My loves

On this Valentines day, I'm so excited to come home to these wonderful boys. My love tank is full. Loving these two boys is as easy as breathing. How did I get so lucky?!


Yes, that is Bieber on in the background. We like to dance to his music, I'm not ashamed (Derek - not so much, me and Dean - yes, we love the Biebs!).

Where is baby Jesus?

A few weeks before Christmas, we gave Dean his first nativity set. Its the Little People version and he was obsessed with it. Dean likes to hide baby Jesus. He's always missing, I can find all the other little people except for the most important little baby. This sounds a little too familiar. I have been told that when daddy was little he would also hide baby Jesus. Coincidence?

Feeling very Merry!

We have decided that Christmas is more fun with a child. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday but having Dean makes it much more merry!! All you momma's out there I'm sure would agree. D and I enjoyed being Santa this year eventhough little D isn't quite old enough to understand yet. He loved the paper and he loved all the boxes. One of his favorite toys is a remote that talks in english, spanish and french. Who knew we would learn along with him! Now our house is filled with toys that sing and talk all day long. I know most of the songs by heart now. Even with all these cool toys, Dean just wants to play with a water bottle and Roxy's gross chew toys.

Christmas Morning:

Cool foam blocks

Letters!

Taking a look at all my cool stuff before digging in!

My remote! I look so tired!


Christmas with the Stephens:

Daddy and me

Gigi and me

The cousins: Dean, Jackson, Emily

Baylor gear for Neil and Derek

Jackson and Dean playing


Christmas with the Reeds:

Sweet family

Derek and brother

Sister and her fur children and their bows

Dean smiling for the camera before we open gifts!

I love the bell!

Nana and Dean

8 Months!

Dean turned 8 months old a couple of weeks ago. I can't believe that this time last year I was pregnant with him.

Dean is doing so many new and great things!
1. Crawling all over the place
2. Sitting up
3. Shaking his head
4. Wearing 9 month and 12 month clothes
5. Trying to pull up on everything
6. Talking a lot, sounds like he says "mama" but still unsure
7. Eating a lot. He loves sweet potatoes!
8. Gets really happy when he sees mommy and daddy after we've been gone
9. Laughs hard
10. Loves playing with "little people" toys
11. Cries when we leave the room
12. Loves playing in his saucer
13. Likes the jumper too
14. Cries when we sneeze/cough/vacuum
15. Getting more hair and still has those gorgeous long eye lashes
16. Weighs 19 lbs
17. Had his first virus last week, tear. :( He's doing better now. He had a fever, runny nose and cough.
18. Loves mommy's jewelry
19. Busy body...he can't sit still
20. Still has a hard time going to sleep at night. We rock for awhile
21. Loves to be held
22. Has 2 bottom teeth
23. Sat in a shopping cart and high chair in a restaurant for the first time


We are so thankful for our sweet little D. He brings so much joy to our lives and we can't imagine life without him. Our hearts are full this Christmas season. And we feel blessed beyond measure that God would chose us to take care of this precious boy. We have a wonderful God which makes me think of these words from Jeremy Camp's song:

What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God


I will post more pictures once I find my camera. The below ones are from my phone...sorry they are so blurry.

Christmas wreath on a budget

I have been searching for the perfect wreath. They are no where to be found! I've searched long and wide. My massive snowman wreath had to be retired last year...it was looking shabby. So off to my favorite store, Hobby Lobby!

Here is what I purchased:
1. 1 wreath - $8.99 (half off), so it turned out to be $4.50
2. Christmas balls - One set of white/red - $7.99 (half off), turned out to be $3.99
3. Used some of my own ornaments
4. Several beaded/floral picks (the sparkly things that stick out of wreaths/trees). I bought about 6 red and 6 white for a total of about $10, they were all half off too.
5. Ribbon - $5

Grand total: $23.49

I don't think you could buy a wreath for that cheap!! Our home is looking festive. I wonder what else I can make???

Little model

Mom and sister took Dean shopping last week. Dean was the perfect model. He let them play dress up with him. I kept getting picture texts all day long while at work. Thank goodness for camera phones and texting! At least I can see what he's up to while I'm away.

What's your favorite hat?

I'm trying really hard...

to crawl! I want to run after that silly Roxy. I laugh at her and try to steal her bones. One of these days I'm going to learn to crawl and she'll be so surprised!