Organized Chaos.

A lot has been going on, but I have been too busy to talk about it. With Christmas around the corner, my mind is going a zillion miles a minute.

On Thanksgiving Day, my precious first-born (dog) Bailey, went to go live with a new family. We were in NY, so I made my mom send him off. It was easier for all of us. The decision to let him go was very hard for me. Bailey and I had a bond that was unlike and normal pet/owner relationship. He saved me. After my car accident, he gave me a reason to wake up every day. When we got Bianca, he turned into a hermit pretty much. She was always chasing him and pouncing on him. He began escaping to random hiding places just to get away from her. When Carter was born, any amount of attention we had went straight to caring for a newborn. Bailey was certainly not my 1st concern any more. As Carter got more mobile, Bailey was even more scarce. He hid to escape the hair-pulling and "hard petting"...or slapping (call it what it is.) that he received from him. Even though Carter will soon be out of this rough stage, we have Brookie who will be just starting it. I just felt that Bailey deserved better. He went to live with a family who has a 9 year old little girl. He is their only dog...which is just what he would want. I miss him terribly, but I am 100% sure that I made my decision in his best interest. 

Things with the kids are adventurous as always. Brooklyn is smiling and cooing like crazy. She now plays in the excersaucer and jumperoo. Carter is...well, he's 2! Everything he says and does is either really funny or time-out-worthy...and really funny. He talks so much. Yesterday, he broke of piece off a wooden threashold by our back door. He gave it to Steven and goes "Aunt Breanne did it." which is funny because Aunt Breanne lives 5 hours away...and hasn't been to our house since Carter was only a few weeks old. He really needs to learn to start blaming stuff on his sister. 

Carter is also now officially in a toddler bed! We decided to re-try it over the weekend and he is doing wonderfully. Now we are working on potty training. We are trying our best not to push it on him too quickly, but at the same time we want to keep reminding him that we have a goal. We got him a box of Toy Story Pull-Ups for Christmas...lame, I know. We are hoping he will take an interest in wearing them. 

Well, now its time to get down and dirty and help Steven clean this house. Yes, my husband cleans...and cooks...and cares for our kids. I love him and would die without him!

From our family to yours.

Growing up way too fast.

I cannot believe how fast Brooklyn is growing. She loves being up and about...she's pretty nosey. So, yesterday I had the idea of getting out the excersaucer so she could enjoy things on her own. It brought back memories of Carter as a little tiny baby. It was so cute how he wanted to show his little sister how all of the toys worked, as if he remembered from when he played in it!

I went to the Eclipse release party at Walmart with my mom on Friday at midnight while Steven stayed home with the kids. We waited in line for a bit and I got to answer some quiz questions...which I obviously got correct, LOL! Then we decided to do some Christmas shopping. I got Carter all done that night. I also bought the kids a copy of "The Night Before Christmas" so we don't have to make one. We will continue reading it on Christmas Eve as a family tradition. I also bought the kids matching PJs to wear that night. So cute! Anyway...at the release party, I was given a lanyard with stickers and temporary tattoos in it. So, we did what any good parents would do. We put them on our 2 year old.

It's a bit smudged, but it seems as though my 

baby has joined the Wolf pack! Oh no!

Oh wait...he's changed his mind...

He is now a member of the Volturi.

Now my little string bean is flexing his muscles.

He is one buff, but confused Vampire/Warewolf!

My mom watched the kids on Saturday while Steven and I went to Kohl's and Babies R Us to finish up the last of our shopping. Brooklyn is just about into 3 months clothing, so we got her some new dresses and sleepers. We also picked up a play mat, some wrist rattles, and new pacifiers...she didn't take well to the Tommee Tippee pacis that I was trying to transfer her to. But when we were in NY last week, my brother-in-law's dog, Koen, ate the only Gumdrop pacifier we had with us, so my sister-in-law loaned Brookie one of my nephew's Soothies. Although they didn't work well for Carter, Brooklyn loves them. So we got her some of those and some of the new Pampers pacifiers. She isn't too sure about them, but they are a lot like the Gumdrops...only I don't have to order them online and wait a week to get them. At the rate that we lose pacis, its hard to do it that way. So, either way we are good. If she doesn't like the Pampers, we have Soothies as back-ups.

Last night, Steven and I began the wrapping process...YUCK! It is my rite of passage as their mom to do the wrapping, but my disability makes it all the more harder. Luckily, my husband is so helpful. We still have about 15 gifts left of the kids', then its onto other family members' gifts. It is a pain, but I love being a mom at Christmas time. It puts the magic back into things. I am totally excited for what's to come!

Thanksgiving and Brooklyn's Dedication

We went to New York for Thanksgiving. We had a great time with my in-laws...lots of food, family, and football! It was really nice to spend time with everyone...especially my new nephew Kaleb! It had only been a couple weeks since I had last seen him, but I missed him like crazy!!

It was an early night on Thursday...we needed all the sleep we could get. It was an early morning on Black Friday! We had to be out of the house well before dawn to get in line for the good deals. My mother-in-law and I split up...I headed to Walmart while she headed to the mall. I immediately got in line at the Photo Center and waited over an hour for a point-and-shoot camera. Then I had to go directly to jewelry, then to toys. I was able to get most of the items I had hoped for. After Walmart, we met up at the mall and did some shopping until lunch at the Olive Garden. From there, we went to KMart before calling it a day. It was fun...but not for the weak of heart!

Getting an early start!

A few hours into the day.

My own salad at the Olive Garden!

A long, but prosperous day.

We had Brooklyn's dedication this past Sunday. We had it done in NY because that is where our church is, as well as Brooklyn's godmother Dianne (or as we like to call her, "Diz".) We didn't have a huge celebration after the service...we are planning to do that after the holidays. With Steven out of work, we need all of our extra money for our family's Christmas...and I must tell you, the Lord provides. 

Brooklyn and Diz

I always enjoy our trips to NY. In Ohio, my kids see my mom very often. Although I am sure she will tell you it isn't nearly enough, I am glad that they get to be together as much as they do. When we go to NY, my mother-in-law always has plenty of fun stuff planned...she makes sure that the kids (and us adults!) never have a dull moment!

We are home now and are trying to get things ready for Christmas. Now that I have kids of my own, this is such a magical time of year...and it only gets better with each passing year. I love all of the traditions we have started. For example...each year on Christmas Eve, Carter and I make and decorate our own "T'was the Night Before Christmas" book, then read it before bed. For the past 2 years, I kinda ended up doing them myself, but this year he will be able to color and paste some of the pages! I am looking forward to this year very much!

And here are a couple more...just because my children are so adorable!!