Friday, January 29, 2010

More Landon Funnies

I don't think all of the funny things that Landon says will continue to fit on my sidebar. The kid constantly cracks me up!!! I'm going to start posting them with a label "Landon Says The Darndest Things" that you can find in the label section on the sidebar and all of his funny stories can be pulled up from there.

Here's his latest...

I was trying to get my 3 boys out of the house last weekend to make it to a surprise party in time...and lost my cool for a little bit. So once we all got in the car and were on our way, I apologized to them for raising my voice. Landon said (with a very serious look on his face) "Mommy, I'm counting on you". I asked "Counting on me to do what?". He replied, "I'm counting on you not to yell again!" !!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were at a restaurant in VA and Landon asked if we were close to his Nannie and Papa's house. I told him yes. He said "OH MY GOODNESS...That freaks me out!!!".

Seriously, where does a 3 year old get these things?

------------------------------------------------------------------

These used to be on my sidebar:

Things he wants to be when he grows up: a robot, a baby robot, a Daddy, a Grandpa, a boy princess, a boy Mommy (does he mean a Daddy or a cross-dresser?)

He likes to dip his apples in "camel" sauce.

He throws diapers away in the "diaper crap" (aka Diaper Champ).

When counting his coins, he counts his "corners" & "knuckles" (aka quarters & nickels).

When he asked to go to a party with me & Daddy, I said "Honey, this party is only for Mommys & Daddys"; he replied "No, it's for Mommys, Daddys & Honeys!".

When looking at some ponies at a pony ride, he exclaimed to the top of his lungs (in public), "Look Mommy, they have a penis like me!". Anyone have a hole that I crawl in?

When asked what shape he wanted his grilled cheese cut in, he replied "a trapezoid" - hold on honey, I have to google that!

When passing an ATM, he said "Look, a piggy bank!".

He likes to conserve water & "lighttricity" - he's a tree-hugger in the making (just like his mommy).

I told him thank you for helping me unload the dishwasher & he replied "my pleasure"!

He looked at his Daddy's biceps & said "wow" with a look of total awe & admiration.

Landon needed a "tooth q-tip" (aka a toothpick)!

Off & on, Landon "loses his manners".

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Happy Birthday MeeMee!

Hope this makes you smile on your special day!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Can You Blame Me?

All I want to do is take pictures of these boys. Look at those perfect smiles & sparkling eyes. I.AM.SO.IN.LOVE.WITH.THESE.FACES!!!



Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Sitting Pretty

Carter began sitting up over the weekend. Even though he looks more like a tripod with his hands between his legs, he stays upright for a good amount of time before toppling over! Doesn't he look so proud of his new trick!



Monday, January 25, 2010

Jones Family Breakfast

We enjoyed a yummy breakfast & spending time with my parents, brother, sister and all the nieces and nephews at my parents' house on Sunday morning.


Uncle Chris enjoyed playing ball with Adam & Landon



Sweet baby Jeter




Angela gave Landon his first sweets when he was a little baby...a blow-pop. So it was only natural that she give Carter his first taste of sweets. I walked in the kitchen to find him sucking on a Twix! If she took it out of his mouth, he grabbed her hand and pulled it back into his mouth! I think he's going to have a sweet tooth like his Daddy & big brother!

Landon - January 2007


Carter - January 2010


Party Animals

We were party animals this past weekend! We had a surprise 50th wedding anniversary for my Aunt Nellie Ann & Uncle John in Raleigh from 1-4, followed by a surprise 70th birthday party for Christopher's Aunt Ann in South Hill at 6.

Landon enjoyed playing with his 10 cousins!

Landon with Elizabeth



Gracie



Adam



Landon with Ryan


We enjoyed a nice dinner and fellowship at Kahill's with the Bagley family.



Shake Ya Groove Thang

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Sweet Life of a Mom

Here's how I spent my Friday night (after getting the boys in bed)...

