Thanksgiving in Tampa

Y'all. My husband can cook. I knew this but then he went and made an entire Thanksgiving meal (except for my Mom making her delicious squash casserole).  Now I think he should quit his day job and a open a bed and breakfast! Deal was he cooked while we watched the kiddos. Win, win for all. The meal did not disappoint. Our dear friends The Darnells joined us so we had a full table and full bellies. Lindsey is a master baker so we put her in charge of desserts. I knew we were in for a treat but she knocked it out of the park too! Pics below don't do her desserts justice! 

This was Wednesdays precooking- gravy top left, cornbread for dressing, turkey prep for smoker and onions for homemade French onion soup- we ate that Wednrsday for lunch and it was divine.

Morning of Thanksgiving- Love my new painting from my childhood friend, Laurie Ann, who is oh so talented. She is using her talents to raise money for her little girl in Ethiopia they are adopting. Let me know if you are interested in her art or jewelry- she's got an Open House at her house this weekend.

MK didn't want to take a mornin nap so she ended up sleeping on Ranger all morning while we prepared for Thanksgiving. It was a cold morning too!

The amazing chef and his well planned spread

Boom.

The Darnell's

The Littles even got to sit at the big table.

Homemade Darnelll Apple pie- beautiful!

The kiddos made a fruit turkey

More desserts: Acorns, turtle cheesecake(my fav) and festive sugar cookies

The next day we headed to Ergle Tree Farm to get our Christmas tree

We did it two years ago and loved it! There is a train ride around the farm that the kids always enjoy

After we got the tree up we opened gifts from Ma C and Ranger.  We rotate Christmas each year so this year we won't see them.  This was a fun way to start off the Christmas season.  Since we don't really do Santa(gifts are from people celebrating Jesus's birthday- Santa is a mascot of Christmas like Aubie is a mascot of Auburn) it made since to celebrate his birthday early :) We gave my parents a framed collage.  

Look who is back!!

The boys are loving her.  She is even sleeping in their room at night which has gone surprisingly well.

Saturday we woke up and put on our Orange and Blue! 

Look who was at the EPIC Iron Bowl!!

I surprised him with a plane ticket two weeks ago.  I had this strong feeling that he needed to be at that game.  If not it would have been a big regret.  So I bought him the plane ticket for an early Christmas gift and he found a football ticket with one of his college buddies.  Game of a lifetime.  He said he just ran around the field after the game waving to people in the stands- not sure he even knew how to celebrate a win like that!  

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  I am looking forward to this Christmas Season and being intentional with Advent in our family.  We already delivered some gifts to friends to give them advent ornaments like we are doing.  Doing the kids advent from this website and my own devotional from Ann Voskamps book, The Greatest Gift. Hoping this brings me time to be in His Presence during this season as we wait for the arrival of our Savior! 

MK's 2nd month

MKs second month was a bit of a roller coaster. At 6 weeks she became super fussy. She was eating more at night than during the day and her reflux seemed to be causing her a lot of pain. We switched meds and just kept telling myself that these were the fussy weeks(or the book told me that).  Sure enough by 8 weeks she was my happy easy baby again. She weighed 12 pounds 12 ounces at her 2 month appointment. We lost the camera charger this month so I only have phone pictures and pictures from our family photoshoot. I finally came to the realization that the charger is no where to be found and a new one is on its way.

I have said this to a lot of people lately when they ask me how it's going. "I still look at her each day and can't believe she is here." I love her in a totally different way- not more or less than my boys but it is a different feeling. She is a sweet gift to us all and has enriched our family way more than I could ever imagine. I find myself reminding me that she is not mine and making sure I taper my love for The Lord and my husband first. It's easy for these kiddos to take over your heart completely. I've gotten several comments from people that she is starting to look like the boys. I agree completely in pictures but not as much in person. Her sweet little nose I can't keep my lips off of! 

Buddy Viviam- 12 weeks apart

The sweet smiles came around 7 weeks! 

She loves a stroller ride

I have some catching up to do on this blog- new girl we are mentoring, Thanksgiving and Christmas with my parents! 

The Bradfords Road Trip to Auburn

Every year we try and make it to at least one Auburn game. Having Mary Katherine arrive in September posed a new challenge as to how we could keep this tradition going. Thankfully Ma-C (Diane) could make it to town to help with MK and Hampton while the Bradfords got to road trip-it to Auburn.

