Thursday, December 24, 2009

Twas the night before Christmas...

We arrived in Melber yesterday evening. Aaron has been pretty much all smiles since we arrived, which I am so proud of. This morning I got up and Aaron and I went to have breakfast with my parents. I loved the time we spent together. Then Jenny and I ( and Aaron) went to the mall/kmart/dollar store and what seems like one million other stores to get last minute shopping done. Aaron was a trooper, but the day definitely wore him out. He was exhausted. I am glad that tomorrow will be a slower day so that he can catch up on his sleep. We had our annual dinner at Mark's uncle and Aunts tonite too. Aaron was hilarious with everyone. He seems to especially love Robbie (Mark's cousin). Tonite as I put him to bed I had a lot of things going through my head. Tomorrow is a big day. Aaron's first Christmas. More reflexion later. For now, here are a few pictures...


playing in the bath tub at Grandmommy

opening a present early from cousin Amy


playing with Grandmommy's tree

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Question?

I asked Aaron how he felt about going to Melber tomorrow and this was his reaction...






Monday, December 21, 2009

Sometimes you just need to cry.

What's wrong with my child today...no clue. I fed him, changed his diaper, he has taken a nap (not very long one), gave him motrin just in case he doesn't feel good - which I think he feels fine, and STILL, he is crying, fussy, and/or just plain grumpy. My conclusion: sometimes you just need a good cry. I can understand this, sometimes I just need to cry and I feel much better after I do. Life just happens and we aren't happy with it...so for now...here's what we look like...



Feel sorry for him?...don't. Feel sorry for his mother who has to listen to it ALL day.


Saturday, December 19, 2009

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Mark and Marlee! Five years ago, Mark and I were married. I can't believe it's been 5 years already. It seems like yesterday to me. What a great 5 years it has been. I am so thankful for our fun adventures together. There is never a dull moment. We were made perfectly for one another.


December 18, 2004

I just really like my husband. He is the funniest person I have ever met. He is constantly challenging me to think about new things. He is my best friend and I can't wait to see where God leads us during our next 5 years together. Last night Mark took Aaron and I to Nashville. We went out to eat and then headed over to Opry Land Hotel to look at all the lights. We loved it! It was so pretty and HUGE! Aaron was amazed at the lights. He did so great, even though we had to walk in the rain a long way from the parking lot over to the hotel . He just kept looking up at Mark and I all night smiling, and giving us a look like he was so proud to be with us. We even went over to the mall to get a few Christmas presents and ended up staying until after 9pm. Aaron was worn out by the time we left and I think he was asleep before we even pulled out of the parking lot. It was a good night. We loved being together as a family.


Aaron: right when we got to Opry Land


Pretty Christmas tree in the hotel


Aaron: when we got home

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Dinner with the Adams

Tonite at the dinner table, Aaron decided to try and feed himself his mashed potatoes. I fed him some, and then let him take over after that....


who doesn't love green beans and mashed potatoes
mixed together


a boy trying to eat all by himself...uses a sippy cup and everything



Sunday, December 13, 2009

Digging Trenches...

Mark and I have been digging trenches. No, that's not a metaphor for a particular spiritual battle...we are actually digging trenches outside our house.


This is supposed to take the water that is coming from the gutters of our house out to the field instead of under the house. We'll see if it works the next time we have a good rain.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Christmas shopping done!