~Counting out the diapers I'd need for our traveling this weekend (by the hour...1 for 1:00, 1 for 3:00, 1 for 5:00, etc.)

~Attacking Mt. Laundry

~Making sure I have everything the boys need for the weekend travels: diaper cream, Tylenol (just in case), wipes, kid's toothpaste, baby food, rice cereal, snacks for Landon, sippy cup, bibs, soft baby spoons, toys/activities, and enough outfits, socks, undies and PJs to clothe an army (while I will probably forget underwear for myself completely)

~Washing sippy cups and bottles (Did someone break into my house just to throw their dirty bottles/sippy cups in my sink??? Where did all of these come from???)

~Disinfecting baby toys

~And my personal favorite - scalding 2 days worth of breastmilk, cooling it and then putting in storage bags to freeze (trying to deactivate this crazy enzyme of mine) - which also included cleaning up a lot of spilled milk

The sweet life of a mom!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Bananas Over Bananas!

Carter is really loving some baby food! He's opening his mouth wide and yelling at me when I don't feed him fast enough! So far he's tried (and loved) squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, peaches, applesauce, and his latest fave, bananas. I love messy face photos - here's a few...



Monday, January 18, 2010

And Your Next American Idol Is...

Landon loves to sing...just like his mama! A song that we listen to over and over and over (per Landon's request) is "Big Green Tractor" by Jason Aldean.

I recorded him being a ham (back in December), singing BGT. For those of you not familiar with the song, here is your key to help you decipher what he is trying to sing!

Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean

And I can take you for a ride on my big green tractor
We can go slow or make it go faster
Down through the woods and out to the pasture
'Long as I'm with you, it really don't matter
Climb up in my lap and drive if you want to
Girl, you know you got me to hold on to
We can go to town, but baby if you'd rather
I'll take you for a ride on my big green tractor
Just let me dust off the seat...

No Use In Crying Over Spoiled Milk

After months of consultation with my lactation consultant and the process of elimination and trial & error, we have concluded that there is an excess of the enzyme called lipase in my breast milk. Lipase breaks down the milk fat soon after the milk is expressed. When mother's have this excess, their refrigerated and frozen milk begins to smell and/or taste sour soon after it's stored even after following all storage guidelines closely (mine can last only 2 days in the fridge). The milk is not harmful, but the baby will most likely reject it.

So with that being said, I have A LOT of frozen milk in my freezer that cannot be used...approximately 500 ounces to be exact. This stuff is often referred to as liquid gold, as it is hard to come by for most mothers. I filled 2 kitchen garbage bags with this unusable milk. All 500 ounces. That's about 63 feedings!!!

That hurt...bad.

Good news!

Carter had a second chest x-ray this afternoon (again, not fun for Mommy but Daddy & Landon were both there this time to hold my hand). The doctor just called with the results...drum roll please...ALL CLEAR!!! No pneumonia! Thanks for all of the thoughts, well wishes & prayers.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Confession

I have a confession to make. I am weak...I bit all of my nails tonight. *sigh*

Carter's 6 Month Check-Up

On 01/15/10, Carter went for his 6 month check-up.

His stats:

Height: 26.5 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 16 pounds, 7 ounces (30th percentile)
Head Circumference: 42.5 cm (20th percentile)

He will continue to eat baby food, adding a new veg/fruit per week and can have puffs/biter biscuits/cheerios once he can sit up. We're going to keep on giving him tummy time and opportunities to strengthen his legs.

His lungs are almost clear and the doctor thinks that his infection is resolving. He is going back for another chest x-ray on Monday to take a look. I'll make sure to post an update on those results. He has definitely been in a better mood the past few days, so it seems that he is feeling much better!

Landon Pulls A Funny (Yet Again)

Landon is always saying the darndest things (please visit the "Landon says the darndest things" column on the right hand side of my blog). Here's a few of his latest and greatest...

At dinner, he said to me "Mommy, why don't you have a beer tonight?". Hmmmmmm...lush?

