Much to be Thankful for!!!

I love Thanksgiving!!! It was a beautiful day all around! Even though our consumer culture sees it as only the kickoff to holiday shopping, I truly like having a day that is dedicated to giving thanks for our blessings. Oh yeah, and the food doesn't hurt either...

I am thankful for...God's grace that shines on us daily. We are given blessings we could never ever "deserve".

I am thankful for...my husband that shows his love to me in so many ways. After 13 years, he still makes me feel special, beautiful, and appreciated.
I am thankful for...my son that knows how to make my heart melt. His silly personality and spunk makes every day a great day.
I am thankful for...my baby girl that can light up any room with her gummy smile. She renews my hope daily and makes me realize just how precious life is.
I am thankful for...our loving family that truly knows how to enjoy, support, and love one another. You make us crazy and keep us sane...all at the same time.
I am thankful for...our friends near and far. You enrich our lives in so many unique ways.
I am thankful for...our country and freedom. And the brave souls that protect them both.


We had a relaxing but funfilled day. Beau ran the Atlanta Half Marathon, we took the kids to the park, got in early naps, and then headed to my sister Alicia's house. She is "house sitting" longterm for a family trying to sell their house, so we had to take advantage of the awesome house while we had had the chance :)

All 7 Reuter cousins were together, plus cousin Hayes (second cousin twice removed with a half twist and a cherry on top). They ran wild the entire time and had a BLAST! There was a trampoline in the back that kept them entertained for hours!

All 7 looking....kind of. We tried to add Hayes after this one, but he was nowhere to be found.

There was a lot of funny business going on at the kids' table. You can't quite tell in this picture, but Hayes is feeding Lauren! He's not a big eater, so I think he was trying to hide his food...in her mouth. And Wyatt wasn't into eating, so he had Cae eat all his food so he could be "excused". Wade on the other hand loved the turkey and everything that went along with it. He even had seconds!

Alicia was a gracious host with lots of help from Nonna, G.G. and Enzo. With a famly our size, we all bring a dish or two making a huge spread!

After dinner the real fun started...DANCE PARTY. It was a good way to work off the meal. Wyatt dances like his daddy while Wade and Cae drop it like it's hot...

Beau taught Caleb how to play chess. Caleb caught on really quickly and then challenged Nathan and Alan to games.

Sheesha, Shawn, and Enzo

Auntie Angie and Bree - with a house full of rambunctious boys, she was happy to love on Bree for awhile

Flying Bree!!!

As the night went on (way past bedtime), Wade and Colt began to play in the ice tub. It started very innocently, just messing with the ice...then they started crushing the ice with the wine bottles...

Then they thought it was hilarious to try and drink from the wine bottles! We did empty them first, but it made for some incriminating pics. All I can think about is what it will be like managing these to troublemakers when they're 17 and really trying to sneak into the wine.

Colt knew he was NAUGHTY!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I hope you were able to spend it with the ones you love and cherish every minute of it!!

Special Visit!

Miss Bree was very lucky girl to have some special family in town for her baptism.

Aunt Nicci came for the weekend with Rowan and Ellis. Wade still calls Rowan "Yo-Yo" even though her can say "Rowan" just fine. I think he just likes the name. We had 36 hours of fun cousin time with them, including swimming...Poppa heated up the jacuzzi for the kids, but Rowan and Ellis jumped in the freezing pool too!

Also, Bree's Great Grandma Marj came in town from Ohio! This was her first time meeting Bree, so we're were excited she could be here to celebrate with us.

We know we can't live near ALL of our family, so we're extra grateful when we get to see them :)

Cecelia Bree gets Baptized

Oh happy day! Bree's baptism was such a monumental and beautiful day for us. We are blessed to have a wonderful church home at Mt. Bethel. After the minister does the baptism, the entire congregation makes a pledge to surround your child in "steadfast love" so that she will be "established in the faith, confirmed, and strengthened". I love that pledge of support and help in raising our daughter to be a Christian. God is so good and has blessed us immensely!Bree wore the gown and slip my family has worn for 3 generations. We don't have many family heirlooms to pass on, but this is special to me. The lace on the slip was handmade my Bree's great-great-great grandmother,. My grandmother (and Bree's namesake), Grandma Ceil, kept the outfit together after all 7 of her children's baptisms. And now it's passed from state to state as all of my 23 first cousins (just on that side!) are baptizing children of their own. Nothing like eating 90 year old lace!

This picture cracks me up because it looks like she's already perfected the "CHEESE-but I really don't want to smile-face"!

Something must've been funny?

Our little family

Nonna and G.G. were there with us before the service and Greg was so nice to help us take a family picture!! Thank you Greg!

After the service, we gathered back at our house for brunch. Bree lasted as long as she could before getting a nap. She was happy to be passed around!!

