Goodbye 2014! Hello 2015!

Goodbye 2014. Cannot say that you will be missed. 

Hello 2015. A new fresh start. 

I have been praying for some energy lately and God finally answered my prayers. I woke up today feeling great. Nick and I finally made some last minute purchases for baby Nicholas and now we are officially ready. Car seat is ready. Bassinet is set up. Bottles purchased. Boob pump located. Closet organized. Diapers opened. We are ready for you baby Nick... more than ready ::hint hint::

My last day at work is the 15th so technically I can hold off till then but I am not going to cry over him coming early. I never remember being this ready with Marlee. I actually recall wanting to keep her in my belly forever. At this point, I cannot wait to have baby Nick in my arms and my family all together. 

A new year with new life. Cannot think of a better way to start it off. Hopefully my next post will be a 'Welcome Nicholas' post! Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas from Marlee and Me

Let's start this post by being positive since if you know anything about my feelings toward Christmas, it is a rare occurrence to be positive about it. With that being said, Christmas was really nice this year. 

Weather was beautiful. No snow = no dangerous driving around with my family in the car. No snow = no cold, wet feet after walking in and out of the various errands a mother must run. No snow = no shoveling or salt tossing in order to get up my drive way. I could seriously do this weather all winter long. 

Family was obviously the best part of holidays. Everyone was getting along. Everyone came over to the house on Christmas morning to celebrate, eat breakfast, and open gifts. It was really nice and hopefully a tradition we can keep. Being able to see everyone open gifts with such excitement and joy was a wonderful way to start the day. 

This post could easily turn into a novel with all the fun things we did to get ready for Christmas day. We did the usual traditions of visiting Santa, making cookies, and cutting down our tree. Marlee was not sold on any of our traditions. She did not like Santa (takes after her momma), was not so sure about what was going on at the tree farm, and thought icing cookies was some kind of awful torture that she wanted no part of. The pictures though make it all worth it. Sometimes you just have to laugh when those kodak moments you imagine go differently as planned. 

First up is Light Up Downtown Canton where we went to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus. 

Waiting in line was a breeze. Marlee was a in a great mood and looking so cute in her Christmas hat. 

It went downhill really fast.

Nailed it.

Isaac is a natural. He asked for candy... candy. 

Ok lets try adding Marlee back in...

Nope.

Ok enough torture - cookie time.

Cookies and hot chocolate! Our favorite. 

Next up was cutting down the Christmas tree at Pine Tree Barn in Wooster. Poor Marlee was very confused with the whole trip and her face definitely showed it. I could not get a smile out of her the whole trip. It probably did not help that her coat was a little big and she kept falling down in the mud. 

Her face says it all - "What the heck are we doing?"

I tried so hard to get a smile out of her.

Finally found our tree and Marlee still was not impressed.

We were able to get it home and it looked great in the living room. Marlee surprisingly did not pay any attention to the tree. She did not go near it at all. Like having a giant, shiny tree in the house was normal to her. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining but I was honestly surprised. 

Last but not least was the cookie decorating. I was not even going to do cut outs this year but Nick reallllly wanted them so I gave it. It literally took me weeks to complete since batch one 'chilled' in the refrigerator a bit too long and I had to make another batch. 

Needless to say, Marlee liked being around the icing of the cookies but did not want anything to do with the actually icing. Keep in mind, she hates getting her hands dirty. She was 100% content on her one little pile of icing on the table and I was of course 100% content on her contentment. 

Her faces though are seriously hilarious. She is not shy on letting her face speak for itself. 

Family pictures!

Marlee and her pile of icing. No cookies. No sprinkles. Just a little bit of icing. 

Nick tried to spice it up a bit and give her sprinkles. She did not approve. 

Seriously so distraught over this process.

I did get one smile out of her. Love that hair Marlee!

There is no way that I can look at these pictures and not laugh. She really did not want the green icing. 

Overall, it was a great Christmas. It is nice to enjoy it with family and remember what the holidays are really about. The toys and clothes and cookies and trees will all fade but the memories truly last forever. 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and Merry Christmas! 

Till next year, 

xoxo

Marlee and Me

Marlee Josephine

Late night insomnia has struck again. 

Or maybe it is just the extreme pregnancy uncomfortableness that I have been feeling the last couple of days. Baby Nicholas has proven to be quite the trouble maker. 

Either way, making a strawberry poptart, playing Farm Heros Saga, and doing some online shopping is not exactly the cure I was hoping for so blogging it is!

A Marlee Jo update is definitely needed since it has been a little while since I posted all her accomplishments. She truly does amaze me everyday. I have been getting a little sentimental and going through some old videos of her and it really is hard to remember her being so small! At her 15 month appointment, she weighed 22lbs 4oz and is 31 inches tall. My perfect little peanut.

As you can see, her hair is long enough to fit into pigtails and I think it is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. She usually takes it out but for this brief moment, she allowed a couple pictures to be taken. 

Her favorite foods are yogurt and oatmeal. Of course, they are also the messiest of the foods. It is usually a shirtless affair which is followed quickly by a bath. She is getting better though and has become quite determined to get more in her mouth than on her belly. Sometimes I just let her do her own thing...

Since I never got around to doing a Trick or Treat post, Marlee was a kitty cat and I made her costume out of some tulle and a black boa. Super easy and it turned out just as I had hoped. Her ears were a little big and would not stay up but she was still adorable. She absolutely loved Trick or Treating. Ok so really she just loved being able to run around the neighborhood. 

