The conversation of a 2 year old.

"Mommy, Jack pulls my hair, but he doesn't know better. He pulls your hair too, but he doesn't pull Daddy's hair. Daddy doesn't have any hair, except on his legs."

I laughed, and laughed. Ah, the things a two year old says.

A quick update & Christmas tradition ideas...

An update for anyone wondering, Isabella's potty training is going really well! She has a much more positive attitude about being a "big girl" and taking the time to sit on the potty. She has had very few accidents, but as everyone knows potty training seems to be one step forward ten steps back, but so far so good.

Jack has graduated to sweet potatoes, and seems to enjoy them. His milk intake in slowly going down a bit. We'll just have to see what my dad tries to feed him while they're here for Christmas. :)

We enjoyed having Steve home a couple of days last week. The kids, well Isabella, definitely took advantage of the extra attention. It was wonderful to see her and Jack on their Daddy's lap reading.

We've decorated the house for Christmas, including lights on the outside (a first for Steve). It is so fun now that Isabella is understanding Christmas and it's meaning. She LOVES playing with her Fisher Price Little People Nativity set, and we read from her Little Children's Nativity Bible at night before bed. She is very excited about giving Baby Jesus His birthday gift on Christmas Day, though she is not telling me what the present is. I am thinking about stealing the idea from my brother and baking a small birthday cake for Baby Jesus, giving Isabella one more reminder about what Christmas is all about.

We are always looking for new ideas. What are some of the traditions your family has to remember the true meaning of Christmas?



"Yay, sweet potatoes!"



Isabella and Jack enjoying some Daddy time.



The Christmas tree.



Our mantle and Isabella's nativity.

WOW...how many new things can we do in a day?

So, after our weekend in Houston we decided that December 1st was the perfect day to start Isabella's potty training (well, this isn't the first go, but definitely the last!) and Jack on solids. Steve and I were sick of changing Isabella's diapers, and she is definitely old enough. Jack was eating us out of house and home with formula, so it was time for him to eat something more substantial. Steve was nice enough to take a couple days off of work to help me with these endeavors.

Monday's potty training started off a little shaky. But by lunch time we had a couple of little victories. She has her moments where she would rather just play than worry about sitting on the potty, but we remind her of her rewards if she does her business. We only had one occurrence of her crying and begging us to put her back in a diaper, but Daddy was able to talk her into sitting on the potty. Way to go Bella!! We promised her that if she did well for the first few days on the potty we would put together her big girl toddler bed, so on Tuesday night Daddy put it together and Isabella loves her "new" room!

Jack is getting use to his rice cereal, although I'm sure he's wondering where the steak and eggs are! I think he was a little disappointed in the taste, but I've assured him that better baby food is coming! Hopefully this will save us a bit on formula as he's been eating at least 4- 8 ounce bottles a day.


Watching the Mickey Mouse Christmas movie while sitting and waiting...



Where's the beef?



Isabella's big girl bed. I need to fine something to put over her bed, but not really bothered since we're moving in three months...



Now to get rid of the pacifier...

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in WARM Houston. Steve's sister Cheryl and her husband Michael had everyone at their house for some yummy turkey, ham and the rest of the fixins. Isabella had a blast playing with all her cousins. We were able to meet Amaya, the newest cousin who was born two weeks after Jack (although by the size difference it looks like Jack was born about 2 months earlier).

Isabella was so funny around all the family. She loved saying Uncle Bird's name (Bird is a nickname), had way too many people willing to hold her and run around with her, and too many Aunts who thought Isabella could do no wrong. :)

We have so much to be thankful for this year! God has blessed us with two wonderful, healthy children, amazing family, and though at times stressful...job security.

Thank you Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Michael, Nicholas, Christian and Matthew for a great weekend!


Isabella with cousin Matthew



Isabella with Aunt Carissa and cousin Peter



Jack with Uncle Bird



Uncle Michael holding Amaya and Jack



Isabella and Peter playing in the yard. Isabella loved running after PJ.



Isabella just being silly.



Jack wearing his Manchester United jersey from Uncle Jon.