Last Week (As in Dec 10-13)

So I am almost caught up and am so proud of myself. I knew I only had tonight to finish getting caught up or I would never get to everything since tomorrow starts the Christmas fun! Last week we had a pretty low key week.

Monday it was the first day it got cold and Ascher still wasn't feeling good so we stayed bundled up. Tuesday I took him back to doc to see if his ear infections had cleared up. She said his ears looked good but that he seemed to have a lot of sinus pressure. No infection but a lot of redness. She said he probably didnt feel good from that. 

So the rest of the day we snuggled and kept warm. He even fell asleep in my arms which he hasn't done in awhile. I enjoyed the moment and didn't even bother to move him. Its moments like that that remind me how blessed and lucky I am that I get to stay at home with my sweet baby boy and not miss any moments! 

Wednesday we met my friend Kelly at Target to get Ascher some sweaters and Pip some dog food. We had a nice little lunch at Jason Deli afterwards and then headed home. We spent a lot of the afternoon practicing crawling (he's getting there) and hanging out in his crib getting him used to it. Jessica sent us the cutest picture of Hadley. I miss her so much! I haven't seen her since she was born. I can't wait for Christmas when I will see her again!!

Thursday we had a slow morning but after Ascher's morning nap we got busy. We ran some errands and ended up at the park since he did such a good job while I ran errands. He looks so mad in this photo yet really he loves swinging. He kicks his feet and talks the whole time. I swear he would swing all day if I would let him! 

Its weeks like this that make me so happy. We had a just a regular week. Nothing happening exciting no plans but had a memorable week with my little man. My heart overflows!

Cookie Swap Year 2

This year was Natalie and I's second annual cookie swap. Last year was at my house so this year was at her's. Last year there were only a few of us and this year it has grown. I can't imagine what it will be like in a few years. It was on Sunday afternoon, the 9th and everyone came ready to chow down on some delicious cookies! 

My cookies were absolutely awful. They didn't taste bad but they were NOT pretty. I tried to just to a regular chocolate chip cookie but it was a flop. They turned out flat and not cute. Everyone else's cookie was super cute and yummy.

My favorite was a super simple treat- not really even a cookie. Look how delish...

The recipe is just two ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle dipped in chocolate  Oh to die for yummy! How can you go wrong with peanut butter & chocolate!? 

Natalie is a wonderful host and always does everything to the nines! It was a wonderful afternoon with good friends!! 

Last years cookie swap we were both preggers and now we have 8 month olds...what!?! what happened?!

Knight Family Christmas

Friday we had a family gathering since Cambrey was in town. All the siblings got together to exchange Christmas presents! We do it every year and it is so much fun to guess who has each other and what they all got. Once we all arrived we chowed down on some pizza, cookie cake & sang Happy Birthday to my oldest nephew, Cannon. 

After eating we decided we needed to take pictures since everyone was in town and it is a rare occurrence. We try to take a whole family photo once a year. Here are some from the past...

2010

2011

 And then there is this year...

The top of the stairs all the way to the bottom. We did oldest to youngest. Taylor, Eric and their 5 kids- then Cambrey, Joe and their three boys and one in the womb- then Justin, Me and Ascher followed by Ragan, Brad & their 2 girls and Kason & Carla. Thats 11 nieces and nephews- 12 if you count the one in the womb!!! And just to think that we are hopefully not done having children as well as Ragan & Brad and Kason & Carla haven't even started! This staircase won't fit us all for long. 

We didn't take the sibling and spouse picture but instead took tired to take a picture of all the little ones. 

After photos we let the kids open their presents. They get so into and the older ones know exactly what to do. Its so cute to watch them all. 

all of them waiting for the presents

Ascher still needs help...

Pip of course has to be in my lap as well as Ascher

Uncle Justin helping Samuel

Kinleys technique for opening her presents

Even Uncle Joe got in on the action

After the kids opened their presents they headed upstairs where they put a movie in and let the adults open their presents! I love that everyone knows each other so well that everyone got what they wanted! Justin got a thing for his gun and a giftcard and I got two super cute scarves, a giftcard and "someecards calendar." We had so much fun! Then Kason opened his present which consisted of some scratch offs from Joe. He won $500 on one $5 scratch off!! We were all like NO WAY!! I told Justin we need to buy some scratch offs! haha! After presents they went on a hay ride around the neighborhood but Ascher was getting fussy so I tired to put him down (not happening). After the hayride everyone left and headed home. We ended up spending the night rather than driving back since it was almost midnight before everyone left. 

It was such a fun night and I love when we all get together! 

