Happy New Year 2012!

We had a great New Year's Eve at our house this year.  Ashley was nice enough to let us do it at our house, since our daughter doesn't like to go to sleep when we're at other houses lately...although Audrey took a turn of not wanting to go to sleep this time, so I felt bad!  We had the Bigelows, Bennets, Ashley's brother and girlfriend, and Andrew's brother over.  It was a great group.  There was a little playing...

some Toy Story 3 watching...

 and as soon as the girls were asleep (finally) some catch phrase playing.  It was a perfect group to welcome in the new year with. 

     Highlights from 2011...

Goodbye to diapers

Lazy days at the new lake house

Finding out we were expecting little Hudson!

Starting a new endeavor as a second grade teacher

Our church being welcomed into the Lutheran loop and receiving a grant for advertising (thanks to Adam's hard work and dedication!)

A new cabin going up at camp

A big girl bed for Reese

Little memories that added up into big moments.

Hopes for 2012...

Growing our family to 4 with the addition of Hudson

My one New Year's resolution: actually doing a daily devotion.  It should be at the top of my list always, but has somehow gotten away from me this past year.  As long as I can keep this up, I know it will keep the rest of this, what sometimes seems to be too busy life, in focus.

Possibly starting Reese in a class of some sort: maybe dance, gymnastics, music, or something of the sort!

Enjoying some months at home with my kiddos

and we'll need to get some sort of vacation in there at some point too!

Happy 2012 from our little moosey:)

Happy 85th Birthday (great) Grandma

Yesterday we had a chance to travel to Michigan and visit my grandparents.  We hadn't seen them in about a year and a half, so we were really glad to go, especially so they could see Reese and visa versa.  Reese loved all the babies great-grandma had at her house.  She snatched up all of the babies from the dollhouses and great-grandpa said she could have them.  On to the nursing home to celebrate great-grandma's 85th birthday.  I've never really been in a nursing home before, and didn't think about us being the life of the party, but that we were!  As we walked down the hallway all of the old ladies wanted to see Reese.  I wish I had my video camera, it really felt like we were on a parade:)  Quite humorous.  Grandma kept telling dad and I how cute Reese was.  She really enjoyed watching her play.

Reese was really sweet to grandma and grandpa.  She gave them plenty of hugs and was really concerned with making great grandma happy.  (She had overheard my dad on the phone with her on Christmas morning saying she was a little sad because she was at the nursing home, instead of home.)  Somehow she managed getting a new dollhouse out of the visit as well.  My grandma was a very detailed dollhouse maker in her day.  It is a very cool, ornate general store doll house.  Complete with 1,000 teeny tiny pieces.  Reese LOVES it, her mom and dad think we should put plexi glass on the front of it so it can be for show, rather than play!

I have to add in one more little story of the day....Jenna was coming back from the bathroom at the nursing home and had a lady tell her she was beautiful and ask her if she wanted to do the "hootchie cootchie." hahaha.  Like I said, we were the hit of the nursing home:)

I was really glad to make the visit though.  It warmed my heart to see Reese with grandma and grandpa.

Merry Christmas

What a fun Christmas we had this year.  Reese is at at that perfect age where everything is exciting and it made Christmas such a blessing.  Hudson is of course another reason to feel blessed this Christmas.  30 weeks...

Sporting her new backpack and outfit made by grandma.  I swear it makes her looks so old!

One of Reese's favorite gifts was a handmade Nativity set from her godmother Ashlee.  She's been so enthralled with the whole nativity this Christmas season.  I think it helps that Jesus is a baby, since she loves babies so much...but it is the cutest thing.  She had a fight with me when we made the nativity out of playdoh a few weeks back when I told her that Jesus didn't really have a crib, because he was born in a stable/barn.  She insisted that He had a blankie and a bed.  Here she is proving me wrong...

Santa brought a baby carrier for her bitty baby.  "It's just what I wanted," was her reply when she opened it.  Santa is so smart!

and the sleeping bag from grandma and grandpa.  She begged me to sleep in it tonight because we read a Bernstain Bear book about camping.  I told her she could when she goes to camp someday;)

Aunt Heather got her some polly pockets for Christmas...big hit!

Despite a few chucking of clothes when she was opening presents (apparently clothes are not a very exciting gift), she shared her toys very nicely with Kamryn.

and she was sure to show pop how to use her new iXL.  "This one is really tricky for you," she told him while explaining how it worked.

~Merry Christmas 2011~

Christmas with Friends

We celebrated Christmas with the Bigelows tonight.  Ashley made Reese the cutest things.  A hopscotch mat and fridge magnets for Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. 

Reese also loved giving Audrey her "Best Buds" shirt.  She was sure to let Audrey know that it was her and Audrey on that shirt...

and a little something for the little sis too...

and perhaps the funniest thing was that Ashley and I made each other the same exact scarf..HA! Figures, great minds think alike:)

Merry Christmas friends.  We love you guys.

Baby Boy Gaines Update

   I can't believe I'm almost 30 weeks!  The time is really flying by.  We have decided on a name for our little boy, drumroll...........Hudson David Gaines.  He's really beeboppin' around in there lately:)  Reese is so cute when she thanks Jesus for him after our prayers each night, "and thanks for my brother."  She's grandma already bought him a blue bunny just like Reese's pink one.  I was opting for the frog, but Reese insisted we get the bunny.  She's even felt him kicking.  Her eyes just lit up when she actually felt him, it's like somehow she really did understand.  She also started cracking up. Oh yes, and she loves kissing my belly too.
   I'm starting to feel the third trimester lately.  I feel pretty good overall, but I must admit I've been a little bit of a complainer.  I've had a TON of braxton hicks contractions and actually ended up going to get checked because of it.  Everything was totally fine, but they're killing me:)  It's just a lot harder to get the rest I need this time I suppose.  All worth it in the end.  Can't wait to meet you Hudson.

December Goodness

 We have had so many fun holiday activities this month!  Breakfast with Santa was one of the big hits.  Ashley and her mom invited Reese and I to the event at East Noble High School.  I had always heard good things about it, and it was so cute!  There were singing and dancing reindeer, songs, a live nativity, pancakes, and best of all....Santa himself!  I even got Reese to sit on his lap and smile...picture perfect...

Perhaps my favorite activity was going to the Fort Wayne Ballet's Nutcracker.  I was nervous that Reese was a bit too young, but I was willing to chance it.  I just couldn't wait another year!  I prepped her by showing her the performance of when I was the chinese doll.  She seemed intruiged enough.  My dad got the tickets and we were seated in the front row.  I gave him a hard time at first because I thought we wouldn't be able to see, but it worked out perfect!  We could see so well and Reese was able to get up close and personal.  She was on the edge of her seat the entire first act!  If I'm being honest it may have made me a little teary:)  I'm just so glad she loved it....and now she likes to be a ballerina at home while wearing my old pointe shoes.  Love it.

Last weekend Ashlee invited Reese over to make gingerbread houses.  I just love how these two have bonded.  (the polly pockets are a bonus as well).  Reese loves Ashlee's new dog Pax and says, "I wish I could have a dog like that."  The house making extravaganza was a hit.

The house turned out beautiful and Reese really enjoyed eating decorating it.

B-ball Game

One of the guys Adam is on the Board of Directors at camp with invited us to a Valpo vs. IPFW basketball game at the Coliseum.  We enjoyed box seats...somehow my awesome hubby always has good connections:)  Reese mostly loved playing with our friend Jenny and watching the "elephant", aka mastadon.