it's (definitely) not about the stuff.

Well, 2013 has arrived.  And as with every other odd-numbered year, it leaves me unsettled, but I might as well embrace it--it's here for another 355 days I believe.  And it can't be such a bad year, considering it will bring us a beautiful baby girl in no less than 3 months! I can't believe it!
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though.  There was Christmas, and New Years, a couple birthdays, and lots of good family, food and fellowship time since I last posted! Since that's all way too much for you people to read through, I'll give you the highlights:

-I turned 28. Woohoo. That is all.

-We did several of our Advent activities that I mentioned in my last post! Here is some photo proof! I would love to do it again next year with even more zeal!

1. Making 'cookies' together.  It ended up being peppermint bark, and it was delicious!!

2. Going through the Nativity story with Henry.  It was a precious few moments that I loved.

 3. Union station to look at the trees and choo choos. Little man was in heaven!

 4. Hot chocolate bar/Christmas movie night with friends! (We watched Home Alone)

5. Church Christmas concert. Bad pic, but adorable-ness abounds.  Can't wait until Henry gets to join!

-We had such a fun little family Christmas here.  Drove around looking at lights, fun Christmas meal at home, Jer and I stuffing Henry's stocking together....it was perfection.  Henry got a play kitchen that Jer and I labored over for many weekends and nights.  I loved that part of it enough that I want to do a DIY gift for him every Christmas henceforth!  Though I'm not sure what good ole' mom and dad could create at the age of 16 that would impress our super cool teenager (a car? a cell phone?)....but I'm hoping we can keep it running awhile!

-We headed to Arkansas to see extended family that included laughing, food, hilarious gift opening, and apparently cookies for breakfast for Henry:). A great time was had by all!

-Then to our house we went for Christmas with my family.  Henry and his cousin Kya actually had fun together this Christmas, which was great to watch.  And as always, I start sobbing when I think of how fun it is to see the ones I love love on my child like they do.  Can I get an Amen??  We also get to add a new member to our family because my little brother and his girlfriend got engaged! Here are the girlies in their matching PJ's!

-Then there was a little working, relaxing, and healthy-ish eating, and then off to Omaha we went to see Jer's family for New Years and Henry's Birthday!  I made a cake.  I am both embarrassed and proud of it.  Given the heat that Elmo's been under lately, he was lucky to grace this cake.  But, being the somewhat questionable mother I am, I encouraged my child to embrace Elmo regardless of what he's done to teenage boys in the past! Here it is!

He also received a bike from mom and dad and the giant piano from Big from Grandad and Mermer, among other things.  The kid needs no gifts until 2014.

-Grandad Smith broke his ankle before Christmas, so he was stuck in his chair most of the time, but was a great sport with all of the little ones running like crazy around the house and a good time was had by all!!  Jer's parents even graciously kept 3 little ones on NYE so the parents could GET WILD!!!! This apparently meant going for appetizers and drinks (cranberry juice and Sprite for those with child) until 10:45 so we could all come back and fall asleep on floors and couches before midnight--did you hear me say WILD???

-Let's revisit Henry's birthday, though. My child is 2.  He is a little person.  He is cute. He talks in somewhat full sentences.  He is tender-hearted.  He is inquisitive.  He knows that there will be a baby and that he is a brother.  I only have a few more months with just he and I at home during the week.  I know every mom worries about loving baby #2 as much as #1, but I don't.  I do, however, worry about not being able to give as much time and attention to Henry as I do now.  I know that I won't have the patience or ability to let him carry the toilet paper up the driveway, even when it takes 8 minutes, just because he wants to help.  I will need to get inside because the baby needs to eat or is bawling or I've just had a long day. I hate the thought that I will be spread thinner and thus not as patient of a mommy as I am able to be now.  Will that damage him? What will I miss when I'm in a hurry because of another baby? It's hard to think of it without tearing up, because I want to be the perfect mom to him and also a perfect mom to our baby girl, who will no doubt get less attention than Henry did as an infant.  But God is gracious, right? He will give me what I need and fill in the gaps in my parenting with grace and a perfect love for my child, right?? I'm counting on it. 

-I don't want to leave you with the depths of my mommy concerns, so I'll leave you with some more ideas for baby girl!  The nursery is a work in progress....but no pics yet! Did I tell you she has a name? Ummmm, no, I'm not going to tell you.  But she has a name! Woohoo!!  For now, just look at all the cuteness that abounds when another XX chromosome-r enters our world!

Ordered this baby turban from Etsy! Can't wait!!

Such fun inspiration for little sister/big brother photos!

 Simple paint job to repurpose and old fan from DIY Maven!

Baby Toms- need I say more?

It's been fun revisiting the holidays through the written word.  Makes me realize how blessed we are to have people we love in our lives that span a pretty great distance.  More than anything I am grateful for God's provision in our lives, tangible and intangible.  He is faithful even in the midst of messes--I am learning that more and more as I live this life.  Love to you all in the beginning of this New Year!