We Wish You the Merriest!

From our family to yours, we wish you the merriest of Christmases as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, and a wonderful 2012.

Writings of Christmas Past:

Ten Favorite Christmas Albums
The Christmas Enchantment
Mommy's First Chistmas Miniseries
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas on TV

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Spooked.

I am having a rotten day. I think the spooks have gotten into Libbie and perhaps me as well.

This is all I've got.


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Wordless Wednesday: Mulberries

I picked these beautiful berries off the tree in our backyard. It's one of the things I really like about our rental house. Last year I just let the birds pick the berries; this year I grabbed some for me!

These are really delicious. A friend and I made some mulberry freezer jam with them, and I felt so Betty Crocker. My hope for this summer is to move on to canning tomato sauce and pizza sauce. High aspirations!

Added to Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Saturday Linky Love

My baby is 5 months old today (Friday)! Can anyone tell me how that happened?

One Month

Five Months

Now that you've said "Ahhhhh!" and your womb is crying ... here are some links for you to visit.

• How to Substitute Eggs in Recipes at Once a Month Mom - Helpful hints, especially if you're like me and sometimes get halfway through a recipe before you realize you're out of something.
• Ten Tips for New Runners at Eclipsed - I haven't really mentioned here that I've been doing a Christian Couch to 5K-type program called Run for God. Maybe because I don't want to be held accountable. These tips are great and very encouraging to me!
• Training Minds Away from Twaddle at Raising Arrows
• How to Make Your Own Sourdough Starter at A Good and Simple Life - This seems a lot easier than some I have seen. Except finding a place in my house that's above 80 degrees but below 85???
• Five Minutes on Seasons at OhAmanda - so true. I called a friend with older kids this week crying, just to hear that this season was not forever. (That would be the no-sleep season. I love little babies ... I just miss sleeping.)

Did you read or write anything great this week?

Added to Saturday Stumbles at Simply Staci.

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Why I Don't Think We Are Done Having Kids

I mean, seriously. I think Mr. V and I should be selling embryos our kids are so darn cute. (JUST KIDDING.)

But really ... we've always talked about trying to have four kids. And since just a few days after David's (PAINFUL) birth, I've been pretty sure I'm not done wanting to have babies, no matter how much pregnancy disagrees with me. I would like to wait a little while .... famous last words, right? ;)

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Want to join in the "Why I" fun? Add your link here. The only rules are that your post title must start with "Why I" and you must link back to Vanderbilt Wife by link or by the button.

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Wordless Wednesday: Easter

Slightly belated because of our 4-day power outage, but here are some pictures of Easter at our home. I of course took zero pictures of the part where we had people over for dinner! Too busy talking and eating, I guess!

My dress is from Lane Bryant, Libbie's dress and hat are Janie and Jack bought at a consignment sale, and David's outfit is from Cracker Barrel - thanks to my sister, Ashley, for finding it!


Linked up with 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.
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My Brain Has Reached Zombie Status

I am too tired to think. I kind of feel like I might have my glasses on the wrong way.

I'll be back. I promise.


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Two Reasons

Some days I just want to get on here and grouch. Today is one of those days. We had an especially rough day yesterday.

But I decided that it's just not profitable to grouch.

I have two good reasons to try to stay in a good mood.

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Wordless Wednesday: 3 months times 2.

David at 3 months

Libbie at 3 months

I definitely think they look similar, but not super alike. Someday I will have to scan mine and Mr. V's baby pictures in here and do a comparison!

Someone told us tonight that we do make very beautiful kids. I would have to agree.

Added to Wordless Wednesday here, here, and here. For more WW posts from me, click here!

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Wordless Wednesday

After yesterday, I think we just need some cute baby pictures on this here blog. Don't you?

Libbie is, in fact, 2 going on 16.

Added to Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Wordless Wednesday: Valentines

In the midst of what have been some long, hard days, Valentine's Day was a gem.

Mr. V was off work, so we asked a friend to baby-sit and went and had lunch at an amazing Thai restaurant.

It was hovering around 60 outside, so all four of us went to the park in the afternoon. Blissful!

Added to Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus and at Alli-n-Son.
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Wordless Wednesday

Obviously, Libbie doesn't think David is too little to play with!

(Check out those thigh rolls! That's what happens when the kid will not go two hours without eating ... ever.)

Added to Wordless Wednesday here and here.

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Wordless Wednesday

Libbie, just shy of 1 month:

David, just shy of 1 month:

Do they look alike? Some times I think yes and sometimes no. Libbie is basically my mini-me; I think David will look more like Mr. V. I really thought his eyes would turn brown, but they seem to be getting lighter and lighter like they might go blue like Libbie's (or maybe even green like mine).

In any case, I think they are two darn adorable kids.


Added to Wordless Wednesday here and here.

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Ten Days Old

Dear David,

Someday, you'll sleep all night in your own bed. Maybe even on your back.

Someday you won't want to nurse and I will miss your intense need to eat every hour and a half today.

When I thought about having a newborn, the thing I most looked forward to was having someone to snuggle who couldn't get away. Your sweet snuggles make me blissful. The smell of your head is perfect.

Someday you might hate your near-Christmas birthday. But for me, it was a blessing to grow alongside Mary and feel her anticipation. And wonder how on earth she traveled on a donkey when she was quite possibly having contractions.

I love you super-duper much, baby boy. I promise I will try to not rush your newborn phase. I want to live in the now. Remind me of that at 3 a.m.  when even the Miracle Blanket can't convince you to sleep in your pack-and-play, OK?

Thank you for being such a sweet baby. Being your mommy is a finer thing.

Love,
Mommy

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Family of Four

A very Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

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Belly Pictures

33 weeks with Libbie

34 weeks with David

I keep thinking I am enormous this time ... but I may even be smaller than I was with Libbie. (I have gained a LOT less weight this time.) Poor David has the second-child plague already ... this is the first intentional belly picture I've taken the whole time!

Linked to Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom. 

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The Dr. Seuss Birthday Party

Or, how to inevitably stress yourself out over a two-year-old's birthday, but still have a great time at the end. Dr. Seuss-style.

It would have been cute to have "Thing 1, Thing 2" cupcakes a la Kara's Party Ideas ...

... but my One Fish, Two Fish cupcakes were simple to make and probably tasted just as good! (And I didn't have to worry about melting cotton candy.)

I didn't get my craft together in time ...

... but the kids had fun coloring these simple, free-from-the-Internet coloring pages!

Friends were going to bring a little slide, but it wouldn't fit in their car ...

... and yet, I can't imagine the kids would have had more fun than they had in this car, being pushed around by all the grown-ups.

Our house isn't perfect. Our backyard is sloped. We don't have a fenced-in yard. There are giant dogs barking next door. We don't have enough parking, and live on a very busy road.

A lot of excuses to pay someone big bucks to let me have a little party at their park, or zoo, or inflatable play place.

But for us, this was perfect. The birthday girl had a huge blast. Friends and family came.

As usual, I should have stressed less, spent less money, and breathed a little more. Even with stressing, there's no way I could have done this without the help of my parents, hubby, and sister, and last-minute aid from my in-laws. My dad was cleaning my house all morning while I scurried around (or, well, drank coffee on the sofa in my pajames). My sister learned how to make buttercream. My mom made green eggs, just for me.

It was, in my opinion, pretty dang awesome.

Thanks to everyone who made it happen--especially those who gave advice on my original post!




Making my birthday girl overwhelmed with giggles and fun is definitely a thing I love!

Added to Show Us Your Life Friday at Kelly's Korner. Go here for more planning and ideas: Dr. Seuss Birthday Party.

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