Goofy Jack

This was just too funny not to post . . . This kid has a personality the size of the Sun!

Elf On The Shelf

Tonight for family night we introduced the boys to The Elf on the Shelf.

Jack named him Pinko.

Go figure . . .
He knows if you've been good or bad - so be good for goodness sake!

Decorating Gavin For Christmas

We, of course, went over to decorate Gavin for Christmas this weekend as well.

Please excuse the pajamas and messy hair . . . it was a Sunday evening.

You know how that goes!

(Check out Owen's face in this picture! Pretty funny!)

I can't believe this will be our fifth year decorating for Christmas at the cemetery.

Time is so strange.

It feels like forever and yet it feels like it was all just yesterday.

Decorating for Christmas

It is Christmas-time in the Bailey home! We had so much fun decorating the house today. I am so grateful for a wonderful family to share these special times with.

Turkey Day

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving here in Las Vegas with my family and some of my dad's family that we haven't seen for almost 13 years! It was a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today there is so much to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bliss

This past week a good friend of mine dropped off a CD of pictures she had taken for me when Owen was a week old. I was so excited to see what she had done!

I totally started crying when I saw this picture . . . The word that came to my mind was BLISS.

I still remember those first few weeks after Owen was born. I literally remember sitting on the couch holding my sleeping newborn and watching my happy two year old play and thinking to myself, "I want to freeze time."

I didn't have much responsibility for anything other than taking care of my boys for that time. I let everything go by the wayside and I have to say - I am glad I did that. My house may have been a disaster and laundry piled to the ceiling. I may have neglected other work and church responsibilities for a time, but those few precious weeks with Owen were blissful.

Now, nine months later, life is back to chaos and hectic schedules. Life has returned to its normal and busy pace. Now Owen isn't a sleeping newborn and Jack is a little more older, wild and crazier too. But just looking at these pictures helped me remember that blissful time at the beginning of this year where my life stood still for a moment and I was able to love on these sweet boys I have been given without another care in the world.

I am grateful for my life experiences that have taught me to be grateful for the small things like this. Life is so much more meaningful and enjoyable when we can savor the simple and small things.

Owen Is Nine Months Old

This cute little man is 9 months old today!

this month Owen:

weighs 20 lbs

crawls all over the house (mostly arm crawls)

can pull himself up to stand

eats and eats and eats

had his first hospital experience for a urological procedure

had his fourth haircut

loves to give kisses

has four teeth

belly laughs when he is bugging Jack

loves watching Baby Einstein and jumping in his jumper to the music

says Dada and Baba and Nana

He is such a blessing in our lives. I am so grateful for his sweet spirit and calm nature!

Owen's Surgery

Today Owen had a little urological procedure done at the hospital. He did well and was such a champ! Now he is home recovering and cuddling in my arms.

2011 has been the year of medical "procedures" for us! Let's hope for a less procedure-filled 2012!

Owen's Top Teeth

This picture cracks me up. Isn't this one of the perks for having kids - making them take ridiculous pictures to document their life?

Potty Training

Where have a been these last two weeks?

Gearing up and preparing for potty training Jack - that's where!

So, I read the books.

Went to the store and bought all of this . . .

And attempted potty training.

This is how well it went . . .

After two hours the first day I drank two Diet Cokes, ate a HUGE piece of cake and took half a Valium.

We shall try again another day.

Owen's First Teeth

You probably can't see it - but Owen got his first tooth (bottom left) on 10/11/2011 and his second (bottom right) on 10/31/2011.