Anybody there?!

We've been MIA for the last month but lots has been going on with our little ones. One thing is for sure Anna and Aiden surely give us something to smile about each day! I realized yesterday I had not picked up my camera in many weeks. This is what I found when I returned to Aiden's room after retrieving it ....

Anna and daddy were having their afternoon phone conversation as he headed home from work. Anna then leaned over the crib and asked Aiden if he would like to talk to daddy. Her words exactly, "You would buddy?!" Sure enough he did! Anna is not only phone savvy but just yesterday she asked if she could skype. Almost daily she will be on her phone and now instead of just talking she will tell me, "I need to send a text really quick." She also will ask about sending an email. Oh the things they pick up and retain! More pictures of our soon-to-be 5 month old and stories of our two-year old. She's had us laughing a lot recently, which is a good thing. "A cheerful heart is good medicine" Proverbs 17:22 We need all the good medicine we can get. :)

Happy boy...

despite RSV.

This picture was taken as we sent off Todd and Vanessa at the airport. Aiden has become our little talker as seen in this picture. He loves to make eye contact and chat away with you. His legs are also in constant motion. Our sweet boy is sick. Despite being sick, when awake, he wants to chat and will even smile for you. He is pitiful and having a difficult time breathing. Anna had a cold last week and by Thursday Aiden was congested. It is inevitable that when Anna gets sick Aiden will soon follow as she cannot stay away from her brother. We decided to take them in today as Aiden had a terrible cough and such difficulty breathing despite his bed being on an incline and the humidifier running. Anna thankfully seems to be on the mend but she does have an ear infection. Aiden had an ear infection as well and the doctor wanted to do an RSV test to be safe. It did come back positive. We will be going to the doctor daily so they can keep a close watch on our little man. We are praying we stay out of the hospital. Although we know he is uncomfortable this little one continues to rarely cry. He brings us much joy. He and his sister are complete opposites when it comes to being sick. When Anna is sick there is no sleeping in our household. She is a sensitive little girl and is awaken with a runny nose. We can line her crib with kleenex but she still cries out for us. She wants to "sleep all through the night," in her words but just can't. Aiden is like his daddy. He is a sound sleeper and has been sleeping a good bit since being sick. His mommy is the only one not sleeping as she worries he cannot breathe. He weighed in at about 13 1/2 pounds today, at four months.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles!

We didn't have any trains but we did have planes and automobiles! The Californians by plane and the Alabamians by car. Anna expected to see a plane parked in grandmommy and grandaddy's driveway when we went to greet Uncle Todd. She looked and looked but she did get to see several planes on their departure as we escorted them to the airport. It was a fun-filled week with her Aunts and Uncles. Although, now she is not the only grandchild but she still stole the show (at least for one more year). Next year Aiden and Elliot might give her a run for her money. Grandaddy did love spending time with his two grandsons and getting them to interact. Aiden LOVED talking to Elliot. When placed in front of Elliot he would begin chatting away. All week Anna was entertained from working on puzzles, reading, playing basketball, dressing up with an assortment of clothing from her dress-up chest to learning how to draw circles. She had some great one-on-one time with each of them and learned all sorts of new things. Thanks Vanessa for working on shapes with our little one! She practices everyday. We only wish they all lived a little closer.

Funny Girl!

Anna and Grandaddy had a blast playing with the wrapping paper rolls over Christmas. Not sure who had more fun. As you can tell Anna makes us smile a good bit. A great example of this is a conversation that took place at a Chick-fil-A not too long ago between Anna and a woman sitting at a booth behind us. Eating at a "restaurant" as Anna says is one of her favorite things to do as she gets to people watch and interact with so many.

Anna: "You have shakemilk?"
Me: (interpreting) "milkshake"
Woman: "No, I am drinking coke. When you get to be a big girl you can have coke too."
Anna: "You wear underwear?"
Me: (apologetically) "We are potty training and we have told her that big girls wear underwear."
Woman: "Yes, I wear underwear. Do you wear underwear?"
Anna: "Yes"

We are so proud of our big girl. She has been wearing underwear since November 1st with only one accident to report. Anna just made up her mind one day that she was ready for underwear. More than likely there would not have even been a single accident if she didn't have a mom who rarely remembers to ask her if she needs to use the bathroom. Potty training had been taken off my radar once Aiden arrived. Anna had other plans though. She has amazed us as we rarely prompt her to go. But it is VERY nice only having one in diapers during the day!

