Santa Claus is Coming to Town!!!

Christmas 2011 was a pretty exciting day in the Shacklett house!! Last year, Connor was only 5 months old, so he didn't really understand too much of what was going on.  While 17 months is still a little young to understand the concept of Jesus' birthday and Santa visiting, Connor did understand that there was a living room full of brand new toys!!!! Of course we had to document his surprise with a billion pictures! :)

Connor was obviously a really good boy this year! ;)

Here is our sweet, unsuspecting bubby freshly out of bed.  He has no idea what's around the corner!!

Look at that expression!!! LOL  He was in shock and momma had to encourage him to check out his loot!

There's that sweet smile! Now he's getting excited!! 

Gotta check out the kitchen first!

Then, help momma unwrap a few small presents!!  He loved Finding Nemo!

Gotta check out my new table and chairs!  Perfect size! :)

What's this?? A tent to play in?? Awesome!  Check out that smile!

This is so cool!!!

Slam dunk!!

Smile of approval from our little bubby! This is the best Christmas EVER!!! lol

It will be so neat to watch our bubby grow and learn more about this special holiday each year!  It will be so neat to see him realize the magic of Santa and the true reason for the season!  We hope you all had an exciting Christmas as well!

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

Connor is 17 months!!!

17 things to celebrate about our super 17 month old...

1.  You are a little energizer bunny! You are are the go and never stop.

Here you are helping with the laundry. :)

Step 1:  Remove laundry from basket.

Step 2:  Pile laundry in my toys.

Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2. :)

2.  You have decided you are ready to hold your own eating utensils and are doing a great job feeding yourself!
3.  You are slowly becoming a picky eater.  Many of the foods you used to like, just aren't cutting it for you anymore! :(  Momma's trying to figure out a plan to get you to eat better!
4.  You now say "love you!"  And Momma just LOVES that!
5.  You think there is a problem if the TV isn't on.  You run around telling us "uh oh!" and point at the TV until we turn it on. Once its on you think you must be in charge of the remote and channel surfing for that matter.
6.  You like VeggieTales and Sesame Street even though they only keep your attention for about 10 seconds at a time. lol
7.  If we sit on the couch, you must climb all over the couch and us as well.
8.  You think something is wrong if you can see the living room floor and proceed to empty your toys and spread them across the room.
9.  You LOVE riding toys.  Your Cozy Coupe car is by far your favorite, but you also love your Winnie the Pooh train.
10.  You love your Pottery Barn chair! You take your snacks and milk to your chair and watch Elmo.  You are so cute in your chair too! Its the perfect size for you!

11.  You love to go bye-bye.  You don't care where to... you just like to go! lol
12.  Sometimes you are a great napper, and other times you like to protest.  You protest by throwing your blankets, paci,  socks, and any other clothing items you can remove - out of the crib and onto the floor! :)
13.  You love to dance! Anytime you hear music your break out into a jig.  It doesn't matter where the music comes from... toys, commercials, Dada singing, cell phone ring tones, etc.
14.  We found out this month that you are getting a baby BROTHER!!!
15.  You have no idea that you are going to be a big brother, but I can't wait to see your face when you finally realize you get to keep Liam!
16. You have graduated to sippys with straws! You like them much better! 
17.  You like the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes!"  You point to your head and toes, and it is adorable!

Head!

and Toes!!!

You are the sweetest 17 month old!  We just love every little thing about you... your sweet hugs and kisses, your "busy-ness," and how curious you are! You are such a little sponge... learning so much every minute! We can hardly keep up! lol

Happy 17 months Bubby!  We love you to the moon and back a million times over!

Love,
Momma and Da-da

Updates on Baby Liam

We had our third visit to the high-risk OB yesterday, and we received such great news!!!  Our precious baby boy, Liam, is still slightly anemic, but his numbers were better than last week, which means he is getting better!  I can't think of a better Christmas present than that!  Fifths disease kills off the baby's red blood cells, causing them to become anemic.  If the anemia becomes severe, then life-saving blood transfusion (in utero) are required.  The doctor explained to us that we want Liam's "numbers" to be below 1.5...  if they go above that, then transfusions would most likely be required.  At our first visit, Liam's numbers were 1.10.  Last week, they went up to 1.26, and this week they are back down to 1.20!!!  So, most likely Liam is on the mend, and we are sooooooooo thankful!  God is so good! We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support! The prayers are working!  Please keep them coming our way.  We are hopeful that baby boy continues to heal and make a full comeback!

