Classic Hilton's

Both kids are sleeping soundly. In fact, everyone in the house is sleeping soundly. I woke up this morning at 5:15 AM with the soundtrack from Titanic the musical playing in my head. Thanks for that Ray.  Hard as I tried, I simply could not go back to sleep. So here I am (now 6 AM), waiting for the day to begin.   Maybe my head is too full. Though not with anything in particular, that's for sure!  Yesterday, Brooklyn wet through her pull up, so I got to start the day with a load of laundry. I'm not too, too worried about the bed wetting. At this point I still think it's probably more physical than psychological, although she does have a lot on her little mental plate and she handles life like a champ! I'll probably bring it up at her next physical.  So, laundry, breakfast, school run (with both kids since Grayson was awake). I do not think I will miss these very early mornings next year!  Then Grayson went down for a wonderful nap and I enjoyed a cup of...

Nana got an iPad for Christmas.  Nana learned how to download songs to her new iTunes account.  We had a dance party!

It has become increasingly more apparent that Brooklyn is growing -- we couldn't find any pants that came to her ankles when she got dressed this morning! In fact, since we last measured her in April, 2011, she has grown nearly an inch and a half!!  So we went through her drawers this afternoon and put away all the clothes that, at this point, would only be fashionable in a flood. Good timing, since the CCC Mops Consignment Sale is around the corner. I've registered to sell, signed up for volunteer times, and have begun making my mental shopping list (added today: pants for the "tall" 5 year old!)  I'm sure in a week or so I'll be kicking myself for selling again...hours of washing and sorting and tagging and wondering, "how much would I pay for this??" But in the end it will all be worth it. I'll have two appropriately and adorably attired children, and that is enough for me. 

This time last year (2011) I had a very precise picture of what our life would look like. Work, savings, baby, school activities...a very clean, American dream. Of course, we all know now that God has very different plans for us, and thus we find ourselves facing 2012 with hope, nerves, and great curiosity.   The holidays were, in a word, delightful.  We had Jenna and Brett, the married version, Jeffrey, Mom and Dad, and two exuberant children sharing in the joy and excitement.  One of these days I might actually get around to posting pictures and favorite memories, because we really had a lot of fun!  My new year's resolution was to be intentional with our time and resources over the next 12 months.  Brooklyn, and Grayson, and even baby #3 are growing up so SO fast. I don't want to look back on this year and wonder where our time went. I don't want Grayson's babyhood to be forever remembered as my third pregnancy. Likewise, I don't want my third...

Isn't it amazing what can happen in nine short months? A teeny tiny egg grows into this little human body with fully functioning lungs, brain, muscles, and bones. Fingerprints...heartbeat...everything that baby needs to survive in the world is all developed in nine little months.  Give that baby another nine months and the growth is astronomical! Take Grayson for example. In March he was a helpless little thing with nothing but the absolute basic necessities of life. Now, at a whopping nine months old, he's a mover...a shaker...a force of destruction...a (semi) independent eater...a much bigger bundle of energy and delight!  I realize this post is coming later in the month than usual. What can I say? December is a busy time!  Grayson you have made some amazing progress. You are well on your way to toddler-hood!! According to my last post (and not my fuzzy memory!), at eight months old you were not yet crawling forward. Well, one magical day between then and now, ...