Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

Yesterday Ryan caught up with me (he was 3 months behind) to 29!  Friday I treated to him to an evening of celebration...just the two of us (Molly hung out happily at Aunt Karma's).  We went to a new place for dinner and followed it up with some live music at Eddie's Attic.

On Saturday, Molly was very thoughtful of the birthday boy...sleeping til 8:30 was a gift in itself especially after a night of late "partying" which we've grown quite UN-accustomed to!

She was excited that it was Daddy's birthday and insistent on birthday hats all around.  I dug through a drawer til I came up with some New Year's leftovers from several years back and that did the trick.  We ambushed him with noisemakers and his birthday present (a cover for his new Kindle) wrapped in paper that was a Molly original.

We spent the day doing nothing in particular...a nice breakfast out, some family play time, a rainy day nap, and grilling steaks for dinner.  Oh, and birthday cake.  Molly-made (with Mommy's help) strawberry shortcake complete with candle (lit twice-once for Daddy and one more time for Molly) for dessert!  The day was made even sweeter by phone calls from loved ones scattered throughout.

It was a special day for a special man that both Molly and I adore.  Thank you, God, for Ryan!

Ch-ch-changes!

 Okay, even though I'm still missing the Christmas recap and Wyatt's super Scooby birthday party report I figured I'd go ahead and post about some pics I have uploaded.

MiMi, Pop and Sadie (their dog) came to visit for New Years and while they were here we took advantage of their vehicle (and their help) to make some exciting changes in Molly's life.  First up, her new BIG GIRL BED! (which is exactly what she calls it, always.  In fact, it sounds like one word when she says it... "my beegurlbed")

"Helping" Daddy move the bed into her room:

Really, for now, it's just a box spring and mattress on the floor.  The bed part will come when my parents make a trip down with the iron bed that I used growing up.  We weren't sure how she'd react and adjust--a couple of months ago we took the side of her crib off and put the toddler rail on and she HATED it-- so we left her crib in the room for the first few nights in case she had to go back in it for awhile (you have to take it apart to get it through the door).

  Sitting on her new bed:

Looking like Aunt Kara on her new bed:

It's been two weeks and change now and she's loving her new bed!  She took to it from the first night and Ryan moved the crib out a couple nights later.  She visits her crib now in the "baby's room" and talks about it being for the baby.  She's got a good 5 1/2 months til it's taken over for good...I'm hoping it'll be old news by then!

Initially at nap time she would just play--it was light outside and she could see well enough to entertain herself (quietly so as not to get caught-she's sneaky!)  But now I think she's over the novelty of being able to get out and in as she pleases.  Before we leave the room she repeats to us, "I'm gonna stay in my beegurlbed" and we say, "that's right, stay in your big girl bed" and for the most part, she does!  Amazing.

Chillin' with Daddy:

We haven't changed a thing in the bedrooms since we moved in (as far as painting and cosmetic changes).  Molly's room has never been "decorated", just functional.  I thought I'd wait and change it a bit whenever she made the transition to a bed and now we're here!  For starters, MiMi and I picked out a new bedspread in a sunshine-y yellow (sorry, no pics yet) and I guess I'll go from there...

 Enjoying all the company on her big girl bed:

We're so thankful for the smooth transition and can only hope for the same when I get good and serious about potty training!

More November

So I'd be lying if I said I've felt like a great mom these past oh, 15 or so, weeks.  I don't know how single moms do it cause I couldn't have made it without Ryan for sure!  Soon after I found out I was pregnant (on my birthday, by the way.  Sweet, huh?) the blech-iness began.  Ryan has been taking care of everything in the mornings so all I have to do is drag myself out of bed and manage to get ready.  Then at the end of the day I pretty much crash on the couch while Molly rules the roost til Ryan gets home (read: I stuff her face with popcorn and her brain with Netflix).  She usually rubs my back and feet and says, "you feeling better, mama?" in a concerned tone.  She's the best.  BUT we have done some things.  Like play with beans:

This is her "I like playing with beans" face:

And she's had lots of fun being on the 2011 leaf collection team with Daddy:

 She enjoyed many a tarp ride to the woods:

And thanks to the mild Georgia weather there was some time to enjoy the tricycle from MiMi and Pop:

 Look at this face!  She's delicious!

