Turning 1 is Dino-Mite

My last baby is now officially a toddler :(  I'm heartbroken and yet so proud at the same time.  I have always known I wanted to have kids and be a mom.  Now that I have 2 who are no longer "babies" I'm wanting another one.  However, there is a big difference in wanting a 3rd baby and actually having one.  I am 99% sure we have a complete family, which I am so thankful and blessed to have, but a part of me aches that there will be no more small, tiny newborns of my own to snuggle and hold.  We celebrated Jagger's fabulous birthday with a Dino-Mite party.  We were so blessed to have our family and very special friends at the party.  I can't wait to see how our circle of friends grow as Jagger gets older and starts to form relationships with other kids.  He was such a happy boy that day (like he usually is) and was fascinated by all the deorations and gifts.

We had the party at our house so I had to transform it to be party ready.  We did a party room in the dining room with the food table and Jagger's high chair for him to eat his smash cake.We had pizza, chips and dip, and red velvet cupcakes for all the guests to eat.

 



Jagger's smash cake was so adorable and made by a lady I used to work with.  She makes fabulous cakes and cupcakes.  He was IN LOVE with eating the cake.  I knew he would be.  Jagger loves to eat and is not afraid to get dirty.  This was the complete opposite of how Malone was.  We had to feed Malone her cake because she did not like getting her hands dirty.  Jagger dove right in and ate almost HALF of the whole cake.  Here are the before and after pictures of the cake.

We put the presents in the living room with Jagger's 1-year time line.  I did a time line of his pictures at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in order to see how much he has grown and changed.  Jagger was blessed with a lot of clothes for this spring.  He was not interested in opening the presents, but luckily all of the other kids who were at the party were very in to opening and they did most of it for him.  :)

I am so grateful for this wonderful year we have had with Jagger.  He has blessed our lives in ways I could have never imagined.  I love you Jagger-man, forever and always!

Moving Along

Time moves life right along, doesn't it? I can't believe it, but this past month I filled out and turned in registration papers for Malone to start Pre-K.  Where did my tiny 6 pound baby go to? 

Malone is more and more involved in various activities and social events.  She loves gymnastics and ballet, and we signed her up for t-ball this spring.  I can't wait to see if she likes it or not.  But I definately want her to have the chance to try everything she wants to.  If she likes it then great, but if not then we can move on to something else.  Malone has a great group of little girl friends and she loves playing with them! I can't believe how grown up she is and that we are already at the stage of play dates and best gal pals.

Time has moved right along with Jagger too!  I can't believe one year ago, I was about to deliver any day, and now we are about to celebrate a first birthday.  My sweet, almost 8 pound baby is about to enter "toddler-hood". 

Jagger is now cruising and ready to walk any day.  He is growing out of the stage where he wants to be held and cuddled all the time.  He wants to be mobile and on the go.  His little personality is shining and showing signs of being strong-willed, stubborn, and having a short fuse with a big temper.  I'm not sure where he gets any of those traits from?!  Haha.  He loves to eat and absolutely loves to play with Malone.  I think he is a little lost when she is not here.  Isn't that just so sweet!



I am thankful to have time with these two precious gifts!  I just wish it would slow down a little bit so I don't find myself opening my eyes tomorrow to an empty nest.  I pray daily that as Malone and Jagger grow they make wise choices and grow a love for the Lord.  I also pray time is kind to us and brings our family closer together with our bonds to each other and that time does not drift us away from each other.  Time: it can't be stopped, but it can be cherished.

Love is...

Love is...thoughtful!  Justin sent me flowers at home on Monday, the day before Valentine's Day, because he knew I'd be home all day and get them.  One dozen red tulips, which are my absolute favorite flowers, and I think they are so much better than roses.  Justin also took me to dinner on Valentine's night to a great restaurant in Buckhead that I love.  We had a great time being together and we laughed all night and had so much fun!

Love is...heart warming!  This sweet girl melts my heart on a daily basis.  She is full of life, laughter, and love!  She also got a flower from Justin.  A single pink rose from Daddy for Malone.  What a sweet Daddy he is!!  She also got a bathing suit for her valentine treat. 

Love is...happy!  Jagger is probably the happiest little guy in the world!  He is always smiling and lauging.  He absolutely steals my heart.  His first Valentine's Day was celebrated because he definately has our hearts stolen.  Jagger's valentine treat was a pair of shorts and t-shirt for the warmer weather this spring. 





 
Love is...enduring!  Although we should show each other on a daily basis that we love them, that is not always the case.  We all have rough days and forget to be thoughful, heart-warming, or happy.  However, true love endures the hard, rough days just like it does the good days.  Remember to tell those around you how much you love them.  Thank you Lord for those I love and those who love me!

The Greatest Birthday on Earth

Come one, come all to the greatest birthday on Earth!  Malone turned 4 this weekend!!  And we celebrated by having a circus themed party at Kidz Play. 

Malone had a BLAST!  All of her most favorite friends came and they had so much fun bouncing and eating chicken nuggets and cookie cake.  Malone is definately more social this year and it was so cute to watch her and her friends playing and interacting together. 

 This is Malone as the "birthday clown".  She loved her outfit and it went right with our fun circus theme! 

