Andrew & Jenna with Santa

My mother in law and I took the kids to see Santa at MSU two weeks b/f Thanksgiving, which explains why Jenna isn't in Christmas colors. I do not see myself fighting the lines to take another picture. I thought this one turned out sweet!

Maybe not a Grinch after all...

So.. as you all know Christmas really is my FAVORITE season.. Until you add all the stress..planning.. and running around in circles that the season brings with it. I LOVE all the events and traditions... but as I get older remembering the real meaning of Christmas is becoming more important to me. Christmas for me.. It's being grateful for a fresh new start with Jesus. No matter how awful I am and how lightly I live life at times.. I know that Jesus forgives me. I am so very grateful that Jesus died on the cross for me. In a million years, I could never repay him to the extent that I owe him... In turn, I feel that it is very important for me to show throughout my life and during Christmas holidays my love for Jesus through helping others. Christmas is not about having my house in tip top store advertised shape.. Christmas gatherings at my house will be turned into me being thankful for all the friends and family that I have in my life. I will not run myself crazy knowing that my house is not in the best of order... I will be thankful that I can share such sweet times with all the people I admire and love. In our area things like soup kitchens are not the easiest to find, but I would love to teach my children and husband that on holidays, as well as many times in the year, we need to wake up and serve others.. not ourselves.

So, as the Christmas season approaches and you see me not totally engaged in the whole Christmas traditions.. it's not that I'm being a grinch...I'm just taking time to be thankful.

Andrew and Jenna

Andrew LOVES being a big brother. It's so funny to watch him at time. Those who know Andrew know that he is normally the loudest kid around.. So why should Jenna crying bother him... Well he can not stand her to cry.. He is so sweet making sure she's covered up and that her pacifier is in her mouth. It's so sweet to watch him with her!

Jenna Reese Carlisle

Sweet Jenna Reese was born 10/10/10 at 10:03 p.m. She weighed 8 lbs 6 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She has competed our family in more ways than I could ever express. She is so sweet and we already love her more than we ever thought was possible.

Pregnancy Pictures by Jade Malyn Photography

My cousin Jade did a GREAT job on my pregnancy pictures.. just wanted to share :)

Playpen Drama *sigh*

So.. this is Baby Carlisle's playpen... Look closely.. I put a lot of thought into this. The playpen I had with Andrew rolled up into a bag.. but it was HEAVY... so this go around I wanted something I didn't have to "pack" in a bag and tote.. My brother purchased this playpen for me b/c he used the one I had with Andrew then after going through the use of 4 children his wife ran over my playpen... yes.. blessing in disguise. Anyway, the playpen FINALLY made it's arrival to my door around a month ago. I was so excited... so excited while I was putting it together I BROKE the bassinet on it.. yep.. poor baby C isn't here yet and I've already broken the playpen.. great.. just great.. So I get the nice booklet that came with it to order a replacement bassinet for it.. only to call the company and the company to tell me I need the model, order and manufacture date.. so I'm thinking this is easy.. I will just go home and look on the "bottom" of the playpen for the white sticker.. easy peasey... not so easy.. I turned the playpen upside down all around.. no white sticker to be found.. at this point I gave up.. decided I would just call the company back and ask again.. so in the coming weeks.. I called again.. They reassured me that there is indeed a white sticker and it's on the bottom.. ok I say, now I go home with an agenda... went home last night and turned the playpen UPSIDE DOWN once again.. at this point I was gonna win... after searching for well over an hr.. I FIND the manufacture date, model and order number.. praise the Lord.. NO, it was not located on the "BOTTOM" of the playpen it was located inside the playpen and NO there wasn't a WHITE label anywhere to be found... ended up being on one of those nice WHITE tags that says DO NOT REMOVE... keep in mind.. it wasn't the WHITE tag on top... it was the third one underneath that... So.. I came to work today and ordered a replacement bassinet... In my mind I was gonna be out 30.00 which was fine I would have reached my goal to put baby C in this playpen from birth..... well... in my FAVOR... yes, I did say FAVOR... the lady is shipping me the bassinet for FREE.. that's right... for FREE..... see.. there is always a bright side of things even to some playpen drama :).... oh.. I was wanting to use the playpen in my living room when Baby C is first born b/c it has a changing table on it... If it were just a bassinet I may have given up weeks ago b/c I have a bassinet.. but the lengths I will go for a changing table on the bassinet... priceless :)

35 weeks

Well.. I am at 35 weeks, Baby C and Mama C are both ready for this journey to be over. I have so enjoyed feeling Baby C kick and move around.. but I am to the point (as most pregnant women are at this time) for Baby C to be born. No, the nursery isn't ready or my house in order... I am ok with that small fact... If Baby C decided to come tomorrow.. I would be ready.. the room or bottles wouldn't be.. but I would be ready :)... Everyone has commented how Baby C is going to be huge.. I just feel like he or she is going to be healthy... I am all in front.. so sometimes I look bigger than what I am... Now I know I'm big.. but I seriously don't see a 12 lbs baby... I go back to the Dr. on Monday.. I'm sure he will just look at me and tell me I'm pregnant.. that's about all he's done up to this point. I'm not sure when he will start checking me.. that makes me nervous... for him to be all up in my business... but looks like my business will be their business until Baby C gets here.. so I might as well just get over that...

Andrew's 9th Birthday!

My sweet baby boy turned 9 August 1st. We had a very small celebration with close friends and family. He was so excited about his BULLY cake... even all the OLE MISS fans in attendance ate some of the BULLY cake.. We had a small get together at bulldog lanes and had a great time.. I just can't believe I'm so late on this post... I've got to get better at posting updates..

Baby Carlisle

Baby Carlisle is 30 weeks in this pic... Isn't he or she just perfect.. yes, I know that's what all parents say.. I went back to the Dr today and I am 33 weeks. Baby C is doing just great. Now Mama C on the other hand.. is tired of being pregnant.. yes.. I said it.. tired of being pregnant.. I'm just ready to for Baby C to be here and to start another chapter of my life... I am a very patient person.. but I've reached the point where a day feels like a month. I've purchased some things for Baby C... I think we will be ready for the arrival.. We have put in wood floors in our bedrooms and it looks so nice.. I'm very excited about the nursery.. If we can ever get our master bedroom completed, then we can move out of the nursery and start preparing for Baby C. Andrew also got a new room.. I need to post some pics.. Anyway.. just a quick update on Baby C..

Andrew's First Day of 4th Grade

It's that time of the year again. The first day of school has come and gone and we survived.. Thank goodness. It's so hard to believe that Andrew is already in the 4th grade. Where has the time gone? I started out this year taking him in car pool.. then I realized that Chris goes to Andrew's school also, so this week Andrew has been riding his dad's bus. It has made my mornings much calmer for sure. Andrew says that 4th grade is LOTS of work. We are very blessed with a GREAT teacher this year. She looks out for Andrew and makes him complete his work. I can already tell that he's improving. Last night on his study guide he got everything right on the first try. I was truly amazed and very thankful!

New Blog

I've started a new blog just because too many people had access to my other one. I put it on private, but then I was thinking that my friends were forgetting to check in on it.. so to make it easy on everyone, I just decided to start a new one. Hopefully, I will be able to post pics soon. Have a GREAT day!