Decemember 23rd, 2011

I think this year instead of doing parts 1-5 of all the Christmas' we partake in, I am going to retell each day of our fun but very filled days at Christmas! Lets start with Friday night. We went to David's godparents ( and his dad's best friend's) house for dinner and presents! Thanks to Trudy for all the delicious food! It was great just to hang out with them and Katelyn is starting to warm up to them more and enjoying goofing around with Jerry.

Katelyn with Daddy's chimay ( yearly tradition from Crystal to David)

David, Katelyn, and Jerry

Katelyn showing everyone's Gigi's M&Ms, which is also a yearly tradition she receives

All the kids! Katelyn, me, David, Crystal, Wes, Heather, and Haley

Preparing for Christmas!

We had so much fun this year getting ready for Christmas. From picking out our beautiful tree and putting up decorations in the house, to seeing Haley in her Santa's helper outfit that Uncle John got her, to making cookies and a gingerbread house and even a Christmas dinner party! I love Christmas and Katelyn has really gotten into it this year! She loved decorating the tree and putting up the nativity. She of course loved making and eating Christmas cookies with Connor and Ahma. But her favorite thing this year was watching the Polar Express, we have watched that movie more times than I can count! It is the first and only movie so far that she can sit all the way through.

Helping Daddy lay out the nativity scene.



Putting the star on top of the tree!


Cute pics in front of the Christmas tree!



Santa's Little Helper


Making Christmas Cookies with Connor and Ahma!






Making a gingerbread house with Cousin Josie and Connor. Thanks Mary for helping make it so pretty!




Wed before Christmas we were able to finally get the Raynors, Smiths, Browns and Taylors all together! The kids had fun playing, watching Polar Express, and opening presents. Thanks to Maggie and Teri for the kids gifts. Love the shirts Maggie, I will post a picture of them in their shirts soon!

Dinner with good friends! Caleb and Katelyn

The Browns and the Taylors 2011!

Congratulations to Wes and Heather!

I am so happy to finally announce that Wes asked a BIG question to Heather on Saturday and she answered with YES! We are so excited for them. Wes proposed at the Biltmore Estates this past weekend and made us wait to see them until Sunday when they finally got home to celebrate and see the ring of course! haha!

Happy Couple


Heather's family came over to celebrate in the festivities of their engagement, plus it was Lyn's birthday! So balloons, pictures, and of course a champagne toast! Wes and Heather we are so very excited for you and can't wait to see you get married and spend your lives together! Welcome to the family Heather!

Katelyn enjoying her glass ( don't worry it was sparkling grape juice for her)


Cheers GIGI!


I am so excited! I will make a beautiful bride one day too!


Yum, this is good!


Family photo minus Katelyn who wouldn't stay still at this point.


Lyn, Wes, and Heather


Heather's family


This picture doesn't do the ring justice, it is beautiful! Great job Wes!

Pictures with Santa!

David and I decided today to take the kids to see Santa. We had been preparing Katelyn and talking about Santa and now she loves to watch the Polar Express, so we thought we would attempt it. We asked her if she was going to sit on Santa's lap and she said, " No," very affirmitavily, but we knew we would at least get Haley's pic with Santa, so off to the mall we went.

Katelyn asked where Santa was the whole way there, then we get to the mall and see Santa, she still says she doesnt want to go up to him, so she very politely waves to him. David takes Haley up to sit on Santa's lap and we get a picture of her and since there is no one in line we talk to Katelyn about it a little bit more and Santa holds out a candy cane. Well, it wasnt more than a second and Katelyn is off to see Santa, she talks to him for a minute, then makes a mad dash back to us. I was able to get a few shots before she took off with her candy cane, that girl loves some candy!

Sadly, we didnt get a picture with both girls in it, but hey there is always next year!

Haley and Santa!

Katelyn getting her candy cane.

Not sure what she is telling him, but she was talking to him.

Then very politely she says," thank you," and makes a run for it with candy in hand!

3 Month Photo Shoot

3 Months

Haley is 3 months old and she is a precious baby. Very laid back now, we had a rough go the first few weeks, but now you are pretty much a go with the flow. You still dont like to sleep consecutively at night and still like to get up to feed at least twice most nights. Every now and then it will just be once and mommy loves those nights. You love watching your big sister and the tv! haha!

