Baby Love

Last week Holden and I headed up to Birmingham for a spend the night party with baby Rayne. We had a blast! They are at the fun age (she is 3 weeks older) of really being into checking each other out and interacting...

Look how cute she is! She does the cute squinch up your nose face....

Yes, Rayne he does have a huge head :)

Having a little chat....

Bath time and eating were a lot more exciting with two little bambinos to watch...

this is my favorite! 

Molly and I also had some much needed girl time, catching up on all things and maybe watching a little Parenthood (I am a little upset bc I read that it might not be renewed for another season, WHAT?!!). 

The next morning, I stayed to join their play group that consists of about 7 babies all born from June to September. It was a lot of fun seeing all of the precious babies! 

Caroline and Ella Kate came....

Holden thought she was pretty cute too. 

Thanks Mols for having us!! Thanks husband for giving me the day off! 

This weekend the Tuckers had their gender reveal of the twins...

Go check it out here!! (I won't give it away, but soooo excited to have some more baby love in the neighborhood!!!)

Lately...

We have been loving this beautiful weather, although cool, perfect for bundling up and playing with friends and cousins...

Lane adores his big cousin Sam. When he comes over he is in boy heaven! 

Holden is always up for a little stroll in the Bjorn...His chubby lips are sooo kissable...

 Holden is at that stage where everything is a new and exciting discovery...he loves outside now and is just in quiet awe. We went quail hunting Saturday and he was so quiet and still taking it all in that I thought he fell asleep. 

Friday night the Jones fam came over for some pizza (and wine for the adults!). Foster and Lane are four months apart and Holden and Jude are four months apart. They were so cute playing together, and we bribed them with cookies to get the above picture. No shame in a cookie bribe :)

They came hunting with us the next day and had a big time:

Lane might have had a little accident in his hunting clothes and of course all I had on hand were his frog pj's :)

melt my heart with their cute hand holding. I can't wait to show this at their high school graduation party...precious moments

Holden and I are headed to play with baby Rayne and her momma Molly today, and I can't wait!!!

5 months

 Holden at 5 months: rolling everywhere, drooling everywhere (still no teeth though), taking 5-6 6 ounce bottles a day plus 1-2 fruit/veggies, sleeping better (still has early am wake ups), smiles constantly, babbling more and more, loving watching big brother play, eating his toes, and is just one HAPPY boy. 

He did have his first sinus infection this past week and it was pitiful :(

He is a cuddler...he loves nosey eskimosy and plays with my face/hair while eating, sooo sweet!

LOVES his paci, loves baths, loves to have his diaper changed

brother had to join in

Another photo op:

"Help me Momma!"

He is such a joy! If he were a good sleeper like his big brother, I might want 5 more just like him, BUT he isn't :) 

Random Roundup

Downtown Abbey Season 3: I started watching last year and had to back track and catch up (aka up all night DVD trance) and was instantly hooked. I was anticipating THE WEDDING. I loved Mary's dress, gorgeous...hate they didn't show the actual wedding. Grass Stain's blog (if you don't follow her, you should!) did a little post about different tweets from the season 3 premiere, and it was hysterical.

Amos is back at home. I probably didn't even mention he was gone...He went to The Roost for 3+ months when Holden was born. He was waking him up with his barking and rustling around. I felt a little guilty until I realized he LOVES it out there. Now that we are more settled (aka Holden sleeps!!), he is back home. I missed him, but it is amazing how after two babies, doggy love gets put on the back burner. Poor Amos, but thanks Pie and Pal for taking your granddog for that long. I know you probably were scared it could be permanent :)

My MIL gave me this awesome sweater from Anthropologie for Christmas. I love it. It is super cozy and the color is great. Thanks Shelia!

Bishop Chuck Jones (of the Charismatic Episcopal Church) in Selma writes a awesome blog, called Aslan Roars. I love his last post. Go check it out for some truth and encouragement today. 

These two melt my heart. They are hysterical. I had them by myself last night as James went duck hunting. We survived!!! I did forget Lane's sippy cup for school and might have gotten in the shower with me this morning with his socks on, but hey we lived. Holden is over 5 months old....more to come on that later

James gave me a kindle for Christmas. At first I scoffed, I like real books. He said after dragging a backpack full of library hardbacks to Costa Rica, it was time to give it a try. Obsessed. Seriously, he said he might take it away because I am reading out of control. (to him that means a book a every other week). It is so small, light and the backlight is awesome for at night. The last few books I read were:
The Light Between Oceans, 4 out of 5 stars, Beautiful Ruins 3.5 out of 5 stars, and Gone Girl 4 out of 5 stars.

The end of my rambling....

Christmas Season in Pictures

I am kind of brain dead right now (Holden wanted his paci several time last night), so I am not sure how much commentary will be included all of the pictures, but be ready for picture overload bc I am going to catch up in one post :)

Russell Christmas

grandkiddos minus Holden with Pie

Ford and Lane, scary how they already know all about phones! 

our best group shot of the cousins: Sam (6) Holden (5 months) Ford (15 months) Lane (22 months) and Miss Fairchild (5)

and the best news:

Yea! Ford will be a big brother soon!

Crawford Christmas:

Holden with his Pop

fam shot, not many pictures here bc it was almost nap time and these two babies where worn out!

Christmas in Moulton: Christmas this year was a hard due to Lane having the flu. Grandmomma and Grandaddy kept Lane and Holden the Friday and Saturday before Christmas (while we headed to Chicago for a little Christmas presents to us by us). He was just starting to not feel well when we left and then it went downhill. Thanks to Jim and Shelia for keeping our two kiddos especially when Lane was so sickly. It broke my heart because he really didn't feel up to much on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This year I was beyond excited because I think he understood a little bit more that it was Jesus's birthday and we were celebrating with presents brought by Santa (ok, well now that I type it out, it is still confusing) We drove home through the storms on Christmas night to get him to our fabulous pediatrician Dr. Assaad the next morning. Confirmation: flu. He did start getting better the next 2 days and is back to his normal sassy self. I did try to capture a few pictures on Christmas Eve in their PJ's while he was having a good moment:

"Stop Pushing your brother!!"

and there it is...

thanks Uncle M and Aunt B for the toolset, that perked him up for a bit! 

the other bright moment of the day, he swished his first basket...future MAS Senator star, I think so :)

the rest of the day was spent like this...

the good thing is holdey was not deterred to have a MERRY Christmas, he loved his new toys... thanks G and G!

Thankfully the flu didn't get anyone else! 

This past week we did the norm: relaxed by the fire, played with all of the new toys, and enjoyed family time. I really reflected on how blessed we are with two happy healthy boys. 

James and I did a little goal planning for 2013, and I am also thankful for a husband that is the head of our family and thinks of such things. 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that 2013 brings your family many blessings as well.