Christmas shopping is done!!!!! For those of you that know me well, know that this is a HUGE accomplishment for Mark and me. Yesterday Aaron and I left for Gallatin to visit Aunt Rachel. We went to her basketball games last night and spent the night. The night went 'ok.' Aaron actually slept better than I thought he would, but still not great at all. I slept worse than he did. Why? Rachel's animals could not handle someone else in the bed other than them. I finally (about midnight) went to the couch just in time for my son to wake up screaming. It was a tough night, but well worth it. We loved watching Aunt Rachel coach basketball and meet all of her kids and coworkers. It was Aaron's first time to go to a basketball game, so of course we had to take pictures. He did really well, especially since he missed his evening nap. He loved watching all the different things that were happening in the gym, especially the cheerleaders. I'm gonna say he liked them because of all the bouncing around they did.
Friday morning we left Aunt Rachel's (very sad) and headed off to shop for the day. Again, my child is an angel baby and didn't hardly fuss ALL DAY. I stopped at Babies R Us and got a new stroller with some gift cards that I got as late baby presents. I had the bright idea that it would be nothing for me to just buy the stroller and put it together in the parking lot before we went to the mall. Boy was I wrong! I forgot to take into account two things. 1. It is below 30 degrees (felt like 2 degrees) and 2. you actually have to put the stroller together which means it's not just taking it out of the box and flipping it open. So, being the genius I am (with Aunt Barbara and Jenny's help) we got the stroller together and everything went awesome! At the end of the day I had a very sleepy but yet still very happy 6 month old baby and ALL my Christmas shopping done! YEAH! Mark was so happy to see his family when we got home. We really missed him too. Aaron just looked up at me when I put him in his crib tonite for bed and smiled, turn over, put his thumb in his mouth, and squeezed his eyes shut. What a good day.



Shopping wore him out


New stroller...


skyping with daddy Thurs. night before bed -
Mark really missed us

(sorry it's blurry)sitting on the bleachers
at his first basketball game.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Alone time

Sometimes a person just needs to be alone.

After his 2 hour morning nap, Aaron was extremely fussy. Wasn't hungry, wouldn't sleep, didn't want to be held. So I tried something new...put him on his blanket with pillows surrounding him and left him alone. We are going on 30min now...he's happy as a lark just talking, talking, talking. To who?...no clue.

Monday, December 7, 2009

'Chillin' out, maxin',relaxin,' all cool'

For those of you who watched Fresh Prince will get the title of my post...for those that didn't - sorry about your luck, cuz it was freakin' hilarous! I thought of that song as I watched my son in the bath tub tonite. Thought I would share.

On another note...



If anyone has seen the matches to any these socks I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know. Most likely they are in the parking lot of Walmart, Walgreens, Cedar Lane church of Christ, or possibly in any of those actual stores. My mother-in-law says that if I put shoes on him the sock loss will decrease - probably right. Until then, my one-sock-wonder of a boy will continue to wear one sock into every store we enter because somehow from the car to the inside of the store we WILL lose ONE sock.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Random

2 very awesome UK fans

This weekend was kinda a random weekend. Aaron has started really eating a lot of different things now. He has tried squash, rice cereal, and oatmeal. He seems to like all of those, which makes me happy because I was afraid he would be like his daddy and be picky. So far we have a very good eater. Rachel also came to visit this weekend. She is such a big help while she is here...it's so great! It's like having a whole other me with me. She even let Mark and I work with the horses on Saturday afternoon for a while during the baby's nap and meltdown because he needed to nap more. Sunday Everette Hufford (hopefully I got that right) spoke during worship. I love this time our elders have used while we are looking for a new preacher to get different men in to speak to us. I am so challenged with every different speaker! I also made out our Christmas cards this afternoon. Hopefully I will get them out this week. I have never done this before, but figured it was a good year to start with a new baby and all. This afternoon we are watching football (yuck!), playing with Aaron, going over to Steve and Margaret's to help put their tree up (they need someone tall to help with the last part), eating with small group at 5pm and then off to the building to watch the Christmas play put on by the kids in the church. Busy busy! Unfortunately we have to say good bye to Aunt Rachel, but just for a week. We'll see her again at the end of the week! Now it's off to make homemade hot chocolate and watch tv. I love winter time!




Just before eating squash


Pumped up for the UK game - Go Cats!


Reading with Daddy Saturday morning
while mommy made breakfast

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Good morning friends and family! I love Saturday mornings. Why? When I wake up my husband is right next to me. This morning my child woke up a little earlier than usual (that's not what I love about Sat. mornings). I went and got him and put him in our bed. We just laid there and talked and laughed having what I call 'family time.' I just happened to look up out the window and what did I see.......SNOW! It snowed last night! I immediately made (this actually was more like forcing) Mark get up and put clothes on, put Aaron in his warm body coat thingy, and we went outside for some pictures! Aaron pretty much just starred at it. I just love snow...it makes me so happy.



very warm!


looking at the snow


Horses sure are pretty in the snow

Thursday, December 3, 2009

6 months

Wow! Where has the time gone. Aaron is 6 months old today! I was looking back through all of the pictures we have taken for the past 6 months (which took a very long time) and saw how much this little guy has changed. Here are two pictures for a comparison.


