A Christmas Tradition

Last night we planned to go out and enjoy a Christmas tradition with the boys~ riding around looking at Christmas lights! Terrell and I both loved this tradition growing up and even as grown-ups it's still something we look forward to every year... even before having kiddos. There's just something about Christmas lights and seeing houses and yards decked out that make you happy and put you in the spirit that much more. And this year was even more special because we knew Garrison Cade would love it. His face would light up with each yard and house, he would be completely mesmerized, he would ooh and ahh, he would ask to see more, he would clap his hands in delight. In short, he would have the time of his life. Ha! That's what we thought would happen. (Correction: that's what mama wanted to happen.)

We finished supper early and got the boys in their pajamas and ready for bed so that as soon as we got home they could both go to sleep dreaming of twinkling lights. But first we made a few pictures.

The first one is hilarious to me. Austin doesn't know what's happening and has a look of terror on his face! He started getting heavier and heavier and before we knew it, Garrison was about to fall over backwards, sooo we pulled over the rocking chair. They both looked just precious in their Christmas pajamas. (Thanks Granna!)










We had been telling Garrison about our plans for the night and really building it up. He seemed pretty excited after supper, but he kept asking what we were doing after we looked at the lights. Well Terrell and I had talked earlier about getting some ice cream to have after the boys went to bed, so we ended up telling Garrison that we would get some ice cream before coming home (but that he could only have a few bites before bed).


So the whole family got in the car and began our quest to find lots of Christmas lights. We were so excited (mama and daddy that is). Garrison wasn't too impressed because before we got out of our subdivision he started asking when we could go get ice cream. Bummer. Then, Austin started crying. He doesn't hate the carseat, but he doesn't love it either. So it's not unusual for him to fuss and cry a little bit once we get in the car. Well, the crying started to escalate, so before we left our subdivision, we stopped so I could get out and give Austin his paci while we tried explaining to Garrison that the point of the trip was Christmas lights, not ice cream.


Finally we found some lights and Garrison actually enjoyed them. Not to the degree I would have liked, but his face did light up, so that was good. Especially when we found a house that had "Frosty the Snowman" in their yard. However, after seeing like 3 houses he wanted to know when we were getting ice cream and when we were going home. Really? By this time Austin had stopped crying... and had fallen asleep. Great. It was too late for him to nap but what could we do? We were driving around experiencing a Christmas tradition! Ahhh. The highlight of Garrison's night occurred when we discovered a "parade" of decorated golf carts driving around. This was our 2nd year in a row to see them so we were tickled that Garrison noticed them this year. There was a line of about 8-10 decked out golf carts driving around and honking their horns. We even rolled down the windows so Garrison could see and hear them better. From that point forward we basically followed the golf carts around per Garrison's request. The rest of our outing went well, despite the fact that Austin was sleeping away. Garrison enjoyed more lights and we had a nice little ride together in the golf cart subdivision and around town. Then we finally landed at the Chick-Fil-A drive thru for ice cream.

After we got home Garrison got his little taste of ice cream before bed while I fed Austin and tried to get him back to sleep. Unfortunately his power nap in the car meant he wasn't very interested in going to bed. Sooo, Terrell and I ended up being in and out of Austin's room for the rest of the night until I fed him again and he finally went to sleep. Needless to say, the night didn't turn out perfect and wonderful like I'd imagined and hoped for, but memories were made and we enjoyed our outing and Christmas tradition anyway.

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Something so sweet and so precious that I had to share~ A few days ago I was getting Garrison dressed in Austin's room after taking him to the potty. I was sitting in the glider in Austin's room helping Garrison get his pants on while Austin was watching us from his crib when Garrison wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a big hug. Love. Then he said, I love you soo much. (And I told him thank you and that I loved him soo much too.) Then he said, I love my daddy and Ausin and my mama soo much...... Thank you God. It was so sweet and so sincere I felt the tears coming immediately. I blinked them away and instead smiled at him and grabbed him up in a hug and said, Thank you God for Garrison too because mama and daddy and Austin love him so much. It was a priceless moment. I don't think I'll ever forget just how sweet and sincere and loving his little 2 year old voice sounded. I am overwhelemed once again at God's goodness to me. Thank you God for my sweet baby boy who knew to thank You for his family.

