Merry Christmas!

I don't have any pics to post today...I took some of the girls last night in front of the tree and a few today while we were out shopping with my dad BUT I have yet to learn how to use the card reader for my new camera so...maybe I will ask my husband to show me tonite!!

We have been busy little elfs the last few days...buying the last of the gifts for my husband and my parents...I can't say what they are because I know my parents read this and it has to be a suprise BUT I will take pics and show you after Christmas day! I have a feeling they are going to be a big hit!!

As I sit here typing this...it just started snowing! Nothing like snow to get you ready for Christmas!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I know it is being much anticipated around our house...Kiley can't wait for Santa but keeps reminding us that Christmas is about Jesus! Josh and I don't need to be reminded but I am SO glad that she understands the true meaning of Christmas! And Lily...well she just likes all the pretty ornaments and boxes...and as far as Santa goes...she is TERRIFIED of him!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Wondering!

I have no clue why my pics posted first....but I am too tired to go back and fix them!

Sorry!

This is Kiley's "model pose" in front of the Christmas tree...she is such the drama queen!

Here is my sweet Lily helping with the decorating!

Here is the mantle...partialy done!

I don't know why my husband takes such crazy pictures of us....maybe we are the crazy ones for posing like this!

This is the pic we used for our Chrisrtmas card....Reindeer Antlers!

Has anyone been wondering where we have been lately?

Does anyone even read my blog anymore??

Well for those of you that do...we are still here!

This is a crazy time of the year for us..
we have been super busy decorating for Christmas, sipping on hot chocolate, cuddling by the fire, reading Christmas books and watching all of our Christmas favorites!

This season always seems to fly by and I wish it would stick around forever!

There is not much to update on for the time being!

Kiley is doing wonderful in pre-school and had her last day today for the next three weeks...oh

my! Lily had her monthly weight check today and has actually lost weight since last month so we start feeding therapy again next week...hopefully they will be more aggressive this time and not release us until she is on the right track with her eating! So for now we will just be comfortable with her being below the negative fifth percentile for her weight and will hope for weight gain next month...even if it is only a few ounces! My heart sank today when I saw the scale...I just knew she had gained...WRONG!

Tonite we went to get hot chocolate and look at Christmas lights with my in-laws...Kiley was asleep 10 minutes into our adventure and Lily enjoyed herself for about 30 minutes....making the last hour miserable! But the poor baby does have a bacteria infection in her eyes and nose so that could have contributed to part of the upset!

I will leave you with some recent pics....enjoy your holiday season....I will try to be back before Christmas!

(the pics were at the beginning)!!

Randomosities!!

I haven't exactly taken the time to update my blog lately....with the exception of when Lily was in the hospital! I am not the "sit down" type girl...I am always on the go, playing with the girls and trying to keep my house in some form of order!

We are now approaching my favorite time of the year! I love fall, the leaves changing colors, the cool days and the overall "air" of the holidays!

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the holiday season...
it goes by SO fast!

And oh...call me crazy but I have already started listening to Christmas music...
the girls and I dance to it daily!


My girls enjoying a tea party!
Santa told me that he is bringing them a cute new table for Christmas!


Here is my sweet Lily and her "bunny butt"...is it not the cutest thing you have ever seen???


Kiley and her friend Kelli...both little mermaids for Halloween!


She just loves making silly faces for the camera!


I absolutely adore this baby girl!!


Attempt number one!


Attempt number two!!


Attempt number three!!
I have no idea why my words are now underlined!!


Kiley pulling Lily at the pumpkin patch!
They are so stinkin' sweet!

So, that is about all for now!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Home Sweet Home!

We finally got home from the hospital Monday afternoon...yay!
Lily is feeling much better and is slowly getting back to eating and drinking!
That was a long 4 days and needless to say I am glad it is over!
It was so cold and dreary while we were in the hospital, oh how I wish we would have been at home having a fire and roasting marshmallows...but I guess we will have many more cold days to come!

My parents left this morning for their 30th anniversary trip to North Carolina, I am SO jealous...I need a vacation! My mom has been helping me take and pick up Kiley from school since Lily has been sick but my MIL is doing it today and tomorrow...that is a special treat for Kiley and she is really excited!

Kiley is taking her first field trip of the year to the Pumpkin Patch today, I really wish I could be there but I don't have anyone to watch Lily so I guess I am going to have to miss out on this one! She told me that she would pick me a really good pumpkin...what a sweetie!

