Christmas Part 1

We woke up Christmas morning in our own house, a first for us!  It was a strange feeling, but quite nice to not have to pack for two small children.  Ainslee and Hattie must have been very good this year, because Santa sure did make a visit to our house!  Grammie and Pop walked up the street and opened presents with us.  Ainslee was very good at helping everyone and was so excited.  Hattie seemed to sense that it was a special day too, because she was extremely happy and smiled all morning!

What did Santa bring?!

 We'll have lots of fun in this!

 Santa left Hattie toys too!

 Pop with his girls

 Daddy enjoying his new cookbook

 Grammie taught Ainslee how to play her new piano

 Just hanging out in her new exersaucer

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve down the street at Grammie and Pop's house.  Grammie came with us to the Christmas Eve service at our church that evening.  It was a service designed specifically for families with young children...so if they screamed it wasn't a big deal :)  I think this is going to be a part of our Christmas tradition, since we will probably always be in Kerrville.  It is a great way for the girls to see and hear what Christmas truly is about, before the present madness kicks in.  I loved how Ainslee could tell us who each of the people were in her nativity set this year (except for the "Girl Wise Man"- granted he does kind of have long hair ).  We came home and had a traditional tamales and chili dinner with Memaw and Putt.  It was great evening, but Ainslee ended the night with a terrible fit so we didn't get to leave cookies and milk for poor Santa...maybe next year!

Grammie and Pop

The Gilbreath 4

 Hattie helped Grammie make the rice

 My First Christmas

 Ainslee was ready for presents!

 They each got to open one gift

 Memaw helped Ainslee unwrap her new blankie

5 Months Old

This picture really sums up Hattie at 5 months.  She is all smiles!  She just scrunches up her nose and gives the biggest grin you've ever seen.  She is still a pretty content and easy going baby, but she has developed a case of stranger anxiety.  It amazes me that a baby so young can know and recognize certain people.  She sure knows Mommy, Daddy, and Big Sister!  She had been doing a great job sleeping at night, but just in the past few days has started waking up multiple times :(  We also had to move her up to size 2-3 diapers, due to repeated blow-outs, so I'm pretty sure we are in the midst of a growth spurt.  I told she is big enough already, but I don't think she's listening to me.  It looks like "solids" will be in her near future...



Visit with Santa

Hattie was super excited to go see Santa, Ainslee wasn't so sure...

Ains was fine, as long as Grammie was holding her hand

Ainslee quickly jumped down, but Hattie was pretty comfy.

Cute girls

Party Time

Ainslee had a wonderful time celebrating her third birthday with lots of family and friends.  We were quite blessed to even have old friends come in from San Antonio just to spend the day celebrating!  Aunt Yo was party planner extraordinaire and created the decorations, made the cupcakes, and the cake!  Everything was so cute and festive!  We had a great time playing outside on the playground and running around the backyard.  Ainslee's new pink Barbie Jeep from G-Ma and Grandpa was hit with all the kiddos!  As usual, Ainslee was not a fan of the "happy birthday song" and threw a fit while everyone sang, but I can't wait for her to see the pictures when she's older, haha!  Thanks to everyone who helped to make the day special for our big girl!

3 Years Old!

Ainslee Grace,

How in the world are you already 3 years old???  While part of me cannot believe you are already this old, another part of me cannot even remember life without you.  You have changed so much this year.  You are taller, your hair is longer, you look like a little girl and not so much a toddler.  But even more drastic is your knowledge, understanding, and wit.  You have gone from 2 word sentences to run on sentences.  You make up jokes, games, and songs. 
So much has changed in your little life this year.  I'm amazed at how well you have handled everything.  Some of the biggest changes this year were moving to Kerrville to a new house and becoming a big sister (and those were both within 2 weeks of each other)!  You also moved from a crib to a toddler bed to a twin size bed and were potty trained at 2 1/2.
You are are just as social and outgoing as ever.  This is a trait that you certainly don't get from your Mommy or Daddy.  I hope that you are always so friendly!  You love your friends and talk about them everyday.  Cameron is definitely your best friend, sometimes you tell me that she is your brother.  I guess this is an endearing term to you?  Anytime you have something to share, you say it is for Cameron.  You love your little sister too, you tell her so quite often.  I love to hear you call her by the nicknames Mommy and Daddy use for her.  You give her lots of kisses and hugs, and it is just the sweetest sight to see you holding hands.  
Ainslee, we love you so much and thank God for giving us such a wonderful, smart, and beautiful daughter!  We can't wait to watch you grow even more this year!

Your 3 year doctor visit stats:
Height: 36 inches
Weight: 28 lbs

Thanksgiving at Home

We were brave enough to host Thanksgiving in our new home this year.  The last time we hosted Thanksgiving, I was about 1 week from delivering Ainslee and was not allowed to travel- it was either host or not partake in a family Thanksgiving :)  Fortunately, both occasions have been a potluck style meal.  I was merely responsible for assigning each person to a dish.  It's the way to go!  (Katie, I'm still not a "real grown up" since I didn't make the turkey!) 

