The cutest toy in the toy box

About a week ago, Henry began digging for toys in his toy box so intently that we often found him feet up. At first he would laugh, but after a couple of minutes, he realized he was stuck and would fuss scream.

A couple of days ago, I turned around to find him IN the toy box. I guess our little bear figured out how to get himself out of one pickle and into another. And if you are wondering how he gets out of the toy box - just wait until Monday's video post.

How do you think this ended up?

She leaves today!

Do you remember when I made this very important announcement?

Well, she's leaving today!!!

My darling little sister, Morgan, is going to Cambodia to do missions work. She will be serving an orphanage in Prek Eng along with a group from our church through a third-party organization, Asia’s Hope.

Our church currently has a long-term missionary serving the orphanage, and if you check out her blog you can read about how God is using her in Cambodia (and maybe she will update her blog while Morgan and the team are there).

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. God has been so faithful.

Please continue to pray for Morgan and the team as they begin their 35 hour journey to Cambodia. We are so proud of these missionaries!

Has winter ever looked so fun?

Did anyone guess . . .

. . . Sledding?
Last weekend Matt, Henry, Jaeger and I bundled up and ventured out with Henry's brand new sled (remember the one Grandma & Grandpa gave him for Christmas?).
Henry and Jaeger both enjoyed spending time in the fluffy white stuff (although Henry was pulled around in a cushy sled while Jaeger was tied to a tree).

Watching Henry giggle as he's pulled across the snow makes living in Ohio during the winter months so worth it!

He should totally model for L.L.Bean.

Chillin' with Dad.

Can you see Jaeger in the background?

So relaxed.

Here we go!

He loves it!

Any guesses?

What do you think we were doing out in the snow last weekend?
These pics of Jaeger are simply a sneak peek.
Pictures of the event to be posted Monday!

Innocent until proven guilty?

Something tells me that these two are up to something.

Whose chair is it anyway?

Two years ago I bought Matt a chair for his birthday. Not just any chair - a beautiful, plush, brown, leather recliner. I spent way too much money on it (especially considering how much we spent on our beautiful, plush, brown, leather couch). Fortunately, though, it gets a LOT of use. More use than I could ever imagine it getting considering Matt works 10+ hours everyday, and the chair doesn't even face the T.V.

But Matt is not the one who uses it 8-10 hours everyday. No, JAEGER is the one who loves this chair thus occupying it for hours at a time. Not only does he think it is comfortable, but it faces our front window, and he thoroughly enjoys watching all the action from that chair.

I suppose if Matt is gone everyday and can't enjoy the chair, then the next best thing is for our dog to keep it warm for him.

Matt's Jaeger's chair

Guard dog extraordinaire

Tough life

Zzzzzzzz

Because everyone needs a good snuggle.

When Dad stays home from work . . .

. . . things get done!

Don't worry, Dad, I'm your assistant.

I'm a proud assistant!

What do you mean you need the screwdriver? I'm using it.

Mom, I can handle power tools. Relax.

Let me try, please.

Almost done!

Whoa. I'll let you take care of that one.

Okay, let me put on the finishing touches. Voila!

I spend most of my days chasing this:

Uh-oh!

It's official! That is Henry's first word. Once I pull my act together, I'll post video of the uh-oh machine. 

Coal, anyone?

Guess who was caught eating burnt wood?
And this photo doesn't do it justice. The flash washes out the deep black that was oozing out of Henry's mouth.
He was playing in the fireplace (sans fire, of course), and this is how we found him.
Sadly, he looks like he's enjoying it.
Ugh.

Cousins

Last week we had family over to watch the Fiesta Bowl. Though the Bucks couldn't pull it off, we enjoyed hanging out and interacting with the kids. Here are a few pics of the cousins (and if you are wondering what's on Ella's cheek - she was having way too much fun with stickers. They ended up everywhere).

Mister-I-can-go-anywhere

Henry is officially a crawler - on all fours (whereas before he only army crawled) - and my sister captured mister-I-can-go-anywhere on film. She posted this short clip on her blog. I now spend my days chasing after him, which is a lot more exhausting than it sounds.

Those were the days.

I recently spent some time organizing my iPhoto, and it was so neat to go through the last couple of years in pictures. 

This particular picture struck me for a few reasons:

1. I was pregnant thus often napping. Almost daily, I would come home from work, throw on my lounge wear, and sleep the rest of the afternoon away. This pregnancy is SO different. There isn't a moment in my day that I don't wish I was napping, but life with a 9-month old means that naps are few and FAR between.
2. Call us crazy, but shortly after finding out we were pregnant, we decided to get a puppy. I adore Jaeger, but there are days when I wonder, "what we were thinking?!" Those first few months, rearing a puppy and growing my way through a pregnancy, were rough, but I'd do it all over again in a second.
3. Snuggling with a little one that soft and itty-bitty is such a treat. And I am so blessed that in a few months, I'll have another itty-bitty, soft-skinned baby to snuggle with. I can't wait.

9-month update

Yesterday Henry had his 9-month check-up. The best part? No shots! 

Doc said that Henry looks great; he's hitting the appropriate milestones and growing beautifully.

He weighed 20 pounds, and he measured 29 inches long. 

We can start introducing eggs to his diet (one of the three forbidden foods - nuts and honey are the other two), and in the next couple of months, we can introduce whole milk. 

We continue to thank God for our happy and healthy Henry. It's been an amazing 9 months.

Hooper-Moore Wedding (I promise, this is it)

You talkin' 'bout me?

I love my MoMo!

Oma, these are pretty.

I love Christmas lights.

Grandma, I love snugglin' with you.

Thanks, Dad. This wedding wore me out!

Hooper-Moore Wedding, More Pics

Hooper-Moore Wedding

My husband's sister, Kelley, married the man of her dreams on December 27th. They were married in the same church on the same date as my husband's parents. Though the weather was unseasonably warm, it was a lovely winter wedding.

We had a fantastic evening, and second to my sister-in-law, Henry stole the show. Check out his adorable outfit - I could simply eat him up.

Peek-a-boo

I see you.

And now he's eating.

Actually, shoveling is more like it.

Just chillin' with Grandma

Grandpa called him Payne Stewart. What do you think?