Soaking up my baby

The last week of 2011 was so enjoyable for me. I took the week off work and enjoyed some much needed down time to relax and do things around the house that I had been putting off. I kept Matney home a few days from Ms. Sue’s so we could spend time together and play. She was such a good girl!!

On Monday we decided to make home-made play dough and played with it for a long time. It is rather bland looking as we didn’t have any food coloring, but it was fun to play with anyways. Matney didn’t think it tasted so great and made some funny faces.





She is enjoying so many things right now, namely her baby doll, Molly, M!nne Mous*, and Sco*by Doo. She will run around saying “Ooby, where are you” or “ohhh toodles”. After learning those phrases on t.v. she has learned to yell “oh toooodles or wherrreee arrrrre you” when she is looking for something. Cutest think ever!! Santa gave her a kitchen for Christmas so she likes to make Molly and Minnie as well as Momma and Daddy lots of treats. I apparently make a lot of comments when I am changing her because she has started hunting down the wipes to change Molly and will carry Molly around or Molly’s diaper and say “shooo shooo”. She thought Molly needed to be changed the other day so she took her clothes and diaper off and only after I heard the trash can did I wonder what was going on – the clothes and the diaper were in the trash!!

Playdough snowman

My favorite thing that M has started doing all the time is saying “I wuv ew, Mommy” or “I wuv ew, Daddy” completely unprompted. There is nothing like driving home from work, worn out from the day, and your little angel saying in the backseat, “I wuv ew”!

She is such a wonderful blessing and I am enjoying every moment with her!

Intent on watching "Oooby"

A New Year

A new year is quickly upon us again!  It is hard to believe that another year of life has passed by so quickly, but with so many wonderful memories, blessings, and a few heartaches. 

This past year saw many celebrations from first birthday parties to 60th birthdays to 40 years of marriage and so much more.  Two beautiful ladies were celebrated as they entered their heavenly home in the spring. 

I have never been one to make resolutions as I don't want to set myself up for failure.  I simply try to find the positive in each day or the changes placed upon us, but it isn't always easy.  Over the past year my heart has grown by leaps and bounds as I have been able to share time and memories with my daughter and husband, grow in my faith, and cherish my family and friends. 

With the new year I don't want to make a resolution to lose weight, or run a marathon.  This year I am resolving to simply be the best mother, wife, daughter, and sister and to be do as well as I can with all the hats I wear.  I do have a small list of things I want to strive to do this year.

1.  Make a nice dinner for my daughter and husband at least once a week (more often God willing).

2.  Spend a time each day with my heavenly Father and to grow in my faith.

3.  Keep my closest clean :)

4.  Not go to bed every night of the week at 8:00 so that my husband doesn't think I am a complete dud.

5.  Live a healthier lifestyle with more fruits, veggies, and home cooked food.

6.  Turn off the outside noise and spend time playing and soaking up memories with my little lady, Matney.

7.  Have a monthly lunch date with my sister so we can spend quality time talking about what we want to talk about and not being interupted.

8.  Go one more dates with my husband.

I thank God for all the blessings and memories throughout 2011 and cannot wait to see what He has in store for us in 2012!

Happy New Year!

Silly Girl, Silly Papa

My dad has always had a soft spot in his heart for his babies, and with Matney he is no different. Papa G often shows up in the evenings when Nannie B is working and he never disappoints his little Matney with his silly antics during his visits. Recently she spent the night at Nannie and Papa’s and they started this little game of lying on their backs with their feet in the arm.  When Papa came over last week, he and Matney thought it would be fun to show Brandon and me their new game. Though my dad is almost 62, he doesn’t let a little hard wood floor get him down so they plopped right down on the floor and started showing off!

After their little game, Matney found Papa’s boots and as this girl loves her some shoes, she tried them on for size. She has some big feet to fill in her Papa’s boots, but I can already see she is well on her way with her serious, independent side and her silly, goofball side that often comes out. Papa has really grabbed his granddaughters heart and they are best buddies. I love that they are so close as I too was very close to my Grandpa and some very wonderful memories live in my heart thanks to Grandpa Curt and always will.

 



Christmas Christmas Time Is Here (Finale)

Our last Christmas for 2011 was celebrated at Brandon's parents house (Grampy and Granny's).

Matney made out like a little bandit at their house with an art desk, beautiful wooden toy box full of toys, clothes, and shoes.  Brandon and I did pretty well too with a No*K, Brad Paisley tickets, and shoes among other things.

Grampy and Granny put a lot of thought and effort in to the presents they bought and though it appears they spoiled Matney rotten, their love for her is greater!

Christmas afternoon was filled with long naps and taking in all the new gifts!

Though the holidays were filled with food and gifts, we didn't forget the Reason for the Season and are truly blessed and humbled by all the gifts He giveves us each and every day.

Christmas Christmas Time Is Here (Part 3)

Christmas morning at our house didn't dawn quite as early as it used to when I was a kid.  I was up before anyone, filled with anticipation of how Matney would react to the presents under the tree.  When she woke at 7:30 and I went to get her, she knew something was up.  As we got further down the hall and she saw her kitchen and the presents she started to do this cute little hyper dance on my hip.

From her reaction, she was in love from the first moment she saw her kitchen and started to take it all in.  Santa (and Momma and Daddy) brought Matney some clothes, books, and coloring books to play with. 

Once Matney had a little time to digest her gifts, we got out the dishes that Auntie Abby got her and the apron that Nannie and Papa got her for Christmas.  We have had a lot of offfiee (coffee) and pie since Sunday morning! 

Brandon was very good to me and got me a new Ke*rig coffee pot, which I am loving!  He got clothes and a fish fryer!

All in all, Santa was pretty darn good to us, but the true present and joy was seeing Christmas morning through our little M's eyes.

Christmas Christmas Time Is Here (Part 2)

Our second Christmas was at Mama and Pampa Crawford's house on Christmas Eve.  Mama made a wonderful dinner for all of us and then we enjoyed watching the 3 great grandkids play together with all of their presents. 

We were very blessed again to make quite a haul from the Crawford's!  Matney got a princess play house, bears, clothes, and a sleeping bag. 



All of the Crawford family minus Angela who was working.



Christmas Christmas Time Is Here (Part 1)

Christmas came a few days early this year as Mom had to work all weekend, so we started on Friday night the 23rd with birthday party and Christmas festivities.

The night was filled with lots of play, wonderful food and lots of presents for all!



They really do like each other!






Kennon (19 1/2 mo.), Brian, Abby, Grayson (3), Brayden (6), Dad, Mom, Brandon, Ashley, and Matney (20 1/2 mo.)





Cesear salad that Brandon actually admitted to Abby that he liked





Prime Rib!  Yummy!!