Real Beauty Parlor

The princess beauty parlor we have at home will only go so far...so I realized the girls' hair was getting a little raggedy and was in dire need of some haircuts. Especially Brooklyn, and this would be her VERY first haircut. I think her hair doubled in length this past year...it had gotten so long and it was time for a trim. She was excited to go and it looks much healthier now. She got her very own certificate for her first haircut and we got an envelope with the first hair Ms. Kim cut. All I can think of is Carter buddy when it's your turn your daddy gets to take you...it's all about the barber shop bud!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

AND...in Between:

Brooklyn's Dance Recital

This would be a first for Brooklyn. She started dance this past fall and they had a Winter recital. They performed with two Christmas songs and it was priceless. She only really liked one song and dance, so everytime we practiced at home she wouldn't do the other one. She just kept saying mommy, I only want to do the first one, I don't like the second. I know she felt special with all of us there watching her and LOVED her flowers Tim and Kennedy picked out...she kept talking about those the rest of the day. Anytime I get the chance to watch my kids shine is definitely a proud moment as a mom. It never gets old, it just makes my heart fill up with JOY!

Carter had had it at this point of the morning!

Papaw came to watch her dance!

And after this I realized I have one more resolution for this year...to be in more pictures with my kids! Uhhhggggg, here is Brooklyn's first dance recital and Tim and I didn't get one picture with her. I am so busy taking them that I don't think in the moment and then I get home and realize we didn't get any with all of us. So look out strangers I will hunt you down to take our pictures from here on out!

Christmas Morning

This Christmas was all about the BIKES. They both asked Santa for new bikes and he delivered! Kennedy was ready for a big bike...sigh, I can still remember her Dora training wheel bike she got for her fourth Christmas when she was 3. And this was Brooklyn's big first bike Christmas. So exciting to watch her get it and jump on. The cutest thing was I thought she would need lots of help learning to ride it and it would take awhile. Well that very afternoon that girl was going so fast and already asking Tim to take the training wheels off. And she had already taught herself to stand up on her pedals while riding. She doesn't do anything half way she goes full force and we don't have to teach her, she just does...she amazes me, such a breathe of fresh air!

Love Brooklyn's "pose" in this one!

The girls each picked out a special gift for the other and I could tell giving each other the special present was a BIG highlight of the morning

A definite favorite!

Taking a break to check out what Santa thought of the goodies they left

What a fun first Christmas for Carter! He was asleep for the first part of it but when he woke up even though he had no clue what was going on we were all excited for him. My mom had a great idea to put his presents in a big laundry basket and genius...he loved it and it ended up being the perfect place for him too!

Loved his basketball hoop...he will have the height that's for sure

Notice the pattern of him eating everything, the tissue was a favorite!

If Pictures Could Talk

This one would say what it took to get this picture was SO NOT WORTH IT! Carter was asleep Christmas morning when the girls woke up and rule of thumb never wake a sleeping baby right...so of course we weren't going to make the girls wait so he wasn't in a lot of the Christmas morning pictures right away. The day got away from us and we were too busy having fun with all the new stuff to take a picture of the kids in their PJ's. So we did it the following day. Not bright idea #1 was to have them sit on the stairs, Carter in between the girls with Kennedy holding Carter by his shoulders. Not bright idea #2 was telling the girls as soon as they cooperate they could be done quickly and go color. Not bright idea #3 was telling them they were done BEFORE I got up to pick Carter up and I am sure you can figure out the rest. The girls jump up and Carter is still sitting on the second step of the stairs by himself and of course can't sit there and boom...I proceed to watch him fall face first to the wood floor in horror. I just wasn't fast enough. I picked him up and held him and went to look and see blood, lots of blood. And the freak out begins, ya I am so not good in those moments. Thankfully my mom was there to help. He calmed down after about 15 minutes of screaming and I get to take a peek and looks like his top front took the brunt of the fall and I am sure his bottom teeth got his top lip too. He was hurting for a good day or two but thankfully his top teeth hadn't started coming down quite yet so that saved some damage. He didn't wait long to have that first hard fall did he???

