Christmas Calories!

What else would be a wonderful activity for our holiday break than Christmas cookie fun?!  Wylie and I have talked all week long about our cookies and invited Charlie and Bess to the party although, they weren’t as interested as we were! 

Wylie is a little baker though and she loves every minute of helping in the kitchen! 

We began our fun with making Rudolph cookies! 

Bess enjoyed eating the dough!

But after A LONG time, we were finally ready to decorate and eat our beautiful creations!   Aren’t these just precious!

 

As expected, everyone enjoyed their Rudolph.  Really all they enjoyed was picking the noses and eyes off and asking for more!  Bubs and I ate a few too many cookies!

(PS- Bess had also eaten spaghetti for dinner this night- hence the stained eyebrows from the sauce-  despite a bath!!  )

We waited a few nights for a little more cooking fun!  This time we were set to tackle Frosty the Snowman!

My right hand chef, Wylie was there through it all!   Her job was to put all the hats on our Frosty’s!

Our completed project!

Finally, it was eatin’ time and guess who came running?! 

Yep- Bess the Mess!  Complete in her leftovers from dinner as usual!

My kitchen has endured a lot of little helpers this week but what a blessing they have been ! 

Priceless Laughter

 

I wish I could say the priceless laughter that filled my kitchen was over something educational or inspirational, but it was not.  I wish I could say the love of my life had my children glued to the computer screen while he showed them the letters of the alphabet or how to match shapes, but I can not!  Instead, the love of my life, found comical videos of toddlers “tooting” in the bathtub and this is what he shared with our children. 

I think it is apparent, Charlie and Wylie thoroughly enjoyed their evening of YouTube! 

Thanks dear ol’ dad for always keeping the laughter in this house!

I suppose I will handle the alphabet training and shape matching although I am afraid they will not find my computer activities as fun as their father's!

Tunes from the Bathroom

I am so thankful both Charlie and Wylie are potty trained! Most days, they are very independent and use the bathroom on their own and can pretty much manage without someone to help them.

Recently, Wylie has taken on the footsteps of her parents and has found a passion for singing. Like most things Wylie does, she feels it necessary to be screamingly loud with whatever task it is! This includes her singing. I am not sure if she is just wanting to be heard or if this is just her nature because Good Gravy can the child talk loud too!

Just so you can better understand what I mean by loud and then also to show you how sometimes people need a little help around here...I have this short clip for your entertaining pleasure!

The Bailey’s Take On Gingerbread Houses!

Thanks to a wonderful tradition started by a dear friend, the Bailey Bunch was invited back for our 3rd year of Gingerbread House making at the Brazzell’s!  Each year we look forward to the messy yet memory filled Gingerbread House making!  As usual, I needed an extra set of hands to assist in the Christmas chaos of Gingerbread Houses!  Thankfully, RahRah loves to attend this annual function as well! 

Bess worked with RahRah.  Actually, I don’t know that Bess did any “work” on her house.  She was too busy eating each piece that RahRah put on the house. 

She was kind enough to stop here and there and feed RahRah a bite in exchange for all the hard work she was doing!

Just look at this house.  Guess which side was done by Bess and which was done by RahRah?! 

Wylie was more interested in the frosting than anything else.  She was determined and allowed no help to be given to her!  She was a very independent little Gingerbread House Maker!

Of course, priss pot couldn’t stand too much mess on her hands though!  There were frequent breaks for hand cleaning!  

I am so thankful for dear friends who host events such as these!  

Although Charlie was a lacking in the Christmas spirit and had to stay behind with dear ol’ dad, we had a wonderful time!  We look forward to next year’s decorating when we will have another Bailey to be included in the invite!  We will officially have our own FULL table next year!!!  

Sad to see you go Mr. Mullet

Today, as this momma changed the future one child at a time on the day before Christmas Break began, Bubba had the day to himself to relax and do some fatherly duties! And oh did I help him organize an extra fun event! Haircuts for ALL 3 KIDS!!!! Taking 2 kids is an easy feat for Bubs so not only did I ask him to help me get Charlie and Wylie’s haircut, he was also given the task of documenting a milestone in Bess’ life! Her first haircut!

Although Bess has sported the mullet for quite a while, I have had several people lately remark on the fact that it was about time to say goodbye. And so we did!

Charlie has never really minded getting his hair cut but Wylie, on the other hand, comments every single time we drive by the haircut place that she does not want to get her hair cut. She usually cries through the entire process! It is dramatic and apparently traumatizing for her! However, today, our little priss pot turned a corner. She did not shed one tear! Instead, she decided she wanted “culls” or curls. So Robin busted out the curling iron and gave this priss pot some curls!

