Family, Fun, and Favorites

Our week is off to a great start!!  Monday morning, Matt didn't have to work at the hospital so we had breakfast as a family of three at Panera and ran errands while Carmen cleaned the house.  (I love and cherish the days when he and I are both off of work and we can spend the day just "playing" as a family.)  That afternoon, Aunt Nancie and Uncle Jimmy were driving through and stopped by to meet Reese.  It was so good to see them and we enjoyed visiting with them while they loved on our sweet baby girl. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday night, Kyndall and Charla came over to baby-sit Reese while Matt and I went to dinner and a movie.  We ate at Bravo, enjoyed a few drinks, and then I dragged him to see the last Twilight movie.  (Yes, he is THE BEST HUSBAND!)  It was a wonderful night out!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, I met Julianna for lunch at Local Lime.  (Oh how I am going to miss our weekly lunch dates come January!!)  This new restaurant is out by our house at the Chenal Promenade and it's delicious!  I'm super excited about it!!  Today, Reese and I are snuggled up at home for the day with plans to go absolutely no where.  Matt started a fire for us before he left for work and we'll be watching Christmas movies by the tree.  L-O-V-E

 

 

Some more of my favorite things today....

 

 

I am so excited for the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefellar Center tonight on NBC!!  This time last year, we were getting ready to leave for NYC :)

 

 

 2011

 

 

 All of Reese's monogrammed luggage from Pottery Barn came in the mail last night (one of her Christmas presents.)  It's adorable! 

 

 

 

 

 

And my favorite thing of all...

 

 

Baby girl all curled up in her snowflake sleeper.  She's got LOTS of Christmas pjs and clothes to sport this holiday season so stay tuned for some adorable pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving in Louisiana

We had a wonderful time in Monroe celebrating Thanksgiving with Matt's family.  Our 'favorite' was off work on Wednesday, so we left mid-morning, trying to beat some of the traffic.  We actually celebrated Thanksgiving Wednesday night when we got there because Emily and Jack were with Jack's family on Thursday.  Larry and Andree' cooked up a delicious dinner!!  We had ham, two kinds of stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green peas, bread, green bean casserole, salad, two pies, and brownies.  Needless to say, I over ate!!  :)  It was a great night with family and we enjoyed every minute with the sweet kiddos. 

 

 

Thursday was a nice, lazy day for us.  We lounged around after breakfast and then enjoyed leftovers for lunch.  That afternoon, Aunt Saundra and Uncle Clint came over to meet Reese.  (She got to meet cousin Claire, who flew in from Atlanta, the day before)  Thursday evening, Brent and Gina came over to see our baby girl and to visit.  Reese had a full day and by 9:00 was absolutely exhausted!

 

 

Friday morning, we had family pictures taken at 10:00.  I'm so anxious to get them back!!  Matt was on call Saturday, so we headed back to Little Rock after lunch.  We got home right before dark, grabbed some dinner, started laundry, and settled our little munchkin into bed.  (I forgot my memory card to our big camera, and the battery was dead on my digital, so the only pictures I have from Thanksgiving are from the Iphone.) 

Poppy and Reese

 

 

Aunt Em getting some love

 

 

Aunt Saundra has the magic touch
 

 

Matt's been sick with a cold and sore throat so our weekend has been pretty uneventful, which is just fine with me.  I finished putting up the Christmas trees and decorating the house, then finished up my Christmas shopping for Reese.  (Notice I said for Reese only, I still have umpteen more gifts to buy for everyone else;))  Tonight, we are curled up by the fire, eating a warm bowl of chili, watching Home Alone on the family channel and enjoying all the Christmas lights.  (Reese just stares at them in awe - it's precious!)  I'll leave you with a few recent pics of baby girl!!

"Santa's bringing me WHAT for Christmas?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

My little fluffy snowman!


 

So Very Thankful

Another great weekend around here....  Matt was off on Friday and is so good to watch Reese and let me get mani/pedis, waxes, spray tans, etc.  I, in turn, take over and let him head to the gym for a hard workout.  We make a great team and always try to give each other a little bit of time for ourselves.  I appreciate that man so much!!  :)

 

 

Mom drove into town Friday night.  Dad was fishing in the gulf with some friends, so she came to Little Rock to love on Reese and of course spend some time with her girls ;)  We LOVE having Mimi at the house!!  Friday night, we enjoyed dinner at Alley Oops and Saturday we started our morning with breakfast at Panera.   After breakfast, we gave Matt the afternoon to himself and Mom, Kyndall, Reese, and I went to order Kyndall's wedding invitations and programs.  It was a super fun afternoon.  We then picked up cupcakes at Gigi's (they were incredible!!) and Mom took Reese shopping.  We stocked up on clothes for daycare - she is SET!! 

