A girl...

I was talking to my sweet friend Mandy today, and realized I had only taken pictures once since Christmas, and that was for a going away party not of the kids. Definitely a record! Time to pull out the camera, and catch up on the month of January.

 

I am not sure where the month has gone, but it has been a busy one and we are going to have another sweet little one before we know it. Oh and the title might be a little misleading... we still don't know if baby #3 is a boy or girl. But we sure do have a little girl named Micah Reece! Last night at dinner, she stood up in her chair and Craig told her to sit down. She looked at him, shook her finger, and said "No, no, no!" He raised his voice just a little, and said, "Micah sit down!" She looked at him, and just started bawling! Welcome to having a little girl!

 

Craig was off until January 7th and the kids started preschool the 8th, so since then we have hit the ground running. I have been busy with MOPS, leading a Wednesday night bible study, and trying to finish editing a wedding I can't seem to get done. We helped with a going away party for our dear friends the Crosses who moved on the 13th, Craig made a quick trip to the Valley with Micah to see his grandmother who was in the hospital, and he had a men's retreat last weekend.

 

Both Mason and Micah are growing like crazy, and I am just trying to enjoy every sweet moment with them before the baby comes. On Friday, I was feeling awful and Mason said, "Mom don't worry I will take care of you. But to take care of you, I need to be in charge!"...yes 3, going on 13.

 

Other big news is no more diapers at night for Mason. We had 4 left, and I told him I didn't want to have three kids in diapers.  We told him if he went 4 days without an accident at night he could go to Target and pick out a toy. Of coarse... Star Wars figures it is! He did great! He has only had one accident, and we just wake him up before we go to bed and take him to the bathroom. Craig took him to Target, and he wanted R2D2's friend, R5D4. Didn't know there was such a thing. He takes both of them every where he goes, including bed!

This sweet girl is so fun! She is talking more and more every day, and now knows all of her letters, numbers, and colors. Not all are pronounced perfectly but we are working on it...

Mason has quite the imagination. Today he set up a toy store, and was selling me toys for money. He even gave me some for free because I ran out of money:-)

 Some of Micah's favorite things are doing puzzles, building things with blocks, jewelry, and shoes...

 Mason is still crazy about his sister. Every morning he repeatedly ask me if Micah is awake. He waits for her to wake up (impatiently) and can't wait to go get her. He climbs in her crib and just plays with her. He waits for her to drink his milk, and we all watch a cartoon once she is up. Absolutely one of my favorite parts of the day... so thankful I get to stay home to experience that every morning and not out of the house to work by 7:00am!

 I realize that Micah isn't matching. She must have had an accident at school, and had to have some different pants. Just in case you are wondering...

One of their favorite Christmas gifts from GiGi and PaPa. Micah practices her letters, and on the other side is  a chalkboard where Mason practices drawing his letters and numbers.

 Mason's favorites include Star Wars, Star Wars, and more Star Wars. He plays with his spaceships and figures all the time, and enjoys watching the Star Wars cartoon series with his daddy. He has already called his GiGi and asked her to make him a R2D2 cake for his birthday.

We have a sonogram on Friday to see Baby Bellamy. Mason keeps asking to go so he can see (him)...he won't even consider that it might be a girl, he keeps saying a boy. He/she is one active baby! Looking forward to seeing Mason as he sees the sonogram.

Christmas Vacation...

We really enjoyed our Christmas break this year as we were so blessed to have Craig home for 18 days! Today was his first day back, and an adjustment for all of us. We got used to having daddy home! We went to Weslaco for a week and enjoyed time with both of our families. We were all loved on well with great food, gifts, and quality time.

We got back on Wednesday night around midnight and said we weren't doing anything for two days. Well, the two days turned into 5 as I got a sinus infection that turned into a cold, passed it on to Craig, and Mason fought it as well. While it was no fun being sick, we did really enjoy just being home together and not going anywhere. Mason and Craig watched plenty of Star Wars Clone Wars, and they were both in heaven. The funny thing is our Micah doesn't say a ton of words even though she is saying more daily, but she can say "Star War".

The best part is that we still had 5 days after that to enjoy family time once we were all better. Highlights included taking the kids to Emerald Rainbow, a morning breakfast at Panera, date night for Craig and I, Craig going hunting and killing a deer, and a very fun Cotton Bowl party where A&M beat OU. So thankful for the great time we had together!

Christmas Eve at GiGi and PaPa's house with their fun new Christmas pjs....

 Aunt Patsy helping Micah open her presents...

 

Christmas morning Santa left three gifts for each of them. Mason enjoyed a switch and go dino, green and blue light saber, and a new A&M jersey. While Micah got a mega block table, mega blocks and some board games.

 This girl loves her blocks!

 After Santa came to my parents, we went over to Craig's mom house and enjoyed Christmas morning with Craig's family.

 Isn't this ironic...Micah playing with the switch and go dino and Mason playing with the pink vacuum...

 Micah with her Christmas pjs, new boots, and necklace. She loves her shoes and jewelery!

Stockings...

One of my favorite quotes of the holidays was Mason saying, "Mom thank you so much for my big sock with my name on it. I really like it." Stockings do look like big socks, and he didn't even know that you fill it with all kinds of fun stuff.

This year before we left for Christmas we did stockings as a family. Mason bought Craig and I gifts at Awanas, I filled the rest, and Mason and Micah exchanged gifts. It was fun to see their excitement, as I think Micah even knew what was going on.

This is our completed Jessie Tree...definitely one of the highlights of the Christmas season. Mason and I would do it every morning as soon as we came down stairs since we were the ones up at 6:00. He never let me forget. Looking forward to Micah participating next year!

 Best wrapped presents ever...and now that we have Micah to help she accessorizes with stickers.

 Mason got daddy to help him...a robot with a light saber.

 Pretty girl loves her jewelry!

 Mason got Micah some playdoh.

 

This is my priceless picture...this was really his excitement with every gift he opened. This was a small switch and go dino that Micah got him. 

 Thank you Micah....

 "Forget the kisses...you need a necklace brother!"