He told me in the car that he can't wait to be a Daddy so he can be hairy like his Daddy. I asked where he was going to get hair. He replied "my chin, my lip, my ears, my feet, my legs, my tummy, my back, my chest". Such aspirations!

I found Landon sitting at the top of our stairs and I asked what he was doing. He replied "talking to God". I was blown away - and asked what he was talking to Him about. He said "about the rain...and about Grandma & Grandpa (who left his bedroom light on) - for them to turn off my light because it wastes light-tricity"!!!!!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Show Me Some Love

If you like my blog and read it often (or even only now and then), sign up to be a follower (on the right-hand side). In the blogging world, this shows how good of a blogger you are. And I am obsessed with being a cool blogger.

And leave me comments (bottom of each post)! I like comments!!!

Show me some love!!!

A wife, 2 kids and a picket fence

Landon has been transitioning this week into the next class at daycare and is moving up full-time today. The move doesn't bother me...here's what does. I just realized that after this class, there's only 1 more. Just 1 more classroom!!! Then after that...Elementary School!!! He'll be leaving for big boy school in a year and a half! Really? How did he grow up so fast? Wasn't he just learning to roll over and sit up? Where does the time go? I know that sounds so cliche but seriously...my baby has grown up right before my eyes. His babyhood is forever gone. I'm having a hard time with this. Pretty soon, he won't want me to cut his sandwiches into trapezoids...then that turns into not wanting his friends to see me give him a kiss and hug good-bye or even our cute little "I love you" fingers that we match up to each other...that turns into him not wanting me to pick out his clothes or see him naked...then that turns into girls, attitudes and fast cars (and probably motorcycles in our case)...then he'll leave for college and not want to come home to visit his boring parents...then he'll move to the West coast, get a job and find the love of his life. I don't know how I just got from a 3/4s class at daycare to him living in Oregon with a wife, 2 dogs and a baby on the way! I want him to have a great life filled with love and happiness...but can't he find that at home with his Mommy? Is that a little unhealthy? :)

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Father to Son

A real conversation in the Bagley household (this will make you wonder who wears the pants around here):

It's bedtime. Landon & Daddy have read a book, said prayers and are laying together snuggling, quietly. A few minutes pass...

L: Daddy...I went downstairs the other day and Mommy had turned the light on in the living room.

D: O yeah?

L: Yeah, and I told her to turn it off. But she said she needed it on to stay warm.

Pause

L: And I said {louder} Mommy, turn off that light so we don't waste "lighttricity".

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Sweet Life of a Mom

The past few weeks of sickness, lack of sleep and stress has worn me down so I decided I needed a little R&R tonight. A little time with me, myself and I. After the boys were in bed and Christopher was gaming with his headphones on, I decided to draw a nice, hot bath. I added some Eucalyptus Spearmint bath milk to the water - known for its stress relieving properties. I turned off the lights and lit some candles. Dark, quiet, perfect. No one asking me where his motorcycle key or belt is (I do not use these items - they are always where you left them Christopher!), no one whining "Mommmmmmyyy", no one crying to be fed, no one barking to be let out, no one asking me another ComplianceWire or training question...just me. Alone to think of nothing. Alone to do nothing. Alone to say nothing. I slip in my garden tub...aaaahhhhhhh...and 3 balls, a tugboat, a watering can, 2 cups and a Little Einsteins Rocket & Leo fall on top of me.....the sweet life of a mom.

For All The Mamas (& Mamas To Be) Out There

I found this story on another blog and had to post on mine. This describes my life as a mother perfectly.

Time is running out for my friend. While we were sitting at lunch, she casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family". What she means is that her biological clock has begun its countdown and she is being forced to consider the prospect of motherhood. “We’re taking a survey,” she says, half joking, “Do you think I should have a baby?” “It will change your life,” I say carefully, keeping my tone neutral. “I know,” she says. “No more sleeping in on Saturdays, no more spontaneous vacations…” But that is not what I mean at all. I try to decide what to tell her.