Last year Malone did not like being sung "Happy Birthday" to at her party or all the attention she got because it was her birthday.  This year she was ALL about it!  She smiled the entire time we sang and then blew out her #4 candle. I thought it was so sweet to see the difference a year has made.  This is Malone last year before her 3rd birthday party.  Look at how much she has grown in a year.



I can't believe how fast my sweet girl is growing up.  I remember how little and tiny she was when she was born and now she is growing like a weed.  Malone will start Pre-K this year and I get teary eyed every time I think about it.  She is not a baby any more, but a little girl that is maturing and growing with every passing second.  I amaze myself as she grows by being so excited and looking forward to the next milestone, but mourning the ones that have passed already.  I guess that feeling is just part of being a mother.  I am so thankful every day that the Lord chose me to be her mother and I cherish that responsibility to the fullest.  I love you Malone--to the moon and stars and ALL the way back again!

Looking for the rainbow

Lately I've been looking for the rainbow.  The rainbow that means the floods are gone and the sun will shine again.  It seems like everyone in our family has been hit with some type of illness or challenge.  It all started right before Christmas when Malone had strep.  She was so sick for about 3 or 4 days and it was pitiful.  That cleared up to be followed by an ear infection.  That was followed by a ringworm on her leg and a breakout of eczema followed that.  Then Jagger was hit with a stomach virus that was followed by a rash on his body caused by some type of bacteria.  And to top it all off, I've been having trouble with my back and have really had a hard time standing or walking for long periods of time (thankfully it has been feeling better this week).  Doctor visits, antiobiotics, steroid creams, etc  have all been in our life the past month and I keep thinking that soon I'll see the rainbow that means the storms have passed.

But the rainbow has been right in front of me all along.  Our storms and clouds are so minor in comparison to what we COULD be facing, and what others DO face on a daily basis, that our rainbow is actually shining brightly!  When I am stressed or freaking out over our problems, I need to remember that no matter how bad it gets we can get through it.  And even it if our clouds get worse (and my prayer is always that they do not) I know that God will see us through.  In the end, as long as we love and trust Him, the rainbow is ALWAYS there. 

Recap

Wow, it has been a long time since I've written anything.  But we have been super busy through Christmas, going back to work/school, and now birthday party planning! Here is a recap of what has gone on the last month:

*We had a fabulous Christmas!  We were super busy the entire week leading up to Christmas with family gatherings and Church events, but we enjoyed Christmas day at home relaxing, eating, and celebrating.  Here is a picture of what Santa brought the kids.  Malone got a Barbie car, a Barbie house, and a bicycle.  Jagger got an activity table, a basketball goal, and a remote control car. 

*I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions, because let's be honest; no one ever keeps them.  But I am trying to be a little healthier.  I want to drink less Coke and Sweet Tea and drink more water.  I want to eat more fruit and eat less junk.  If I lose a few pounds in the process then that will be a side benefit. 

*Malone's 4th birthday is coming up at the end of this month.  I am not sure how she has grown into such a little girl so quickly, but she has.  She is at such a fun age.  She loves playing with her friends and they are so sweet to watch together.  She has such a great imagination and blows my mind when she comes up with stuff.   I am so blessed to call her my daughter.  I pray that she will grow up to have compassion for others and a good sense of right and wrong.  I also prays that she loves Jesus and wants Him to lead her through her life.  For her birthday she wants to have a "jumping party" at the local party center with blow up inflatables.  I am big on themed birthdays and was at a loss of what to do since we are having it somewhere that is not easy to decorate.  So we are doing a "Circus" party in bright, fun colors to go along with the jumping theme. 

*Jagger started crawling over Christmas and also got his two bottom teeth in the same day!  He is such a precious boy that fills my heart with so much love!  He is so happy and loving and is such a sweet soul.  I pray that he grows into a strong young man who respects others and has a heart for Jesus. 



Hopefully, it won't be so long before I sit down to write again.  :)

Christmas Traditions

1.  Home Alone is my all time favorite Christmas movie.  It's a tradition to watch it Thanksgiving night, and hopefully a few more times by Christmas. 

2.  I buy each of the kids a new, special ornament every year.  This year Jagger has his first Christmas ornaments and Malone got a ballet ornament.

3.  Speaking of Christmas movies, I must also watch The Santa Clause with Tim Allen and the Charlie Brown Christmas special sometime before Christmas. 

4.  We make cookies Christmas Eve to leave for Santa.

5.  We open presents on Christmas Eve with the kids.  We give them our gifts from us and give gifts to each other from the kids.  Then after the kids go to bed, Justin and I give each other our gifts.  This is a special time that allows us to spend some quiet time alone.

6.  Santa Claus brings 3 big presents for each of the kids.  This represents the 3 gifts brought to baby Jesus from the Wise Men.

7.  Stocking Stuffers are my absolute favorite part of Christmas morning.  Sometimes, it's the little things that are the funnest to get. 

8.  On Christmas Day we eat steak, salad, and baked potatoes for our big meal.  Not exactly traditional, but it has become our own traditional Christmas Day meal.

9.  Christmas Day night we go riding through town and neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights.  We didn't get to do it last year because of the snow and road conditions, but a White Christmas was even better!

10.  I love Christmas music, and play it in my car starting at Thanksgiving!