Merry Christmas!

From our home, to yours....

cards are on their way...going to be a little late this year :) but we have two cute excuses right?

And now that Christmas is just around the corner, I'm ready for some Christmas carols, some cookies and milk, wrapping of gifts, stockings, midnight mass, Christmas songs sung at church, time with family and friends, and oh so much more!


Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

A couple videos of the boys

One is of Caleb talking on the 'phone' with his eddie figurine. He finds a lot of random objects to talk on the phone with. He has a couple toy phones, but pretty much anything will work when the urge to talk hits him :) It cracks me up because he loves talking on not just his play phones, but also to family. He requests to call people through the day pretty much whenever he sees my phone :)

The other video is of Lucas. He was cracking up everytime I tickled him so I grabbed the camera. Once the camera was rolling he got a little distracted of course! Staring at the light. But he was still laughing a little bit. I love his laugh. He cracks up a lot. Sweet belly laughs that warm my heart. I don't remember Caleb laughing this much until he was about 6 months or so. Anyway, I just wanted to capture a couple moments with my boys.

Heart Squeeze

Caleb and Lucas,
I love you two more than you'll ever know. Always and forever. My sweet boys.
Love, Mama

Burnt out?

Little bit over here...or maybe just tired. I freaked out this am thinking I was prego because I've been so tired lately...but I don't think that's the case. Maybe just tending to a toddler and babe and the busy bustle of the holidays. Caleb's been hot and cold. The usual...tantrums...melt downs....not so bad or worse than the norm, but tiring still. Lucas keeps tricking us :) He's done a couple 10 hr sleep stretches at night! Two nights in a row actually, on the weekend and when we had help around. But then, last night, up every three hours and a super short afternoon nap today. It's been two years of sleep sagas so you'd think I would be used to the sometimes-inconsistent sleep by now right? Nope! I'm a girl who likes her beauty sleep and when I don't get it...well, I get a lil grumpy. But I can't complain too much. Lucas is so happy when he is awake and so mellow during the day that I don't mind. These days pass so quickly. I already get so sappy about him not being a newborn anymore! I really could cry just thinking about how fast it is going...tear.  Anyway. Caleb's been super sweet lately with Lucas. He sings to him all the time "Lukie Lukie!" He loves chatting with him when Lucas wakes up. He rubs his head and just lays next to him whenever. Even though his melt downs drain me completely, Caleb is at such a fun age. He pretty much narrates his entire day to us. From the time he wakes up "awake! awake! light, light'" to the time he goes to bed, he is constantly talking. He's at the point where we have to watch what we say because he picks up on a lot of things we don't remember saying. For example, whenever Lucas cries Caleb says, "don't cry lukie, don't cry" it cracks me up. But I don't think Dave or I have ever told Lucas not to cry...we just say oh Lucas is crying let's help him..." My favorite is Caleb's constant Thank yous and no thank you's. Sometimes he'll be so upset and after he calms down he'll hold my hand and say 'tank you mama' Do they come much sweeter? So, even though I'm in a state of
constant exhaustion, it is worth it. Totally worth it for these two little guys.

Sometimes I feel like just throwing myself over the couch and calling it a day. Caleb's in a major stage of jumping and climbing...maybe that was what he was trying to do here? Not entirely sure...

We had our Happy Birthday Jesus Party tonight with my bible study gals. All the kids were there. It was a lot of fun. I got all teary eyed when the children sang the Happy Birthday song to Jesus. Their sweet little voices filled the room. It was truly precious! (Can you tell Caleb looks a bit tired? The result of a very short nap this afternoon)

Caleb helped decorate the tree last night, he was pretty excited this morning to find the decorations still there! Every so often through the day he goes over and takes one down...(maybe by Christmas we'll be back down to just lights  :)

And my sweetness.

Just some Tuesday ramblings :) Counting down till hubby is on vacation and in the mean time, eenjoying  my klove Christmas station online in the evenings and when I cook dinner with Caleb in the afternoons. I love the advent season and all the beautiful Christmas songs at church. I hope everyone has a blessed week before Christmas!

Sweet smiles....love, Lucas

Oh Lucas, have I told you how much I love you? Cause I do. More than you'll ever know. You bring such sweetness to our life. You light up with a smile everytime we look at you. You smile and coo to anyone that looks your way. You giggle when we play with you. You get so happy when you see your big brother. You wake up so happy in the morning. Sometimes we're not sure what time you even wake up because we go in and you're just wiggling around making happy little sounds. You love watching your world. You soak it all up and just sit so contently on someone's lap while you absorb all the sights and sounds. You're such an easy going little guy and we are so blessed to have you in our life.