School Christmas Party

Today was Garrison's little preschool Christmas party. We told him it was a party to celebrate Christmas and Jesus's birthday. He really liked that and even said, "Happy Birfday Jesus!" more than once. He was so excited this morning and so cute when I got there for the party. They had Chick-Fil-A for lunch plus cookies and mini chocolate cupcakes. Then they did a book exchange. The whole party was successful and fun and I was worn out afterwards. Holding Austin almost the entire time while keeping up with Garrison was a job! Thinking back, last year's party was easy peasy. =)

I am very pleased once again with how the first half of the school year has gone for my little man. He's had a really good experience and learned a lot! (Can't believe he's about to be 3 and ready for the 2nd half of the school year!) And I'm especially thankful that Austin and I could be there for Garrison's Christmas party today!

Family Pictures- A Few of my Favs

We had our annual family pictures done the weekend before Halloween, but not wanting to spoil our Christmas card pic, I had to wait until now to post some of my favorites. (We literally have almost 200 to choose from so these are just a teeny preview) We started our session with some of Austin and then moved on to the traditional family pictures. We were thrilled with how they turned out... especially considering we had a busy and not always cooperative 2 year old on our hands, plus a 7 week old!

Piper Family Christmas

This weekend was the kick-off to our family Christmas celebrations/parties. It was with my mom's side of the family, the Piper's. Typically we all get together on Christmas Day or the day after, but this year my cousin's family will be in Kansas for Christmas so we got together early. It was a busy fun filled weekend with family and my boys were loved on tons!

I knew I wanted a picture of both boys in their sweaters by the Christmas tree, but didn't get my hopes up too much. You never know if Garrison will be in the picture-taking mood, and even though Austin loves to smile when you're talking to him, you better make sure he's not tired or hungry or you can basicallly forget it. I'm SO thrilled with how they turned out! I don't think I could have asked for anything better. I definitely see these pictures framed and out in my house every Christmas for years and years. Yay.

After everyone got to the house and finished eating lots of good food, we put a Christmas bib on Austin that my mom found that says, Are these people really my relatives? It's so so cute and fits our crazy family perfect. It was also a good excuse to gather everyone around and make a picture of all of Austin's crazy relatives. I'm sure he does wonder sometimes about the family he was born into. Ha!

Terrell and Rich took turns making pictures so they could each be in one.

Notice anybody missing? That would be my firstborn. Garrison did not want to participate. He was too busy playing. So instead of making a huge deal out of it and fighting him on it, we decided to just let him be. The idea behind the picture was more about Austin anyway, and it can take quite a while to get that many people together for a picture, so Garrison played and missed out on the picture taking fun. Until, several minutes later, he decided he regretted his original decision and requested to have his picture made with errybody. Granna started to gather everyone around again but at that point I was feeding Austin and the group was kind of scattered, so they got one of the "kids", the oldest one being 15.

After opening presents and spending the day hanging out, the whole fam headed out to our Christmas program at church. This year was something new and different that had never been done before. It was called "A Righte Merrie Christmasse". My dad and Terrell's mom are both in the choir so they were in the program, dressed in a full blown renaissance costume just like everyone else. It was really different, but really good. They went all out with everything... the costumes, music, "set", food, "actors", etc. I was very impressed and very entertained! Here's my dad ready to go perform. He grew a really thick beard to fit the part and then shaved it off as soon as he got home from the last performance Sunday night!

Saturday night we spent the night with Terrell's parents and slept all night long! Austin was super fussy going to bed (I think he was overwhelmed from the day's events plus staying in the nursery at church past his bedtime) but he slept all night long. Woohoo! Sunday morning before church we also got some pictures all dressed up.

