Santa pics

I wanted to post these before Christmas was officially here. We took the kiddos last week to see Santa. Colten talked and talked it up, was so excited, and could not wait to tell Santa everything he wanted this year. Well...we got to the mall and actually planned on eating first, but he insisted that we see Santa first. So, we got to the counter and he was still very excited, but as we approached Santa it happened. That excited grin turned into a very anxious look of uncertainty. He definitely wanted to still see Santa, just not up close and personal. He was very torn, so after several minutes of persuasion (by both of us AND Santa), he agreed to stand beside him for a photo, and that was it. He could barely look at Santa and barely whispered his wish list, it was really too cute. In the meantime, Cambry sat happily on Santa's lap while Colten was being persuaded. They captured this precious picture, she thought he was great.

And here's the final attempt, not too bad I guess. Notice Colten's awkwardness. Oh well, maybe next year. At least I didn't have to sit on Santa's lap with Colten this year!!! (we missed you Whitesides)

Have a fantastic week everyone!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Tagged and Colten's words of wisdom

Alright, my lovely and dear to my heart sister has tagged me, so here goes...

8 Shows I Watch:
1. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
2. Handy Manny
3. Diego
4. Jon & Kate Plus 8
5. any design show on HGTV
6. NCIS
7. The Unit
8. What Not to Wear

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Chick-fil-A
2. Bill Miller's
3. Red Lobster
4. Olive Garden
5. Logan's
6. Taco Cabana
7. Babes
8. Papa John's

8 Things That Happened Today (this was yesterday):
1. woke up and got all of us fed and dressed
2. took Colten to school
3. drove to the office
4. did as little work as possible at the office
5. had an office Christmas luncheon
6. won a Starbucks gift card there
7. got a Christmas bonus from my boss :)
8. came home and have spent time with the kiddos

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. heaven and reuniting with loved ones
2. Christmas!!!
3. sleeping through the night REGULARLY
4. relaxing with family next week
5. a few hours on Friday to myself to shop without two in tow
6. finishing up wrapping all the gifts
7. Colten's excitement on Christmas day
8. watching my children grow

8 Things I Wish For:
1. my kiddos to have a strong relationship and foundation with Jesus
2. my marriage to be as wonderful as it has been these past 6 years
3. good health for our family
4. cold weather at Christmastime!!!
5. the very best for my friends and family
6. peace and happiness
7. my children to value their elaionship with one another and us, as parents
8. a very happy holidays to all of you!!!

8 People I Tag:
1. any 8 of you who feel up to it!!!

I also thought I would share a few of Colten's latest comments, as they are quite humorous and worth sharing. The other day I started to get onto him about who knows what at the time, probably talking back or being a little too rough with Cambry, the list could go on. In his sweet 3 year old voice he informed me...

"Mommy...why don't you just worry about yourself, and let me worry about Colten." Oh, brother, I had no response to that one.

After a busy morning running errands and getting things together for his Christmas party Friday, we had returned home and he looked at me and said...

"Mommy, come sit with me on the couch and let's talk about something." Ok Colten, what do you want to talk about? "Just something, you need to sit and relax mommy." Wow, is it that obvious, do I look and act that stressed? So funny...

In other news, Cambry has decided to take a sippy cup with no problems...hallelujah!!! This is wonderful for us, now we are not totally dependent on the medicine dropper. She enjoys holding it and trying to drink it all by herself. She is very independent it seems for a 6 month old!!! She also is sitting very very well unsupported, for up to 20 minutes at a time. She absolutely loves doing it!!!

Well, my next post may not be until after the holidays I suppose...so, a very merry Christmas to all of you and yours!!!

What we've been up to

I'm back...it's been crazy since my last post, but isn't it right now for everyone? We had a terrific Thanksgiving and are in full swing with Christmas festivities. So...onto the pictures and events over the last few weeks. Colten had a precious Thanksgiving feast at school.

He looks thrilled, huh??

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving here with the Chances. We got to spend alot of time visiting, eating, playing, eating, relaxing and of course eating!!!

Uncle Clark with Cambry and Dax (3 weeks younger than Cambry)

Cambry in her Thanksgiving attire (thanks Oni!!!)