I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes: that her physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave an emotional wound so raw that she will be forever vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never read a newspaper again without asking, “What if that had been my child?” That every plane crash, every fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of “Mom!” will cause her to drop her best crystal without a moment’s hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for child care, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think about her baby’s sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her child is all right.

I want my friend to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five-year-old boy’s desire to go to the men’s room rather than the women’s at a restaurant will become a major dilemma. That issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in the restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years – not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish his.

My friend’s relationship with her husband will change but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is always careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his son or daughter. I think she should know that she will fall in love with her husband all over again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to hit a baseball. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who strokes the soft fur of a dog for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it hurts.

My friend’s quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. “You’ll never regret it,” I say finally. Then, squeezing my friend’s hand, I offer a prayer for her and me and all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this holiest of callings.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Protest Against Idol!

I am letting you all know that I am NOT going to watch American Idol! I even cancelled the series from recording on my DVR. I know I say this every year and I get sucked into it, but I am serious...I am not watching it. It takes away too many precious hours of my life.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Germs are yucky

Hello. My name is Katherine. And I am a Germophobe.

Yes, I have a little bit...well, no...a lot a bit of a problem. If you need antibacterial, I'm your girl. I have hand wipes, cleaning wipes, sanitizer, soap, spray, etc. etc. etc. And not only in my house - you can find little handy travel sized ones in my car, my purse, my diaper bag, my key chain, my desk at work, the stroller, etc. I have a problem. The very thought of germs freaks me out.

We wash our hands all of the time (we being me and Landon - I am turning him into a germophobe too). If we are out and about, I am whipping out the sanitizer on a frequent basis. I'm the mom that pulls out her travel pack of Clorox wipes to clean the McDonald's table before we sit down to eat. One of my biggest fears is the inevitable request for Landon to go potty while out in public. I probably say to him at least 10 times while in the bathroom, "Don't touch anything!". I cover the toilet seat (if he has to sit) and watch him very closely so that his skin doesn't come into contact with the toilet. We wash our hands very thoroughly while carefully using paper towels to turn on & off the water and open the door to leave (the act of throwing away the paper towel while holding the door open with your outstretched leg is a talent).

With all of that being said, I constantly have my fingers in my mouth...biting my nails and the skin around it. {gasp} I might as well lick that public restroom toilet seat! {Hold on, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. Let me get my composure. Okay.} It was definitely a learned habit. Sorry Daddy, but I'm going to blame this one on you. My Daddy, brother and I all bite our nails, to the point where our nails look really bad...so bad, people cringe and say "ouch, that's gotta hurt".

But recently I experienced a revelation. The turning point for me was seeing my 2 year old nephew, Adam, biting his nails over Christmas. Then the wheels started turning. Here was my train of thought: Look at Adam biting his nails...ewww, think of all of the germs going into his mouth...he must have learned that habit by watching his Dad (my brother)...wow, luckily Landon hasn't picked up that habit from me...oh, but he still could...oh, and Carter might too...ewwwww, think of all of the germs going into their mouths if they do that...ewwwww, think of all of the germs going into my mouth when I do that...I might as well lick the public restroom toilets & door handles & shopping carts & money & McDonald's floor & trash cans with food/drink splattered all over the flappy door & gum under a table & bus handles &...{panic is rising in my chest}...I'VE GOT TO PUT A STOP TO THIS!!!!!!!

So my goal (not New Year's resolution because I don't believe in those because they always get broken) is to keep my hands out of my mouth. I will not promise not to pick at my nails or skin around them but I will not put them in my mouth.

I am asking for your support. If you see them going anywhere towards my mouth, please stop me. Remind me of the germs. Remind me of all of those nasty things that I should lick instead. My weak moments are while reading a book and watching TV. So please, help me.

The first step is to admit you have a problem.

