The last two weeks have been busy! *Lots of Pictures*

I am once again behind! I am warning you this one is going to be long!

This is our tree this year...


It isn't the best one we have ever had but it is still pretty. The limbs are drooping & I am hoping no ornaments fall off. Oh well it only has to last two more days!

On the 5th we went to the PG parade. It snowed that day & was really cold. We still had a great time with our friends!


Addi, Hannah, Maddie, & Ian

On the 9th, I gave Jaiden rice cereal for the first time. She wasn't a fan! I think she didn't like it because she wasn't getting it fast enough. I gave her a few days & then tried again. Last night she seemed to like it a little better. I would feed her a spoonful & then give her the bottle so she would suck it down. I am not sure if this is a great tactic but it worked!




I was up late the same night Jaiden experienced cereal for the first time, it seemed cold in the house. I went to turn the heat up some and noticed that it was only 64degrees in the house. It was set on 70 ~ not good! I woke Josh up and told him the heat was broken. It was a really cold night so we loaded everyone up and went to stay with David & Susan. Josh called someone to come look at it first thing the next day. We ended up having to replace the whole unit ~ OUCH! We had plans to redo our hideous bathroom after hunting season but instead we got a new heater! Oh well, sometimes things do not go as planned.

Jaiden started coughing that Friday & I got a little worried so I took her to the doctor. Hannah had to go for her ear re-check since she had an ear infection two weeks earlier. Hannah's ears were fine & Jaiden sounded clear. Even though she was coughing we went on to our kids-free church class party! Meleah stayed with Hannah (We took Jaiden with us). We had a great time! The girls played dirty Santa & I got a Vera Bradley make-up bag. It is just what I needed to keep up with all of my stuff in the diaper bag!

The next day we went to Jared's surprise 30th birthday party & then went to my aunt, Carla's house for a girls night. Once again we had a great time. (no pics because I never did get my camera out)

That Sunday night we went to the annual open house at David & Susan's house.

Monday we stayed home & by Tuesday Jaiden's cough sounded horrible. She was very congested and had a temp of 99.8. Not a high fever but not good for an 8 week old baby. So I took her back to the doctor. He could hear a rattle & squeak in her lungs and her ear was infected. He gave her a breathing treatment and we were sent home with an antibiotic & inhaler. She was better in the next few days.

The 18th we went to the Wylie's house for the teenage Christmas party. We realize that we aren't teenagers anymore but Josh is their teacher on Wednesday night.

The 19th was my 30th birthday! WOW, 30?! Really?! It is hard to believe that I am already 30 years old. I had a great birthday. We went to Brenda & Steve's (my aunt & uncle) for my mom's side of the family Christmas. Josh bought me an Edgar's chocolate birthday cake! YUMMY!!! My favorite! We played Dirty Santa at the party. I ended up with a basket from Bath n' Body Works. My grandmother bought Hannah a cute baby doll that laughs, sucks her bottle, & burps. She is a cute doll & Hannah loved it. Jaiden got clothes - YEAH! She needs some clothes that aren't hand-me-downs.


The below picture cracks me up. We were playing Dirty Santa and my dad accidentally opened a girl's gift. He is trying with all his might for a girl to steal this from him... (they eventually did!)


Jaiden with aunt Jan



Hannah with aunt Amy


Jaiden taking a break from being held (the girl loves to lay on a blanket in the floor and kick her legs)


When we got home from the party and pulled into our driveway this is what I saw...



30 (I mean 29) flamingos! We started with Rachel, then Emily, & now my turn. The senstational six are the best friends a girl could ask for!


Good friends & a beautiful family are two of life's greatest blessings. God has blessed me beyond measure. This picture shows the three reasons my heart is so happy.



Sunday night we had another church Christmas party. We played Dirty Santa (getting a little tired of this game!). I ended up with a box of Nutty Bars - Yum but not good for my waist line that I want to shrink!

Monday we went to the nursing home where Josh's grandparents are & sang Christmas carols. Below are pics from that.





Yesterday I took Jaiden to the doctor for her 2 month check-up. She was 23 1/2 inches long (had grown an inch in a month) & weighed 10 lb, 5.5 oz. She is still 90% of height & 50-75% of weight. Her ear has cleared up and he said she was perfect (but I already knew that!) She did have to get 4 shots. The poor baby was happy as could be laying on the table smiling away and then the shots came. I felt so bad for her! She is smiling a lot these days & beginning to laugh. She "talks" & squeals most of the day. I already mentioned that she likes to lay on the floor on a blanket and kick her legs. She looks around and takes it all in. She still loves to watch Hannah. This morning she held her blanket in her hands for several minutes. I thought it was really cute. She still likes her swing & loves to take naps in it. Here she is sleeping away. The hair in this picture is cracking me up!