Diane and Enzo

Nonna, Alicia, & Nanny

Aunt Nicci and her niece

My Aunt Sylvia with Bree

Wade had no idea this party wasnt for him. He was just excited to jump and play.Nonna with her girls

Emery and Hayes

After her nap, we put Bree in Dede's baptism gown and bonnet. It is a gorgeous gown!! Diane just recently got it from her sister and I was excited Bree had a chance to wear it. I hope Bree realizes one day how lucky she is to have so many wonderful women that love her...

Caleb & Cae

Happy {Belated} Birthday Maggie!

Back in October Wade celebrated Maggie's SUPER cute 4th birthday. It was at this adorable house in Roswell, Farmhouse in the City, that has everything little kids like to do. Dress-up, paint, play with small animals, hunt for candy, and eat pizza and cake!

I had to post this picture.....all the girls were taking turns holding cats and bunnies throughout the party. So I guess Wade wanted in on the action and decided the ceramic duck would be just as cool. As everyone got together for a group picture, Wade made sure his duck made it in too. There are more precious shots of him carrying around Mr. Duck...and I'll try to add them later.

Too cute!!!

Bree is 5 months old!

Our baby girl is 5 months old! Her daddy affectionately calls her "Baby Bree" all the time and it rubs off on me and Wade. With a short name like Bree, it's not like it needs a shorter cute nickname. So for now, she is "Baby Bree".

She had a doctor's appointment for shots and weighed in at a whopping 14 lb 10 oz. She's right in the middle of the curve, but she must have a lot of junk in the trunk because she's already in size 3 diapers! And she STILL has occasional blowouts. How is that possible??

We've been home a lot more this month (since Halloween) and have been exploring new toys around the house. Her favorite new spot is in the exersaucer. She can entertain herself for a long time in that thing! Sometimes I'll forget she's in there (until she hits the buttons and plays music).

It has replaced the swing and Wade now wants to sit in it and kick Bree out. But she's a HAPPY girl when she can place with her toys.Another new toy is this bath tub seat. Bree FINALLY likes taking a bath now that she can splash around and play. She must've been modestly embarrassed when I took this picture...I even tried it in the sink! I was triple tasking, so I thought it might help speed the process along. I probably won't make a habit of it, but it was fun to try!Still, our favorite item around the house is the Bumbo. We have them scattered around and I couldn't do a thing without them. Bree's favorite thing to do is "oversee" dinner preparation in the kitchen from her Bumbo. She's great helper!Yes, my daughter has baby cleavage. Bring on the training bras...We've still only experimented with solid food (if you can call mushy porridge "solid food") a handful of times. She's not a fan of rice cereal, barely tolerates oatmeal, but seems to be a fan of sweet potatoes!!! I'm bad about feeding her daily because it's just so easy to mindlessly nurse her when she's hungry. It's like I'm on autopilot! I'm so thankful breastfeeding has continued to be successful...I know I can't take it for granted. (I don't think she even realized the sweet potatoes were coming from the spoon and not her fingers)

Aunt Sheesha babysat one day, so we had to wear our "I'm as cute as my aunt" shirt. It was a hit. Now we just need Nicci, Angie, & Michelle to take a picture with it too :)

We're still waiting for Miss Priss to decide to roll over. I can honestly say I've given her more time on her tummy and back and even enticed her with toys. She's so close and can roll from side to side, but won't take the plunge and flip over. Her pediatrician said she has fine muscle tone, but may just be lazy. Seeing how she loves to sit up and observe, she may very well sit up by herself before she rolls over. She can "tripod" for a little while before slowly slumping down. I'm not worried, but I just know those nosy nurses are going to go through their list of questions at our next appointment ("is she sleeping on her back? are there any risk factors for lead in the home?"...can she roll over") and we'll be "red flagged" for life! It might even go in her permanent record! OH NO! :)

She's settled into a good nap and nighttime sleep routine. Wake around 8, Morning nap, Afternoon nap, sometimes a 5pm snooze, bedtime around 8, and will wake once to nurse but then goes right back to sleep. Of course there are always good days and bad days, but I can't complain! She definitely prefers sucking on her fingers (over a pacifier) if she can find them. That helps her be able to put herself back to sleep more easily.

Bree has lost most of the hair she was born with, except for a few really long strands on the top of her head. The rest of her head is covered with new hair that's short fluffy peach fuzz. It's so different from Wade's wig (he'd already had his first mullet and haircut by now), but she looks like a cute spring chick! I'm continually amazed at what a blessing Bree is. She can just smile at you and all the rest of the world melts away. She looks at you with complete joy, trust and love. And it makes you want to give it right back to her. My favorite moment of the day is her first morning smile. She grins from ear to ear when you lean over the crib. It's like she's telling you she's ready to start a new day....and it makes you a little more ready too...

Happy 5 month birthday baby Bree!! We love you to the moon and back!