VT Boys

We love to slap a VT cap on our boys and take their picture.






And a flashback to Landon (at 9 months):

New Year's Eve 09 (11 days late)

We thoroughly enjoyed our New Year's Eve, especially watching the Sooners and Hokies finish out their football seasons strong! Rich, Jess & Laken and Beth & Mike came over, watched the VT game, ate some great food, played a game, and toasted the New Year in with champagne & sparkling grape juice for the Mama to-be (well, Rich, Jess & Laken had to leave before the New Year because Mr. Laken was trying to stay up with the big boys and girls! LOL!).


My boys showing their Hokie spirit (& muscles)





And Carter in his New Year's best (poor baby looks so sick in this picture)





Landon loves playing with "Mister Rich"





Carter and Laken are the best of friends





Can you get any cuter?

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Funny Brother

Carter thinks his big brother is the best thing since sliced bread. He is always staring, smiling and laughing at Landon. I made a little video montage (I'm getting very computer-savvy) of Carter laughing at Landon while he hams it up. Enjoy!


Roll On Baby!

Carter rolled over for the first time Friday night (1/8/09)! Enjoy the video (this is one of the rare times that I have actually caught something like this on video)!

I've got it made in the shade...

Have you ever heard someone say (jokingly) "That's the reason we had kids...to [insert household chore here]"?

Tonight I asked Landon to grab me a beer. Joking, of course! So he walks out into the garage, opens the "beer fridge", pulls out a nice cold one and brings it in to Mommy!

Now if I can just get him to cut the grass...

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Update on Carter's Pneumonia

Christopher took Carter back to the doctor today to re-evaluate his pneumonia. The doctor thinks that he is on his way to getting better. He definitely still has the infection and she can still hear it in his breathing, but she said that his breathing seems more relaxed today. She also said that it takes a long time to get over pneumonia, 10-14 days to clear up with a cough lingering for even a week after that. She did say that things could go south very quickly so to remain on guard and bring him back if anything changes (cough worsens, throwing up again, breathing seems worse, etc.).

She said that we could take him back to daycare tomorrow because she understands that we have to work, but it's always a possibility that he could pick something up from there. We are going to keep him out today and tomorrow, and take him back on Monday.

His 6-month appointment is scheduled for January 22nd & we will do another chest x-ray then (and Christopher will definitely be present for this one!!!).

Thanks for the concerns, thoughts and prayers. Keep them coming - we're not completely out of the woods yet.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

To My Bubba...

To my late grandmother, Rosa Bevelyn Glover Jones (my Bubba), on her birthday:

On the anniversary of your birth into this world, I remember the woman you were. Loving, funny, charismatic, full of life, long legs, loud and great laugh, beautiful, friendly, loved by all, and strong. I remember the smells of your Chanel No. 5 perfume and Doublemint gum in your black leather purse. I remember the feel of your jewelry on my neck, wrists, ears and fingers. I remember the gleam of coins you'd put in the birdbath for me to collect when I filled it up for you. I remember the feel of the cool wooden beads in the seat of your red car. I remember the sounds in the doctor's office when you let me go to work with you. I remember the way you danced around your aqua blue kitchen. I remember the way you'd say my name with your long, Southern drawl. I remember the way your arms felt wrapped around me, especially during the hard years of my childhood. I remember the lessons you taught me in strength and perseverance. I will always remember.

I miss you every day.

I love you.

Monday, January 4, 2010

2010: The Year Of The Germ

Well we sure are starting 2010 off with a bang!