Sunday afternoon Nana kept the boys for us for a little while so I could visit with my good friend Megan and pick up Christmas cards (to be posted on the blog at a later date~ thanks again Megan!) and take care of some Premier business, while Terrell and Pops were Santa's helpers for the afternoon.

It was a busy but fun weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed our Piper Family Christmas and all the other happenings of the weekend. Terrell and I actually felt like we didn't see Garrison much at all the whole weekend. Saturday he was playing with Meghan and Carter the entire day, then Saturday night he was in the nursery while we enjoyed the Christmas program. Then Nana put him to bed that night while I tended to Austin. Sunday morning Nana was a huge help with breakfast and getting him ready for church, then after church he hung out with Granna and Papa before lunch. After lunch was naptime. Then we were back over at my parents for a little while before heading home. Goodness. Terrell and I are moved to the bottom of the totem pole when we're in B'ville. Seriously. Even though we get left out sometimes I definitely think it's a good thing that he loves his grandparents (and great grandparents), AnAn, and cousins so so much. Now we're counting down for our next Christmas "event"!

Christmas Blessing

My favorite Christmas gift this year! Pure cuteness and an amazing blessing!

Can't wait to celebrate this Christmas with our newest addition... and it all starts this weekend with a "Piper Family Christmas". Hope my 2 little men (plus other family members) are cooperative with pictures, because I'm going to want lots!

Holiday Craziness

Every year since we've been married, Christmas time is when I start to get a little stressed out about how and where we're spending the holidays... and then I start to feel that longing to move home to Barnesville sooner rather than later. Don't get me wrong, we are SO blessed to be from the same hometown and have the opportunity and privilege to spend the holidays with both sides of the family, mine and Terrell's. We've never had to alternate between spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families or choose one side's family traditions over the other. I love that, and I'm so grateful for it. I especially love that my children will get to experience holidays with both sides of the family/sets of grandparents just like I did growing up. I really have no right to complain, at all. But every year, without fail, I always end up fretting over our plans for the holidays and playing the whole "if only..." game in my mind. I know better and I do it anyway. Why oh why must I put myself through it? It only leaves me feeling frustrated and impatient and as if the grass must be greener on the other side, which I know isn't the case 99% of the time. Gracious. Sooo, I guess I just need to get everything out and this is my outlet. I know my husband sure does appreciate it! Bless his heart, he has to get tired of hearing the same ole frustrations from me year after year when he can't do a thing about it. I love him for listening though.

Now that I've rambled I'll try to get back on track. Our holiday season is all about family and traditions.... as I'm sure it is for most people. And again we are extremely blessed to share really special traditions with both of our families that I look forward to every year. To me, family traditions are what keep families close and grown-up children coming home. (Something I'm already thinking about even though my oldest child isn't even 3 yet. What is wrong with me?!) I've seen it firsthand in my own extended family and it's just something I believe in. I don't know too many families quite like my extended family. We're just a pretty close bunch that makes getting together a priority even though it isn't always easy. That's been my example growing up and all I've ever known, so to me, it's the way it's done.

Terrell and I also want family traditions to be a big part of our growing little family. We have our "by ourself" traditions like carving our pumpkin at Halloween, decorating our tree and house the weekend after Thanksgiving, riding around looking at Christmas lights, etc. But we also have our "with family" traditions that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc. spent with family eating good food, giving gifts, and "fellowshipping". And it's important to us that our children grow up knowing the love, security, support, and just plain fun that comes from being a part of a close-knit extended family (beyond just the 4 or 5 of us)....