Here's a picture from our visit:  Liam Andrew Shacklett at 21 weeks.  Can you see him stretching his little legs straight up?

I LOVE My Baby Boys!!!

I bought one of these frames when I first found out Connor was a boy.  I HAD to hunt them down and get one for my sweet Liam too!  (That's my Liam on the left and my Connor on the right.)  I'm so excited to be the Momma to two precious baby boys! I couldn't be more thankful to God for giving me such precious gifts!!!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I just LOVE Christmas! and it is so much (more) fun now that we have babies!!!  One of my FAVORITE Christmas traditions is getting a family ornament each year.  My mom started buying ornaments from a craft bazaar in Elizabethtown, Kentucky in 1983, the year my brother was born.  I have an ornament for every year, beginning with the year I was born (1985)!  I can't believe they are still making these ornaments! I talked to the woman who makes them this year when I went and told her how she can't stop making them because I have one for every year dating back to 1985!  She promised she wasn't going anywhere for a while! :)  Here are a few of our latest additions and a few favorites from years past:

Shacklett Family Ornament 2011 (We didn't know Liam was a boy yet when we bought this! lol)

Connor's Ornament 2011 :)

Shacklett Family Ornament 2010 :)

Connor's First Christmas Ornament 2010 :)

A Few Favorites from the Past:

Shacklett Family Ornament 2008, the year we built our new home! :)

Our first ornament together! The Christmas after we became engaged! 2003! :)

My ornament, Christmas 1996! The little lamb is so cute! :)

Another favorite because I always thought she looked like me! ;) Christmas 1991

One of my first ornaments!!! Christmas 1986!  :)

I can't wait to continue this tradition for my boys and hopefully they will continue it for their children someday!  Which means this woman can never retire! lol

Baby Wish List

When Connor was an infant, I often thought to myself, "Oh it would be great to have___________." or "I wish I had a ___________!"  With having a baby, you live and you learn... some things were great, some were worthless, and some things you just wish you had!!  With baby Liam on the way, I've added these things to my "Baby Wish List!"  So, hopefully "if" we are able to save up some money we can start tackling our list!!! :)  So here are a few things I think are definitely worth the investment... so any new mommas out there - here are my TOP 10 suggestions! ;)

1.  A Moby Wrap


Oh how I wish I had one of these when Connor was a newborn!!  Many newborns like to be held... even when they are sleeping! Connor was one of those newborns, so it made it VERY difficult to get anything accomplished.  Behold the solution!  The neat thing about the Moby Wrap is that there are many different ways to wear/position the baby with the wrap!!  All of the mommas I know that own a Moby say you can't live without one!

2.  An Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor

I have one of these for Connor, and I WILL have one for Liam too!  This is by far the BEST purchase I EVER made.  All I can say is that it gives me peace of mind so we all sleep good at night! :)  I HIGHLY recommend these to every pregnant woman I know! lol

3. Nursing Covers


I'm loving this one from Babies R' Us.  I didn't have nursing covers with Connor and now I'm wishing I did!  Blankets sure didn't cut it and it would be nice to have this to avoid the cramped feedings in the car!! These covers are so neat because the section around the neck is stiffer so you can look down and see sweet baby! I'm also loving the strap around the neck so little one can't pull it off! :)

4.  Graco Snug Ride 35 Infant Car Seat in "Logan"

Another fabulous need from Babies R' Us.  This car seat not only has great safety and customer reviews, but it also has a much higher weight limit than the one we had with Connor!  Connor out grew his car seat way too early because, as we all know, he was a chunky baby! ;)  I love that this seat has a 35 pound weight limit!! FYI in case you didn't know, car seats have expiration dates... as to why we couldn't reuse Connor's seat.  Also... any car seat should be replaced if it was involved in an accident (even if it was just a fender bender), the straps should be tight with the chest clip at armpit level, and babies should rear-face until they are at least 2.  :)

5.  A Medela Symphony Hospital-Grade Breat Pump


I purchased a Medela In-Style Pump with Connor, but it definitely didn't make it for the long haul.  It started to tucker out around the 4 month mark, and I need something that can keep up for at least a year.  The In Style pump made it to the end with me, but there is NO way it will survive another baby.  This hospital-grade pump is much sturdier, and will survive all the pumping I will have to do! ;)  The down side to this pump??  The price it OUTRAGEOUS!!!  Luckily, I just found out that my insurance covers the cost of medical equipment (including breast pumps) if you pay 15 %.  Score!  Otherwise, I would definitely NOT be purchasing this pump!

