family.

We love photos around here. Luckily I know all the best photogs in town :) Lauren Gay took these timeless photos for a sweet Christmas gift to give to my parents. When Christmas came around growing up we always asked our parents what they wanted and mom replied with "a nice photo of you and your sister". So Meg and I gathered all our {babysitting} money, put on matching red sweaters and went up to Sears for a few Christmas presents. Oh dear. Where were you Lauren then?

We thought it would be perfect timing as Meg and I basically expanded the fam in 2010 :) Thanks Lauren!

merry christmas!

Just a few shots from Colin's first very very BUSY Christmas. I am having a drink as we speak. wow. He is so lucky to have such amazing family. He has everyone wrapped around his plump fingers ;)

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas with their families and friends.

holiday cards.

There has been a huge push this year to help local/small businesses- so that I did. I contacted Rita {who also designed this blog} to design a custom holiday/moving card. She did a fantastic job. Thanks Rita! Then I took these to a local printer to print/cut cards. Feels great to support the crafters and small businesses! If you can you should too! A very happy holiday season to everyone!! Thanks for reading :)

family.

Family photos came in the mail from Kristen Gardner today! Can't wait to get a few of these in a frame :)

DIY Coasters.

I come up with these random crafty ideas from time to time. I am not sure who likes it more me or my dog who likes to chew anything new I create. I am outnumbered by boys that test me. So I need a little girl time in my life..

If you have some coasters that need a face lift this literally takes two seconds and is super cheap! Buy some Modpodge {best stuff on earth}. Cut out pretty scrapbook paper. Apply modpodge directly on coaster. Apply scrapbook paper. Apply modpodge on top for finish.
Here you go! Fun. Simple. And super duper cheap :)

skins.

Justin and I headed off to the Redskins stadium Sunday with tickets given to me by Deltek! The suite's are amazing and Justin took full advantage of the "charge it to Deltek" drinks. Who knows when we will ever have the opportunity to do this again!

We tailgated inside early and also scored the best seats!

And made it home in the nick of time for Santa visiting!

colin + jackson.

Cute boys in their PJ's awake past their bedtime? I love it when the PJ's come out. It's so darn cute. These boys loved watching the train go around and round the tree! Aren't they adorable?

soap box.

I dont usually like to write long posts but I was talking to a very good friend of mine and I feel other moms need to be reminded from time to time of what a great job YOU are doing.

Being a mom is hard, exhausting, leads you to ask youself if you have another hour left in you. But it also comes with the largest rewards. I have never felt so blessed as I do now in my life. I mean look at this man we brought to life...

Colin went through a very fussy stage and at times is still very fussy. He would cry for two hours straight when we got home at night. This last about a month and only 2 things worked: bjorn and airplane rides. We. were. exhausted.

I receieved an email from a good friend and a very wise mom:

No one is really a super mom. Everyone wants to make it sound like it's Disney... it's hard- seriously. But it's the kind of hard that gives you amazing returns.. .the smiles, the hugs, sparkling eyes, sounds and the talking back!

I sometimes just go back and read that when I am having a hard day or think I am not doing a good job. Justin and I about 2 weeks ago were still getting up in the middle of the night making bottles, shh shhh shhhhing Colin and rubbing his back. Again we.were.exhausted. Then one night we finally decided we should let him cry it out. Awful. Again I had to go back and read those words. I can now tell you that after 2 nights of 20 minute crying spells he sleeps from 8 PM- 6AM. Heaven.. dare I say "Disney"?

holidays.

Colin enjoyed his first Thanksgiving dinner eating his spoon :) Meghan hosted Thanksgiving at her house and as always prepared a delicious meal! We headed over to the Smith's Friday to have another Thanksgiving dinner. I secretly wish I had a 3rd family to have Thanksgiving with on Saturday. I love turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. I could eat stuffing cold I love it that much :)

Colin picking out his first Christmas tree!

And we are all set up for xmas. Justin spent all day setting up the lights outside and I have to say I am quite impressed. Colin has no idea what is going on.. but he loves the train going around and around that tree!

We always love the holidays around here but having a child really brings out the holidays in you even more...

7 months.

Seven months!? It has been quite a whirlwind around here. Colin is growing into a BOY more and more each day. Crawling is right around the corner and I can't even imagine how that will change the dynamics in this house. Colin is a mommy's boy. I love it secretly but it also does mean I can't do anything :) He is quite the pro at sitting these days but would rather roll all over the place than getting up on all fours. The months now just seem to fly and I feel that April will be here in a blink of an eye!

books.

Great Grandma Smith really wanted Colin to have a bookcase to hold his fantastic book collection he already has! I probably don't get the mom of the year award for having all these in a box for 3 months but hey. Now that they are all displayed in his soon to be playroom he lovessss looking at all his books.

Even enough to STAND and hold on to that second shelf!! Oh boy. No worries it's nailed to the wall. Colin's favorite book so far... Brown Bear Brown Bear. Thanks Jackson ;)

Thanks for my bookshelf Great Grandma! I am already enjoying it!

home.

We did it. Well sort of. Boxes are still everywhere- I cant find any shoes and we still have tons of work to do. Buttttt we finally have a new place to call home. With any move comes stress but throw a stomach bug on top of a moving weekend and you have a disaster. We all came down with the stomach bug and it came in waves. Colin. Me. Justin- yikes. Thank goodness for grandparents. We layed on the couch both of us dead to the world and I dressed my sick self to answer the door on Halloween. I was not going to let a stomach bug prevent me from meeting all our neighbors. We cant wait for the many memories we will create in our new home. Stomach bug is just the first one :)