Sadly, it was clearly able to be seen, Wylie’s hair styling days are probably not going to be filled with curling locks of blond. She gets it honestly and her hair holds curl for about 2 seconds! Bless!

And as a sidenote- no Wylie is not already developing acne as it may appear in her first picture. Thanks to her loving brother and his recent FORK THROWING while I was out of the room, Wylie has a slight “wound” on her head!

Oh the love between a brother and a sister!

3 months, 12 weeks , 90 days

3 months.  12 weeks.  90 days.  Which sounds longer?  To me I am going to go with the 90 day choice only because of its number.  However, all these numbers really boil down to one thing-  in 3 months, or 12 weeks or 90 days, there will be a new addition to this family!!  C.R.A.Z.Y.!!!!! Really, I know I have said it before but this pregnancy is flying by!!!  Then again, its not exactly like Bubba and I have been sitting on our cabooses around here lately!  Gratefully, we have 3 little loves that keep us more than on the go! 

 

This week Baby Bailey and I visited the doctor. ”New Baby”  sported a heart rate of 143-  shockingly lower than any other visit!! ( And that was after drinking a can of wonderful glucose solution!)   Most people around us are thinking boy.  Maybe it is the heart rate, maybe not.  On the other hand, The Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar says boy.  My latest dream was about a boy with a bowl haircut eating Cheerios.  We only have a confirmed full name for a boy.  Charlie really needs a brother to help wear off some of his everlasting energy.  Point:  Boy or Girl , as long as this love is healthy we are blessed.  But…for some reason, talk of a boy seems to be a little more prevalent these days!  Wait only 3 months, 12 weeks or 90 days to have the answer revealed! 

This week,  “New Baby” is about 15 inches long or the size of a paint roller!  This comparison if very fitting seeing as how people on both sides of our families and myself would like to consider ourselves amateur painters after all the rooms we have painted in our life!  Our little love should be about 2-3 pounds this week however, we all know Bailey babies are not known for their small physiques!  I would add a slight bit to the above figure for this little love as well!   

We are almost in the homestretch.  The doctor visits have shifted from every 4 weeks to every 2 weeks.  Once Santa arrives and allows us to reclaim the nursery that he and his elves have over taken at our house, we can begin reorganizing and really preparing for the arrival of our latest! 

Time is flying by. 

And March will before before I can bat my eyes!  Then I will be holding this little gymnast in the comfort of my arms!

Treasures

It is the little things about my babies I want to remember and cherish forever.  Yes the milestones are important and once in a lifetime, but, I want to look back one day and relive these little moments all over again!  I am terrified of forgetting or not remembering!  While I may use a blog to record every “little moment” I can, I hope it helps me never forget the precious and innocent things my babies do. 

Lately, Bess has become extremely attached to 4 blankets, a Foo Foo and a bowl full of passies.  She has become so attached she insists on taking them most places with her.  If you plan on holding her after she wakes up from a nap, plan on holding her along with her entourage of items.  These days, she wanders around the house pulling a train of mangled blankies behind her.  She is territorial with her “things” and lets a shrill scream out if you dare take these prized possessions from her.  She is stubborn and hard headed.  (Not at all like any people in this house!)

And while I can’t tell you how many countless times this large belly bends over to pick up the mounds of blankies or how many times I clean passies up from the floor or how many times I have to plan out a process just to get one of these possessions washed, I can tell you I find it heart melting and adorable that Bess finds her possessions to be her treasures right now. 

And plain and simple, one of these days I want to remember this sweet picture of her and her treasures. 

I love you more than words, my sweet Baby Bess!

Storytime with St. Nick

What a special treat Charlie, Wylie and Bess had tonight!  Thanks to the hostess with the mostess, Baby Taylor, this wild crew was able to see Santa read a  wonderful story and  chow down on cookies too!  Baby Taylor sure does know how to throw a party!  

When Santa arrived Charlie was so excited!  He wasted no time talking to him and asking him about Rudolph!  He was the first to greet Santa into the house!  Since most of the crew of kiddos was considerably younger, Charlie had it under control for them all! 

Calmly, we gathered around to hear Jolly Ol’ St. Nick read his famous ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas!  

After a wonderful reading, Santa had goodies for everyone!  And to top it off, he let all the boys and girls sit on his lap just to make sure he had their wish list complete before Christmas Day!

Of course, Charlie was first to say he really wanted a new Woody and a Batman.  Wylie had nothing to do with Santa (yet again) and Bess was not impressed!  However, Santa gets major brownie points for all his hard work! 