At her 15 month appointment, the doctor expected her to know about 3-5 words. Well Marlee might not have the best pronunciation but she knows around 10-15 right now so when do I start calling her a baby genius! Just kidding. I know all parents think their kid is a genius. 

I will say that she knows the color blue (boo), where her nose is, and that a cow goes moo. 

Boom.

Marlee prefers to talk in grunts and hand gestures but when really forced to, she will use her words. She knows apple, thank you (tank ooo), mom, dad, bubby, sock, milk, snack, no (no, no, no), up, down, ball, all done, blue, book, and I am sure various other words that I cannot think of at this time. I am seriously so amazed that this little babe started from nothing! She is learning so fast and I feel like I cannot keep up sometimes. 

Literally, I cannot keep up sometimes. This girl is a little tornado of energy. While I am a large whale of a human being. The fact that I am not sleeping right now is beyond me. 

Bubby (Isaac) is still Marlee's favorite person. It is a guaranteed smile when he walks in the door. I hope they stay close forever. Siblings are so important. 

Other random Marlee facts;

She loves to read books...

and color.

She hates Band-Aids. Last time I ever do that...

And has a strange foot and tongue obsession. She thinks they are the funniest things in the world. She will literally smell peoples feet just so she can laugh about it. Wonder where she learned that from..?

That is about it. Marlee at 16 months in a nutshell. 

My princess. 

Now hopefully I can get some sleep. Church is going to come really early tomorrow.

Daddy

Daddy, 

I have been thinking about you a lot the past couple days. Then again I did eat a lot of pancakes and Snickers the past couple of days which always make me think of you. You made the best pancakes and I still can't even come close to your recipe. Of course they were smothered in Log Cabin Lite - the best syrup ever! And I know how much those Snickers commercials made you laugh. I miss that laugh. 

The Browns are kicking some ass - which I know you already know but I am pretty excited and wanted to share that with you. Is there a Dawg Pound in the sky?

The last time we talked, you were worried about the Ebola Scare of 2014. Well the United States is Ebola free so no need to worry about me in the hospital. I will continue to be safe though - not to worry. 

I know that Marlee won't remember her Grandpa but I promise to remind her how much you loved her and how pretty you thought she was. It has only been a couple weeks but she is growing so much! I have been reviewing her ABC's with her but still can only say O. L-M-N-OOOOO! Makes me laugh every time. And she goes to those magnets at Moms house about every time we are over there. I have yet to watch that video but it will forever be cherished. Especially when after I stopped taping, she came and sat on your lap. You said it made you so happy. It made me happy too. 

Anna asked when she is going to start feeling 'better'. I don't know how to answer that question. I have been doing a lot of praying though and that seems to help. I ask that you send the sisters some peace. Mom too. They all miss you a lot and I think could use a little faith that you are in a better place. 

I read two quotes that I continue to read when I am feeling down and wanted to share them with you. 

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. 

I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we 

still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy 

way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear 

no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed

at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray 

for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, 

let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it. 

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there 

is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am 

out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very 

near, just round the corner. 

All is well. 

- Henry Scott Holland

1847-1918

Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral

Don't think of them as gone away

His journey's just begun, 

life holds so many facets

This Earth is only one

Just think of him as resting

From the sorrows and the tears

In a place of warmth and comfort 

Where there are no days and years 

Think of how he must be wishing 

That we could know today 

How nothing but our sadness 

Can really pass away 

And think of him as living 

In the hearts of those he touched 

For nothing loved is ever lost

And he was loved so much.

- Ellen Brenneman

I miss you Daddy and love you lots. 

Till we meet again.

Weekend Roundup

I love fall - or autumn for you fancy people.

I love the cooler air (perfect pregnant weather), the trees, the food (pumpkin everything!), the warmer clothes, Halloween, pumpkins, and everything in between! Fall is certainly my favorite season.

This weekend was so action packed that even going to work on Monday did not bring me down. Friday was my birthday so we did a birthday dinner at the always wonderful Tozzi's on 12th. I ate dinner so fast that I was not able to get a picture but the dessert was extra special!

Chocolate Lava Cake - Ahh So Good

Saturday was my cousins wedding and everyone had a blast as they should at a wedding. So weird to think that was us two years ago! The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was full of fun. My fat feet were crying by the end of the night though. I might not been able to drink but I was sure to get my fill of cookies. Maybe two peoples fill of cookies but who is counting? All four of us sisters were able to make it which is unheard of so a couple quick photo booth pictures were required. 

Sunday we went to Nickajack Farms with the always wonderful Moore family and had a blast. 

I actually kind of want to go back just to let Marlee run around some more. She was so excited to be free for once. Of course she ran right for a giant mud puddle but after a little corralling, she figured out where she could and couldn't run. She also loved playing with the girls!

Nick and Marlee did a little pumpkin bowling but the idea of knocking down the pins after she took all the time setting them up was too much for Marlee.

Quick photo shoot!

By the time the hayride rolled around, Marlee was pretty much done. 

After the hayride, we grabbed a quick pumpkin and left before a meltdown happened. Isaac was not able to join us so we had Marlee pick out his pumpkin too!

 

We ended the day with a Cleveland Browns win over the Steelers and some spicy chili for dinner. 

Such a great start to October with family and friends. We still have so much to look forward to this month but at the top of my list is Trick or Treating with Marlee. I should probably get started on her costume!