Happy 2nd Birthday Jonas!

Whew!  What a week this has been!  It started off Monday with Tammy and Layla arriving...Caleigh and I went to pick them up for lack of room in my car for 3 car seats while Jonas stayed with my neighbor, Kara.  Layla came running up to me and hugged me when she saw me coming...made me melt!  Then when the 2 saw each other they got so excited!  They held hands walking down the street then started running (still holding hands).  They played so well together (for 2 year olds) and spent most of the day yelling for one another, "Layla, a are you" translation, "Layla, WHERE are you".  Though they had to be reminded of taking turns and sharing, they were great together. 

Tuesday was Jonas' second birthday!  Caleigh and I woke him up singing to him followed by Tam and Layla coming down and giving their rendition of "happy birthday".  We went out for pizza and celebrated with cupcakes, more singing and opening his presents from us.  We also spent a little time at the bay which the kids loved, but our weather was pretty overcast, rainy and plain yucky most of their visit, so it didn't last long.  We went to a new library that has an amazing floor dedicated to children.  They have a play area for young, young kids and just lots of amazing things to play with everywhere.  My parents arrived on Friday and took over kid duty so that Tam and I could get things done for the party.  

The party was AWESOME!  We are lucky to be blessed with a phenomenal group of friends...we had over 40 people here, only 4 of which were family, so that should give you a good idea of how many friends we had to help us celebrate our little man's big day!  The kids had a blast in a Thomas bounce house we borrowed from a friend, swimming in the pool (that turned from green to blue that morning, PTL), eating cake and watching Jonas open his new toys!  He got so many Thomas related things and would've pee'ed his pants had he not been wearing a diaper!  He also got lots of other fun, fun things, like a huge fire truck, movies, a huge dump truck with mega blocks, books, "tools", clothes and many other exciting things.  Jonas and Layla were extra lovey with each other last night...

They must have known what today held.  We said good-bye to Tam and Layla this morning.  Layla gave me big hugs and kisses and said "I love you and I miss you".  I love that sweet girl.  Then I rushed home to make it to church for Caleigh's dedication.  Since we had grandparents in town and Sarah, Nick and Julie, we asked to do it this weekend.  It was a wonderful morning and Caleigh did great during the dedication.  After that she freaked and I didn't get back into service until the last minutes.  We had brunch afterwards and then sent my parents on their way followed by Jaret's a few hours later.  I rearranged Jonas' room to accomodate his "new" (Cole's old) train table and set it up along with his other toys.

As is customary for me, here are photos of our week...

Tam and Caleigh meeting

Layla holding Caleigh

Having a birthday cupcake on the actual big day!

Blowing out the candles on his train cake (Thank God for Tam and Kara to help decorate)

Jonas bouncing with his girls!

Choosing another present to open

2 of his favorites, the dump truck and his Thomas "blankalie"

Being dedicated to the Lord by Pastor Kenny Bryant

Our doula, Theresa Bryant

A sleeping baby girl with our Pastor

Our family gathered for brunch

Back in action

Whew, what a whirlwind these last few weeks have been!  I just came back from a weekend in PA celebrating at Shelby's bachelorette party and bridal shower.  I think she might have been surprised, though I guess she wouldn't admit if she wasn't.   It all turned out great and I think she had a wonderful time!  I have to say I'm glad all the planning, anticipating and work is over.  No we wait for her wedding that is a month away!!!! 

Now we're preparing for a visit from Tammy and Layla, arriving Monday and then more friends and family to celebrate Jonas' 2nd birthday!   I can't believe he'll be 2 on Tuesday!!!!  What happened to the time?  And Caleigh has gotten so big already.  She is even rolling over now.  We'll be having her dedicated at church the Sunday after Jonas' party.

We went for their 3 month and 2 year pictures last week and it wasn't a very good experience.  Caleigh did okay for her first set, but then got too cranky for the next ones.  And Jonas, well he's a 2 year old for sure!  His were horrible!  I tried to take some myself the next day and they were a bit better.  I sometimes catch myself wondering how in the world I have 2 kids and how they've grown up so fast!

I'm heading up a children's consignment sale at church the weekend after Shelby's wedding and have been super busy with that.  I've been preparing info for the consignors and trying to get my stuff marked as well!  I really hope it all goes well. 

Well, time is limited, so here are some pics...

I thought I'd try another quick update while Caleigh girl is asleep in her Daddy's arms.  She has been getting so much better, thank God!  She still has a few fits, but for the most part I'd say she's over the colic.  She smiles so much at all of us and has laughed a few time already too.  Oh, I can't believe how fast she's growing...I don't want these newborn days to end, except for the colic!

Last Sunday was the "ladies day out" I mentioned before and we so enjoyed ourselves.  We had brunch at a fancy tea room after church and then had our spa pedis and watched Mama Mia, which I really enjoyed.  The kids were all at our house which was a disaster area when we got back, but my husband cleaned up as he promised.  I also got another one of these days yesterday.  Jaret has finally come to realize that he gets a lot of opportunities to do the things he enjoys, even if it's during work hours sometimes, but I don't have that luxury.  So he offered to take 1 day a month off work so that I could go do what I want without the kids.  I spent my day at the scrapbook store with my girlfriend who had a baby right after me.  They were doing a 14-hour crop and we were there for most of it!  Our husbands got together midway through the day to help each other out.  I didn't get quite as much as I wanted done, the time just flew by, but I enjoyed my time away.  I know someone will say..."I can't believe you were out having a new baby..." whatever, it's what I need to keep my sanity as a stay at home mom.  I can't lose who I am and what I enjoy for I'll be in trouble when my kids are grown.  I'm proud to say I am finally finished with Jonas' first year though and got some other older pages done that I've been pushing aside.  I also got Caleigh's first page for her book done, minus all the journaling on the pages.

