticut have made me squeeze the little one we have here and the one in my belly a little tighter each day. My temporary discomfort is insignificant when compared with the beautiful gift from God my children, and all children are.

twenty-nine

{pretend there's a bump pic right here...coming soon}
 
I missed last week, so I'm doing my little update on an odd week.

Pregnancy: 29 weeks

Weight Gain: +20ish

How big is baby?: An estimated 17 inches {head to toe} and almost 3 lbs {!!!}

Sleep: I've had a few nights sleep disturbed by heart burn and leg cramps, but overall it's been pretty good.

Feeling: Sore mostly. This little guy is doing a number on my hips.

Movement:I've noticed lately he's really active in the morning when I'm just waking up. He's a pretty active little fella in general though. When I had my appointment last week you could hear him moving all about when she was trying to listen to his heart beat {156}.

Belly: Getting bigger...isn't that how these things work? ;)

Countdown to baby: 10 weeks to go!

xoxo,

Ashley

remember

I never want to forget...

1. How when I bring Morgan to bed with me in the morning and he is still sleepy, but he'll try to fight it by softly rubbing up and down my arm with his tiny hand. It's so sweet and really makes me feel his love for me.

 

2. His secret vocabulary. He's surprised us lately when he shouts out things {usually in excitement or frustration} that we've never heard him say before. The other day he was sitting at the table waiting for Daddy to bring him his yogurt, and was getting impatient. I said "Tell Daddy to hurry up!" and Morgan shouts "Come on, Dad!". So, so funny. His vocabulary really has exploded lately.

3. How he will pull a chair from the dining room into the kitchen when I'm doing dishes so he can play in the water too.

4. How he'll suddenly stop, his eyes will get real big, and his mouth will open in a wide "O" when a song he likes comes on the radio {current faves: "Pontoon", "All I want to do", "Creepin'", and "We are never getting back together"}.

5. How he'll insist on bringing a certain toy or object with him when we leave the house. Most times it's his baby. That baby has been to Target, Walmart, the hospital, and of course Grandma and Grandpa's.

6. The way he'll mimic us when we laugh and will through his head back and start laughing hysterically. 

7. How when Frank asked him where his baby was the other day he lifted up his shirt and pointed to his belly.

8. How when he wants to show me something or wants me to get something for him he'll grab my hand and pull me forward while saying "walk! walk!". Bossy little thing, no?

9.  His new favorite thing is trying to lick me. Yea. I think he just likes my horrified reaction. 

10. How he covers his eyes to hide. Because if he can't see us, we can't see him. Duh.

P.S. The pics are completely random. I've been slacking in the photo taking department as of late. 

xoxo,

Ashley