Two are better than one...

It's hard to believe anything could be more amazing than having one amazing child, so why not add another one to the mix?

WE ARE PREGNANT! And Mason is very excited to be a big brother, even if he has absolutely no idea what that means. I think all that he knows is that his mom has spent A LOT of time with her head in the toilet and laying on the couch with a blanket instead of playing with him. That probably helps explain this look:

this is the "mommy, PLEASE come play with me" look

At 15 weeks  I'm finally on the mend and feeling like life may actually go on after all. Kyle and I are super excited and can't wait to add another addition to the family. More updates to come soon!

Much to say in a month...

I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like this...December needs to be twice as long. It's so busy you hardly get to enjoy the holiday season. The week of Christmas is so hectic that you look back and have to catch your breath afterwards. Despite the business of it all, our family had a wonderful Christmas with lots of fun surprises.

What else should we do on a cold, rainy morning but dress up in our Christmas clothes, listen to carols and wrap presents? My favorite kind of day!

 Since our family traveled to Auburn for Christmas this year, we had to have our own "family" Christmas a few days early. Mason loved seeing the presents downstairs for him to open...

 The first stop in Auburn was to Kyle's family's house. He was showered with gifts and tons of love to go around.

Just in case we wanted to see his belly

cuddle time is my favorite... never gets old

Next we headed to my parents house, where we (meaning the boys and my sister) stayed up until 2am putting cars together. I guess this is what our future Christmas Eve's hold (as long as we buy toys that have to be assembled.. which are, of course, the best ones!)

Mason's first "big boy" toy from Santa

What the kids woke up to Christmas morning

a special note for Mason...

and a family reunion wouldn't be the same without an attempt at a cousin picture. I think we are headed in the right direction here... at least they are all sitting down

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I know we feel blessed and thankful for all the material "stuff" we received, but we could never be more grateful for the best gift of all.. Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas all!

Christmas Portraits

Im curious what other families (specifically families with toddlers) picture experience is like? Im not talking about around the house.. Im talking professional photos. Before I had a child I always looked at family portraits and thought "How beautiful... I CANT WAIT to take pictures like that". Since having Mason, I never have that feeling. Family pictures are a force to be reckon with..terrible...miserable...no good day. The pictures rarely show how the day really went. It was NOT a peaceful, beautiful moment like the picture shows. Poor Jocelyn... I'm glad I'm a nurse and not a photographer of toddlers (or at least, my toddler). Anyways, photographers are amazing because they seem to make the day look enjoyable, and the pictures always turn out amazing despite my thinking that it was all for nothing.

I think this was the first problem... we showed him the toys in the downtown toy store first thing. The rest of the morning he wanted the train inside.

Running away....

But then this face makes it all worth it!

There's a snapshot of the morning's photo shoot. You wouldn't think it was a terrible morning, right?! Here's what the in between REALLY looked like:

A picture that actually captures the truth behind picture taking with toddlers...I guess despite it we have lovely photos to hang on our wall!