I was looking at one of Kiley's school papers yesterday and it had a caterpillar and cocoon on it. I asked he what they were and she said a "patterpillar and a raccoon"...silly Kiley!

I guess that is all for now! Lily and I are looking forward to a day of hanging out at home...I probably won't even make it out of my pajama pants...and I am very okay with that!

The 411 on Miss Lily!

First I want to start by saying thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers and offers to help!!
I know I haven't really been able to respond to anyone on facebook...I am really just using that as a way to keep people updated, 99% of my time is being spent holding my sweet baby!

We are doing fine...just tired of being in the hospital!

So here is what's going on...
Lily started running a really high fever on Wednesday morning and it got worse throughout the day. I took her to the doctor and they were 99.9% sure she had H1N1...yikes! She also had an ear infection...which is really no big deal! I spent that night trying to keep her fever down and keep her hydrated. When she woke up on Thursday she was still running a fever and decided she wasn't going to eat or drink anything. She was pulling at her lips and tongue so I finally got a peek in her mouth, after a long game of playing with a flashlight, and she had white sores on her tongue and roof of her mouth. No wonder the baby wouldn't eat!! At this point it was too late to call the Dr. so I just decided I would wait and see how she was in the morning. She slept awful Thursday night and I called Dr. Scott first thing in the morning. She told me to bring her in at 4:30 that afternoon. She checked her out and actually reconsidered her diagnosis of H1N1 and said she had hand, foot mouth disease...it has a fancy name but I don't know how to spell or pronounce it! She said that a high fever, congestion and fussiness could be signs of both viruses and it must have been to early to see the sores on Wednesday. Lily was so dehydrated and her fever was getting worse because she was refusing to swallow tylenol or motrin :( She decided that the best thing would be to admit her and get her some fluids.

So here we are...we have been here since Friday evening and things are not improving. She has more energy since she is now hydrated but she is still refusing to eat and drink...which is the only thing that is going to get us out of here! Also, she is having a hard time maintaining her body temperature at night...it is dropping down to about 94 degrees and they don't really know why. She also has new sores on her feet...which is a sign she is still getting them in her mouth as well :( So Friday we were hoping to be going home on Saturday, Saturday we were hoping to go home today and today we are hoping to go home tomorrow!!

Once again, I wanted to update everyone on what's going on for now!
We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family!
And don't worry about Kiley...she is at my parents house with Daisy...happy as can be!
She will be coming up later to visit!
Lily got to see Kiley for the first time in 2 days yesterday...they just hugged and squealed...it melted my heart!

Please keep us in your prayers...Lily needs to feel better and I need some strength, this is starting to wear me out a little bit!!

Also...
This has made me SO thankful for my overall healthy girls. There are so many children battling cancers and other serious illnesses that are required to be here for many days at a time. I can't even imagine how hard that must be on them and their families. We are so blessed! Please be in prayer for all of the families that are in the hospital with sick children...the rooms up here are full!

Private?

Hi Y'all!
Has it really been over one month since I last blogged?
I thought I would post something today because if I didn't....I would have gone the whole month of September without blogging!! YIKES!!

I have had a hard time blogging lately!
I have plenty to blog about but deciding rather or not to post it has been the issue!
I am all about journaling but do I really want everyone reading it??
This brings me to my "issue"....
I love sharing things with friends and family but I have had a couple of "issues" lately that have sort of scared me....making me worry about who really could be reading my blog!
I will not be posting any pictures of the girls this time...for safety reasons....
I do not want to deprive my friends and family from reading about our lives and seeing pictures of the girls so I am considering going private....
I haven't decided for sure yet....
If you like following our family leave me a message and I will put you on the list if I decide to go private!

The girls are doing wonderful!
Kiley is finally in the routine of going to school and Lily and I are enjoying that time together!
My girls are growing so fast....I am trying to soak up each minute!
Lily is trying to say some words and I can't get enough of her voice!
And Kiley doesn't miss a thing...I realized this when she said..."like totally freaked out"...during a conversation she was having!! My word...she is a mini me!!

I hope everyone is doing well!

Cloth 101

So, as promised....here is my cloth diapering post!