Carter isn't getting better, in fact, he added wheezy-like breathing and puking to the list. So I took him back to the doctor today (for the 3rd time since 12/23) and they ordered a chest x-ray. I would like to preface this with *I WILL NEVER TAKE MY CHILD TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS ALONE EVER AGAIN!!!* So they start with, "This is going to hurt you more than it hurts him." Great...I wasn't going to cry until you went and said that. So I have to step out into the hallway while they sit my tiny little sweet Carter onto a bicycle seat and slowly close him into a clear, plastic shell that holds his arms up over his head and keeps him very still. All I can hear is him screaming to the top of his lungs. I am about to break the door down, tear him out of that plastic turtle shell and wrap him up in my arms. Apparently, they have a knack for knowing when a Mom is about to go off the deep end and a sweet lady comes over to me and asks if I've ever done this before. I answer no (I sat through surgery with Landon, but I swear this x-ray was more painful!) and she says "Hold on honey, I'll get the tissues.". [She probably went and called security to wait in the wings in case I went postal!] She stood there with me until it was over and tried to help me maintain my cool. As soon as that door opened, I swooped in and grabbed my little man.

I will have to say Rex Radiology rocks! I signed in at 2:25 (without an appointment), registered, had the x-ray and was out of the door by 2:50. And the ladies were very sweet to me (and Carter, even though it sounded otherwise).

Then I get a call from my doctor before I even got home...no joke, within like 10 minutes of leaving. The diagnosis: PNEUMONIA!!! My poor baby has pneumonia. *sigh* So of course I am beating myself up wondering how I could have let it go into pneumonia. Why didn't I know? How did I let it get so far? But as my logical husband keeps reminding me...we have been to the doctor 3 times in the past 2 weeks and we did everything we could do.

So they replaced his light-weight Amoxicillin that he was taking for his ear infection (which has cleared up beautifully) with Omnicef. It's supposed to be a stronger and broader range antibiotic. This will work if the pneumonia is caused by a bacteria. There is a potential that is from a virus. He goes back Thursday morning to be re-evaluated.

Stay tuned and please send prayers...

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Landon's First Movie

Landon filled up his reward train again and this time his reward was a trip to the movie theater (and don't forget the popcorn!).

So Landon and I went to the movies today and saw "The Princess & The Frog". It was a cute movie and Landon really enjoyed himself. He sat and stared at the screen for the entire movie, laughed at the funny parts, jumped at the scary parts and cried/pouted at the sad parts. He and I shared a popcorn and held hands. It was the perfect date!

Just one more special memory for Mommy.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Things I Have Learned This Past Week

We have all been home this past week in our little snow globe of plague and I have learned a few things...

1. Diapers/pull-ups don't fare well in the washing machine. Trust me.
2. You really can "have it your way" at Burger King - my quest for funnel cake fries is over! I HEART BK!!!
3. Cough syrup can be your BFF.
4. My 3 year old knows the lyrics to the pop song "Fireflies" better than I do (which actually isn't saying that much though).
5. Hold a naked baby boy and ye shall get peed on.
6. The scales can sometimes make you smile instead of cry...unless I go crazy at BK (refer to #2).
7. You learn a lot about your words, reactions, and mannerisms by just spending 5 minutes with your child. They are little mirrors.
8. Your heart can shatter into a million little pieces when your son doesn't need a stool to reach the sink or light switch anymore.
9. The woman waxing my brows can be brutally honest about other places on my body that need waxing too. Wow - don't hold back!
10. I am ready to retire.
11. There's no place like home.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Rosie the Robot

We were given an iRobot Roomba (530 model) for Christmas. I LOVE THIS THING!!! I have always wanted one. It's a little robot who vacuums your floor for you. It can do 3 rooms in one cleaning cycle, can transition from all different types of flooring, and docks itself when done. It gets in places that you wouldn't normally be able to get to. And it really works! It has sensors that slows it down when it gets near furniture (it has a hard time with dark objects so it tends to bump into my black fridge and oven). It also includes 2 little towers that you can set up to basically block off a room if you wanted to keep it out of a certain area. You would not believe the stuff it actually picks up.

I named her Rosie, like the Jetsons' maid. My sister decided to name hers a slang word derived from the term meaning "a female dog" - she likes to "holla" "clean my floors, [insert word]" at hers! LOL!