June 3, 2009



This was taken at Thanskgiving - almost 6 months


So here's an update.

Aaron is starting to sleep through the night pretty well now. This makes me VERY happy. We are on a 3 nap a day schedule now, and that is staying consistant (except when we go out of town, then it's "try and guess when I need sleep mommy" schedule. He goes to bed between 7:30 and 8pm, but would go to bed at 6:30 if I would let him (he got this from my mom and Jerry). He LOVES the song "This little Christian Light of Mine." He especially loves the verse "won't let satan (blow) it out." I blow in his face and he has gotten to where he can recognize that I am going to blow before I actually do...I think this means he's gifted! He sits up all by himself now and only falls over sometimes. His favorite toy is the remote control. If I don't let him have that he has a little toy giraffe or his toy fish that plays music when he pushes the button - almost means he's gifted. He has gotten to where he gets excited when he hears the skype ring on the computer whenever someone calls us, not sure if that's good or not. Mark seems to be his favorite person right now. He just sits and stares at Mark non-stop when he is at home, and whenever Mark looks over at him he smiles bigger than I have ever seen him. We have started rice cereal which he seems to really like. I haven't given him anything else yet, mostly because I keep forgetting to get baby food at Walmart when I go. He does get to taste whatever mommy has on her plate, ice cream and whipped cream are his favorites. He has started sticking his tongue out, it almost seems like he is trying to touch his nose - his tongue is very long. He is also getting very good at reaching for things and actually picking the up. Must more aware of his surroundings now, seems to be aware of people around him. The biggest change is that Aaron is now in a big boy car seat (still turned around backwards). We had to graduate because I could no longer snap him in. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind of emotions; happy, sad, confused, tired, and many more. It has been so awesome. We are totally blessed. God has given us a great healthy, wonderful, beautiful child. I can't wait to see what the next 6 months brings!



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

PJ's

During our Thanksgiving visit we got to see cousin Weston and his parents Josh and Lori. We love Josh and Lori. They are very great friends of ours (as well as family). They both have the hearts of servants and really honestly would do anything for anyone. There little boy Weston is SO cute. He has so much energy, he never stops. He says "I love you baby Ace" to Aaron.
On Thanksgiving night when it was time to go to bed, they put Weston in his bed which happened to be next to the room where our family slept. All the cousins went out to eat (except me who was feeling horrible and exhausted), and left the aunts to watch the kids. I was heading back to bed, and as I walked past Weston's room I heard this sweet little voice singing "Old McDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o. and on that farm he had a pig, e-i-e-i-o." I quickly ran to get Aunt Rachel, Aunt Phylis and Jenny. We sat by the door for a few minutes and listened to him sing all about the pig going oink, oink on Old McDonald's farm....ha ha. Weston is getting ready to be a big brother in a few months. Lori and Josh are expecting a baby girl (Taylor). I am so excited! They are the best parents I can think of and I can't wait to meet her.


Dinosaur PJ's from cousin Weston - they are my favorite


I'm not sure if I mentioned how fast Aaron is growing. Most things don't fit in the length. He is in 6-9 mo. clothes for the most part now, but I was running out of those quickly. I mentioned this to Lori a few weeks ago. So I was blessed at Thanksgiving (or should I say Aaron was blessed) with an entire box full of clothes! This has saved my life and Mark's checking account (most important). There was everything from cute, cute PJ's (Aaron is modeling in this pic) to adorable little pants and socks. The Dinosaur PJ's are my favorite, mostly because Mark told his parents he wanted to be a 'pay-we-n-tow-a-gist' when he grew up. Kinda fits for our kid to have some dinosaur PJ's.

Thanks Josh and Lori and Weston too! We love you guys so much.



Mark and Lori