Rylee Singing

Rylee is growing up so fast and learning so much! Check out how bad she wants to get up the stairs. She only started really crawling a few days ago but she'll stop at nothing to be able to keep up with her big brother! She's such a sweet girl!

Christmas Morning

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Christmas morning. We had my parents and Amanda and Dave over to open gifts and have fun for the day.

There were no pictures of Levi, I guess he was the one taking all the pictures.

Purple Face

So my sweet Rylee got hit with everything her body could handle the week before Christmas. She got thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth) and so we started treating that, when a few days later we were back at the doctor and found out that she had an ear infection. She had to be put on an antibiotic which makes thrush worse. They gave us this funny medicine that turned her mouth all purple. She seems to be on the mend and she's been quite pleasant for how miserable shes been feeling. Levi thought these purple face pictures were funny so I thought I'd share!

"Let them sleep in the Middle"

So lately Rex has been waking up at 5:30 every morning and asking to watch TV. Of course we don't want him to be waking up that early and it won't stop if we let him watch TV so we told him he had to choose between going back to his own bed or climbing in with us. He chose to come sleep in our bed. I can be irritating to be woken up so early but it's almost worth it to get precious pictures like this!

Rex sure loves his Daddy!

"My First Christmas!"

Here's Rylee in her new "My First Christmas" pajamas.
Such a sweet girl.

Thanks for the PJs Grandma Sherry!

*S*N*O*W*!!

Well, Rex got his wish!

He goes out to play in the snow like three times a day now!

Here he is making a snow angel.

Ready For Snow!

Rex woke up yesterday morning and went right for the front closet where he proceeded putting on all the snow gear he could find. As soon as he felt prepared he came up to me and said, "Mom I'm ready to go in the snow!" By the way there is no snow around here yet. I smiled and unlocked the back door so he could go play outside. Later that evening (in the two last pictures) he came down the stairs in nothing but a diaper, snow hat, and shoes. He again said, "I'm ready for snow!" I laughed so hard. He keeps me on my toes!

"Piggy House"

So Rex and I have some friends that come over twice a week. My Friend Melanie convinced me to work out with her three times a week and we switch houses every other time. Anyway, whenever they come over Rex and Preston get to work building "piggy houses". I think that's their way of saying pig sty. So this is a picture of the other day when things got a little out of hand and I had to tell the boys that their "piggy houses" couldn't be quite so elaborate!

We sure love having our friends over though!

Big Girl!

Rylee got the hang of sitting up all by herself the other day!

This is her new favorite toy.

Every time the little animals pop up she gets so excited!

Great Accomplishment!

I read a quote the other day that changed my outlook on some things. It said. "Life isn't about Waiting for the Storm to Pass... It's about Learning to Dance in the Rain." So tonight when my sweet little Rex poured a bucket of water all over the bathroom floor (on purpose), instead of getting really angry I stepped back, took a deep breath and thanked him for giving me an opportunity to mop a floor that hadn't been mopped for far too long. Then he went in the office and colored on my carpet with a marker... Again I just told myself that it was a washable marker and didn't get upset. I'm glad I didn't. He got a paper towel and tried to clean it up, then came over to me, told me "that was a no no", gave me a kiss and said, "I love you, Mom." He's an angel and I'm thankful God grants me these days of patience though sometimes they are few and far between!

Decorating Tradition!

When Levi and I got married we started a tradition for the day after Thanksgiving. We turn on Christmas music, decorate, and then later drink hot chocolate while we watch the movie Elf. This year Rex got to stay up and help us. He was so much fun! This year he actually put decorations on the tree rather than pulling them all off. In one of these pictures he said, "Mom, take a picture of my "mad face".
He's so funny!

Loving Two

My friend had this poem in her Blog and I just loved it...

*Loving Two*

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way,"Please love only me." And I hear myself telling you in mine,"I can't," knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her -- as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass,and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two.
There are new times -- only now, we are three.

I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other. I watch how she adores you -- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you.

I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong.

And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you -- only differently. And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you -- you each have your own supply.

I love you -- both. And I thank you both for blessing my life."

...I love my two little ones more than words can say. It's so fun to see how much they love each other too. I'm so thankful I get to be a mom!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Rex did the cutest thing today. He's been learning Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in nursery. He started singing it out of the blue the other day and I was so surprised, I asked him where he learned that and he said, "In nursery, Mom!"
Anyway so today one of his friends came over and was singing I am a Child of God. Rex tried to sing along and instead sang, "I am a child of God...How I wonder what you are." Later this afternoon he sang that version to Grandma Sherry and that put a big smile on her face. We sure love the sweet innocence of our cute little Rexy!