Thank you Baby Taylor and Santa for such a fun evening! 

Merry Christmas!

Party Gear

Thanks to a very special librarian and friend, Charlie recently received a one of a kind outfit that couldn’t be more perfect for him!  Although he has seen the outfit, today was the first day he has been allowed to actually wear it!  Thanks to his father who completed the outfit with small binoculars, Charlie is all set! 

But here is the thing.  Tonight, I dressed the girls so we could travel quickly across town to Bubba’s parent’s house for a small work Christmas gathering.  Bubba was in charge of Charlie.  What do you think our little hunter wore to this festive occasion?  You guessed it!  

Thankfully, I don’ t think anyone cared that we arrived with 2 of us dressed in the spirit of the season and one as a hunter in training!

Traditions

I love digging back through old pictures!  While I at one point considered myself silly for snapping what I felt was every waking moment of their lives, I now treasure those little moments and wouldn’t trade them for the world! 

Starting with Charlie’s first Christmas, our “traditions” photo became Bubba and Charlie under the tree analyzing the stand and making sure all was perfect before decorating began!  

The Boys – 2008

Charlie 10 months

The Boys 2009 – Charlie 22 months

 

The Boys 2010 – Charlie (almost!!) 3

 

Wylie’s “traditions” photo is using the ol’ faithful tree skirt!  Perfectly fitting for a child who loves dress up and princess gowns!

Wylie the Tree 2008  - 10 months

Wylie the Tree 2009 -  22 months 

Wylie the Tree 2010 -  (almost!!) 3 

but not too happy about being the tree!

Baby Bess also has a photo tradition but I take her “traditions” photo when the decorating comes down!   However, I would hate to leave her out so here is her last year’s start to the Bailey Christmas Tradition photo with her 2nd pose to come later!  

Bess’ Stocking Feet 2009 – 6 months

I can’t wait to look back on these in 10 years and see how times change!  Now what to do as our photo tradition for New Baby?  We shall have to wait and see!

The Woes of Christmas Card Making!

OH the JOYS of trying to create the yearly Christmas card!  It takes such thought, such planning and such team effort between dear ol’ dad and mom!  What would the Christmas card look like if the pictures were being taken of us while we tried to entertain the children and make them smile?!  

Tonight, it was Christmas Card night at the Bailey’s!  While I will not reveal the finished product, I felt that sharing a photo or two of our efforts would shed some light on how “into” this photo session our children were!  To be honest, sweet Bess was suffering from a 103 fever, so her mood was stellar (!)  and Wild Man had just gotten a new “Thomas” train from his father so his attention was clearly not on my Christmas Card!  Thankfully, Wylie was all eyes on the camera!

You can rest easy knowing these 2 photos did not make the cover of the card… only the blog! 

Happy Christmas Card Making!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Ahhhh, the smell of a Christmas tree in the house!!  What is not to love about it?  If it weren’t for the crazy big size and the continually shedding needles, I would proudly sport one all year- thanks to Yankee Candle and their Pine Tree candle, I can if I really get the urge!! 

That being said, the Bailey Bunch loaded into ye Ol’ Pickup Truck and headed out on the search for a perfect tree of our own.  No we did not embark on a journey to Boone or Blowing Rock like we did a few weekend ago for our perfect tree!  Rather, we rode all of 10 minutes down the road to the ever  trusty Rock Hill Farmer’s Market!  And that ride was plenty for us!!  

As with any shopping excursion, there was slight confusion over what exactly we were shopping for and exactly who it was going to be for.  Charlie felt sure the entire time we were shopping for HIS Christmas tree!   Therefore, we had to endure a slight round of crying at checkout when he realized the “man” was cutting “his” tree.   

But fearless dad, despite all the fussiness that our eldest was providing, made the best of the situation and found this momma the fattest tree he could!  A man after my own heart!

Finally, our crew, plus Wylie’s naked baby, was home with the most beautiful tree of 2010!

Time for the Christmas Tree Stand fun to begin!  And usual, we had plenty of eager hands to “help” out dear ol’ dad!

But while we, (by we I mean Bubba) worked so diligently on the tree trunk, our eldest once again decided to bring us back to reality by showing us we had truly taught him well! 

Yes friends, nothing says “potty” like a tire!

Alas the tree decorating was set to begin and this momma and daddy were hoping for a house full of  merry and bright children!  It took quiet time, but we made it happen!  

In efforts to remain safe around here, we have chosen for the 2nd year to have an ornament-less tree!  But when have you really ever seen an ugly Christmas tree, ornaments or not?