Hoping all you mom’s and soon-to-be mom’s have a wonderful and blessed day. And to my own mother, thank you for all you’ve done for me and for only half-joking about giving me away to anyone who would take me during my adolescence. I love you so much!

Holiday weekends are always so much fun, but the older your kids get (and the more you’re reproducing), the more exhausting they are! But let’s not fixate on the exhausting part - on to some pictures!

Saturday we colored eggs with Conner which, I don’t know why I was surprised, but he made a mess. After explaining twenty times that you gently place the egg in the colored water, not hold it up high and let it cannonball in, he still wasn’t getting it but look at that face - having so much fun!

I really can’t wait until he’s a little older and we can dive into some seriously fun art projects together.

Every Easter we gather at my parents house for lunch and a good ol’ Easter egg hunt. It’s still a concept that is lost on him right now, but with a little direction he found all his eggs (and a few for that were meant for the big kids, too - hey, if you lose out to a two-year old I don’t feel bad for you).

And the fun part - finding out what’s inside the eggs.

I said I would post a hair pic, and as you can see it’s really anticlimactic. Just a trim, she did cut longer bangs which I hate, but I always think it’ll be different this time and it never is and two days later I’m styling and clipping them to the side. I had a before picture, which got lost when my hard-drive went berserk a few weeks ago, so here’s a pic of it at Christmas (which nothing had changed from then anyways):

And after:

Hello sunshine! It’s not that much of a difference but having had it darker for four years it was quite an adjustment. I wanted to go really blonde, but thought I needed to ease into the water, not dive in head-first esp. since pregnancy sends my indecisiveness to the tenth degree. And then here’s a 25-week belly shot just for funsies. Hope you all had a fabulous holiday!

About a few days before Christmas, I always get sad that it will be over so soon. Even the years that are stressful beyond belief a part of me gets blue on the 23rd when in two days it will all be over for another eleven months. But somehow, no matter how good or bad that year was, on the 26th I wake up and realize just how ready I am for it to all be over. Scroogish? Maybe. I just know next year boasts so many great things that will be happening for us (some sooner rather than later) and I just want to get to them already. But I did have an amazing holiday this year. Each year I simplify Christmas more and more and this year I know it was so wonderful b/c of that. If you haven’t done this already, I highly recommend it (and it won’t feel “less Christmasy” b/c of it - pinky swear).

Conner made out like a bandit again, and Tim and I realized that it’s good for him to have a sibling. Right now he is the first grandchild on my side, first great grandchild, first nephew, great nephew, second cousin, everything. He walks into a family gathering and for the next few hours he is smothered and accosted by everyone. He loves it, and we are so thankful that Conner is loved so much, but it does make you wonder how he’d turn out with all that attention and being the only one to soak it up.

The gifts were plentiful for him and the funny thing is he has played with everything and continues to do so. He just flits from toy to puzzle to toy to book all day. My favorite toy to play with him is his remote control car b/c, come on, they’re just fun. And he loves his little bowling set (ball + knocking things over = fun for any male). We had so much fun with him on Christmas morning helping him discover his new toys and showing him how to use them. Of course, there were also 20 new balls that were introduced to our already ridiculous surplus, so thank you everyone who decided he needs more balls. Really(is my sarcasm being detected?).

Tim and I exchanged our gifts early, again (b/c we just can not wait we get so excited), and he is now the proud owner of an xBox 360 (the end result of all those clutches I’ve been laboring over the last few months) and I received a beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings (the end result of Tim’s hard work and saving). Both of us were so shocked over our gifts, but it was fun to really have no idea what you were getting, and knowing your spouse has no clue either.

My in-laws came in for the holiday and it was so great having them here. I won’t say, again, how much I want them to move here (Karen, do you understand how much we want this? Just in case the millionth time I’ve said it isn’t enough), but it would be so amazing. Having both sets of grandparents who love them and want nothing more than to love them is one of the best gifts your kids can have. It’s always fun watching Conner with our parents and getting to see them revert back to this child-like state is so sweet. Papa bought Conner a bat and ball set which was well received - I don’t know what people mean when they say we are grooming him to play baseball.

He likes the high ones, just like his mama.

But the funniest gift he was given was by my parents and that was Conner’s very own Barka lounger. I mean really, every man should have one.

So now that the season has come and is almost gone, it’s time to box up the Christmas stuff and get ready to bring in 2008. I truly hope your holiday was wonderful and fun and relaxing and full of memories.

May your days be filled with these.

I used to go into full-on countdown mode the week before Christmas. To me that was always the best part of the holiday, the week leading up to the big day and the anticipation of it all. Conner is still too small to understand this crazy side of mom (among many others), but next year he’ll have a better grasp of Christmas and why it makes me run circles in the living room.

