First Visit With Santa

Santa was a bit scary for Brody. We only got two shots. This one....

and the next he is SCREAMING! I didn't get to keep that one. Enjoy!

Christmas Afternoon (Ken's Parents House)

After spending the morning with my side of the family, we headed over to Ken's parents house. (We missed seeing Ford, Sandi and Connor. Hope he's feeling better!!)

We opened another round of presents, played with all our new toys, and ate dinner.

Brody was finally getting the hang of opening up presents. He's going to be a pro at his birthday party.

I think mommy wasn't opening them fast enough for Brody.

I think Brody had a GREAT first Christmas!

Christmas Morning (My Parents House)

This year we decided to have Santa visit at my parents' house so everyone could see him with his toys. Santa made a GIANT stop.

(Yes, thats the Elmo Live. Brody is terrified of it, but hopefully he'll come around.)

My sister and my grandfather both got an IPod Touch. Its just like the IPhone without the phone service. Very cool...a little jealous I might add.

Brody is still working on standing, but its much more fun on his new riding Lion. Thanks mom and dad!

After opening presents and cleaning up, we got ready for lunch. My parents cooked a beef tenderloin with made about 10 filets...YUMMY!!!

Merry Christmas! (Christmas Eve)

We LOVE the holiday season. The lights, decorations, family get-togethers...the FOOD! Oh my goodness the food. (And yes, I will be starting my diet Jan. 2.)

I am extremely big on traditions and with the new addition to our family this year, I wanted to make sure we started even more. Some of our traditions have faded over time, some have become new again.

I attempted to start a new tradition. On Christmas Eve morning I made Monkey Bread. Brody LOVED it! So we may keep this one around...

One tradition that has never seemed to go away is the Christmas Eve movie. Now the Barnard children have been seeing a movie on Christmas Eve since we moved to Jackson. It started out as a way for my aunt to help give my parents some peace and quiet for a couple of hours. (Of course we were excited about Santa coming and had to mention it no less than 20 times in a given hour!) Then my aunt moved away, and we still continued the tradition. Now husbands, fiance's, boyfriends, best friends all join in on the movie tradition. This year we saw Yes Man with Jim Carey. HILARIOUS!!! (After reading that, it sounds like we went to the movie with Jim Carey, but you know what I mean.)

After our movie, we always come home right about the time of dinner. This tradition has changed somewhat over the years but is still just as yummy...Seafood Gumbo. My mom makes incredible gumbo. Even my picky husband LOVES it. Apparently I'm next in line to learn how to make it.

Brody was trying to get a sneak peak at the presents. (He tried to unwrap several at our house, which resulted in all the presents being put in another room.)

Thank Goodness for...

WINTER BREAK!!!!!

Silly Doggies

Look Who's Mobile...

....Brody is!

Christmas Cookout

Last night we had the Kirks and the O'Banions over for a cookout. Yes, I'm well aware that it was FREEZING last night, but Ken made a fire and everybody stayed pretty warm. The babies had a blast and Bryce had fun making his own fun. I do have to say I'm a little sad that I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I normally do when I get to babysit. But we'll see them again on Thursday for dinner, presents and Canton.

Let me see if I can transcribe the evening in kiddie terms:

"Talk to the hand!"

Future Pic for Rehearsal Dinner Slideshow

Yup, thats a dog you're pointing to, Brody. Say dooooooggg.

I see you, Ella Kate!

Momma that crazy lady is taking another picture of me!

Re-enacting the story of the birth of baby Jesus...with some donkey fights mixed in the middle.


Gotcha Ella Kate!

WORN OUT!!!! Its tough keeping up with all those babies!

Happy 11 Months Brody!

Happy 11 Months, Brody!!!

We love you!

I say it every month, but its so hard to believe its been eleven months. Next month my sweet baby boy will no longer be a baby, but a toddler. I don't know if I'm quite ready to handle this new stage in our lives. I know it doesn't matter if I am or not...because toddler here we come.

Physically we still have somewhat of a baby. But I have to celebrate Brody's accomplishments just in the last couple of weeks.

Since Thanksgiving week...the dreaded First Steps evaluation, Brody has learned to...

1. CRAWL!!!! (See video below...Sorry its so dark, but if you squint you can see him crawling!)

2. STAND!!!

3. Drink from a sippy cup.

Brody Loves....

• Anything that plays music


• Bailey (our dog) and Grish (daddy's dog)


• Ken


• Peek-a-Boo


• Tomato Macaroni Beef Dinner...sounds disgusting I know.


• Multi Grain Cheerios


• Plums and apples


• Electrical Cords of any kind


• Papa (My dad)
  
• Patty Cake

Brody Loves Not So Much...

• Santa Claus...so sad. I'm saving for a later post.


• Thinking he's been left alone


• Not getting his way (Oh my goodness at the temper!)


• His car seat...which is just slightly outgrown. He still "fits" weight-wise, but lenght-wise he's done for!

We have also lowered his crib...just one notch. When he's ticked off about being in his bed before he thinks he's ready, he rolls over to his belly, sits himself up, and bangs his head against the railing. Like I said...a temper. While, lowering his crib, won't stop the temper, it hopefully will keep him from tumbling out.

Just some fun pics from the holidays...

"Please....somebody play with me!"

My little butterball after eating some yummy grub! (Looks full doesn't he?)

Sitting with Daddy