The entire Chance clan

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas, a little more difficult I've learned with two!!!

lighting the tree

new Christmas ornaments

And a sneak peek at our Christmas pictures...look for yours in the mail soon!!!

Everyday events

I thought I'd take a moment and post about everyday events in the Chance household. Colten is always up to something new...he definitely keeps me on my toes and amazes me daily how much he is growing and changing. He has quite an imagination, whether it's making up a game, pretending to teach his class or just whatever he's involved in seems to become such an elaborate ordeal. One of his latest favorites is playing football with "his friends". This consists of him throwing the football across the living room and running to chase it down. His "friends" do the same, I'm guessing...I've never quite seen them. Today he was involved in this football game and was calling his team the Aggies (go figure). However, he informed me that he was wearing a white jersey and green helmet?! He insists that I chant and cheer for him while he is playing so...it goes something like this...

me: go Colten go
Colten: no mommy, cheer for the Aggies
me: go Aggies go, you're number 1
Colten: no mommy, I'm number 6 (his favorite for some reason)
me: alright...you're number 6!!!
He then spikes the ball, does some kind of crazy celebration dance and leaves the room.
me: is the game over?
Colten: no the Aggies are taking a break and the band is coming out (toilet flushes)
Colten: ok we're playing again
And this can go on and on, he really likes it when I bring out the old AHS cheers and informs me that I can stand in the grass with "the girls" and cheer from there. Oh brother...

Other events...Cambry is rolling ALOT now and sitting up very well by herself. She is able to sit without support for a few minutes and seems to looove being able to do so. She really likes her swing from Oni and Granden...it's a whole different perspective for her.


And just a few pictures...I often try and get a good picture of the two kiddos while Cambry is on the floor playing. I attempt to have Colten lay beside her and get them both to smile, ha!!! This one cracks me up...he had just laid beside her and it was looking like such a cute pose of them both, when of course she decides to roll over. Colten could see my frustration and found it sooo funny that for once she was the one "not obeying" mommy.

And the two precious faces I am graced with daily...

Such a smiler

And such a stinkerHave a great week!!!

For my own sake

I wanted to take a moment and just go through what Cambry is doing these days...and hopefully get a little sympathy from all you moms out there. I honestly thought that whatever I/we did with Colten as a baby could just be transferred to this one and it would just all work the same, boy was I wrong!!!

Cambry is such a content and happy baby, and really has been since the beginning. She loves other people and loves to be in the middle of whatever is going on. She still, now four months old, refuses to take a bottle, of any kind!!! Nope, no bottle, no pacifier for her, she is waaaay beyond that. She takes milk from a medicine dropper, yes like a baby bird, and that's exactly what it looks like. We tried everything under the sun to get her interested and our pediatrician just finally said, ok no more just stick with whatever will work until she's ready for a sippie cup. So, the 3 mornings a week I am at work, that's how she gets by. It works for us, thankfully.

Now onto sleep...such a big deal for us mommies. She has been a great sleeper at night from the day she was born. She's not quite sleeping through the night, but has 6 to 8 hour stretches and sleeps a total of 10 hours at night. She's just up to eat and then right back to sleep. She HAS slept through the night several times, but will definitely sleep longer if up to eat one time. Now napping recently has been a different story. I have come to the conclusion that the second baby just has to adapt to the schedule already in place. That has been rough it seems!!! I am so much of a scheduler and really like things my way, ha ha right?! Everyday just seems so different and she's having to adjust. We are now on somewhat of a schedule, but the duration of naps are just so unknown. One day it's longer naps and the next day, just catnaps. And...she's going through this separation thing, where she is sometimes just beyond upset when I put her down to nap. It's like we will never be together again, poor baby. We're working that out though and have had many many heart to hearts on the matter.

Alright, I know I have rambled and gone on long enough. So much is petty, but I did want to document it, so in the future I can look back and know we got through each phase just fine. In addition, she is becoming more and more mobile, she's rolling so much more and can literally turn a 180, especially when watching Colten. It's precious, she just laughs and laughs at him and he, of course, eats it up!!! She's really liking vegetables, so far and seems to be enjoying eating with us at the table.

That's about it...for now...

Our Halloween

We had a great Halloween. We started the day at Colten's school for a precious fall parade showcasing all the kids in their costumes. It was so fun to see them all!!!