First Big Screen Movie

Back when my mom and brother (shhh yes he came with us to see the princess movie) were here for Christmas we were able to take the kids to go see a new movie. This would be Brooklyn's 1st movie. We saw the new princess animated one and it was so fun to take both girls. Kennedy's first movie was at 3 1/2 and so this was a perfect age to take Brooklyn. I honestly wasn't sure how she would do since she is my one that is constantly moving and doesn't sit still long enough for more than one book. But she surprised me and didn't budge. I am sure the candy and popcorn helped but the fun of the first movie is always an experience.

Happy 8 Months!

The little man turned 8 months old on Friday! It was so cold here on Friday we didn't leave the house, but bundled up and played inside all day. He is getting so big and so ready to move! Everytime I go to get him in his crib he is on all fours rocking back and forth just wanting to go. He can scoot backwards a bit and my favorite is when he spins in a 360 degree move...I call him a little game spinner or he could have a future in break dancing, either way it's cute.

Month in Review:

- First major fall with blood! There's something about my kids and their front teeth. I joked back when Brooklyn fell remember that I was going to put Carter in mouth guard when he started walking. Well I didn't even have to wait for him to start walking. Poor guy.

- Loves FOOD. He loves to eat and hasn't turned away anything (well pureed chicken pot pie that I made one night, not a fan of that). He loves rice cakes, zucchini, egg yolk with spinach, cereal bars, waffles, oatmeal, carrots and loves yogurt, cottage cheese and avocado. And yes I was right, the girls love giving him bites of anything he can eat. Carter is really good with his pincer grasp so he can feed himself a lot of things which is such a help!

- He has so much fun in his swing, wagon and when we take walks. Loves the park and just takes it all in. He discovered airplanes and stares and looks for them when he hears.

- Enjoys his new view in the bathtub, sitting up. Splashes so much water it is so stinkin cute. And loves his new bath toys.

- Had his very 1st Christmas, New Years and all the celebrations in between.

- He now officially has 4 teeth. Those top ones came through and he looks so cute with his teeth.

- Loves to wave and "talk" to anyone who will listen. He loves to be out and see people and hear them talk. Social boy for sure.

- He probably is just making all the sounds for his age but can I count the mamamamama sound, YEP he said mama :)

Baby Jesus

Found these from last year and they were ones I meant to post back then...so they are too cute not to share. This was a total random and spontaneous moment. The girls were playing with their babies and cradle when my mom came out of the laundry room with clean sheets. Next thing I know the entry way is transformed into Mary & Joseph praying over Baby Jesus...it all was really very sweet until they started fighting over who was Mary & who was Joseph!

First Faces

Christmas Eve Traditions

It goes like this...first the wonderfully rushed before Christmas Eve church service picture...and yes all the pictures Brooklyn had her tongue sticking out.

Then it's the tradition of opening one present before bed on Christmas Eve...the sweet part is they get so excited and wonder each year what it will be...and it's the SAME every year! New Christmas PJ's to wear to bed!

Then it's our favorite...Reindeer Food! This is definitely a highlight of the night and tradition we've had since Kennedy was our only! This year we had lots of glitter to light the path and we didn't need medical help after Brooklyn threw some reindeer food into Nonie's eye! Whew! Poor Carter, next year buddy...you were so tired you conked out right after church.

Then it's off to leave Santa cookies & milk, but don't forget the carrots for the reindeer! What do you think Kennedy said when she saw Brooklyn taking a sip of Santa's milk??? AHHHHH

Kennedy's sweet note... I heart how she always asks Santa how he is!

And Brooklyn's first letter to Santa where she wrote some of her letters! Poor girl is going to ask why we made her name so long when she gets to school!