The real reason for it all!

Our 2 1/2 year old surely helped us keep the real meaning of Christmas in perspective this year. A little over 2 years ago, shortly after Anna was born, I was asked to be a part of a group that was making Jesse Tree ornaments. We each made 25 of one ornament and then exchanged them. Giving each family 25 different ornaments, one for each day leading up to Christmas in December. The ornaments correspond with a story in the bible that ultimately prepares you for the coming of baby Jesus. Although we have had the ornaments for the past two years this was our first year of reading through the Jesse Tree book, the corresponding scripture and hanging the ornaments on a small tree. We thought Anna would be old enough this year to begin to grasp some of the concepts. Little did we know how much she would understand and how excited she would be about hanging a small ornament each night. It was the highlight of each day. We were blessed listening to her recap what she had gathered from each story. It was amazing how much she began to understand sin. She refers to it as disobeying and will either give you the example of Adam and Eve eating the apple or someone pinching. Little minds. One of our favorite moments in sharing with her was when we were reviewing the story of Abraham. The night before we had shared with her about Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac. We asked her the next night," what present did Abraham give God instead of Isaac?" She looked at us very seriously and immediately said, "Livy." We have good friends who have twins the same age as Anna. Their names are Isaac and Livy. Another night we were talking about Jesus coming back to earth or as Anna refers to it, "Greenboro (Greensboro)." Anna immediately had multiple questions, "Jesus have car, Jesus walk, Jesus have backpack, Jesus have puter (computer) like daddy?"

Christmas Eve was another reminder of the excitement of Christ's birth through the eyes of a child. Anna was so excited about going to the Christmas Eve service at our church. She could hardly wait to sing. She kept asking us over and over again if we would sing, "Go Tell it on the Mountain." This is one of her favorite songs right now. She knows it word for word. We told her there was a possibility we would sing it. After the first song was sung, Anna blurted out for all to hear around us, "Go tell it on the Mountain." Sure enough, moments later the words to her favorite song appeared on the screen. Those sitting around us turned around and smiled at our sweet girl and continued to watch her as she clapped and tapped her foot as we sang those wonderful words!

Anna was surely excited to open presents on Christmas morning but nothing compared to the birthday celebration for Jesus. Yes, a new basketball goal was thrilling but it paled in comparison to singing happy birthday to Jesus and blowing out his birthday candles on the cake she had decorated. I believe we lit the candles at least three times and sang "Happy Birthday" five times with Anna's voice towering over everyone else's. Before we had Jesus' party, Anna kept asking when we were going to celebrate Jesus' birthday. She knew the real celebrating had not taken place!

Thank you Anna for reminding us why we celebrate this time of year.
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"

Luke 2:10-12

My little helper!

(More Christmas pictures to come but still trying to catch-up on posts from the last two months!)

Most of the day Anna is my little side-kick. A lot of the time Anna will do whatever task I am doing with her toys. For example, if I am cleaning up the kitchen she will go to her play kitchen and begin to wash dishes. If I am wiping the kitchen floor she will get on her hands and knees with a rag and wipe the floor. She continues to love playing mommy these days and rocks, soothes, sings, feeds (yes, she does nurse her baby dolls, a site to see) and strolls her baby all day long but more times than not she has her phone in hand when she is performing any of these tasks. Her conversations are hilarious! One task she loves to help with is the laundry. She has watched me fold laundry so much that she really does have it almost down. She always puts the article of clothing underneath her chin to begin the folding process (just like her mommy). She just can't seem to keep it folded and thus will more or less put it in a ball and place it on the clothes I have folded. As you can tell she is VERY serious about folding her clothes. She doesn't take her work lightly! I surely love you, Anna. You make mommy and daddy smile, A LOT!

J's

according to Anna but known to the rest of the world as PJ's or Pajamas!
Three cousins.

Big Sister and Little Brother.

Anna and her baby cousin she refers to as Ewwiot (Elliot).

Patiently waiting...

to hold and kiss the one she adores!