Elizabeth Caroline

Little Miss Libby is here!  She made her grand entrance on New Year's Day  (1-1-11) at 10:11 weighing in at 6 lbs 11 oz and measuring 20 inches long.  This time around was so different for me.  For starters I knew more of what to expect.  Her birth was different than Jack's in several ways, but I felt more sure of myself knowing what would most likely happen with each step.  My labor started at 3 am on New Year's Eve, but was very sporatic all day long.  Finally at 2 am on New Year's Day things really got under way and we called my parents so we could head for the hospital.  Things went much quicker than with Jack and it only took 2 hours to get my epidural as opposed to the 4+ hours that it took with Jack.  Lovely!  To make things even better, we had the same nurse and doctor who delivered Jack!  It was so special and comforting to have them both their, along with Ian and Mom.  Jack had to be seen by a specialist as soon as he was born and that plus some complications on my side, meant I didn't get to hold him until much later in the day.  With Libby I got to hold her right away and then keep her for a couple hours before she went to the nursery.  It was so calm and special.  All in all, I have to say that number two was a much better experience. : )

Libby has been a wonderful baby!  She sleeps great, eats great, and doesn't mind being jostled a little and poked by her brothers. : )  Speaking of those two, they have done so much better than I imagined!  Sawyer calls her "My Libby" and wants to hold her multiple times a day.  He kisses her and shares his toys with her.  I honestly couldn't ask for a better big brother.  I've really seen him jump into the big brother role recently as well.  He's done so great helping me by going to get things when I ask or cleaning up toys.  He's even trying to show Jack how to do things to be a helper too. I love my sweet, affectionate boy!
Jack doesn't have a whole lot to do with Libby, but he's very sweet when he remembers that she's there. : )  He's more concerned with keeping up with Sawyer and playing with trains, trucks and all things boy!  Just like Sawyer, he's become a little more attached to Ian over the last few weeks, but he's still a Momma's boy and I have to say I don't really mind!
Here are a few pictures of our life recently, and I'll try to come back and update with the rest of Christmas, Sawyer's birthday and our snow days. Who can believe we had two in less than a month! I had to ask myself if I was still living in SC!!

 

Merry Christmas, Darlin'

Happy New Year too!  Ok, so I realize it's not New Year's yet, but I'm kind of hoping we'll have a baby by that point, so I'll go ahead and say it. : )  I did the majority of our Christmas shopping online this year, so our Christmas season has been full of family fun, which I have to say is definitely the way to go!!  Since our kids are still fairly young, I decided that we would wait one more year to start any of the fun things I've seen around and just stick with learning the Christmas story.  We have several nativities around the house, two of which are just for the kids.  Every day we've tried to sit down at some point or another and tell the story of Jesus' birth (the short version : ).  Some days they sit still and listen as though it's the best thing ever, and others, well other days we throw pieces and could care less what Mommy is saying!  Ha!  That's the way it goes with two little boys sometimes.  Thankfully, Daddy also has two weeks off of work, so the boys have been enjoying lots of wrestling, tower building, piggy back rides, and all the things that only Daddy does at our house.  : ) 

In keeping with tradition, we went and picked out our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.  The boys actually had a lot of fun despite the sour looks on their faces.  

 Here's proof that they really did like it!

 Sawyer was quite taken with the power tools and watching them shake the tree. 

 And we had to smell the tree for some reason.

 This year we got our tree from the lot that was on the property of White House Florist.  For those of you familiar with the big white house, you probably also know the red carpet they put out at Christmas.  Well, for me that red carpet and that house hold special memories.  The big white house, and the brick one behind it, belonged to my best friend and her grandparents.  Growing up, I think I spent most of my summer by their pool every year!  We always took a picture on the front porch as a family, and then took prom pictures their as well.  My bridal portraits were even done on that front porch and around the house!  Needless to say, we had to try for a family picture on the porch.  The boys were done with picture taking by this point, but we had to try, just for old times sake.  

 Aunt D came for a visit and of course the boys convinced her to read a few books.