I have only been doing this for about a week and a half but I have done a TON of research...
I am currently using several kinds of diapers...AIO (all in ones) and pocket diapers.
I only have a couple of the all in ones and I like them okay but prefer the pocket diapers.
The all in ones have everything you need built in which is nice, but it takes a while for these to dry and it is hard to adjust the "soakability"!!
The brand I have in these is Thirsties....I also hear that bum genius makes a good one!
I have not had any leaks with the Thirsties and if I decide to get more AIO's...I will definitely get the same kind! Lily has a lavender one and a candy pink one....they have a ton of cute colors!

Now on to the pocket diapers....
these diapers are my favorites! They have the cover and a "liner" attached and there is a pocket in the back which you stuff with inserts to absorb the pee pee and poo poo! You can use only one insert or several...depending on how heavy of a wetter you have. Lily only uses a single insert during the day and a insert with a doubler for naps. At night she uses an insert and a loopy do....a super absorbent insert...her booty looks so big but what does she care....she is sleeping!
We have used several brands of pocket diapers and I have some different ones on the way....
so far we love the bum genius and fuzzi bunz. We got 2 blueberry's in the mail today but they are in the wash now so I have yet to try them! I also have 2 happy hineys on the way...hopefully they will be here tomorrow! I hadn't planned on trying anymore for a while but they were on sale for EIGHT dollars....which is a STEAL!!

The look of the blueberry's has to be my favorite...I got one in a pink minky fabric with black dalmation spots and the other in minky purple, pink and green polka dots! But...let me just say that you pay for that cute minky fabric...these are by far the most expensive! I will have to let you know if they are worth the extra money!

I have 2 wet bags that I keep the diapers in when they are waiting to be washed, a small one for the diaper bag and a big one for the nursery. They are water proof and I haven't had any problem with smells...not yet anyways!!

I wash every other day...which isn't too bad! I do a pre-rinse with soda to get the yucky stuff rinsed out....then I do a hot wash with Allen's soap....followed by a cold rinse with vinegar....and an extra rinse with just cold water!

Cloth diapering has wonderful for us, too bad I waited this long to try....and Lily's little bum looks so cute in the diapers! Sorry I don't have pics to post...my husband loaned our camera to his best friend for his trip this weekend and my pics are on it....far away in Dallas! :(

There is always next week!

So that is what I know so far....I am still learning alot and will keep you updated! I know I left some stuff out so let me know if you have any questions...and for those of you that are veterans at this...let me know if you have any tips!!

Fow now...

For now I have no time.....
we are supposed to be at feeding therapy in an hour....
Lily is still asleep....
I am still in my pajamas....
the diaper bag is not packed....
my hair and makeup are not done....
and our clothes are not ironed....
BUT....
I wanted to inform you of two upcoming posts....exciting....I know!!
I have had several questions from friends about my whole cloth diapering experience so far....
what have I tried?
what have I liked?
how to wash?
just to name a few....
I decided I would to a post about it to inform everyone....
and YES....there will be pictures of my sweet Lily showing off her new duds....
she looks PRECIOUS in cloth!
She actually hasn't worn alot of clothes lately because I love seeing her in her cloth diapers!
YES...they are that cute!
And I am also going to post pics of the girls room since the new bedding is now in place!
My mom got it for them from PB kids....one of my fav stores...I can't wait to show you!

Well that is all for now....
I can't keep sweet Ginger waiting!
One of the posts will be coming today and the other tomorrow....

Hope everyone has a fantabulous Wednesday!

Lately.....

Lately....
I have been too busy to blog....and honestly....I have not wanted to blog!!

I was sending pictures to Walgreens a few nights ago to be printed and I thought that I should post a few on my blog....especially for friends and family who don't always get to see the girls!

Preschool will be starting for Kiley in a few weeks and I will get back into the "blogging groove"!

Here is a glimpse of what we have been doing over the last few weeks!!



Lily has become quite the Rockband player!!


Kiley went to swim lessons for two weeks and did WONDERFUL!!


Lily has gotten even better at climbing UP the slide....
still with no success of going down!


Lily has started attending Sunday school at church....
here she is reading her baby Bible!!


Kiley went to Tinlee's awesome birthday party....
complete with pedicures and dress up clothes!!


Kiley played in the rain!!


I had to cut Lily's hair for the first time after Kiley cut a HUGE chunk out of the back!
I was one unhappy mommy!


I put the back of Lily's hair in her first ponytail.....
the night before her sister took the scissors to it:(


I got this GREAT picture of my stubborn, picture taking hating child....
it is now in black and white....hanging in my hallway!


