Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas! It was a wonderful Christmas! Whit was at the perfect age. He loved every minute. I definitely think being a parent is the best part. The joy that fills the kids is just wonderful! We enjoyed reading The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent readings each night. I must say that I probably enjoyed it more :)
Our Christmas started Sunday with Christmas at Deedee and Jimbo's. We went over for gifts and dinner. Whit got a really awesome truck that carries a bulldozer. Needless to say it was a hit and provided much entertainment! Dinner was so yummy and we enjoyed getting to hang out over there! Whit and I made cookies for Santa on Sunday afternoon. The cookies are a tradition in my family and I was happy to make them with Whit. He enjoyed sprinkling :)
Christmas Eve we made it to the early service at church. I love the Christmas Eve service so much. It's just calming and it is always a wonderful reminder of our Great Gift! Whit sat in the service and loved getting to hold the candle. I on the other hand was a nervous wreck thinking my child would be the one to drop it!
We continued our tradition of dinner at mom and dad's with the Clinton family. I love getting together with them! After dinner we all put on our pajamas and Whit got ready for Santa!!
He enjoyed putting the plate of cookies and milk out. Then it was off to bed to wait! After he was down the elves went to work. The only think Whit had asked for was a John Deere gator. Santa came through! I think all of us enjoyed this part which is new for us this year! It was the first time we had a major gift to put together and all 9 of us were in Santa's workshop.
Christmas morning was wonderful. Whit is the sweetest kid and he woke up in his bed and looked over at Nate and I in our bed and saw we were asleep so he just sat there quietly and read some books until I sat up :) We woke everyone else up and I could not wait for his reaction! He cracked me up bc he walked down the steps and saw his gator and just said "look" He got a little more animated as he walked to it but he surprised us and did not ask to immediately go outside. We all enjoyed sitting and opening presents. I love Christmas morning and it did not disappoint this year. I am so thankful that all of us were together! I love my family so much! We had a wonderful day playing HARD! Then we had our traditional family dinner with mom's family. Mamaw was sad to miss Dede this year but she still enjoyed her family.
Overall we had a great Christmas. We are beyond blessed and I am so thankful for this season. Now we are looking forward to the beach for New Year's!!

Cookies for Santa!

Charlie loved Jimbo so much

Christmas at Deedee and Jimbo's

Sweet cousins on Christmas Eve

HK loved her American Girl doll soooo much

Fun gator!

Ready for Santa

Cookie and Doc got a really fun bouncy house!

All working on a toy :)

Charlie is One!

This time last year I was laying in the hospital bed praying for a quick and easy delivery(unlike Whit). Charlie listened and made his arrival at 12:07pm. I remember looking at Nate saying "its already time". What a wonderful day that was! The past year has been joyful and challenging but out family is more blessed because Charles Hampton is in it!
Charlie is crazy, happy, mischievous, and just one more mess! He looks like his mommy and acts like his daddy. He has precious big brown eyes, tan skin and the best lips you could ask for!  He is sooooo close to walking. He can walk about 5 steps right now. By the weekend I think we will be walking. Looks like Santa may be bringing shoes to  a certain one year old.
Charlie is my cuddle boy. He loves to be held. He loves his daddy more than anyone else. If Nate walks in the house and does not immediately acknowledge him and hold him he cries. He loves to play in the cabinets, the toilet(when I am not looking), the bath, peek a boo and when Whit plays with him. He likes to be outside when he can.  He is a wonderful eater. He eats a lot of food and pretty much anything. He is not a huge milk drinker but is actually getting better. He sleeps from about 6:45 til 6:15-6:30. He naps well too. I think he is trying to drop his morning nap so it is iffy these days. His afternoon nap usually lasts at least 1 1/2 hrs.
He is finally beginning to enjoy reading.
He is a little one and we cannot believe he is not bigger bc of how much he eats! We are headed to the doctor for our checkup in a few weeks.
Charlie, we love you so much and cannot imagine our family without you! Your daddy says if you were first then we would not have had a second! You are my crazy little love!!

weighs 20lbs 13 oz(45%) 29 in tall (20%)

Stealing your brothers breakfast

Love dogs!

Crazy boy!

*** Post updated! 

I never came back and posted when Charlie had his little "party". I do not even think I will call it a party but the night of his birthday we had Deedee, Jimbo, Cookie and Doc over to celebrate. Charlie and Whit were both sick with strep but I had already ordered a cake so we decided to have dinner anyway. I think if he had felt great he would have been crazy about his cake bc this boy loves food so much. Hopefully next year he will actually have a party and enjoy his birthday. Poor second child!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

What a fun weekend we had! We had such a busy week last week but it was fun! I love Christmas time so much and this year has been so much fun bc Whit is actually understanding things. I love Santa. I know there is a lot of controversy over Santa since he is not the reason we celebrate Christmas. I am definitely trying to teach Whit about Jesus's birthday as much as his little head can grasp. I just love the magic of Santa so we do Santa in our house! Santa does bring presents for Jesus's birthday party though. All that to say, Friday night we took Whit to ride the North Pole Express. Last Sunday night we decorated the tree and watched The Polar Express so he knew all about it. It was so much fun. I am so glad just the 3 of us went. He got a special night out with mommy and daddy! If you have not taken your kids I highly reccommend going. I will say that 3 was a good age and I am so glad we did not take him before now. He loved the actual train ride, the songs we got to sing, Santa and Mrs Claus and the chocolate milk! On the way home we called Cookie to tell her about it and I have never heard him more excited about something.

Decorating the tree last weekend

 

 

Saturday morning Nate and I got up to go to the SEC Championship game. Cookie and Doc thankfully kept the boys for us. It was so much fun! Nate's dad gets 4 tickets no matter who is playing. The seats are great. Sumner, Drew and Grant all joined us. It worked out bc Drew  had bought another ticket but the guy next to us had an extra seat so we all got to sit together! Who would have thought Auburn would be going to the National Championship game?! Sooo fun! War Eagle.

 





Thanksgiving 2013

We had a great Thanksgiving! It may be my favorite holiday! I love the food, the long weekend and family. We have so much to be thankful for!
As always we headed to the farm. We spend every thanksgiving at the farm and its wonderful! Thankfully this year it was actually cold how it should be!! My parents even came down to the farm bc we did my family Tuesday night. It was a beautiful, cool, fall weekend! Nate shot a 9 point on Friday so he was a happy camper! Then Saturday night Auburn beat Alabama in the most incredible game I have ever seen in my life. Nate and I were running around like crazy people!!  That was just the icing on the cake for to end the Thanksgiving weekend!!



We rolled the trees in Clopton with the Sanders!!