Macalan Justin

Ok. This post is for Tiffany who has been complaining about my lack of bloggage. Here's the thing, lately, I feel like I haven't had much to blog about. I don't take amazing photos, I don't cook amazing food, my house isn't fully decorated because I am having a hard time really doing it up since we are renting and hoping to be out of here by Dec., and we have had a relatively slow few months which is nice...my dad is doing great so no new news there and we haven't really travelled much or done anything crazy exciting...and I am just plain uncreative. So while I love and adore reading all my other blogging friends blogs, I guess lately I have been uninspired to be one of those cute bloggers like all the rest of you. Anyways, I did decide I have two pretty cute things to blog about and those would be my kids. So this one is for mac...let me let you into his world.
Meet the sweetest and happiest baby I have ever known. Macalan Justin. He is seriously such a joy. He will jump into your arms when he meets you and lay his head on your shoulder. He will smile, no matter what. He loves on his brother to the point of attacking him with hugs and kissses. He still gives those open mouth, stick out his tongue kisses, which can be a little gross...but they are so cute. He loves to sign, please, all done, more...we are working on thank you. He runs to the door when his daddy gets home and catapults himself into his arms. He is an ok eater.. a little picky but will eat fruit all day long. In all this sweetness, their is one thing that he does that is not all that cute and that is BITE. He will run up to you with all the joy in the world and bite your leg. So, you see, he is not perfect. He also likes to hit and will do it with a smile- not out of maliciousness at all but he is literally laughing and hitting- (and even though it is totally naughty- sometimes it is hard not to laugh) but it is another thing we are working on. When told no, he is 9 times out of 10 an AMAZING listener and stops right away. He follows directions nearly perfectly and just wants to do everything his big brother does. He loves going to church and to the gym and is the only kid not crying at the gate when I go pick him up from the nursery. He is just in his own little world playing away. He is a great sleeper, still taking two naps a day and although wakes up a little early for my liking in the morning, I do enjoy my time alone with him. All this to say, he is such a great addition to our house and really does make us smile all day long. I just love this kid!

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Spring...for a minute.

We have experienced unusually warm weather these past few days and I couldn't be happier! We have been soaking in as much outside time as we can and have loved letting the boys run around outside and get their energy out. It is supposed to come to an end this weekend as we are supposed to get SNOW...yep that's right. I am not really excited about that but I am hoping it will be our last snow of the year...we shall see!

We are headed to Indiana on Sat., staying until Tuesday, as Brandon is going to New York for work, and I am excited about seeing my sis and her family and hopefully seeing some friends while I am there too!

Had a doctor's apt yesterday and made our ultrasound apt. to find out the sex of the baby (april 22!!!) I of course am kind of dying for a girl but am pretty sure its going to be a boy. Either way I am excited to see the little bug in 3-D and make sure everything is good.

We are working on summer plans and it is so hard to go from Brandon having the whole summer off to now having 3 weeks for the whole year! We are trying to fit lots in this summer with trips to LA to see friends, up North to see my parents and hopefully some of my dad's family and also sqeeze in a little trip for Brandon and I to get away for our 5th anniversary before this baby comes and life gets a little crazier!

Catch Up...

Ok, well I never realized how inconsistent I would become at this whole blogging thing, but shoot, I am and I have said it before and I will say it again...I will keep trying . :)
Let's see...where to begin. Hmmmmm...you all know I am pregnant. We were definitely suprised, not shocked though. I might have cried a little bit. Mostly out of fear...I mean three kids under three is a bit much for someone who likes to pretend they've got it all together. But I quickly gathered myself, counted my blessings and started pounding toast with strawberry jam (my main source of food for the first 12 weeks.) Glad I am past that sick part and I can start (ok, attempt) to eat a little more healthy so I do not blow up like beached whale.
Other than pregnancy I am just trying to deal with and have a good attitude about the climate here where we are currently living. Sadly, I haven't been to great on the good attitude part. But boy it is hard. I just want to send my kids outside, take them to the park and not feel like I am cooped up in my house all day...but spring is coming...right??? (kirra...right??!!!)
My kids seem to have caught a constant cold. I feel like they have been sick for months, mostly Macalan and it is such a bummer because it makes me even more wary of taking them out and about. All that to say, I CANNOT wait for summer!!! My in-laws have a pool and I know I will be over there alot tiring the boys out and letting them run wild.
My sweet husband flew my mom out here for my birthday, which was the best gift ever! We were able to spend some really fun time together, even a day in the city! My sister also joined us out here for my birthday too and I was so blessed to have a little get together with family and some dear friends to celebrate (kirra sue-can you email me the pics...pretty please :)
Also, when my mom left, my sister and I then picked up two of our friends from Cali that came out the visit. We had a girls weekend in Indiana and it was such a great time of catching up, fun shopping in Noblesville, and eating way too much yummy food...we even slaved for hours to make the pioneer womens cinnamon rolls. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!! They were amazing and I still feel a little bit sick when I think of how many I ate.!!!) It will definitely be something I will make when we have company one day because they were awesome!
My dad continues to heal from the pnemonia (i will never spell it right. i am giving up.) and has not been able to continue treatment yet, but hopefully monday he will pick up where he left off. He has four more weeks of treatment, then they will hopefully do another cat-scan and see what is going on there.
I am continually being challenged to look for the blessings in my life and not the negatives. I will be honest it has been a really hard few months out here, moving away from my family and coming to a new place, not having a home church and missing our friends, but I am trying (I say trying because sin creeps in SO often) to have an eternal perspective. Whenever I complain now, I think of those in nations like Haiti, who had nothing to begin with and then lost all they had. God continues to be gracious to me and my little family and I am thankful that He gives grace abundantly!
Here are just a few pics of the kiddos. Taeden is definitely going through an akward camera phase, he is either making a goofy face or "smiling" which doesn't come out that good :) so they are mostly of Mac. They are getting so big...just signed Taeden up for preschool...time really is flying!!!

Mac just got his first big boy hair cut...it made him look instantly older. sad.

my mom and her grandboys. they just adored having her here! me too!

Mac lives in his uggs that were once taedens. he is a little peanut!

loves bathtime!

daddy and taeden

mac again...