enjoying every minute!

Hello Friends! Long time, no blog!
All is well and very busy! My baby has only 3 more weeks before she turns one year old! I can't believe this year has gone by so very fast! I think it goes by so much faster with the second kiddo.
I actually had my camera while the kiddos were playing in the front lawn. Brookie was leaning on me as we were watching big brother pretend to be a brave, brave police officer! She let go of my shoulder, stood all on her own, and took 2 baby steps! My heart jumped out of my chest! Will was thrilled too! Being the good big bro that he is, he instantly ran over and braced Brooke so she would not fall.
Funny thing, to me Brooke looks mighty tiny to be walking. She is a petite little thing. I tell her she is just too BIG to be this LITTLE!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you sweeties out there!!!!!!

Sending you hugs this Christmas!

If you have time

So, the collage thing is a bit on the small side. Since, we are SO important n' all. . .you can click on the collage and BAM! BIG PICTURES! Did everybody know this already?

May the Merry Bells Keep Ringing!

Happy Holidays!
Can't believe my lil' boy is 3.5 and baby Brooke is almost 0.75 year. I miss teaching math if you can't tell.
(Elementary math)
I had fun making this collage. I hate downloading individual pictures. I give props to Picasa. They make the digital camera world so much easier!

Going sorta clockwise:

This is Will's look when his brain is ticking.
Brooke riding on her daddy's shoulders. I love both of their smiles in this shot!
Will had me dig out his baby Santa costume. I thought he just wanted to look at it! Silly boy wanted to wear it!
Me and my blue eyed angel.
Helping mommy with the neverending laundry. One sock off. One sock on!
Meema (Ali) knitted the sweet sweater and hat. It's so adorable. I love to hug her in it!
I love to hug her in this red sweater onesie too!
Will looks super cool in this shot. Almost like a Beastie Boy???? No way, he's way cooler than the Beasties!
Nothing is more fun to play with than Legos. He hopes Santa brings him more from the North Pole. We'll see!

Nothing deep for now. I don't think I've posted anything super deep in a long time. Does that mean something???
Brain, where are you????

Katy recommended that I read Twilight. I love it. . . Like all the other millions of people (or 14 year old girls) out there.
I love how Stephanie Meyer gave props to Wuthering Heights at the beginning of the novel. So, I figured it was worth reading from then on. And, I also love Bella. She would be a fun friend. (If I was still in high school!!!!)

Fall Time Fun!

I love Fall! I took these pictures last week of my favorite tree ever! And, it's in our front yard!
Brooke is now 8 months old and keeping me VERY busy. Will is 3.5 and keeping me very busy also!
Our preacher said several weeks ago that if you lay down at night and you are exahuasted, thank God because he has given you purpose! (not his words exactly!) His thoughts that day really encouraged me!

Fall equals leaves changing colors, which equals Mema's dressing at Thanksgiving, which equals Christmas just around the corner, which equals seeing the joy that the holiday season brings!!!! (This equals a very long incorrect, run-on sentence!)

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

LOST

OK, I was playing around with new Templates and the site LOST my BLOG friends list! Can anybody help!!!!!

Late Summer Vacation. . .almost.

Kids are great aren't they! No words can describe the level of excitement felt when I found out I was pregnant with Will and with Brooke. Tony and I did the typical Tony and I thing. We wanted to be real creative in telling each of our parents that we were pregnant. However, we gave into our excitement and called them over the phone to let them know they would soon be grandparents. We couldn't wait to tell them. Driving to their house (which is in the same zip code) would have taken too long.

Engagement kept dragging and dragging so we got married in whirlwind!
We just couldn't WAIT any longer to be husband and wife.

With that being said, children truly do make you wait. It has been a very interesting few days.
On Saturday morning, we drove Will and Brooke to a portrait studio to view our family pictures. Hayley and Diggs gave us this wonderful package. Will and Brooke were super great while viewing the pictures. While narrowing the pickings, Tony said, "Holly, is that a hive on Will's cheek?" Sure enough it was! In no less than 30 seconds Will broke into a full allergic reaction to whatever was on the pillow he was leaning on. Did I bring my benydryl? No. I left it in a different diaper bag. So, we had to ask the picture lady where the nearest CVS was located. Tony drove like a pro race car driver all the way there.
Got the benydryl. Gave Will a spoon full. Brooke starts screaming. She needs to nurse. So, we are in some strange part of town. Can't wait. She's got to nurse. We lock the doors and begin to laugh at what that positive sign on a pregnancy test really means.

Wait. View portrait pictures. No, wait. Eat breakfast at IHOP? No, just wait. Gotta use the restroom??? In a minute. The kiddos need you.

Labor Day was another batch of unexpected rushing and waiting. Tony and Will were working in the garage creating some cool device. I was simpy not allowed out there upon my son's orders. He was hanging with Dad. After playing and being incredibly dirty, he decided he wanted some Raisin Bran cereal. He kept eating bowl after bowl after bowl.

Later on, Tony called me into Brooke's room and said, "Holly check out Will's nose." OH MY GOODNESS! The left side of the top nose grew the size of a large grape. I started running all over the house gathering everything we needed in 1 minute flat to race to the ER.
Once again, Tony drove like a pro race car driver all the way to Cook's.

Tony took Will into the ER and I stayed with Brooke. We didn't want Brooke in the ER and I needed to be with her because I'm her lunch. I can't tell you how hard this was. I started staring at all the places that reminded me of our stay there when William was 8 months old. I'm glad my smiling daughter kept my spirits up. Once again, waiting was the only way. And, our cell phones don't work in the Cook's ER. Wanna talk about mommy insanity!!!!

After waiting and waiting, Will was seen by a wonderful doctor. After performing 2 catheter procedures, she was still unable to tell what was wrong with Will. He was diagnosed with Sinusitis and was referred to a pediatric ENT specialist.

Pray. Wait. All night and all morning. Pray again.

Thankfully, the ENT doctor said Will is perfectly fine and whatever affected him yesterday is gone today. It could have been a hive or some sort of something that got in his nose in the garage. Who knows???? The doctor said all that mattered was that he was pefectly wonderful today.

All this being said, Will and Brooke are the best lessons that could have ever happened to me. They teach me to be calm and wait. They are God's. He loves them and continues to protect them. (every single second of the day)

Waiting is now a part of my life. I've come to expect it and actually find the blessings that reside there.

Tomorrow we are going to spend some family time at a water park. I'm bringing sunscreen, a camera, and most definitely some benydryl. Hopefully, Tony will not have any need to be the next Dale Earnhardt.