9 Month Proofs

E's nine month proofs are up and I've included some of my faves below!  This month we'll be selecting pics for a collage on a canvas with Emery's name to match the one I have on display of big brother from his nine month session with Lindsey. I think they will be so cute hanging together in the hall. I will be sure and post a pic of the final product once complete and up.

Belizean Adventure

It's official, James and I are going on a trip (sans kiddos) to Belize in April! I referred to the trip in the title as an "adventure" instead of a "vacation" for a reason. This won't be your typical beach vacation to the Caribbean. We are going with Island Expeditions Belize Tour Company on a three day trip to a private island where we will be "base camping" (tent cabanas on the beach) and doing a lot of snorkeling. We may even visit a place called "The Blue Hole" pictured above. Amazing! Did I mention that there will be no electricity? Should be interesting and hopefully something we will never forget! An adventure indeed! James found this company through Frommer's and they have gotten rave reviews from other travelers, so we are really looking forward to it. You can check out a slide show of what we're in for here!

Yum!

Pinterest, where have you been all my life? I don't know what I would do without you. Below are two tasty favorites that we've had this week that came from you!

First, are these Sweet Potato Pancakes. My friend, Hayley, whipped these up last month at Bunko and they were divine...both the pancakes and the cinnamon honey butter! Yum-o!!! We had them for dinner tonight with some turkey sausage, since I never do breakfast for breakfast, and they are melt-in-your-mouth awesome. Please try!

And last night we tried this Pinterest find, Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup. It doesn't get any easier than this folks. You don't have to cook a thing .You just dump it all in the crock pot and let it cook all day. Even the chopped onions go in raw. My kind of recipe! And it was so so so delish! Our new favorite soup for this winter (sort-of) season!

Christmas with our Boys

New additions to our tree this year!

  
We had a Merry Christmas with our MAM boys this year! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our Sunday school class, we were able to take them shopping for some new "swag." And in addition to some new clothes and shoes, they finally got to spend the night at our house after asking persistently for over a year. It was a fun time had by all. I might even let them stay the night again sometime....we shall see.... 

They requested a photo shoot the next day with their new clothes so I could post them to Facebook and then they could make them their new profile pics! Teenagers....

Mario

CJ

Caleb

Mickey

I Could Live in Florida

The weather this winter has been weirdly warm. I am certainly not complaining. We've been enjoying every second of it. Park, Zoo, repeat. Lovin' it!

Case and his cousin Greyson playing at the park on New Year's Eve day. 

My little bear loving the animals at the zoo!

9 Months

Emery, you are nine months old today, girl! I cannot believe it! We went to visit Dr. Bubba this morning for you check-up and you got an excellent report.

9M Stats:

Weight: 16 lbs. 10 oz. - 25% 

Height: 27 in. - 50%

Head size - can't remember, but it was 75%! You've got a big brain in that head of yours!

You've changed and grown so much in the past three months. You're now standing and cruising and I predict that you'll be walking before your birthday. You are all over the place, into EVERYTHING and put EVERYTHING in your mouth! It drives me sort-of crazy. Your brother didn't put any and everything in his mouth, so I wasn't prepared for it. You especially love to eat paper and leaves! I'm constantly fishing stuff out of there! And speaking of mouth...just this past week you've had four teeth come in at once on the top and that makes a grand total of six! You are going to look different with a toothy smile. We're so used to the cute gummy one! 

I'm still nursing you first thing in the morning and that is my favorite time of the day. You are so snugglie and sweet! I don't know how I'll ever be able to give that up. I said I was going to wean you at nine months, but I'm just not ready yet, so we'll see...You are loving solid foods, both baby food and what little table food you are able to gum around. I hope you grow up to be a wonderful non-picky eater like your big bro! That would just make life a bit easier for this chef! 

And speaking of your big bro, you still adore everything he does. You love to stand at his train table and tear up his train tracks. It makes him CRAZY! He's not really into sharing with you yet. He wants you to get bigger so you can play with him. I hope that one day the two of you will make great playmates! 

Emery, you bring so much joy to our lives and are such a blessing. We are thankful for you every single day. We love you, sweet girl!