 

 

Saturday night, we ordered in pizza and addressed all of Kyndall and Blake's 'Save The Dates'.  It was a cozy night of football, family, food and fun.  Sunday morning, we went to early church and then went to Bible class (our first Sunday to try class since having Reese.)  She did so good and slept the entire time.  We went to Copeland's afterwards for brunch and Blake's family joined us as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Mom left to go back to Rogers, she showed us how to make Christmas wreaths.  She went to a class last week and could open up her own business.  The one she made was gorgeous.  I made one of my own and it's much easier than I ever thought!! 

 

 

 

Our wreaths (Mine is not quite done)

 

 

And I have to throw this in...someone is smiling all the time these days!  Love it!!

 

 

 

Again, having my mom in town is such a blessing!!  Her heart is so big and she comes in town and just takes care of everybody!!  I can never express in words how much I love her. 

 

 

I entitled this post "So Very Thankful" because in class on Sunday, people went around the room and talked about what they were thankful for, and it really got me thinking.  I thank God every single day for all the blessings he's given me, but sometimes it's easy to get caught up in "life."  I know we have all been blessed, but this year I am so thankful for many things!

 

 

• I thank God for my health and for the health of my family.  

• I thank Him for our greatest blessing this year...a beautiful, healthy, baby girl.

• I am thankful for a husband who loves me unconditionally and who I have fallen in love with all over again, as I watch him interact with our sweet girl.  He is an amazing father who shares in every bit of responsibility and helps out with EVERYTHING!

• I thank God for our jobs.  There was a man in our class that works for Hostess and he (along with 18,000 others) got laid off on Friday.  My heart ached for him.  I know it will be tough to go back to work with Reese here now, but I am so very thankful that I have a job to go back to. 

• I am thankful for my amazing Christian family.  When I think about my life, I thank the Lord for making me a part of a family that really is like no other.  We get along, laugh, love each other (despite our faults), and love the Lord.  Yes, I am talking about my immediate family (Mom, Dad, Landon, Brandi, Matt, Kyndall, and Blake), but also my extended family.  I thank God for our closeness and love EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

 

 

There are other things I am thankful for...the food we eat, the warm beds we sleep in, the friends we are blessed with, the cars we drive, and the clothes we have on our back.  You don't have to look very far to see how blessed you are.  I was reminded of that in church on Sunday morning and I am so thankful that we chose last Sunday to be our first morning back to class. 

 

 

I hope each of you can be thankful this Thanksgiving for all the blessings God has given you!

 

2 Months Old

How is my sweet little bundle of joy already two months old?!  She is absolutely the sweetest thing in the world and we are loving every minute of watching her grow.  Here are some of my favorite things I love about her now....

 

• She knows her Mommy and Daddy's voices and recognizes our faces.  She just lights up when we talk to her and smiles so BIG!
• Our favorite time with her is in the mornings (usually on the changing table is when she's the happiest.)
•   I don't want to jinx us, but she is doing great when she sleeps at night.  She is down for 6-8 hours at a time.  Her stretch is usually 10-5, something this Mommy can do!
•     I think she is on the verge of laughing, we are hearing tiny giggles and I love it!
 
 
 
Reese had her two month check-up yesterday and had to get 3 vaccinations (poor baby)!!  She did so good!  Of course, when they stuck her she screamed, but as soon as I picked her up and snuggled her close, she calmed down.  I was proud of myself as well, this mama didn't cry!!
 
 
 

The calm before the storm
 
 
 
She weighed 12 lbs and 7 ounces.  (Still 80th percentile for weight and 70th percentile for height).  The doctor said she is growing well and a healthy, beautiful girl. 





Seriously Mom??
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
 
 



Bored...
 
 
 
 



Frowny face...let's wrap this up Mom!
 
 
 
 
 Aven Reese, with each day your Daddy and I fall more in love with you.  You are our perfect gift from God!!
 