6.  A Swing



I borrowed a swing with Connor, and it was a life-saver at times with a colicky newborn!  I love this swing by Bright Stars at Target.  It is small, portable, affordable, and not to mention adorable! :)

7.  Aden & Anais Swaddlers


I LOVE the "Oh Boy" pattern that Babies R' Us carries of the Aden & Anais Swaddlers!  How adorable are these patterns?!?!  Let's face it, all newborns need to be swaddled so they feel like they are still in momma's womb.  These swaddlers are made of cotton muslin and feel amazing!!!  They are also much larger than your average receiving blanket, which makes it much easier to swaddle chunky babies! ;)

8.  My Brest Friend

This is an amazing nursing support pillow!!! I had the Boppy with Connor, and it was useless as a nursing pillow! It was great to support baby on the floor for tummy time... but not good for nursing.  I have a friend who has My Brest Friend, and I tried it out... AMAZING! Can't wait to get one!!

9.  A Fisher-Price Bouncy Seat


This is the bouncy seat we had with Connor and we absolutely LOVED it! It was one of the best baby purchases we made! It had so many uses! Connor played in it next to me when I'd get ready in the mornings! It was a great alternative for nap time.  You can rock a fussy baby to sleep in it.  When baby is sick and chokes on mucus when laying flat, they can sleep in this next to your bed.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this seat!  I've also found that babies are in a more comfortable seated position in the Fisher-Price bouncy seats.  The bouncers that are more oval shaped tend to make babies slide down to the end.  Needless to say, we wore this bouncy seat out with Connor.  He was in it until the max weight limit! lol  So we are probably going to need a new one for Liam and I'm definitely getting the exact same one! :)

10.  California Baby Products

I've always been a little leery of any products I put on my or baby's skin.  Connor and I both have EXTREMELY sensitive skin.  I found California Baby products when I was looking to treat Connor's eczema and I absolutely LOVE them!  I'm a big fan of their Calendula Cream, Everyday Lotion, and Calming Shampoo and Body Wash.  I also love that these products have absolutely no harmful ingredients and are super safe for baby's sensitive skin! :)  I will need plenty more California Baby for Liam!


Looks like I better start being frugal REAL FAST if I plan to get everything I need for baby Liam before May!!! ;)

What's in a Name?

Its official.  We are having another beautiful baby boy!  We are beyond excited to have two precious little boys, and what is better than the bond of two brothers!!  Our new little bundle of baby blue will be named...

Liam Andrew Shacklett

We are so excited and can't wait to meet our little Liam!  We chose Liam because James and I both come from Irish backgrounds.  Connor's name and my name are both very Irish, so Liam fits perfectly.  And last but not least, we just LOVE the name Liam!!!  Liam's middle name is after my brother Andrew, so he will be named after his uncle! ;)  We also think Liam and Andrew sound great together!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:13-14

Baby Gender Reveal!!!

Are you ready for this??  Baby Shacklett #2 is a...

Baby Boy!!!

A cute profile pic!

There's the money shot! Two little legs with a little wee wee in between! lol

That's right, we have another bundle of baby blue headed our way in May.  We are so excited Connor will get to have a baby brother!

We were able to find out the gender of baby boy Shacklett a little early because unfortunately I came down with the virus fifths disease.  While this virus is harmless for children and adults normally, it is very dangerous in pregnancy.  Unborn babies who contract the virus from their mothers can develop a very severe and complicated form of anemia that requires extensive treatment and life-saving measures.

We are sooooooo thankful that baby boy currently shows NO signs of the illness.  However, we are not in the clear quite yet.  Baby boy has to be monitored closely for the next 8 weeks with ultrasounds to watch for swelling (a sign of the anemia).  If baby looks healthy and great at the end of the 8 weeks, then we will officially be in the clear. 

We would really appreciate your prayers for our family and our precious baby boy, that he continues to thrive and stay healthy because we can't wait to meet him!