december happenings. lots of looking at lights. lots of making messes baking. lots of friends and parties. and lots of baths! ;)

we even snuck out for an adult party!

santa at the mall.

we took the kids to see santa! this was actually their first "mall santa". i have a thing about those santas and just thinking about all of the germs that live in that guys beard! i know. i'm a bit nutty about weird things. but, come on. think about all those kids who are probably sick and touch that thing. 

anyways, i told avery to go get dressed. she ran upstairs and came down wearing the outfit you will see below. i have no clue where it came from. it had tags on it and was a size 24 months. i laughed pretty hard. she said she wanted to match santa. she was pretty sweet and walked on up and told him what she wanted. which was a hello kitty cd player of course! :) 

before we left. 

little miss went first. 

this one was my favorite. look at that sweet face!

and then it was b's turn. just about the best picture ever!

walking in the "wonderland"

there were fun things to do and check out. 

then avery "wrote" a letter to santa. well, she told me what to write and then signed her name. 

lastly, we did a craft. i went around the table to take some snaps but i think santa's elf had too much egg  nog so i went back around. :)

the everyday.

just a typical friday. early morning with the kiddos. breakfast. a little dance party. play date with sweet pea's friend. and then b's little gym class! i actually snapped some pics of them in their everyday things because i am all caught up! until 7:30 tomorrow morning! i sure did miss just taking pictures of their everyday little happenings that i love. we also saw santa this week so i'm going to work on those as well! 

my early riser and i went to check out the "foggy fog"

we live behind a church. do you see that little cross? pretty cool!

then it was time to feed the little man some breakfast. 

he decides he can do it himself. typical. 

pretty proud. 

caught a little footsy action under the table

off to the little gym

that's b's buddy behind him. 

end the class with stamps!

and now i have two sleeping kids! 

warning!!! this post is about breastfeeding. if you don't want to know then don't read below.

 (no bf pictures are shared) 

i think our time is coming to an end. nursing that is. i know, some people might read this and think "she was still nursing?!?!? still?" and others might think "wow, good for her." but, whatever the reaction it really doesn't matter to me. i've been thinking about this on and off for awhile and in the ending days it's just on my mind a lot. and this is where i write through my thoughts since i can't seem to get any work done during today's nap time because i'm preoccupied. 

we had an easy start you and me. you ate like a champ, grew like a weed. i knew i needed you to be able to take a bottle so i could work and have a bit more freedom. and i knew from your older sister that taking a bottle was necessary and also an important part in letting your dad take an active role in caring for you. well, you quickly learned that it comes out faster that way and started to prefer it. i tried holding out but at the end of the day i just wanted to make sure you were fed. so, i pumped. and it sucked. let me tell you how many times i wanted to quit. i knew it was the best thing for you so i continued. i pumped before we went out anywhere. multiple times a day while you sat and played next to me. you weren't too keen on the solids.

 i am proud to say that i fed you for the first nine months of your life. 

i finally decided at a year i was done pumping. oh, i should mention you had no problems nursing in the middle of the night. multiple times a night until you turned one. at the one year mark i decided i was done pumping and if you wanted to nurse you could. 

well, go figure. you're a stinker and decided you liked it and wanted it. so we continued nursing. we still do. i know it is probably time to stop. i'm sure you would continue on forever if i let you but i also think you will be just fine without it. i love our time together. before bed when it's so dark and quiet. i am always the one to put you bed. i can't tell you how much a cherish our time together. it's one of my greatest accomplishments feeding you and your sister for over 15 months each.  

one of my favorite memories to date is feeding you in the morning. i get your sister out of bed and then we walk into your room. i'd get you out and while you nursed your sister would play with your hair. i wish i had a picture of it but i'll just have to keep that memory in my mind. 

one day this will completely embarrass you. but, it's really part of the torrey right of passage. your dad can tell you all about it. :) that is, if your gigi doesn't first. ;) because after all. your dad was breastfed too. 

as i look at you now i see a kid. a full blown toddler. not a baby. i'm sure a tear or two will be shed and you will have no idea. but, i promise they are happy tears. we have a lot to celebrate. i feel one of the best things you can teach your kids is to do things for themselves. and this is just one more thing that i have to let go of and watch you grow. 

and for anyone wondering. no, he doesn't bite me. :) 

hooray buddy! we did it! time to bust out the champagne! :)