Colten in the parade

Colten's class then had their own Halloween party and decorated cookies and made Halloween crafts.

Getting ready to decorate

And ready to eat!!!

Cambry just hung out and collected her goodies, as well. She had been feeling under the weather most of the week, but by Halloween she perked up and felt much better, she actually slept most of the day (with no complaints from mommy).

My 1st Halloween

We had so much fun trick-or-treating, actually just watching Colten get excited was the best part. He couldn't believe Halloween lasted all day, he just ate up every moment. He ran with glee to each house and couldn't wait to show us the candy he collected. But, his very favorite part of the night was handing out candy to other kids. It was priceless, he was sooo generous, we had swarms of kids and ran out quickly!!! What a fun day!!!

Our little farmer and cow

4 months and counting...

Cambry had her four month check-up last week and is doing great!!! She now weighs 15 pounds and is 25 inches long. She's just down right healthy and the doctor had no complaints. Such a blessing since every time with Colten he was put on antibiotics for fluid in his ears. The dr suggested starting cereal and we have tried it a few times. She wasn't so sure about it at first, but then decided it wasn't toooo bad...

She also rolled over from her back to her tummy last night and was quite surprised with herself. She has been determined today to do it again and again. Go baby go!!!

We went to the ranch over the weekend and had a great, relaxing time visiting my parents and rest of the family. It's such a blessing to get away for a short time and just enjoy taking it easy once in a while. Everyone was excited to see the kiddos and Colten was thrilled to just play outside in the dirt. We had a wonderful time and always feel a little more refreshed.

A fun fall weekend

We are tired, but had a full and fun weekend. Friday night we headed to the local stadium for some Friday night high school football. We went with the intention of watching a friend from church play, but realized we had the wrong night when we arrived. Colten was so excited to go and watch the "big boys" play, that we just couldn't turn around and go back home. So instead we stayed to enjoy the game being played. It brought back so many fun memories of Friday nights in high school, and made me feel so far removed at the same time. Colten loved it and really got into the chants and cheers, we just had to remind him the Aggies weren't playing, it was another team...Gig 'em Colten!!! Even Cambry enjoyed all the excitement and lasted a few quarters.

Saturday we met some friends at the Love Creek Orchards in Medina. It was warm, not really fall-like weather, but tons of fun!!! The kids loved it...we walked the pumpkin maze, rode the hayride, petted the goats and chicks, listened to some music and saw lots of fun fall-ish stuff.

Walking the pumpkin maze.

Cambry taking in the festivities.

On the hayride.

We attempted a picture of both kids, but Cambry was sacked out at the end of the day.

We have been meeting in our home for Life Group this month, so Sunday everyone was over and we had a great evening of study, food and fellowship. Now bring on Halloween...we can't wait!!!

One year ago

I was going through Cambry's baby book and adding photos today. I came to the page talking about my pregnancy and I had written that a year ago today was when we found out we were expecting. Wow, how time flies...it really does seem like just yesterday.

Since I was not blogging at the time, I find it only fitting that I post some pictures of her actual "birth" day. So...here are a few of my faves:

It is truly amazing what a difference a year makes. Last year we could not even fathom who this new baby would be or how our family dynamic would change. Now we cannot even imagine life without her, she has made our family so complete. We love you Cambry!!!

Where to begin?

Here it is for all of you out there who have asked...I have a blog!!! So...where to begin? The kids of course!!! Colten is now 3 and our newest and most precious addition Cambry is almost 4 months. What a change it is from 1 child to 2, but what a ride and a fun one at that!!! Colten is just the best big brother and loves his baby sister so much, he just can't get enough of her it seems. Cambry is great, and such a happy content baby...she brings us so much joy. She just seems to love life and just wants to be where everyone is, especially her big brother.

Colten is into...

Wearing any shoes, BUT his own and "hunting" anything in sight with his Nerf gun. And yes, has attempted to shoot Cambry a time or two.

He is loving preschool and doing so wonderful with his new teacher, she's the greatest!!!

Cambry is into...

Rolling, she has almost mastered the belly to back roll, but is much more interested in the back to belly feat...she is definitely a mover and a shaker!!!

And just being lovable, she's just too sweet!!!

Well, I'm happy to join the "blogging world". More to come soon...