the mega update...

Life is moving so fast! It honestly seems hard to catch our breath to pause, to reflect on all that's happening around us. Neely is now 9 months old and Brayden will be 3 in June! Neely amazes us more and more. You may remember Brayden was on the SLOW side of normal for all of his gross motor skills. Well, his sister is certainly determined to bypass him in all of her milestones. She sat right up at 6 mo, began crawling at 7, and stood up in her crib on her 9 month birthday. She is so fast in her walker, it's like watching bumper cars speed through a room. Also UNLIKE her brother, she does not have a large head :), but she does weigh 21.5 lbs and is 28" long. She LOVES baths, giggles at water poured over her head, and has pulled on her daddy's glasses so many times that they finally broke this week, necessitating new frames! She's actually sort of a terror...pulling on drapes, taking her diaper off, grabbing the spoon and dumping food on herself! I think Brayden was much neater than she is.

Brayden is BUSY, BUSY--with letters and books usually. He is constantly sounding out letters, listing 5-10 words that begin with that letter, reading books (telling himself the story as he remembers it), and playing picture/word matching games. Just the other night with Chris, he sounded out the words "animals" and "vegetables" and almost got "construction" right. Can we say early reader?? I am so proud of him in this arena. He is a smart cookie!! He does love the outside though (as all little boys do!) and throwing the ball. His communication has dramatically increased, so it is really fun to converse with him. He has also become a little parrot...everything we say, he says. Sometimes this is really cute and others, not so cute! What is most precious is seeing his concern and love for Neely. He tells her she is cute, lists the members of the family and includes her, calls her his sissy, wants to see her when she's sleeping, and plays with her when he's not being selfish or jealous.

Here are the highlights from Oct-Dec:
Neely was baptized in October and wore her cousins' gown. She was BEAUTIFUL!! Sadly, once again, none of my family could attend, but it was a special time with Chris' parents, and especially significant given her history in utero. A sweet friend, Emmie, came for the baptism and brunch and that was extra meaningful for me since we'd not seen each other in so long! Thanks, Emmie!!

 The fire truck also came to Brayden's school, but on a day that he doesn't attend, so I took him up there as a special "field trip" thinking he would LOVE IT! He CRIED the whole time!! He wouldn't sit with his class and wanted me to HOLD HIM! I wanted someone to shoot me. A crying 2 yr old, a 4 month old, and crazy hormones = a stressed out mama! Maybe next year!

He did enjoy trick or treating though (YAY!). In fact, he was so comfortable, he wanted to go inside each person's house that opened the door. He didn't understand that you stand outside the door. Neely slept through the whole thing, so OF COURSE, I dressed them up again the next day for a photo opp.

 

  

In November, Neely and I flew to Pensacola to see my family and introduce her to my grandmothers. She was an absolute ANGEL on the flight, down and back! We enjoyed time with everyone and I know my grandmothers appreciated those moments holding another great grand-daughter.

Brayden also had a Thanksgiving Feast at school, where he was dressed as an indian and his shirt read "Chief Brayden." His class did a rain dance for the parents and sang their prayer before we sat down to eat. It was the first time I'd heard their prayer. Now we sing it at home.

For Thanksgiving, my sister and her family came up to Atlanta. WE HAD A BLAST!!! The kids played great together. We spent a day at the Aquarium, another day at Snow Mtn, and a day at home. I bought all the food (well, most) and Brian, my brother-in-law, cooked the whole Thanksgiving meal! That very well could have been the best part! Thanks BRIAN!!!

You know what's next...CHRISTMAS! Christmas was a little crazy this year with all the cousins and the whole family at my parents house in Florida, but overall, we did enjoy the Christmas season and especially enjoyed seeing my brother David, whom we hadn't seen in 2 years!! Chris and I took Bray and Neely to have their pic made with Santa (and I must say, it turned out exceptionally well). Neely got a pink pony (complements of her great grandma Anne) and lost of clothes, and Brayden got a four-wheeler from Santa, a Catepillar ride-on, an easel, and some Curious George and Veggie Tales movies.

  

December also brought us an unplanned new car purchase! Chris was in an accident on Dec. 9 that totaled his car. We found ourselves in a predicament because his car was 12 years old and mine is 10 years old, but has significantly fewer miles than his. We ended up with a Black 2008 Chevy Tahoe--fully loaded. Nicest car I've ever driven. Amazing. God is so good and gracious!!

Even though these pictures seem to highlight the fun times of 2011, it was, at points, a rough fall. Brayden had multiple seizures in August, two of which were within 24 hours, our upstairs air went out the same night he had the seizures, Neely was 7 1/2 wks old at the time and we had to put her in the dining room to sleep, the upstairs temp registered 92 degrees!! My parents were here visiting while all of this madness was going on. We finally had to pack up and go to Chris' parents house. It was a mess. Then Brayden had to go through additional testing because of the seizures. In 9 months, he had seized 6 times! So off we went to see a neurologist for a sleep deprived EEG and MRI.

Between all of that and praying for Neely's health and well-being, we were spent and ready to welcome 2012!! We remain ever grateful to our Lord Jesus, whose grace is sufficient, whose promises are true, and whose Word is faithful. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." 2 Cor. 4:7