Oh, Christmas trees...

We've had our trees up since the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We are enjoying them!  We love to turn the lights out and just sit in the glow of the Christmas lights. 

Connor especially loves them this year.  When he walks into the back door, he goes straight to the lights and says "On momma, turn them on".  He then goes to Caroline's and his bedroom and we have to turn on their trees.  He tells me every day that they are "pitty" (pretty).  He's NOT into Santa, but he's SO into the lights, which thrills me because that's one of my favorite parts.  

 Jed and I bought the tree in our living room the first year we were married.  So, this tree is making its fifth debut.  I don't have a theme for my tree or a specific color scheme. We have a great collection of ornaments.  I started my collection about eight years ago when I was in college.  I love to pull them out every year and reminisce. 

This is my new favorite ornament.  Brooke Ward Williams made it for me.  Incase you can't see it, it says: The Blackwells 2009: Jed, Heather, Connor, and Caroline.  She also drew little pictures of us.  I think it is adorable!  The yellowish circle between Jed and me is just the reflection from the flash.  It's not really on the ornament.   

This year I decided to do little trees in Connor and Caroline's rooms.  Their trees sit on their dressers.  They're not big trees, but they do the job.  As I said, Connor loves them.  I'm so glad I did them this year.  I'm going to make it a tradition every year!

Connor's tree is an Alabama tree.  I found some cute Alabama footballs at K-Mart and the round glitter balls (that just happen to be crimson and silver) at Target.  I used garland that I found at the Dollar Tree.  The bow was made from ribbon that I purchased at Wal-Mart.  I'm most proud of the tree skirt.  It was actually one of his baby blankets.

Caroline's tree matches her bedroom.  I used bright colored balls I got at Target, ribbon from Wal-Mart, and beaded garland from K-Mart.  Her tree skirt is one of her towels.

While I was at Dollar Tree I found this super cute metallic Christmas tree that I thought matched her room perfectly.  It looks super cute on her dresser!    

Everyone is asleep in my house.  I'm going to go sit in the recliner and enjoy my lights.  Merry Christmas!!!

Baby, It's Cold (and Rainy) Outside!!!

We spent a wonderful day at home today.  I needed it SO MUCH!!!  I"ve been way too busy lately; it was good to spend time with my Jed, Connor, and Caroline.  Caroline and I stayed in our pjs all day.  I don't know about you, but that's my kind of day!! 

Even though we spent a great day at home, I was still a busy bee.  I washed and folded 5 loads of laundry today and still have about 4 more to go tomorrow.  I think every piece of clothing we own was dirty.  I also got my Christmas cards ready to be mailed.  And I snuggled alot with Connor!  He was in that kind of mood, and I was loving it.  He hasn't done that in months. 

I am very blessed.  Life is good......

      

Like mother like daughter.....

This dress was actually my dress when I was a little girl.  I wore it my first Christmas. My mom saved it and pulled it out of storage a few weeks ago.

While I was taking trying to take Christmas card pictures, I pulled it out and snapped a few pictures of Caroline wearing it.  I think it's still festive and cute even though it is almost 28 years old.  I probably shouldn't say that because it tells my age!! 

                                    

This is what Caroline looked like for the majority of the picture taking process.  She was extremely happy and slobbery!  She gave us lots of beautiful smiles.  Until......

                                      

She became hungry.  I've told you before; this girl is serious about her food.  When it's time, it is time!! 

I've been super busy the past week and its not going to get any better!!  We were out of town both Saturday and Sunday celebrating Christmas with both sides of the family.  We've got more get-togethers planned for this weekend as well as a little shopping. 

Maybe I'll be back before Christmas is over to post pictures of our Christmas trees.  

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!!!!!  

23 months

Connor turned 23 months Saturday.  We've only got one more month to go until he's the big 2.  Party preparations are under way!  I can't believe God blessed us with our little man almost two years ago.  It seems like yesterday.....

It's so hard to come up with new things that he's accomplished.  It's not that he's not doing new things or saying new things, there is just not as many as there were during his first year.  That's when all the big things happen!  With that said, here are some things that Connor is doing that Jed and I came up with tonight!

Connor loves his baby sister.  He laughs at her a lot.  He thinks she is hilarious.  He still calls her sister.  He won't even attempt to say Caroline anymore.

He's a big helper.  He will do anything you ask him to, except pick up his toys.  When Caroline finishes her bottle before bed, Connor will grab it and go drop it into the sink.  He will also take things to the trash can for us.  One day he is going to find out just exactly what is in those diapers and then he won't be a big helper anymore, but until then......  He also loves to wipe the table after we eat dinner.  He says "wipe, mommy, wipe", until I give in and let him wipe the table. 

He loves to dance.  The other night, Jed and I were playing some of our "old school" music, and Connor had a great time shaking his tail feathers.  (One day our lack of rhythm will embarrass Connor but right now we're having a blast dancing with him!)  My mom has a Santa that plays music; he will push the button and just stand there, bend his knees, and shake his booty.  It is too cute! 

He's still saying the prayer in his own jibberish. But now he will say it with Jed instead of waiting until afterwards to do it.  The other night Connor was ready to eat, and Jed was feeding Caroline her baby food.  Jed stopped feeding Caroline to say the blessing for Connor.  I paused at the kitchen counter (so it would count for me), but when I sat down at the table, Connor clasped his hands in front of him and said a little prayer for me.  It was so sweet.

He's been saying a few new things.  He's really getting good about using phrases and sentences.  One of my favorites is "it's pitty momma, it's pitty", which he says about our Christmas tree.  He also said "it's not on momma".  When Jed or I leave the house, he says "daddy be back, daddy be back" or "mommy be back, mommy be back".  Notice I used both mommy and momma because he calls me both.  It just depends on what kind of mood he's in.

He is SO not a morning person.  This has been going on for a while now.  He hates for us to wake him up.  He kicks, screams, and cries.  (which is exactly how I feel in the morning, so I guess he got it honest....)  He has to be held and needs his milk right away.  He cries when we brush his hair and his teeth.  He usually stops when we put him in the car to go to Mrs. Rose's. 

He's also not so crazy about taking pictures anymore.  He either won't sit still long enough for me to snap the picture or he puts on his pouty face.  His pouty face is cute, but it's not one I want in every picture.

He loves to get a hair cut. He got one last Wednesday morning.  He did so well!  He sits so still for Mrs. Robin (I wish he could do that for me while I took his picture!).

Connor Ward you are so precious to us.  Your daddy, Caroline, and I love you so much.  We love watching you grow everyday!   

*****The pictures of him in pjs at the kitchen table were taken Sunday morning.  He woke up in a "wonderful" mood with a CRAZY hairdo; of course, I had to take pictures....  I didn't get a good picture of his pjs, but they have an airplane on them.  My mother bought them on a shopping trip when Jed and I were trying to get pregnant, but with no luck.  I knew if I ever had a little boy, I wanted his nursery to be done in airplanes.  So my mom bought them and put them away and when we found out we were pregnant she gave them to me.  I found them in his closet a few days ago and thought about all of those days I prayed for him and longed to have a child.  Thank you God for blessing me with my precious little boy!!!!!