We went to a small water park in a nearby town....
hopefully we will get to go again before the summer is over!

I will try to post again soon....
I might be able to tell you how Feeding Therapy is going for Lily...
and may even have a picture of her cute therapist...Ginger...she is SO sweet!
I might also tell you how cloth diapering is going....
yes, you read that correctly, I am trying cloth diapers!
I might even have a few pics of my cutie pie in the diapers...
I got the cutest colors ever!
I might even find a good giveaway to post...
not that I even win but it is fun to try!
But until then...
I hope you have enjoyed this post!

And yet another.....

I have another giveaway to tell you about.....it is a good one as well....

I have seen this blog a few times and occasionally check it!
This blogger is now having a baby boy and to celebrate she is doing a fab giveaway!
Check her out here!!!

And in case you didn't read my previous post...check it out below, there are two great giveaways down there as well!

Much Love!!

Great Giveaway!

Well...not mine but...it's still a good one!

One of the blogs I read daily, Jenna's Journey, is having a giveaway for some great Yo Baby stuff!
Go to her blog and check it out!

I have been taking a break from blogging...trying to get caught up on scrapbooking and baby book stuff!

Hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer!

Here is another great giveaway I ran across.....check it out here....Natalie is a cute blogger with a ton of great stuff!!

Late....I KNOW!!

I know, July 4th was almost two weeks ago but I have been really behind on my posts this summer....
I thought about not posting any 4th pics but some of these are just too cute!!
We had a full day....
starting with a parade in a small town not too far away from where we live!
I love our city but there is just something about the small town atmosphere....
everybody knows everybody and small town values are still very evident!
It was so hot but Kiley didn't seem to care!
Lily on the other hand.....was not so impressed with the heat!
After the parade we went to my parents house for lunch and homemade ice cream...yummy!
Then we went to my inlaws....they live in a community that has a HUGE celebration every year!
Food, live music, bouncers for the kids and fireworks....SO fun for everybody!!
Here are a few pics from our busy but fun day!!


All of DeeDee's grandkids together...something we didn't think would happen for several years!!
Here they are....Lily, Isabel, Preston, Ava and Kiley!!
They range in age from 5 months to 4 years!!
DeeDee has been trying to get this picture for a while now....it's not easy getting them to all sit on one place!
This one is not perfect by any means but hey...we will take what we can get!!


Our July 4th family picture taken at my parents house!


Sweet Kiley with her favorite thing....a flower!! She is obsessed!
Oh, and if you look...you can see her pretty cheeks...a firecracker on one and a butterfly on the other!


Precious Lily...she makes the funniest faces!
I have no clue what this one is all about but I LOVE it!


Mommy and Kiley's pretty toes!
Pa sent Mommy, Mammie and Kiley to get their toes done and we all got festive!!
Kiley's are tiny and hard to see but she has fireworks on her big toes....she decided on that one!!
Lily did get left out of the pedicures...her toes are TINY...I did try to paint them tho...it did not work well, which is why there is not a picture of them!!

Also, I forgot to get a picture but....the girls had matching bracelets they wore on this day....
they are SO sweet, I will get a pic of them and post it soon!

I hope everyone is having a good week!

Speechless.....kinda

This sweet face.........


plus this red box.......


equals this BIG mess........

but oh....I just love her so much!! Messes and all!!

And now....I leave you with this....which leaves me speechless!!

Catch Up!

Once again, it has been a little while....okay, a LONG while!
Give me a break people....it's summer time and no offense to you sweet readers but...sitting inside blogging is the last thing I want to be doing while my beautiful children are outside playing and having fun!

And I don't know if I mentioned this but Kiley is not going to Mothers Day Out this summer...I thought we both needed a break from a "have to do" schedule...so I have both of the girls home with me everyday and I am trying to make the most of it...especially for Kiley, she only has a little over a month before pre-school starts!!

These pics are from a couple weeks ago....Lily is riding in her buggy....her most favorite outdoor activity....sporting her uber cute onesie from Faith Baby!



Oh my goodness she is having fun!
I could seriously eat this face up....yummy!!!


"What are you looking at mommy?"
"OH me??....OF COURSE"!!


"That's all I've got people!!"
(Still sporting the mohawk)

And someone got a BIKE!!
That's right...no more tricycle for this big girl...we are all about the Princess bike!!


