Your Next Baby Gift

Attending a special baby shower in the new year? Or looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for that sweet niece or nephew? I've got the perfect thing for you! It's the Baby Mop!








Would you like to add one more special touch to your gift? Try the Bucktooth Binky!



Seriously, Graham and I just spent an hour on a website called Cracked, and couldn't stop laughing.

Hope this gives you a good chuckle!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Are They Twins?

Yesterday, I braved the unknown and went to a grocery store in Culpeper with all three of my children. It was scary. Meltdowns could occur at any moment. I was by myself. Anything could happen... Luckily, the babies slept through the whole trip and Maddox walked right by my side the entire time. However, in the store I was asked no less than half a dozen times, "Are they twins?" Of course I always smiled sweetly and said yes, but here is how I wanted to respond:

A. They are the same size, you idiots!

B. They are wearing coordinating hats. Need I say more?

C. Do you really think that a person in their right mind would venture out by themselves with two infants in which one didn't belong to them? Of course, they're twins!

So please friends, next time you see a mother of multiples out at the grocery store with a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face because she's terrified that one of her children could lose it at any moment, don't ask her stupid questions. Just offer to push her second grocery cart around because her other one is filled with babies.

Santa and Jesus

So, Maddox and I are watching Disney's Beauty and the Beast together yesterday and it gets to the final fight scene where Gaston knifes the Beast in the back. Although she's seen the movie a million times, Maddy gasps at the violence, then says "Mommy, Santa and Jesus would not appreciate that." After I composed myself, we continued to talk about Jesus's love for all people, even the ones he doesn't appreciate! Teachable moments, I love 'em.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Like most of you out there, Christmas is my favorite time of year. The colors, smells, tastes, and traditions of the holidays are ingrained in my soul. From cinnamon and cloves simmering on the stove to the bright red of a flowering poinsettia plant, I love this season. Even the nasty fruitcakes in the grocery store take me back to days gone by. Now that we have our own family, Graham and I are creating new traditions while being sure to integrate some of our individual family customs into the holidays.

One such tradition that we have incorporated each year since we got married is buying a real tree to decorate at Christmas. There have been years where we have been lucky enough to get the whole wonderful experience at a tree farm and other years where we walk up and down aisles of spruce and fir trees at a store or lot. Regardless, the evergreens always come home smelling and looking beautiful.

This year, Graham and Maddox went out to search for a Christmas tree while I stayed home with Henry and Harper. It was good father/daughter bonding time for them and I was happy to give them that opportunity. When they came home later that morning, both were so excited to have found the "perfect" tree. Full, sturdy, and tall, this tree was going to be memorable. . .

The first worrisome moment came we brought the thing into the house. "Wow, it looks bigger in here than it did outside," my dear husband observed. The huge trunk also gave us pause. Then the moment came where we hoisted it up into the tree stand. Uh-oh. Turns out we had a 10 foot tree on our hands! After a good laugh, Graham started hacking at the poor tree trunk with a hatchet. (I am still cleaning up wood chips that went flying all over the room!)

In the end, our tree has turned out to be lovely. Most of the ornaments are from our childhood making it very special indeed. Best of all, we added another Christmas memory that will live on in our family for a long time!

Graham and Maddox so proud of their tree!




The uh-oh moment. Tree is too tall!!



Henry checks out the decorated tree later that day.



Merry Christmas!