Plenty of blocks and tower building have been found around our house recently.

and time with Daddy

and finally the Christmas tree decorated and full of lights!  I love sitting in the dark, quiet and looking at the tree.  Apparently, so does my oldest because I find it plugged in all the time, when I didn't do it. : )  The day we decorated, we brought it in and put lights on while the boys were napping, or at least we thought they were napping.  Sawyer had apprently sneaked down the stairs to see what was up, but couldn't keep quite once he saw the lights come on.  As soon as we plugged it in to check the lights we heard, "WOW, it's amazing!!!"  It was kind of hard to be stern after that. : )

Christmas cookies at Granna's house

 Sawyer, the old pro, showing Jack the ropes

 Jack trying to "sneak" some dough. 

 After that, Granna thought it was just easier to give him a cookie than to fight about eating dough.

 Cheesing it up for the camera in our Christmas pjs

 Also, cheesing it, but not willing to look at Mommy for some reason

 And the best thing to happen so far in the lives of these two little boys is the construction of a swing set in the back yard.  Grandaddy, Josh and Daddy spent a Saturday putting it together and since that day they ask to go outside about 20 times more than they did before!  It doesn't matter that it's been freezing cold most days, they will put on hats, coats and gloves as long as they can get on that slide and swing up high!

 But of course, when it gets to cold, coming in and warming up by the fire is a pretty appealing things too!

 Doing some chalk drawing on the porch

 climbing up to slide and looking cute as can be!

 head first is always better

or just crawling up the slide the wrong way : ) 

Well, I hope you're enjoying your Christmas holidays as much as we are, and we also hope you're able to slow down and spend some time thinking about and celebrating our Savior's birth.  With out that event, we would still be lost sinners, something for which I am truly grateful!

We've also had a bunch of family Christmas get togethers, so check back later for some pictures and stories about those.  It's always a barrel of monkeys when you get a bunch of family in the same room. : )

Splish, Splash

We were takin' a bath and havin' lots of fun in the tub!

 

Silly faces for the camera

Life Lately

Well, we've been enjoying the lovely weather around our house which included the SC State Fair, Halloween festivities and lots of outside time. 

 First on the list of rides was the carousel which Sawyer has been on several times.  Jack on the other hand can't stand it, so we sat on the little seat.  He wasn't thrilled, but he stayed. : )

 From there we went on to the train, which Sawyer got to ride all by himself!!  Big step for the big boy, especially since mom was a little worried he was going to jump out at some point.

 This cutie, stayed put with Daddy and watched while brother went round and round.

 Next, we had to see the animals.  Llamas, goats, cows, horses, and the list goes on and on.  Sawyer was right in the middle of it all, while Jack was a little more willing to watch from a distance.

 Of course, once Sawyer saw this roller coaster he HAD to ride it!  You can't see him because he's squashed beside daddy, but you can bet he enjoyed himself.

 And then we found Jack's favorite part (and Daddy's), the food!!  Hip Hooray for Fair food!

And just so we can remember what we looked like when our kiddos were little. : )

Our family before little miss gets here! 

 Of course what's the fair without a stop by the tractors?

 One last train ride and then on to Halloween where we continued the train theme with conductor outfits!

My camera, for some unknown reason, wasn't set right so almost all of my pictures came out fuzzy. : (  You can tell though, that someone definitely enjoyed the fun of getting candy!

  Outside fun is even better with pint size chairs and a snack outside. 

Ahh . . . this is the life! 

New Babies

This weekend, some friends of ours welcomed home their sweet little baby boy, Liam, and we are so excited for them!  This is the sixth family, within our church family and friends, who have adopted and there are several more to come!  Not only does it make me excited to see their happiness and to know, from personal experience, the awe struck wonder you feel at seeing God work such a miracle in your life, but it also makes me excited to know that there will be someone else that Sawyer can see who has a similar life story.  He won't be the only one, and there are people he can talk to or hang out with that understand.
Well, since my parents jokingly call Meg and Joe their adopted kids, then I guess I can call myself an adopted aunt, right? : )  Meg and Joe, we're so happy for y'all and we'll be praying for you as you start this awesome, challenging journey into parenthood! 

 

a sweet picture that I borrowed from http://thepittsfam.blogspot.com/