Busy things going on here at the manor. Tim and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary this weekend. Woot woot! Five years - it seems like a long time and yet it doesn’t. We already know a handful of friends who didn’t make it that far in their wedded bliss, so we know that five years is a great milestone. We’ve been through a lot since we’ve been married, but I think this year was probably the most trying. We’ve both gotten to see each other at the most broken places of our lives so far, but from those places we picked each other up, grown in grace and wisdom, and seen awesome things come out of it. Some of the most amazing things I’ve ever accomplished I did so with Tim, or had him cheering me on from the sidelines. Tim, you’ve made this crazy life not only bearable, but I wouldn’t want it without you in it. I love you so stinkin’ much.

So how does one celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary? Send the man-child to the grandparents for the weekend and live it up pre-kiddo’s style! My mom and dad graciously offered to watch Conner for the weekend (read that: two! nights!), and Tim and I jetted away to a bed and breakfast at a charming nearby city, and had so much fun. First of all, a new requirement for our next house is a two-person jacuzzi. Never mind the romantic nature of such an invention, but you can submerge your whole body in this so easily and even swim a few laps - it’s huge! We wasted a lot of water in that thing. Charlottesville can be on the yuppy side, but it’s still super charming and tons of artsy stuff to do. Too bad it was in the 30’s and fuh-reeeee-zing, so enjoying anything outdoors wasn’t enjoying at all. But we did a little shopping, did a lot of eating, and did even more cuddling. I missed Conner like crazy, but it was so great to not have the distraction and to remember what it’s like to have a lot of time to just be together.

I keep saying I feel like this is my favorite Christmas so far, and while I do still feel that way, I’m feeling the crunch to get everything done. I usually go all-out with the baking but have really scaled it down this year, mainly b/c I want to keep enjoying the holiday. But my craft table is piling up with half-finished projects and sketches of projects that I have only a week to get done and I’m starting to get a little anxious. Some of them I would love to share pictures, but unfortunately I can not since many of the receivers read my blog. So now I must go be a busy elf, but first I kick my feet up and enjoy a nice chai latte because the boy is sleeping. I will surely miss nap time when he does away with them for good.

Things here are chugging along rather smooth lately (at least where the holidays are concerned). It’s so amazing to me at how much energy it takes to force yourself to slow down. This time of year always boasts of business, hustling and bustling, but after making myself not do the crazed holiday thing, I think this Christmas season is my favorite so far. Of course my day does come to a screeching halt around 5:30 pm when my evening sickness rares it’s ugliness. Just a few more short weeks before the promises of the second trimester, right?

I wanted to get one more batch of clutches in the shop for Christmas before I take a break for a little bit, which will relieve a little stress (and time, also) to finish up other holiday gifts. It was interesting trying to come up with an idea that wasn’t too Christmas-y. So they’re a little more understated, but just as pretty I think, and emphasize something that I love about Christmastime - twinkly, shiny things!

I really can’t decide which I like better - the snowflakes, or the wintry trees. I actually love the blue ones, even tho they’re hard to see - they have that wintry, icy look to them, despite what the photo’s do not convey. You can find them here if you’re interested in purchasing one. And b/c I’ve mentioned it twice so far in the last month or so, I’m giving away a clutch (it’s a blue snowflake one like the one here), so if you want to take a stab at taking her home, just leave your name and your email in the comments and answer the following question and I’ll pull a name Thursday: What was the best gift you ever received for the holidays?

If there was ever a time to pull out maternity pants early, it is the weekend after Thanksgiving. I think I ate myself into a coma on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I jumped on the scale this morning and grimaced painfully until the numbers popped up and was relieved to find I only gained a pound. So technically I’m still under my previous pre-prego weight, which honestly is a huge relief. With Conner I gained 7 pounds in the first trimester, and I’m at week 9 with one pound gained as of yet. Now how my pants are fitting in the waist is a little different. I thought I could make it until the second trimester before I started breaking out the elastic, but instead I’m having to opt for my low-rise jeans. It’s fun tho - I can’t complain. So here’s a belly shot for you - the first of many.

Thanksgiving was so fun - it always is - and we got our fill of family and food. We started the day out watching Tim play a little football and poor Conner…wanting to be a big boy so badly, he bawled on the sidelines after the game started b/c he couldn’t play with them on the field. It’s hard to explain to an almost two year why he can’t play football with giants who will bowl him over - I don’t want him wearing helmets and licking windows the rest of his life.

This year our good friends Jerrod and Amanda joined us and it was just as much fun having friends among the chaos. The boys played the entire time and Conner slept like a rock. I always seem to forget just how much I love Thanksgiving, and leave thinking, “wow, that was so much fun!” We really are blessed to have so many friends and family nearby that we can all gather together at the same place and fellowship together.