She wanted to make sure I got a pic of her with the princess pouch...this is really what sealed the deal on the bike....SERIOUSLY!
I think she could just see it piling up with weeds...aka...flowers....and rocks and whatever else she finds when we go on walks...I empty it out daily and never know what I will find!


"Hey mommy, this is fun!!"
Notice sister tagging along in her buggy...aren't we just one big happy family!


And this people is "the pose"....I take pics of my kiddos everyday and it never fails that this pose is flashed SEVERAL times...a whole lot of sugar with a little bit of spice!!!


Off they go....
It took her a few days to get it down but once she did....she was a bike riding pro!

So that is about all for now!
My posts may be random for the next month or so but once Kiley gets back in school I promise to blog on more of a regular basis!

Hope everyone is having a good summer!

one of those...

Yes...it has officially been "one of those days"...
I'm not going to go into the detail because you honestly wouldn't believe me...
YES, it has been that bad!

"It could be worse"....this is what you are probably saying...
and yes...this is true, it could be worse...
but it could also be a whole lot better!

I am going to bed tonite with the hopes that tomorrow will be a new day...a better day!

I hope everyone is having a good week....and not "one of those weeks"...
just remind yourself, it could be worse!

It is times like these that I remind myself how blessed and fortunate I am!

I have a loving husband and two precious beautiful little girls....
and although those two little girls...or at least one of them, i am not going to name names...could be the reason for my day...I am still blessed beyond words to have them...they mean more to me than they will ever know!!

So when it is "one of those days"....stop and think about all the Lord has blessed you with!

Okay...enough with my words of wisdom...I am off to take itty bitty for a ride in her buggy!!
And I might even let big sister tag along on her bike...if she promises to behave...not that I am holding my breath!!

Here we are!!

So, here I am...for today anyways!
I have been SO bad about blogging lately!
I take pictures with the intention of posting them in a blog and it just never happens!
We have been doing so much this summer and it would all make for a great blog post...but instead the pics are just sitting in my camera, waiting patiently to be used!
Maybe I will try to play catch up!
But no promises...I hate to disappoint!

Today we got out and went to my friend Darci's house!
Kiley and Lily had a great time with her kiddos...although we missed Dawson...he was napping!
Maybe next time sweet boy!
Hope you enjoy this picture post...
I will try to keep more coming your way!




Kiley and Cale are looking for ladybugs in the flowers...there were so many of them!!
Cale is a prospective husband for Kiley here in a few years...many, many few years!!
Like...she she is about 30!


Kiley and sweet Emma!
She is just as firey as Kiley...and I love it!
Emma says that Kiley is her best friend...tear!!


My little monkey...AKA Lily Adyson!!
She is getting better at walking but prefers this method of getting around better!


"Hey dad, I am thinking about following in your footsteps!!"


Look at that MONKEY!
She made it all the way to the top of the slide...but this is as far as I would let her get without my hand behind her!!

Thanks for a great afternoon Darci, Emma and Cale!

Another one!

TWO PICTURE POSTS IN ONE DAY!
Don't get too used to it!
I just happen to have a few minutes to post...or maybe I am just making the time to do it...rather than folding my growing pile of clean laundry!


Lily pushing her baby in her stroller! This is the ONLY thing Lily will walk with. We are working on moving it a foot or so in front of her and getting her to take a few steps toward it but it has only worked a couple of times! Soon enough she will be all over the place...but for now she just crawls!


Are they not super cute???


Mommy and Kiley at the zoo...looking at the horses!
Kiley is a huge fan of horses, if we had a big enough yard we would own one...but we don't!!


She told me she was "sun bathing" but the sun was in her eyes so she needed her "sun umbrella"!
She says the FUNNIEST things!


The shirt says it all!
Yes, she does still eat at mom's....regularly!
I used to think it was weird to nurse your babies after they were a year old but it is becoming more and more common. We are considering stopping at 18 months though, I KNOW I am sometimes getting used as a pacifier!
How long did you breastfeed your kids?? Just curious!!
The chair...not a great pic of it but it is SO cute!
I got it at www.marshmallowkisses.com and I love it!
I actually saw it on a blog friends page and decided Lily needed one!
Thanks Addy...we love our chair!

Well, I am off to tackle the laundry and then to the in-laws for swimming, dinner and possibly a fire with marshmallow roasting! We have some big news to share this week! No, I am NOT pregnant....and NO I am not upset about that fact....although some of you are waiting for that news....don't count on it any time too soon!

Have a great Sunday Funday!