Two Years

Two years ago, I married my best friend. I honestly don't know where the time has gone. We have had a crazy first couple of years. People told us that the first few years are the hardest and I have to agree. It probably doesn't help that I have been pregnant for the majority of our marriage! Between sleepless nights, pregnancy hormones, and adjusting to married life, we have had some obstacles to overcome.
However....I am extremely blessed to be married to Brian! He loves me for me, has given me a beautiful daughter and a son on the way, is a great father and very hands on, and works hard for our family. I wouldn't want to go through this journey of life without him!
Last year for Brian's birthday, I gave him a card. He keeps it on his nightstand and I think it sums it all up:

In the center of my ideal universe, there's a wonderful husband (you) and a loving wife (me) happily sharing life.

Then there's the real world, with all its busy schedules and demands.

But at the very center, there's still that same happy couple (us!) loving each other through it all....

which makes me think, it really is an ideal universe after all.

Happy Anniversary Brian! Thanks for picking me to be a part of your "happy couple"! I love you with all of my heart and I look forward to many more years with you!!!

Big Girl Booster Seat

I got a booster seat for Macie at my shower more than a year ago. When I was cleaning out her closet, I decided it was time to get it out. Now, she will be able to eat at the table with us. We are going to put the highchair away until Gavin is ready to use it. She ate snack in it for the first time this afternoon. I can't believe how big she looks in it!

Mickey Mouse Ball Tent

Today I went through all of the bags of presents we had gotten in the last three days. At each place, we loaded up a garbage bag and I didn't touch anything until today. I still have to sort and organize all of my scrapbooking stuff, but everything else is put away. I even sorted all of Macie's toys into different baskets so it will be easier to clean up our living room. I am not naive in thinking that it will always be perfectly put away, but I can try!
Tonight, Allie came over so we decided to get out Macie's ball tent. We didn't think about the fact that we would need an air pump for the thing, so Annie brought one from my parents' house. Macie has been so excited about this gift because she could see the balls in the box. She kept saying "ba, ba" over and over and shaking with excitement. We finally blew the thing up and Macie LOVED it! It did help that Allie was going crazy with her. I can see that we are going to have lots of fun times with this thing!

She is peeping thru a hole you put balls thru

Look at that sweet face!

Gavin's Presents

Even though Gavin isn't here yet, he got a few presents from Brian's family. They got him several outfits, socks, and two taggies. He doesn't need any toys, but the clothes are definitely needed!!

Christmas with my Parents

This afternoon, we finally had a chance to do Christmas with my parents. This was our 6th Christmas! My mom worked until noon and we were all at their house waiting on her when she got off. My dad grilled pork steaks and bbq chicken and we all brought parts of the meal so we could eat when mom got home. Macie ate lunch a bit earlier and took a good nap over there. I was relieved because that always helps for present time! After lunch, we opened gifts. Macie is a real pro at this point. I think she helped everyone else open their presents and she had a great time. She even helped pass out a few gifts. Brian and I were surprised to find out that our big gift from mom, dad, and Allie was a storm door for our front door. I have been wanting one for quite some time now, but when the time came, we always seemed to spend the money on something else. We are so excited. Macie got a Mickey Mouse ball tent, books, play food, and an Elmo airplane. It is the same plane that we gave Hannah for her birthday. When my parents heard how much she loved it, they had to buy it for her!
When we left my parents' house, I dropped Macie and Brian off at home and then I went out to my aunt and uncle's house. It was so nice to hang out, play games, and have adult conversations without chasing Macie around. Another fun and exhausting day. Tomorrow, we are staying home and I don't plan on getting out of my pjs!!!

Aunt Allie and Macie
Brian and I both opened gifts at first that said our gift was with the other persons...
Brian looks so serious because Allie told him to look confused, but I smiled because I was laughing about something else...

"What can this be?"

Macie wanted her balls out so badly. Aunt Allie got two of them out so she could play with them.

Macie barely had the present open and she was saying "ELMO!!" She was shaking with excitement until we got it out of the package!

She is making airplane noises!

33 1/2 weeks

Look at that belly!!!

Christmas in Madisonville

After we finished our Christmas at home, we took a road trip to Madisonville. Both of Brian's extended families live there. Our first stop was Brian's Dad's family. We had a finger food lunch and then opened gifts. They have it in a church hall and I love it because there is a lot of of space for the kids to run around and there are toys for them to play with. Macie had a blast running all over the place. Of course, Macie got more presents. She got an adorable clown toy, but the funny thing is Brian was scared of clowns as a kid and they still freak him out. He agreed the toy was cute, but told me that it wasn't allowed to stay in Macie's room when she was sleeping. I told him he never knows where that thing might show up!
When we left the church, we went to the nursing home to see Brian's papaw. Macie and I didn't go in because she really needed a nap and I didn't want all of the germs. Then we went to Nanny's house for a bit before heading to his aunt and uncle's house. That was our final destination of the day. We had a more traditional dinner of ham, turkey, and all the fixins. Nanny made Macie a doll and us an afghan. I love gifts like that because they will be treasured forever! I was in bed by 8 last night. I was flat exhausted. Two more Christmases to go......