Sunday I forced myself to decorate for the holidays. I really do go all out, but this year I just wasn’t feeling it. I don’t want to be a scrooge about it, but it just takes soooooo long. But Tim gently (and guiltily) reminded me that this will be our last Christmas in this house, so why not remember it the right way? So all the greenery is back up and fluffed and lit with twinkly lights and our world is right with itself. Conner helped us decorate the tree and is absolutely enamored by it. He pulls us into the living room at least twenty times over the course of the day to point at it and exclaim emphatically, “Sisma Tee!”

You can’t really tell in this picture, but Conner’s head about exploded when he saw all the Christmas balls. The boy is obsessed.

I’m also one of those people who does not shop until the last week of Christmas. I would love to say it’s b/c of all the deals you get when you wait, but it’s not - it’s sheer laziness. However this year is already different in that Conner is bought for, Tim’s stuff is ordered and I’ve already begun rounding up the gifts for everyone else. I really surprise myself. I know it sucks all of my Christmas spirit when the week before the big day I’m stressing that nothing has been bought, so I really do think those days are over, for I’m already nestled into the spirit of the Holidays and my shopping and buying and making is almost complete. I am hoping to do another giveaway very very soon, so check back for another crafty giveaway (that may or may not be a clutch - haven’t decided yet).

I know I am one of thousands who luuuuuuvs Christmas music. I have my favorites - Jingle Bell Rock, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Oh Holy Night, just to name a few - but last year as I was cleaning the kitchen and listening to one of my favorite radio programs, Delilah (yes, I am a mom), I heard this beautiful Christmas song that brought tears to my eyes. As I was washing the dishes, I listened to this young girl’s beautiful voice sing this folk song and I couldn’t stop welling up. I only heard it once, but I found a copy of it on You Tube and will definitely be purchasing the single from iTunes. The song is called The Gift, and it’s by Aselin Debison. You can listen to it here, or if you’re at a place you can’t listen right now, here are the lyrics. I hope you are blessed as much as I was!

This week is Thanksgiving! This is probably my favorite week of the year. The anticipation of my favorite holiday, the build-up, the cooking, the fall-ness in the air, then the actual day, and the day after is the kick-off to the holiday season. I stinking love it so much I feel like running circles in the living room. I’m so relieved my nausea has subsided - realizing I’d be thick in the first trimester during turkey-day made me pray and beg my morning sickness away like crazy, and it is working! I am bummed that I can’t take my normal place on the trampoline with all the kiddo’s after dinner, but that’s okay - just means I get to sit and watch them bounce around and laugh hysterically.

I usually don’t start baking for Thanksgiving until Wednesday evening, but we’re having an early T-day with some friends, so instead of whipping up my favorite pumpkin pie twice, I opted for pumpkin pie bars for tonight. They’re super easy, quick, and really do taste like pumpkin pie. I highly recommend them and the recipe is listed below. Have a great Thanksgiving and I’ll see ya when I return!

Pumpkin Pie Bars

1-1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) cold butter or margarine
1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil; grease foil lining. Mix flour, brown sugar and 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and pecans. Reserve 1 cup of the oat mixture; press remaining mixture onto bottom of pan. Bake 15 min.

BEAT cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

BAKE 25 min. Lift from pan using foil handles; cool completely. Cut into 24 bars. Store leftover bars in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Ingenius title, eh? No play on words today. That shows you just how exhausted I am. As if running around after a toddler all day weren’t tiring enough, throw in the exhaustion that the first trimester is known for and you have me, last night at 8 pm fighting to stay awake. This weekend will prove another test of my dexterity as my brother is getting married and Tim, Conner, and myself are all in the wedding - wedding festivities galore! I’m going to have to become one with some strong coffee if I’m going to make it.

Yesterday was Conner’s second (albeit, official first since last year he didn’t know what was going on) Halloween and I just have to say how much fun we had. It’s having children that make these holidays so stinking fun! When your kids are still young, you can decide what they’ll be and the possibilities really are endless. We decided on a monkey since Conner knows what it is and can do the most adorable “Ooh Ooh, Ahh Ahh”.

Love my monkey

Ummm…no inventory yet, Conner - we haven’t even started.

So eager!

We started out with the cutest purple people eater I’ve ever seen and hit up some houses.

How can these two show up at your door and you not give them candy? This team is a recipe for success!

Conner doing the ol’ “Look over there!”-to-steal-food-routine

Chloe’s a little more straight-forward

After we left them, we headed over to Amanda’s mother-in-law’s to join four other little ones for more fun. It was dark and chilly by then - perfect trick-or-treating weather - so we hit the streets and an hour later, the monkey, the scarecrow, and Bob the Builder were dragging their feet so we headed back. I can’t believe how much fun Conner had. Every time I asked if he was doing okay or having a good time, I got an emphatic, “Yeah!” He was so polite - “please” and “thank you” at every house - and had a blast being with the other boys. Tim and I had so much fun just being a part of it. Next year is only going to be more fun since he’ll have even more understanding of it. All in all it was a great holiday - kids really do make it a million times better.