New Year's Resolutions :)

In 2012 I resolve to...

Eat healthier.

Stay within the 25-35 lb. weight gain recommendations for pregnancy.

Successfully and exclusively breastfeed Liam. (for at least a year!)

Exercise regularly... 3-4 times per week.

Stick to our budget! :)

Drink the recommended 8-12 glasses of water a day.

Cut out the sodas!!  :(

Learn to say NO when my plate is too full.

Finally add some color to the walls in my house!

Lose the baby weight (after Liam is here, of course!)

Potty train Connor. ;)

Purge my house when needed... no hoarding here!

Go on a date night with the hubby at least ONCE this year! lol

Get out of the "mommy wardrobe" rut.

Actually wear my contacts... some :-P

Enjoy life with 2 beautiful babies!!!

 

What will you do in 2012???

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