 
 
 

Holiday House

What a great weekend!!  Matt worked Friday, so Reese and I had a quiet day around the house.  Saturday, we got up and after Matt went to the gym, Reese and I met Kim and Amanda @ The Red Door for brunch.  My sweet friends surprised us with a baby gift and had a chance to love on Reese.  We had a blast catching up!  After eating, Matt came to pick up Reese and we girls made a day of it at Holiday House.  I was very proud of myself for not going bonkers and spending lots of money.  I did find a few goodies though :)  Lots of hugs and kisses to my fabulous husband for watching our baby girl so that I could spend the afternoon with two of my best friends.  Thank you babe!

 

 

 

 

 

Love these girls with all my heart and soul!!

 

 

 In our element...laughing at something?!? 

My little munchkin enjoyed some Game Day with Daddy while I was out...

Apparently football wore her out...this is what I came home to.  Sweet angel!!

 

 

 

These two make my world go round!

 

 

 

Sunday after early service (Yes, we made it to early church again!!), Matt got down all of our Christmas decor.  Holiday House definitely got me in the Christmas spirit!  We put up our big tree in the living room Sunday night and will finish decorating this week.  I am so excited to experience my favorite holiday of the year with our little bundle of joy.  Pictures of Reese by the tree(s) to come soon!!

 

 

 

 

 

Really?!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moral of this post.... this Mama has got to get back to work, because she just keeps spending $$$.

 

 

 



Our First Road Trip As A Family of Three

We had such a fun and fabulous weekend in Rogers!  It was jam packed with Reese meeting lots of people.  We left Friday morning because Matt was off work.  Reese did great in the car!  She slept most of the way except when we stopped to feed her and eat lunch at Whattaburger.  When we got to Rogers, we went straight to Mom's school so she could show everyone her "newest" grandbaby.  Next, we stopped by the lumberyard to see Dad and Uncle Landon.  Then, headed out to Mamaw's house.  This was Mamaw's first time to see Reese.  Brandi brought the kiddos over and we had a great afternoon playing.  Friday night, Mom and Dad brought pizzas out to Landon and Brandi's and we all spent the night loving on all the sweeties and enjoying our time together.

 

 

Mamaw and Reese

 

 

 

 

 

Mamaw and her great-grandgirls

 

 

 Love my little Jack (9 weeks older than Reese)

 

 

 

 

Playing with Papaw Garner's canes

 

 

Snoozing with Daddy

 

Brandi and Jack 

 

 

 

Sidewalk chalk fun

Mimi and Jack

 

 

 

Sleeping Beauty

Sweet little man

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, we slept late, enjoyed biscuits and gravy, and sat around and watched game day ALL DAY!  Mom took some pictures of us so that I can use them for our Christmas cards, since I wasn't on top of getting them professionally done this year :/  Here are a few...it's amazing how many we had to take to get just ONE good one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday night, we had BBQ for dinner and the Honea's came out to the house to see Reese.  Nick had to fly out Saturday morning, so we missed seeing him.  However, we got a chance to love on Hudson and visit with Nora.  It was great to see Poppa and Gigi too!! 

Gigi and Reese

 

 

Nora loving on her

 

Sweet Hudson

 

 

 Giving 'sugars' to Reese

 

 

 

Sunday morning, we made it to early service (and LOVED having an extra hour of sleep).  After church, Mom had everyone (Landon, Brandi, the kiddos, Mamaw and Jocelyn) out for an AMAZING lunch.  I'm talking brisket, green bean casserole, carrot casserole, cream corn, jello salad, french bread, a green salad, chocolate chip cheesecake...and the list goes on!  Needless to say, I over ate!


 

 

 

 

 

Jocelyn meeting Reese

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma, Pawpaw, Brynlee and Landon picking the last few pears off of the pear tree. So sweet!

 

 

 

 I have to brag on my baby girl for a second!  We left Missouri around 4:00 on Sunday afternoon and were only 10 minutes from Mom and Dad's when Reese fell asleep.  Well, the ROCKSTAR slept the entire 4 hours to Little Rock.  She was so good!!  Matt and I were sure she would be wide awake all night but our little angel slept from 9-5!!!  This is HUGE!!  We did cartwheels this morning!!  :))

Now, we'll just pray this wasn't a fluke and we're making progress! 

 

 

Thanks Mom and Dad for such a wonderful weekend!!  We love you very much!!