Wordless Wednesday - 16 weeks

Decorating traditions

Does it seem like this year has flown by? I swear this year feels like so much has gone on and it just zoomed by. Fall/winter are my favorite times of year! So much fun is scheduled around this time. My son's birthday, my birthday, dad's birthday, Thanksgiving, CHRISTMAS, and New Years! Growing up Christmas was such a huge deal with my family. My mom would start getting ready for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. It seemed like every room in our house was decorated except our bedrooms. I am like my mother. I can't help it. I LOVE TO DECORATE! The only reason I only have downstairs decorated this year is because I'm so busy with my newborn... or else... The whole house would have garland and lights!

I have always followed suit with what my traditions are... In fact, last year I was going about my business buying and organizing Christmas decorations that Grant stopped me and asked if we could do some of his traditions. I felt terrible. Did I make Christmas all about my family and my traditions? At that moment I realized that Grant and I will have our OWN traditions. 

What are our traditions now? We go together to get our tree, and then Grant puts the lights on the tree. Funny story about that is we were buying the lights and Grant walked up to the cart with colored lights... the look on my face must have said it all. He turned around and said he'd be back. He came back with the all clear lights. I think colored lights are great... it's just my OCD spin on having everything match. Then I really go to work. My families tradition... or my moms way is to decorate like its a model home. I follow her path until next year. Grant is ok with my tree looking uniform and perfect, as long as we put up ornaments that are sentimental to us. Sentimental? WE decided that every year we will pick an ornament that we like and we will continue to put them on the tree for as long as we celebrate this wonderful Holiday. Once our kids are old enough to choose which one they want they can pick one every year too. 

Stockings. WE decided that the stockings we buy will be the stockings we will use forever as well. This was a tradition both of us had. Grant had a stocking that was red with his initials (GBS), and I had a kitty cat stocking. So, I bought ours from Pottery Barn. Since Pottery Barn offers the same stockings just about every year this will be good if we add an addition to our family! ;) 

The rest of the house... Grant doesn't care what I do... Just as long as I keep our new traditions. And continue to create more along the way. Compromise. This makes us both happy! Who doesn't like new traditions that can be passed on?

Here are a few pictures of our house:

Cheers,

Brooke

Sneaky peeky...

I can't help it... And I know one day he will be mad at me for showing these pictures. Is it just me or is anyone else creeped out at the Santa's at the malls? Well, I'm not a fan of having my little guy sit on Santa's lap... instead... how much cuter is my little guy as Santa? Just sayin'. 

We have a wonderful photographer that is GREAT with kids. Her name is Jessica Lake. These are Jake's 3 month pictures. I have already heard from several moms and family members about how many photos I will have taken of Jake... But, come on people... He's my first baby! And it helps that he likes having his picture taken (ok really ... everyone knows I'm the Brookarazi)! hehe. Anyhow, I will have pictures taken again for Valentines Day... DUH! 

Hope everyone is having a great week... Enjoy the weekend! 

Santa Boozie

I mean... I know!

More pictures to follow! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Brooke

Prayer Request

Hi All,

This morning I went to my friends blog and saw that she just found out she has Large B Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Today she is undergoing several tests to determine what state cancer she has. She is incredibly strong! I ask for you all to pray for her and recovery.

Here is her link. Team Stephanie

I believe in the power of prayer and positive thoughts. God is good and will be protecting her and her family.

Thank you all!

Brooke Stone

Dancing gorilla - J 14 weeks

Grant and I were at Target on Sunday and we came upon a gorilla... a singing, dancing, and stuffed gorilla! Jake was laughing so hard at it that people in the store came over to watch him. I had to buy the gorilla after that. We have this Baby Einstein toy that speaks in different languages... we have it on the Spanish setting so when the gorilla sings the numbers in Spanish he starts to laugh.

Here is a quick video of our little monkey. Enjoy!

Christmas card photo

Now that I have sent out my Christmas cards I can post a few more pictures from our newborn photo shoot. I waited to post these until after our cards went out. On Wednesday we had 3 month pictures taken and will post those soon. He did great! Some pictures were Christmas related and some were just regular photos! I can't wait to see how they turned out. My little man is growing so fast!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season as much as me! 

Our family. Thankful to have these boys in my life.

Little hunter like his daddy!

Father and son

Daddy, mommy, and baby

Our angel

Now it's time to Christmas shop online! Send me your favorite websites to shop through!

Love and cheers,

Brooke

Stone household

We are getting into the holiday spirit over here! Jake has about 10 holiday outfits and we are going to be putting presents under the tree soon! :) Over the weekend we bought our tree, decorated it, and also hung our stockings. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas over here! Soon the house will be filled with family in town, and we will all be celebrating Jake's 1st Christmas! SO excited!

Just wanted to post a quick pic of my little guy and me. Tomorrow we have our 3 month photo shoot! Hope Jake does better than his 1st months shoot. I will post decoration pictures soon!

My little man and I decorating the tree

Have a good week!
Brooke