now this is more like it.

just when i was beginning to think that my son had an abnormal love for mall santas, this happened: 

we'll see what happens next year, but if i do end up having to sit on santa's lap again, at least i won't be 7 months pregnant.

happy birthday, norah!

norah decided she wanted to go to the American Girl store for her birthday. lucky us ... because that meant we got to spend the whole weekend with the christies and celebrate this sweet, beautiful girl's special day! we loved every minute of it.

and the next morning, caden made us some delicious pancakes for breakfast with his own special spices. they tasted like christmas! hopefully when he makes it as an iron chef on the food network someday, he'll introduce me to rachael ray.

oh and i should mention - maggie cleaned, organized and rearranged my whole house, while david built us an office in our closet to help us save space in baby girl marvel's nusery. um. pretty much my dream come true. thank you, christies!!

how i spent my thanksgiving.

we traded the turkey and stuffing for a dinner at sharis. checked our phones every five minutes to see how she was progressing. made a late night visit to the hospital and ended the day with the most beautiful sight - a healthy and amazing baby jace. conventional? no. perfect? most definitely.

citizen's arrest

daughter.

(image courtesy of google)



i hope you love dresses.
i hope you have eyes like your brother (what I wouldn’t give for his lashes).
i hope you are strong and sweet.
i hope when you pray you believe with all of your heart that God cares.
i hope you marry a man like your dad.
i hope you always choose the right thing over the popular thing.
i hope you won’t hate me when you’re a teenager.
i hope you live a life with more smiles than tears (happy tears are as good as smiles, too).
i hope you aren’t afraid to get dirty and go camping.
i hope you will still be seen with me even when i'm uncool.
i hope that your faith will grow every minute that you do.
i hope you won’t be a picky eater.
i hope you won’t love shopping quite as much as I do.
i hope you will tell me anything and not be afraid.
i hope you will never get your heart broken.
i hope you will be quick to stand up when you fall.
i hope you will stick up for people.
i hope you will appreciate your imperfections.
i hope you will let me do your hair.
i hope you will care more about the beauty on the inside than on the outside.
i hope you will never feel alone.
i hope you will choose your friends wisely.
i hope you will trust us to do what’s best for you.
i hope you will never want to be anyone but the person God has made you to be.
i hope you will be kind and humble.
i hope you will have a heart full of gratefulness.
i hope you will have few regrets.
i hope you will make wise choices.
i hope you will love your brother and love being a sister.
i hope you will dream big.
i hope you will know that, from the moment you existed, you have been my dream come true.