Meeting Santa 2013

 This year Hadley and Brooks got a private meeting with Santa Claus. It doesn't get much better then that! My parent's neighborhood hosted Santa and since we were the first ones there, we got some sweet alone time. Last year Hadley was terrified of Santa:

This year was so different. She wasn't scared at all. Santa was so sweet to her. He walked over to meet her and gave her a baby doll.

 Then he took her hand and led her to his chair.

 He gave her a candy cane and a hug. Hadley calls them 'cammy canes'.

 Then we woke Brooksy up to join the party. No tears!

It was a great time spent with Santa!

Firefighter Rookie

When I found out that Brooks was a boy I was still teaching 2nd grade. One of my student's mom made a little firefighter outfit. She is the same parent that made Hadley the pink outfit when she was a baby. We were cracking up at him in wearing this! The things we make him do for the sake of a picture...

The Level I'll Stoop To...

Brooks likes to be held. Let me rephrase that: Brooks is happy when he's being held. Hmm, I could rephrase that again: If I attempt to put Brooks down, or even think about putting Brooks down, he gives me the biggest sad face quickly followed by a fierce cry that tells me he thinks someone should call CPS on me for putting him down.
See exhibit A:

So sue me if I've stooped to putting my 3 month old in front of the TV to give my arm a break. He likes it. Until he sees me out of the corner of his eye and suddenly realizes he's not being held anymore. Then it's back to square one. 

Lucky for him, I like to hold him. He's a mama's boy already!

The Art of Multitasking

By no means am I a master in the art of multitasking. It's not my gift. But with two very needy little ones I've had to work on this craft. Here are some things I can do:

-I can drive while shoving a paci in Brooks mouth and not miss a word in the song I was singing. 

-I can hold two crying babies at the same time. (That's pretty much it. Just hold them. I can't solve both of their problems at the same time, but holding... I got that.)

-I can bathe two kids at the same time. 

-I run a heck of a diaper changing station.

-I can blog and rock a baby.

-I can nurse at the same time that I kiss boo boos, play a game, read a book, sing a song, and all around appease a toddler.

-I can make lunch while soothing a fussy baby.

-And on those really tough days I can remember how blessed I am and how fast this season will pass and love my kids with a fiery, uncontrollable love. And I'll soak up these moments while managing our chaos. 

A Visit With Dora the Explorer

Hadley is a huge Dora fan. She loves Dora. So when we found out that Dora was going to be at Mr. Gatti's we had to go meet her. 

Dora is quite a bit taller in person then she seems on T.V.

And boots is a little more... Hispanic then he seems on T.V.

Either way, she didn't seem to notice. She loved it and loved her first visit to Mr. Gatti's!

Brooks Smile

Neither one of my kids were super smiley babies. But I kinda like the fact that they don't give away smiles easily. I kinda like that I have to work for them. It makes it so worth it when I do get one. 

Halloween 2013

For Halloween this year Haddie was the cutest white kitty cat you ever saw and Brooks was the cutest little pudgy bumble bee you ever saw. This was such a fun year, because Hadley was actually starting to get the concept and she loved it! She is a natural at trick-or-treating. 

We had a busy couple days around Halloween. The night before Halloween we went to Aldersgate's trunk-or-treat. Shane was scheduled to work on actual Halloween, so I'm so glad we got to the trunk-or-treat and let him see the kids dressed up. Brooks slept most of the time, but Hadley had a blast!

 Brooks was blowing me kisses when we got back home. Sweet boy.

 On actual Halloween we went up to the fire station to carve pumpkins with Shane.

 Then we went to Tank and Nonnie's house and trick-or-treated in their neighborhood. Like I said, Hadley was a natural. She would walk up to the door and knock all by herself. After prompting she would say, in the quietest, sweetest voice, "Trick-or-treat." It was so cute!
At one house she started putting their mini pumpkins in her basket. I guess she thought that if it fit it was hers for the taking!

 Buddy got worn out by all the excitement!