This is one of your favorite toys right now. You hold it so well and love chewing on it! It keeps you pretty entertained!

I finally captured your smile on camera! You smile so often, but whenever I take out the camera you stop smiling and start staring at the light! Of course I either cut your head off or got blurry pics, but at least I got your sweet smile :)

One of my favorite things about your smile is the way it starts out slowly in a half smile and then spreads wide and big and lights up your entire face.

We love you Lucas!

Lucas

You certainly do light up our life with goodness! We love you so very much.

The sweetness of morning

No matter what state of puffy eyed, sleep deprived, fuzzy hair, still in my pjs when the babes awake...at least this is what I get to wake up to!

As close as we got

to a family photo...

A dying battery on a camera, a tired toddler, and what do you get? An AWKWARD family photo! Haha! Have you read that book? Awkward family photos? I think this one qualifies :)

Dave and I just look tuckered out, and what are Lucas and Caleb staring at? Haha!

We had a fun day picking out our tree, now time to decorate it...the toddler will be participating this year, that should be interesting don't you think?

How do you define a Nani?

Kisses

And lots and lots of hugs.

Thanks for a fun weekend Mom! We love you :)

Daddy's little man

These two, they're quite a pair. Where Daddy goes, so goes Caleb.

For He is the reason

I came across a beautiful story on this blog...http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/when-christmas-gets-radical-whose-birthday-is-it-really/ It really brings home the True meaning of Christmas...For He is the reason...

Christmas magic

You can find a touch of it right here. http://www.kellehampton.com/2011/12/party-at-north-pole.html

I love reading this blog. This mama creates a lot of special memories with her two little girls. When I read this post, it brought back some wonderful memories of Christmas as a little girl with my family. Catching a glimpse of Santa's sleigh in the parking lot on Christmas eve. Hearing Santa's sleigh bells at Nani and Poppy's house. Milk and cookies and a special note for Santa. Sprinkling reindeer food on the front lawn for those hungry reindeer. Midnight mass with my sisters, mom, and Nani. Pasta, pasta, pasta. Setting up our tree and Nativity Scene. Waking up on Christmas morning with my sisters in our pjs and waiting until Nani and Poppy arrived and Daddy had the video camera all set up. Sweet, sweet memories with family!

Little Moments here and there

Captured on camera through the week...


      Caleb, quietly reading in Lucas' room while Lucas naps (yeah, that is a bib. What Lucas has, so must C)                             

Lucas so happy and smiling in the baby born

Caleb holding Lucas' hand while getting his diaper changed

The boys all ready for church in their matching outfits (thanks nani!)

Caleb giving Lucas his giraffe

Not quite understanding that Lucas can't hold it yet :)

Reading some more...

Lucas lovn on his hands

Love those toes!

How Lucas likes to fall asleep (playing and twisting his hands around, so sweet) Oh how I love it when he does this while I rock him in my arms. I'll forever hold this near my heart.

A sunny day, Caleb playing outside while Lucas and I were warm and cozy inside

Still napping good for mama in the afternoon (what am I going to do without that swaddle for your 1-4/5pm nap!)

Watching the lamb and playing with your hand

Yum! You sure do love your hands Lucas.

My sweet little baby boy!

A quiet moment for mama. Both boys happily entertained :)

Besides your hands, you also love your dino toy.

To my two sweet boys. Most days, you leave mama completely exhausted! Taming the toddler tantrums, changing dirty diapers, fixing meals for the toddler, nursing my sweet baby boy (which I do so cherish), doing loads of laundry and picking up toys all over the floor, going to playgroups, putting you both down for naps and bed, making dinner, cleaning dinner....by the end of the day your dad and I are completely pooped!
But for every smile that I witness, every cuddle and sweet baby breath that I hear as I hold you close. For every hug after the storm, every laugh and coo, all those dimply smiles, and sweet baby giggles. For all those days when naps align and mama gets one in too, and for the days when we're all out of sorts and melt downs are common place. When I have two babies crying at once, and on those wonderful days when both of you are happy and smiley. For the days when I'm just trying to make it through, and for the days when I am cherishing and peacefully watching both my boys play. For the look in your eyes as you smile at each other. For those hands of yours as you hold and hug. For each and every moment we have together everyday, I am thankful. I am so Thankful for your Daddy! For he gave me you, and he keeps me calm. He teaches me patience and strength. For each and everyday, I am so thankful. Thankful for my little family of sweet boys ; )