Our cutie patootie playing with the fire truck
Aunt Katie helped Macie go down the slide for the first time

Brian, Katie, and Macie

Aunt Beth helped Macie open up her gifts. She is showing her a Buster doll.

This was soo funny! Macie pulled the outfit out of the bag (which was an adorable Adidas sweatsuit), threw it over her head, and looked in the bag to see if there was anything else. We all started cracking up. Then she took off with the bag. I guess that is all we needed to buy her!

Macie and Daddy

Macie played with Landon at Nanny's

Our Family of 3 1/2!

Macie's Raggedy Ann doll made by Nanny

Christmas Morning

This morning, Macie woke up a little before 7, which is late for her. I guess she was wiped out from last night. Brian brought her in the bed with us for a bit so we could cuddle and wish her a Merry Christmas. Then, we headed into the living room to see what Santa brought Macie. He brought her a Mickey Mouse kitchen and some maracas. Mommy and Daddy are getting her a playground set, so she didn't have anything under the tree from us. Brian and I got each other the wii and will be getting the wii fit, so we didn't get anything else for each other, but Macie picked out some presents for us. Macie got Daddy a wii game that has 19 games on it. Macie got Mommy some scrapbooking storage containers and a Zac Brown Band cd. Macie did a great job picking out presents for us!
After presents, we made a breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and turkey bacon. Yummy! We ate breakfast on the Christmas dishes that my grandma got us a few years ago. Brian also read the Christmas story from the bible. These are traditions we started last year and I look forward to continuing them every year!

Merry Christmas!

Presents under the tree
Macie ran straight for the kitchen

Pointing out all of the characters

What's inside the oven?

Opening her present...tearing off one piece at a time

So excited! Waiting for Daddy to open them!

Shake! Shake! Shake!

Cookies for Santa

This is the first year that Macie left cookies out for Santa.

Here is what we left him....

This is what he left behind...

Grandma Wolf's House

After we left Sturgis, we went to my Grandma Wolf's house. That is my mom's mom and it is always the craziest event! All 80 people squeeze in a duplex with presents galore. She does have both sides of the duplex now and as crazy as it seems, we wouldn't have it any other way. I was worried how Macie would do, but she did great! I was able to let her roam a bit before and after gifts, and my sisters, mom, Brian, and I took turns holding her during the gift chaos. Macie was spoiled once again, but it is good to know that she is well loved!
My Grandma seemed to rake in the best gifts this year. Allie took a picture of all of the grandkids, their spouses, and great grandchildren the weekend after Thanksgiving. She had a gallery wrap made and gave it to my grandma. It was the first thing she opened and she had tears in her eyes. She jokingly said she was going to take it to SWIRCA with her and ask the other people if they wanted to see her grandkids! The last gift she opened was also very special. My uncle's aunt passed away recently and left everything to her niece and nephew. A few of my aunts and uncles decided to give her car to my grandma as a Christmas present because her car isn't in the best shape. Needless to say, my grandma was shocked!

Holding the picture from Allie...look how surprised she is!

Allie and Grandma
Macie chilling in Aunt Annie's lap
Leland opening his gift from us

My cousin Katie gave Allie this bottle of wine

It says: Middle Sister Mischief Maker

That sums her up!!!

Grandma sitting her her new car. She said, "Yes, there really is a Santa Claus!"

Christmas Eve in Sturgis

We started the Christmas festivities by having brunch with Brian's family in Sturgis. Brian had to work until noon, so Macie and I met him there. Macie was quite a handful all morning and she didn't fall asleep until we were almost to Brian's parents' house. I was worried she would be a complete grouch, but everything ended up working out. Right before we ate, we laid Macie down for a nap and she slept through us eating and opening our presents. She woke up as we were finishing so she was able to open all of her gifts. She had the biggest pile by far! I knew this year would be fun and exciting, but I had no idea how into opening gifts she would really be! She would open each gift and then shake with excitement. Brian and I were both pumped about our gifts. I got a lot of scrapbooking stuff and Brian got a lot of clothes. The biggest surprise was that Katie and Josh made us corn hole boards with our name on it. They made one for Beth and Wil too...we were all shocked! Gavin even had a stocking and some presents and he isn't even here yet!

Macie was showing her dress to Uncle Wil
Macie found this Santa hat and was trying to put it on her head

Macie's Stocking

Gavin's Stocking

Emptying the stocking

Look at all of those goodies...

Macie would tear off bits of paper and bring them to me when she was opening every present

Grammie read Macie her new book from Uncle John

Macie's new laptop from Aunt Beth and Uncle Wil