Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas! I didn't want it to end. I'm still watching 'A Christmas Story' when I can. We didn't have to travel too far to see everyone this year and the weather wasn't too bad either. Christmas Eve was so pretty with fresh snow on the ground. Austin and I had a good time snow blowing the driveway. I ran the snow blower for the first time! That was crazy only because I've never even run a lawn mower before! My dad and brother-in-law sang a beautiful rendition of "O Holy Night" at the Christmas Eve service. I always love hearing my dad sing. We enjoyed being with our families as we exchanged gifts and spent time with them. We also remembered the birth of Jesus Christ. Austin loves the story of baby Jesus being born unto us. He's obsessed with the fact that Jesus was once a baby. It reminds me of Ricky Bobby in the movie 'Talladega Nights' when he prays to baby Jesus. Austin's always talking about baby Jesus even though we told him baby Jesus grew to be a man. But he likes baby Jesus better. Maybe it's because he has a baby sister.

3 months and growing

Miss Alexis is changing so fast! At 3 months she's kicking those legs, pointing those toes, pursing those lips all while watching the world around her. She loves swinging in her swing the most. She's still not a binky baby but we're trying. You may thing that's weird but I'm all about the binky. It helps soothe her when I can't. It also makes this house and all the places we go a little quieter. She loves watching her big bro run around and smiles every time he gets close to her. And HE loves her ears! What a goof! He thinks they're soft and likes to feel them. Oh Lord, help us! I have another ear fanatic in the house. (My hubby Ryan being the other one. He'll deny it if you ask him.) Brother and sister relationships are pretty special. Kaylee and Austin are close and there's 11 years between them! I loved my bro growing up and still do. He may have smelled badly, ate loudly and disgusted me at times but he was still the coolest guy around. Someday Alexis is gonna think her bro is pretty cool too. Ear fanatic and all!

Thanksgiving

We had three wonderful Thanksgiving dinners! I enjoyed each visit we had with both sides of the family. It was so nice to do it on three different days rather than cram it all in one. We are very thankful to have our families so close to us so we can be together for things like this. We always get together and have such great times and make such great memories. We are so blessed that everyone is healthy and doing so well and having each other means everything!

Ryan's mom, Patty with her grandkids at her house

Some of the girls at the Parks' Thanksgiving, Molly's house

The guys at the Parks' Thanksgiving

2 month

Here's a couple pictures of Alexis at 2 months old. I think she eats more than Austin did when he was this age. Or have I forgotten how much he ate? Alexis loves to eat in the evenings and during the night. Evenings are fine except on Thursdays. That's when I run my errands, mostly grocery shopping. I can do it in about 2 hours but I come home to Ryan doing his "walk n bounce" around the house with a hungry Alexis. I would have him give her a bottle of breast milk or a binky to tide her over but she's rejecting both. We need to try the bottle a little more but the binky we are definitely trying and she's not having it! I'm gonna have to buy different ones to see if we can find one that she likes. Now I can understand moms who say, "they just wouldn't take a pacifier for me!" For now I'm her "soothie" which I love but I'm gonna have a hard time getting any kind of a break from my kiddos if we don't get this figured out.

Halloween candy

Last night was Beggar's Night. Candy was on all of our minds! I guess that's why Austin forgot his joke and his flashlight and Ryan was ready to come back after 1 hour rather than 2 like he originally planned. Kaylee gave out candy to 40 kids this year and we had more left over than usual. Now what to do with all this candy! Ryan, don't you have a candy dish at work?

Pumpkin patch

I love this time of year! It's sad to see summer go but the fall season makes it all worth it. We've really had the perfect autumn weather this year to enjoy the outdoors a little more. We took a trip to Patch's Pumpkins & Honey Farm with some friends and their kids. I strapped Alexis to me dressed in her pumpkin costume and she slept the entire time.

We all had a great time riding the hay rack ride, picking pumpkins and taking in the beautiful day while the children enjoyed the fun activities. They played in the bounce houses, rode the cow train, ran through the straw maze, pet the farm animals and played on the playground. It was a full day!

1 month

At 1 month old Alexis is cooing like crazy and smiling a lot. Her daddy can get her attention just by coming into the room. She looks all around for him when she hears his voice. Austin gets right in her face when he talks to her. She doesn't seem to mind. She really loves listening to his stories. He told her all about balloons today and showed her how he likes to throw them in the air. He's a good big brother and is good at putting the binky in her mouth when she cries. Or telling me that the baby is crying and I need to feed her. Well, I don't have to feed her everytime but he thinks so.