Therefore, we travel for everything. We spend all the major holidays together with our families. Which means packing up (the house these days) and staying overnight in Barnesville with one of our parents'. Which means waking up in their homes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc. Which definitely has it's perks that I've come to look forward to! Our Christmas traditions are something I look forward to every year because of how perfect everything works out with both of our families, and I wouldn't change a thing .... unless, we only lived a few minutes away in the same town. Wow. How awesome would that be?! We would still keep our traditions, but without the packing! =)

Now, I know for a fact I would miss some of the traditions that would be "tweaked" if we lived close by and could go home to our own house on Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc. It would be different for sure. It might even be tough to get used to at first. Who knows, we might decide not to change a thing in the beginning! But, our family is growing and I know if we don't move in the next few years things are going to get sticky when it comes to celebrating the holidays, especially at Christmas. Things at Christmas are already getting a little sticky. Garrison is only going to become more aware of Santa, which means being prepared to answer questions about the man in red coming to Papa and Granna's. But I guess if that's all he's ever known....? Then there's the issue of space in the living room. Seriously. Plus a part of me would love having a little tradition of our own... something that could only work out if we lived close by. I invision having our families come over on Christmas morning for breakfast and to see what Santa brought the kiddos... just like my grandparents did when I was growing up. Awww. It makes me feel good just thinking about that little idea. Until 2 seconds later when I'm ready to complain because my little idea doesn't work until we move.

It just really hits home at the holidays that we may have to make a choice one day. An impossible choice if you ask me. That's probably at the root of all my frustration and stress. Actually let's just not think about it, because for now our holiday plans are perfect. Things may be crazy packing up the house and presents, and having 2 different sleep-overs, and making room for Santa, but we'll be making memories, having fun, and celebrating with the people we love most, so it's all worth it and it's all good... even though I guarantee at some point during our holiday celebrations the if onlys will start to creep into my mind and I'll have to tell Terrell and he'll have to listen... again. =)

3 Months Old

Austin turned 3 months old yesterday! And I was actually holding him at 8:37am remembering the moment he was born. It was sweet. It was also a reality check. Not ready to do that again anytime soon. Ha!

This month has been a little on the faster side I think. We traveled home to Barnesville several weekends, had Austin's dedication, Garrison's tubes, Premier shows, Christmas shopping, and had a busy week of Thanksgiving and decorating for Christmas. Phew! But Austin handled everything wonderfully and took it all in stride. What a blessing!!

Here's baby boy at 3 months~











And here's Garrison at 3 months. This wasn't the best quality picture we got of Garrison, but it was the happiest picture we got. I think in the others he either had his paci in his mouth or just wasn't cooperative. Austin is definitely a little "thicker" than Garrison at this age.

3 Month Stats and Happenings:

*I'm estimating that you weigh around 15 lbs and are about 24-25 inches long.

*You wear lots of 3 months and 3-6 months clothes, plus a few 6 months and you're still in a size 2 diaper. I'm amazed at how fast you're growing!

*You eat every 3 hours during the day but night time feedings have been inconsistent. Sometimes you sleep until 5:00 or later and sometimes you wake up once... it could be 1:45 or it could be 3:45.

*You go to bed every night between 7:00 and 8:00. Yay for having the same bedtime as your big brother!

*Reflux is still an issue, but we're managing just fine. I'm still the queen of laundry and you're still laid back about the whole thing. =)

*This month you took a bottle for the first time since you were a week old. You actually took a total of 5 bottles this month and did great!

*Your little personality is coming through more and more. You love when we talk to you. You start smiling and talking right back. You've also starting squealing, kicking your legs and giving a little chuckle when we talk to you. It is precious! You especially love Garrison talking to you... as long as he isn't trying to smother you with a hug.

*Naptimes during the day are still pretty sporadic and inconsistent. Your routine is a predictable eat, play, sleep, for the most part... but your naps are sometimes short, sometimes long, sometimes in the car, sometimes in your bouncy seat while we eat lunch, etc. I remember Garrison's routine being a little crazy until he was 4 months old and started eating every 4 hours, so we'll see if the same happens with you. Although I am determined to make naptime more of a priority this month!

Those are all the biggies I can think of. You continue to bring joy to our family and we are enjoying loving on you and watching a bond continue to grow between you and and your big brother. We are so thankful for you and love you so much! And we can't wait to celebrate Christmas with you! Happy Birthday Austin!!