Lil B was beside himself with excitement about going to Auburn to meet Aubie, watch the band and see the football team play.

On the way, he had his first Waffle House experience. I didn't realize we are pre-programmed as humans living in the South to know how to order at Waffle House, but B sat right up there and told the waitress he needed a waffle with some syrup and orange juice before she could put down the silverware.  I love how this guy comes into his own when taken for some one on one time. He really has matured so much.

After staying with Uncle Trent on Friday night in Columbus, Bradford got to put on his Gus Bus Driver uniform to head to Auburn - he was so proud.

We enjoyed some one on one time walking through campus and talking. It was a beautiful Fall (albeit warm) day. We met up with Ranger (Rick) at Toomer's Corner and had some lemonade. Don't ask if he loved it - the answer is obvious.

So, this is the point where we started realizing the little mini-celebrity we had on our hands. Everyone wanted to have their picture made with the Gus Bus driver.

He was even named the AuburnArt fan of the day..

We managed to escape the paparazzi for a little and made our way back to campus. Bradford is a little Auburn man in the making.

This.... First time to meet Aubie face to face. Not a big deal, other than the fact that we have talked about him and watched his YouTube videos since he was born.  Bradford, to his credit, was not afraid or intimidated. Rather, he was in love.

Aubie liked Bradford's outfit so much that he tweeted about it the next day. I told Bradford in the car on Sunday that Aubie woke up from a big Saturday and got on his computer and put a picture of the two together and that Aubie was so happy to have met him. Bradford's response? "Aubie is thinking about me?"  If The Lord had taken me in that moment, all may have been well. He loves Aubie.

We got to watch the eagle fly, the band march, the team run on the field and do cheers.  Then we headed down and got to watch most of the game with the cousins.  Bradford and Connor had a big time together. I think I heard them reference each other as "popcorn buddies".

Probably taken before the car was cranked.. Dude had a huge day.

Before heading home, Bradford made me promise to take him one last time through Auburn. Sad the oaks aren't at the corner anymore, but Bradford is part of a generation that didn't know them or Harvey Updyke and will have their own traditions.  You can't keep Auburn down - we only get better.  Just look at that face.

Life is generally pretty crazy in our home these days. Three kids under 4 and no family relatively close by.  But, that's what makes these times all the sweeter.

I don't know (or care) if Bradford goes to Auburn one day. But, Auburn will always hold a special place in our family. It is where Anna and I met, where we grew into adults, it's where both our families meet up and what we all agree to cheer for. It's crazy to think he might already know that.

Mary Katherine's 1st month

Our sweet girl is one month old today.  Her stats at one month:

10 lbs 4 oz (80%)

Height- 21.2 in. (55%)

Love getting to look back and see what the boys were doing at her age.  They were both over 10 pounds too. 

Here is Bradford's one month picture and stats

http://anna-bradford.blogspot.com/2010/02/one-month.html

Here is Hampton's one month picture and stats

http://anna-bradford.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-month.html

 Mary Katherine is sleeping in the rock n play as she has reflux.  She started on medicine for it at 3 weeks old and it has helped tremendously.  Took a few days to kick in which sent me to my knees and I thought she maybe colic.  Baby girl was just in pain. 

Had my own little photo shoot when she was a week and a half while the boys were at church.  My mom made this day gown

Little B asks to hold MK each day.  The first few times he would hold her for a while, but now he only holds for a second and then says, "All done now" 

 Hampton has warmed up to MK and loves to kiss her feet.  He's been sick almost the entire four weeks with runny nose and cough.  In Jesus name continue to surround MK from sickness.

Mary Katherine cried her first 3 baths.  By night 4 she was calm and now enjoys it.  She bathes every night at 6:30 and then is in bed by 7 or 7:30.  She is doing a good 4-6 hour stretch after this.  We've been able to go to a friend's birthday party and to small group all without missing a feed.  Thanks MK for giving mommy this early gift.  

This picture is her at 4 weeks- her first hair bow

 And here she is in her monthly chair picture like I did for the boys wearing one of my baby outfits

This month has been challenging but super sweet as we adjust to having three kiddos. Hardest part has been getting used to functioning on little sleep but still keeping up with the daily grind.  Dear friends have been bringing us meals for dinner and that has been our biggest blessing as we have no time to cook or even grocery shop.  

Mary Katherine has all of our hearts and we are looking forward to our second month with her.