We so enjoyed spending time with both of our families.  We love having everyone together and are so happy that we now have a place large enough to accommodate everyone. It was also great having Uncle Trevor and Aunt Yo here for a few days, I know Ainslee LOVED the attention.  Hattie got a little spoiled from all the holding and has been a little difficult to actually put down for naps this week! :)  Oh well, isn't that what grandmas and aunts are for?  I'm pretty sure she had a good "First Thanksgiving." 

For more great pictures from our Thanksgiving go to http://theprewettpost.blogspot.com/

4 Months!

Hattie is now 4 months old and has changed so much in this past month!  She is just the happiest, most content baby I could ever imagine.  This month she has learned how to roll from her tummy to back, hold her head and torso up very well, laugh (cutest sound in the WORLD), coo and squeal, stick out her tongue, hold her hands together to put them in her mouth, grab objects, and melt hearts!

Hattie is still wearing a few 0-3 month clothes, but is mostly in 3-6 month.   She is wearing size 2 diapers, which are still a bit big, but definitely better than having too many "blow-outs." 

We are making no progress in the bottle department.  This kid is 100% momma fed.  She screams when offered the bottle, even if she has gone too long between feedings.  She also refuses a pacifier.  I'm not pushing this one, since her almost 3 year old sister is still an addict. :)  I think it's an extremely sensitive gag reflex issue.  Maybe we will just jump straight to the sippy cup and avoid bottles/paci's all together?!

Hattie does very well with her 3 hour feeding schedule and will occasionally go 3 1/2 hours.  She has done a few 10 hour stretches at night, but still likes to wake up around 5 to eat more often than not.  She is very good about going right back to sleep though.  And another big milestone I almost forgot to mention- Hattie is sleeping in her own room now!  This was rough for mommy...my baby is growing up too quickly!

And the official stats:

Height- 25 inches

Weight- 12.9 lbs

Working the land

And by land, I mean our ginormous backyard!  We are loving our little acre in the hill country.  G-Ma and Grandpa have come over a few days and helped us get the yard looking even better.  We have lots of branches to cut, rocks to move, sticks to pick up, and clearing to do.  They brought over the Polaris Ranger a couple of times to help haul and move "stuff."  We have sent several trailer loads of brush to their house to burn and we are not even close to finished!

We started with a few pole saws, chain saws, and shears!

Ainslee and Grandpa on the Ranger

 Our little tree hugger!

Jason and G-Ma worked to take out the rotting storage shed

 Hattie and I mostly just did this:

More "after" to pictures to come soon!

Crazy Kid

Just a random picture, but it actually says a few things about this little girl these days. 

1.  She is not wearing any pants. I can't keep pants or socks on this kid, no matter how cold it is!  If you come over and she is not wearing pants, it is because she has gone to the bathroom., taken them off, and refused to put them back on when she is finished.  I try, but it is one of the battles that is just not worth fighting.  She does wear pants in public...although she tries to take them off at random times... 

2.  She has a stuffed animal with her.  These are her new "friends."  She is developing a huge imagination and loves to play pretend.  This one's name is Panda Bear, and yes, she knows it is a polar bear. 

3.  There are kid chairs in the kitchen.  (Please ignore the hideous linoleum floor.  It is part of the Big Kitchen Remodel of 2011.)  She is constantly pulling up chairs to try and help cook, clean, or "make something" in the kitchen.  I think the chairs and step stools might kill me one day, I can't even count how many times I've tripped over them!

4.  She is smiling.  Ainslee is so eager to please and just says the sweetest things these days (when she is not throwing a fit).  She repeatedly tells me, "Mommy, you're my best friend."  I'll have to remind her of that when she is about 14. Haha!

New Tricks

Hattie has been working very hard lately at developing a few new tricks!  About 2 weeks ago she started really grabbing for things, not just batting at them.  I still remember cooking in the kitchen and hearing the music this little flower makes, when Ainslee pulled it for the first time (it feels like yesterday!).  Ainslee and I got so excited when Hattie did it for the first time.  Ainslee kept praising her, it was super cute!

Here is the look of determination:

Closer

 Closer

 Got it!

 As you can see, she is quite pleased with herself

Hattie has also become strong and steady enough to start sitting in the bumbo seat.  Ainslee is a bit jealous of this trick, as she has become quite fond of the bumbo herself (yes, she still fits in it).

Here's a little trick Hattie Cakes can do with her hair!

And last, but certainly not least, Hattie learned how to roll over on Veteran's Day (Nov.11th)!  We were spending the day with G-Ma, since Daddy and Grandpa were both out of town.  I laid Hattie on her tummy to show G-Ma just how much she despised tummy time, and she just rolled right over!  Of course I did not have my camera, but here is a little photo sequencing so you get the idea. :)

Hattie, we are so proud of you!  But really, if you want to just stay my tiny little baby forever, your mommy would really appreciate it!