Height: 23 1/2 inches

Weight: around 12 lbs

Feedings: pretty much every 3 hrs and eat around 3-4 oz.

Sleep: Naps still 3 times a day with a long afternoon nap usually from 1-4 and if
you dont get that then you will at some point, so mommy makes sure you get
that nap and either it is in your crib or swing! You will not stay asleep in
the carseat for that long anymore. At night you are always in your crib now.

Clothes: 3-6 months and some 6 months now for length.

Play: you love your Kick and play piano ( early Christmas present). You can lay
there for at least 30 min or more and play. You are not too thrilled to be in
the bumbo or the baby bjorn, but you love to look around and have great neck
control. You can almost roll over, it wont be too long.

2 1/2 year old

Our big girl!




Katelyn has changed and grown up so much in these past 6 months. Her communication is unbelievable and how much she understands and can communicate back is amazing. Her vocabulary is growing daily and she talks all the time! She is a wonderful big sister and always introducing Haley to everyone we meet or that comes to her house. You love to hug and give her kisses. She loves to help get diapers and wipes and Haley's paci when she gets fussy.

Katelyn is in preschool and absolutely loves it! She knows every one's name in her class and talks about them all the time. She loves to sing the songs she has learned and loves to show off all the crafts she has made.

Here are some stats:

Height: 36 inches

Weight: 28 lbs

Clothes: 2T and some 3T

Shoes: size 8 toddlers

Sleeps about 10-12 hrs at night.

Naps: some days you take them, other days you have quiet time in your room.

Foods: likes grilled cheese and loves vegetable soup, you are now eating spaghetti
and lasagna now.

Totally in a big girl bed.

Do pretty well getting yourself dressed and can put on your own shoes.

Wish we could say you were attempting to be potty trained, but you could care less.

She knows all her ABCs saying them and reading them.

Can count to 15 pretty good.

Knows all her shapes and colors.

Is starting to be able to spell her name.

She can start and stop and change dvds in her dvd player.

She can draw pictures of people with a great circle for a face and then adds all the features.

Loves to sing. Her favorites are " Holy, Holy" and " Jesus Loves Me"


Sayings of a 2 1/2 year old:

" Mommy, i need to pump! ( as she tries to put together my breast pump)

" What is it?" ( Asks alot )

" Why?"

" What's that noise, Mommy?" ( she asks all the time)

So one time after asking," What's that noise? I responded with that's music, and she responds NO, mommy, its Holy Holy! Which was the song that was playing. She loves to sing Holy, Holy, which she has learned from bible school, but according to Katelyn that is not music.

Another saying: Me: " Katelyn, you are a smart cookie!"
Katelyn: " Mommy, I am not a cookie, I am a big girl!" ( so true)

Thanksgiving 2011 (Part 2)

Thanksgiving night we head over to my dad's parents for some more good food and fun times with family. My cousin, Hunter and his wife, have just recently had a baby boy, Braxton, so lots more kids to have fun with!

Mark and Haley

Heather and Braxton

Brileigh and Katelyn playing

Amanda and Brileigh


The day after Thanksgiving we had my cousins from my mom's side over to have our Thanksgiving together. We had a fried turkey for this one and it was delicious. It was such a beautiful day too we were able to eat outside around the pool. Here is a group photo. We missed having Smith there, but she was in Peru studying abroad, but we will see her at Christmas!

Thanksgiving 2011 ( Part 1)

This year for the holidays will be the first year we dont have to travel anywhere!!! Yeah!!! It was so nice to have family come stay with us and celebrate Thanksgiving here both in Rocky Mount for David's family and in Wilson for mine! We had David's cousins stay with us the night before Thanksgiving because they were traveling from Winston Salem, so we all enjoyed the kids playing and good pizza!

The guys and girls playing candy land!


Thanksgiving lunch was at David's mom where we fit 50 people in her garage and house for everyone to eat! The food was delicious and all had a great time! We were even able to get lots of pictures!


Katelyn and Tabitha

Tabitha, Bryan, Katelyn and David

Katelyn and Hannah

Family photo

The Collins Clan!

Great Ama and all her great grandkids and a few parents holding some!

The grandkids and Ama!