She isn't sleeping as good as she was. She was going to bed around 11:00, falling asleep by herself, & sleeping until 6:30 but since she has been sick she wants to be held more. She HATES to bathe. As soon as her little bottom hits the water, she screams & wraps her legs around the sling in her little tub. As soon as you wrap her in the towel she is back to being happy again! Her hair is beginning to lay down but it doesn't appear that she has lost any. She is starting to notice objects around her and can follow them with her eyes really well. She is such a joy to our lives and I couldn't imagine life without our little angel! Enjoy the pics from her two month "birthday." I even caught a smile - finally!






Whew I need a nap after this update. I am sure my update for Christmas will be a long one too. We are making cookies for Santa tomorrow and then will be attending 4 family Christmas parties in the next 3 days! If you are still reading, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Giveaway

Southern Savers is giving away two $50 giftcards - one for gas & one for food. It ends tonight. Check it out here.

It has been almost a month since I blogged last & it may take two posts to catch up. Hannah was in my friend Lauren's wedding on 11/14. I was a little nervous that she would put on a show, scream, or do something that would mess the wedding up but she was an angel! She looked beautiful and walked down the aisle with no problems. She got a little squirmy and went to sit with Josh for most of the wedding. This is the only picture I got of Lauren & Hannah together. Hannah was getting tired and wouldn't look at the camera but isn't Lauren beautiful...


The day before Thanksgiving Hannah & Jaiden both had check-ups. Hannah had her 3 year and thankfully was caught up on her vaccinations. We got to the examination room and the nurse told me to strip them both down to diaper/panties and bring them out to weigh. Hannah didn't want to take her clothes off and kept saying "mommy this is so embarrassing!" I didn't even know that she knew what embarrassment was! She finally got over it (and then didn't want to put her clothes back on, of course). She weighed 32.6 pounds which put her in the 75th % of weight and measured 39 1/4 inches long, which put her in the 90th % of height. Dr. Walley said she looked perfect. She talked the whole time we were in the office. Jaiden weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz which put her in the 50th % of weight and measured 22 1/4 inches long which put her in the 90th % of height. They are both growing which always makes me thankful for healthy children! You can look at Jaiden and tell how much she has grown. She will be 7 weeks old tomorrow and I just can't believe in one week she will be 2 months old! It's cliche, but where does the time go?

Jaiden smiles all the time but I can't get a picture of it. The flash on my camera distracts her every time. She has also stared "talking." She will "ooh" & "ah" at whoever is talking to her. I love it when she does it and could just eat her up! She also is getting better at focusing on objects and following them with her eyes. She loves watching Hannah & will break her neck trying to see what she is doing. Hannah still loves Jaiden so much. She likes to talk to her and gives her lots of kisses! It is cute as long as Hannah keeps some distance!

Jaiden has been staying up until 1:00am or later. She loved being up at night and laying on a blanket. However the last 3 nights I have laid her in her bed around 10:30 pm and she just laid in there looking around until she fell asleep. She has gone to sleep by herself without crying and slept until 6:00 am each night! I can handle sleeping from 11:00 to 6:00 every night. I hope she keeps it up but I don't like not rocking her to sleep. She likes to cuddle during the day so I guess I can handle it as long as she is not upset! She loves to be in her swing and watches the little birds & butterflies on the mobile. She also naps in the swing. She likes to be in motion. She kicks her legs and moves her arms all the time. The more you talk to her the faster she kicks. She doesn't like to lay on your arm when you hold her. She wants to be on your shoulder or sitting up on your lap so she can see what is going on. She is drinking 4 ounces of milk every 2-3 hours. Her hair sticks straight up in the air but it is too cute! I think she is a beautiful baby but I may be a little partial! :0) You can see for yourself...

Sweet, beautiful baby!


This is what Jaiden looks like when she is trying to watch Hannah!


The two sweetest girls in this world


Caught a little smile from Jaiden


Kisses!



Being silly & looking just like her daddy!


Every time she wears yellow or green, Hannah asks why I am dressing her like a boy.


The back of the hair, straight up in the air!

On Thanksgiving Hannah woke up saying her ear hurt. She ran a fever and got sick. We couldn't get her into the after hours clinic that day. I ended up going to my grandparents with Jaiden then Josh went to his parents when I got home. Our Thanksgiving wasn't celebrated like it usually is but we still have a lot to be thankful for. Friday I told Josh to go hunting and I stayed home from Black Friday shopping. I went out when the girls got up. We went to CVS & Walmart. I am glad I didn't miss the sleep to go at 5:00 am because I got everything I wanted that was on sale! Hannah still didn't feel good and I ended up taking her to the doctor on Sunday. She had an ear infection. Since she wasn't contagious I took her to the 6th grade & under Christmas party at church. She loved it and I am glad she didn't miss it. I forgot my camera and didn't get one picture.

Monday we took Hannah & Jaiden to see Santa and then went to Marvin's to get our Christmas tree. We finally have the tree up and decorated. Now the Christmas season has officially begun! I even wrapped a few presents today and am almost done with my shopping. Santa has sent word to me that he is done with Hannah & Jaiden's Christmas. He only has a few stocking stuffers for the elves to make and then he will be ready to come to our house! I am getting so excited and love everything about the Christmas season! I hope you all are having as much fun as I am!