I have thoroughly enjoyed sitting on my couch, eating pretzels, and watching my Rosie clean my floors! :)

Nothing Runs Like A Deere

Being that my Daddy is a farmer, we have lots of John Deere paraphernalia. If you ask any of the grandkids what color a tractor is, the only answer is green! Last Christmas, they gave Landon a pair of John Deere cowboy boots. He wears these boots all of the time...no matter what he is wearing! This year, they gave Adam an identical pair and also a baby pair to Carter and Jeter. I had to share this picture of my boys in their boots. Too cute!





Christmas at the Bagleys

We left my parents mid-afternoon on Christmas day and drove north to Christopher's parents.

Santa came to visit there too! Landon got lots of goodies including clothes, PJs, books on CD, some cool Color Wonder finger Paints (moms - check these out if you haven't already), and a bow & arrow (wait, don't freak out - with suction cups, not real ones). Carter got lots too - clothes, a Bible, books and a Glow-worm (ahhh...taking me back to 1983ish).







I'd have to say the highlight of gifts for me was the UV toothbrush sanitizer!!!! I am so stoked. A lot of people know this weird fact about me...I switch my toothbrush out like every 4-6 weeks. I am a freak about toothbrushes. And BTW, did you know that you should have your toothbrush at least 6 feet from your toilet (yes, fecal matter can become airborne!!!!)!

Then we finished up the night with our 4th annual Christmas pizza-making tradition.



Christmas at the Joneses

We arrived at my parents at 11AM on Christmas morning. I was especially homesick this Christmas so it was so good to be home. Apparently Nanny left word with Santa that her grandkids had been very good little boys & girls this year (and even her children) because he left a ton of goodies.



He left the boys some really cute clothes and a car DVD player (thank goodness...our hand-me-down one died about a year ago and we really need some entertainment for Landon during all of our travels). A few things that Landon got: a personal CD player and a Taylor Swift CD, some Handy Manny toys including a Talkin' Tool Box, a belt that he was pretty stoked about, and the cutest pair of Sperry's! And a few things that Carter got: a microphone/music/light toy, a personalized Taggie lovie blanket that he LOVES (he is such a blankie boy), and the cutest John Deere boots to match big brother's!













Rhina always finds the coolest VT stuff for us. This year she surprised us with a VT cutting board and cute VT jersey napkins. Angela got us a really cool personalized slate to hang outdoors with a Hokie bird on it. I also got a green pea coat, blue ballet flats, purple heels and my favorite...drum roll please...A ROOMBA! I was soooo excited to open this up and everyone thought I was crazy. But now that they've experienced the wonders of a Roomba (my brother and sister got one too), they are in love. I will have to blog separately on this, as I have a lot to say!!! :)

Landon and Carter had a great time with Nanny & Papa, their aunts & uncles and all of their cousins. Landon and Adam made a lot of fun out of cleaning up (I wish I had this much fun cleaning!)! *Please note the matching John Deere cowboy boots in the video (Adam got a pair for Christmas, as well as Jeter & Carter)!









Christmas Morning

Our Christmas morning began bright & early at 6AM. Landon was so eager to get downstairs to see what Santa had left for him. The look on his face when he saw what Santa had left was priceless!



Santa must have thought the Bagley boys were really good this year because he left lots of goodies. He left Landon a new kitchen set, Mr. Potato Head, Tag & Tag books (an electronic pen that reads special books & also plays games and activities), John Deere dominoes, & a board game. He left Carter a sock monkey, a bath toy, a dump truck, a basketball goal & a book. And their stockings were stuffed full!









Christopher & I decided to do one joint present this year, and had a few ideas, but he kept it a secret from me as to what the gift actually was. I was ECSTATIC to open my Nikon D-90 camera!!! I did cheat a little and got Christopher some VT clothes & a VT Snuggie (ok this started out as a joke but it's actually kind of nice). Christopher liked his blanket with sleeves!!!





After our celebration at home, we headed up to Virginia to visit the grandparents.