The blech-iness is starting to subside and I'm looking forward to the energy boost-y part of pregnancy...

A Thankful November

UPDATE:  when I hit publish it only put up the pictures for half the post.  No words:(  So I've tried to write them (at least some of them) again...

We started November with a soup, salad, and homemade bread celebration in honor of Tim and Jessie's embarkment (I know it's not a word) on the journey of parenthood (in like, 3 days now--whoa!)

Actually, Molly and I were the only hosts.  Ryan had an impromptu week long business trip to Oakland, California.  Even so, it was a lovely gathering of friends and family with lots of laughing.  I love laughing with that group:)  And I'm now anxious to meet baby Judah, or Alice...

Speaking of babies....the next thing we did in November was share with our families that WE were expecting a new little one too!  The three of us skyped my parents and we let Molly share the news.  The next evening we shared the excitement with Ryan's parents in person (this time Molly wore a "big sister" shirt) in Mississippi, our Thanksgiving destination.  

Speaking of Thanksgiving...as I mentioned, Thanksgiving this year was spent in Mississippi.  It sure was good to spend time with family we hadn't seen it quite awhile.  Swaylor and Molly donned their handmade matching owl hats for their adoring fans:

These two are about 3 months apart.  Swaylor was just weeks away from her two-year birthday.

On Thanksgiving day we drove to the camp in Quitman to meet up with the whole Sellers clan to celebrate our thankfulness.  Molly enjoyed her very first 4-wheeler ride with Daddy.

Uncle Michael's giant 16' Santa greeted everyone:

Passing the time before lunch:

Ryan stealing samples as Ben and Amy get the turkey table-ready:

Tad and Josh chatting with PawPaw:

Molly digging into her feast:

Hannah and the newest addition to the family, her nephew, Sam (Amy and Ben's baby boy):

A Christmas happy from Aunt Betty Carol and Jenna...a new apron, hat and accessories (which she proudly wears daily!):

Fun with Sam!:

Beautiful girls!  Hannah and Jadyn:

We coupled the Thanksgiving gathering with a joint birthday party for Zayke (1/2) and Swaylor (12/9).  MiMi baked the cakes and I cut and decorated them as a cowboy boot and a horse.

The Birthday Boy:

The Birthday Girl:

There were also various other activities--like shooting at the pond--that I didn't get pics of.

Here's Jenna and her buddy, Molly (pardon the red-eye):

And a beautiful mother/daughter picture:

That evening we set about having an early Lucas Christmas.  Swaylor and MiMi:

The next morning Molly got to open one of her presents:  

When she saw the picture of the tricycle on the box she got very excited and jumped up and down until it was all unveiled:

What a cool tricycle!  Thanks MiMi and Pop:

That afternoon we all went to visit MawMaw Lucas.  It was a sweet visit and we got some great family pictures before we left:

And there may have been an incident involving me and a player piano...but we'll never know.

And that evening Molly and Swaylor got to open their things.  Proud of her fancy shoes:

MiMi and her little girls:

Pop, MiMi and their brood (even if they're not all looking:):

So much to be thankful for!

Two happy girls!

It hasn't been two months...yet...

Yes, I'm aware that in 2 short hours I will have officially gone two months without posting a thing on here.  And instead of boring you with the details of why that's the case (in short, my crazy busy life), I figured I'd hurry up and post something, anything, to let you know that the Lucas family is alive and well here in 2012.  I'll be back tomorrow (for real, I promise) to fill you in on a few bloggable happenings as of late.  Until then, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all at once from the three well, four, of us (more on that later)...