When Jaret and I were out for our anniversary we bought one of those bike trailers that you hook up to pull the kids in and he had bought this cool seat on craigs list for his bike.  We've taken the kids out a few times and they really enjoy it.  I pull the trailer with Caleigh in her car seat strapped into it and he rides with Jonas, it's really great for him to be out in front.  We probably looked like a circus act the first time we took them out, but now we've got the system down pat.  We took a nice long ride this evening.  Caleigh chatted for awhile then fell asleep and Jonas pointed out EVERYTHING along our path.  He holds on to the little front part and it looks like he's steering and he'll hit it with his palm and say "beep, beep".  Too cute!

Anyways, we're supposed to be having a pool party with our CARE group from church tomorrow if it doesn't rain.  I hope you're all having a good weekend!

What pretty eyelashes you have my dear!

Getting some big brother love!

Cute video clip of her talking (excuse the dryer in the background)

3 Years and still going strong!

Today is Jaret and I's 3 year anniversary!  What a packed 3 years it has been too!  It seems like we're always doing something big, whether it's having a baby, remodeling/buying/selling a house, big vacations and it won't be 3 more years before we move so...we're always into something I guess.  Jaret is serving on jury duty today and then our good friends from church are coming up to watch our kids so we can have dinner out at a Japanese steakhouse!  We've always loved going to them but since Jonas entered our lives we haven't been since it's not exactly appropriate for such little kids.  We've tried to stick by the traditional/modern anniversary gifts and this year I got Jaret a ;eather saddlebag for his motorcycle and he got me a leather photo brag book for my purse.

We just enjoyed a weekend in the Outer Banks with Sarah and Jayme and their husbands.  It was so much fun to vacation with friends and we're already making plans for next year's trip.  It was so nice to be with the girls and spend time together as families.  My kids sure love their Aunt Jayme and Uncle Dave!  Dave was about the only one who could get a very mad Caleigh to settle right down just by talking to her...but she loved snuggling in his arms even more!  And Jonas loves how much they both played with him....he's been asking for them since we left.  He also asked for Julie and Sarah when we told him we were going to the beach here.  I guess he associates them with going to the beach.

 Yummy margaritas poolside in Duck, NC

 Julie and Jonas laughing at Uncle D

 Ready for the beach

 Finally, our first family picture

 Going to play in the waves with Uncle D

Caleigh is up to a whopping 10 pounds 14 ounces and 23" already.  The doctor was mighty impressed since they don't expect them to double their birth weight until 4-6 months.  She's been sleeping 6-8 hour stretches at night which is a very welcome change.  She smiles a lot and is cooing more and more everyday.

Jonas is cutting his last 2 teeth (minus the 2nd year molars) and still talking up a storm and amazing us everyday with his new developments.  We're beginning preparations for his 2nd birthday...I can't believe he's almost 2 already!

Our CARE group for church has started doing Guys/Girls Day Out.  Last week the men had their shot at it and spent the afternoon after church golfing, playing pool and having dinner together.  The ladies kept the kids at our house.  This week we ladies will be having lunch, pedicures and going to see Mamma Mia!  We're all so excited for our day!  Of couse the men will have the kids this time and have agreed to even have all the toys put away when we get home!

That's all for now...thanks for hanging with me!

Still alive

 Seems like forever since I've posted huh?  I haven't disappeared, just had a lot of adjusting to do this past few weeks.  Caleigh started on a phase of colic around 5 weeks and I was literally ready to pull my hair out by each individual strand.  We've gotten it under better control now and in fact we're even getting 5 hour stretches at night.  However, in the meantime, I came down with a kidney infection which landed me in the ER in the middle of a huge dinner party we were hosting and hurt like a you know what...  Then our hard drive died so I had no internet access which was very difficult for me and I am praying we're able to recover what is on our hard drive (pictures!!!)  I decided to spend what a I thought would be a week in PA with my parents and it quickly turned into almost 3.  It was such a blessing to have extra hands and help, which gave me more sleep.  It also allowed Jonas to play with his cousins, have unlimited Mimi and Pop-Pop time and everyone the chance to meet Caleigh.  Jaret joined us on Father's Day and we took a quick trip to visit Jayme and Dave and then to meet our newest nephew (now 5 months old) in Philly.  Jonas took his first trip to the zoo and had a ball!  Since we've been back I've been working on getting Caleigh's room together, organizing our messy bedroom and trying to play with my new scrap stuff I got in D.C.  My birthday passed by this week and unfortunately was the worst one yet!  I spent all day at the dmv to get a new license and walked out with nothing and had to go back the next day to also having my post partum checkup and a fussy baby all evening...but that's just been the kind of year I've been having.  My husband made my day by the card and what he wrote in it from the kids and him and the sweet gifts they gave me.  I'll put a few pics of the last month for you all to enjoy!

Hanging out with my Uncle Justin

Playing in the creek

Mowing with my Poppy

Some of my first smiles

Sorry, I forgot to rotate this one...but she's still cute!

Mommy's girl

Just tell me they don't look alike

Look at the difference 5 months makes...Caleigh and CJ

The ladies at the scrapbook convention...much damage was done that day!