Special Guests from Virginia

The first week in December we had some special visitors from Virginia. Justin's sister and her family came to Houston for a few days! Justin took off so we were able to spend good quality time with them. We picked them up from the airport and went to eat lunch at Los Cucos. Gotta have some good Tex-Mex when back in Texas! After eating lunch we came back to our house so Justin and I could pack to go to Lake Conroe to surprise his parents. (They were leaving the next day for Hawaii and had no idea Cambrey was coming). We loaded up the cars and headed to the lake. We made Justin walk into the house holding Samuel, our nephew because him and Ascher look so much a like. Ginger, my MIL didn't get it at first then she kept asking, Why do yall have him? Then it hit her that they were here! It was neat surprise! We spent the rest of the evening hanging out and catching up. Of course, the boys had to get in the hot tub and play slot machines! I can't believe I didn't take one picture the whole time!!

Thursday morning we got up and drove into to Houston to pick up Nana and take her to lunch. It was nice because Justin and Joe had Samuel and Zachary in Justin's truck and Cambrey and I had Ascher and Adam in our car. It was nice because I never really get to just hang out with Cambrey and Adam. We had some good quality time! We picked up Nana and went to eat Mexican, again. She wanted to take us to some place she loves. We didn't complain. We could get Mexican all the time! The boys were so good. We sat for awhile and ate and talked before dropping Nana back off at her apartment. I only got one photo the whole time and its Nana and me. I should have taken a picture of Nana with the Hameedi's. : (

After dropping Nana off we hurried back to Lake Conroe to drop off Hameedi's and pick up Pip. I had signed up for a craft night at church not knowing they would be in town. So Justin drove Ascher and Pip home and I drove myself straight to church and made it just in time. I am really glad I went. It was neat. We paid $5 and got to make 10 crafts! I can't share yet because some of what I made is going to be Christmas presents ; ) This craft I added to our tree when I got home. Super cute!

Ascher's First Haircut

Ascher was born with a head full of hair. 

Justin was ready to give him a haircut before we ever left the hospital. Me- not so much. Everyone kept telling me oh it will fall out. Nope. Not my little man. His hair grew longer and thicker. At five months old Justin convinced me that he would just trim around his ears...

And so Justin did just that- just trimmed around his ears.

However, that only fixed the problem temporarily. I brush Ascher's hair into a comb over every day after his bath. Well it just keep getting longer on top and I kept ignoring it- determined to make it a year before his hair cut. Then we took his 8 month photos and I couldn't deny it anymore. He looked like a little hippie. 

So off we went  to the barber shop. I wanted him to have a real barber shop experience for his first haircut. So we took him to "The Barber Shop." Justin said it was where they brought all the fish in the corps to get their haircut so that was neat. He did so good. He was such a champ. He laughed at the air blowing and sat in the chair all by himself (Daddy stayed close by). Granted, he had to have his paci the whole time but thats okay- I'll take paci pictures over crying pictures.

 He did so good. Such a proud mama. He looks like such a big boy now. 

Crafting

The beginning of December brought with it crafting fun! We had so much fun crafting. I went to Natalie's one night and we made Christmas trees out of Ascher's hand. It turned out so cute. He loved the texture on his hands and had fun squashing his hands around covered in green paint. Natalie is so great with crafting!

Saturday I had a girls night. It was so much fun. I brought Ascher with me and quickly realized this was a foolish idea. How was I going to craft with little man demanding to be held? So my wonderful husband came and picked Ascher up so I could craft with the girls and just unwind! It was so much fun! I made some ornaments, a giant K, and just had a good time with the girls. 

It was a lot of fun. After these photos we tried to get Ava, Colleens 2 year old to take a photo of all four of us- haha it didn't work so we resorted to the bathroom mirror. We took so many and laughed so hard at all of them. We didn't like any of them. It was the latest I had stayed out since Ascher was born. I was in bed by midnight and I felt like such a rebel being out so late. haha- I'm so wild! 

On Tuesday, December 4th I had my MOPS table Christmas dinner. It was so nice. We went to our encouragers house and had a wonderful dinner then had a cookie craft. It was so fun. We painted cookies. Their were delicious "almond sugar plum cookies" and the best icing! It was a fun night with our table. I am so blessed and encouraged by these ladies and am so happy I joined MOPS! I can't wait for January when our meetings start back up.

Getting ready to paint our cookies

 the icing and paintbrushes ready

 My cookies

 Laura's cookies

My table (Ms. Sally, our encourager, Laura, Aimee, Astrid and Valerie)

So I have been a crafting queen lately! So much fun! Now if I can be that crafty and get to work on Ascher's baby book I'll be good!

Christmas Beginning & Ear Infections

After Thanksgiving we came back home and spent Sunday decorating for Christmas. It was much more fun this year--granted Ascher doesn't really get it yet but it was still fun thinking that this is his first Christmas. 

He was still super fussy so Monday I called the doctor and got him in after hours. He had his sickness. DOUBLE ear infections!! I felt so bad for him, but I was kinda glad I was right. I knew something was wrong so I guess my mom sense kicked in. He got put on medicine and started feeling better fast. Still heartbreaking to know that he was fussy because he actually was in pain- not just to be a fuss bucket. However, this is after we got home from the doctor- would you think that this little boy has double ear infections?

Friday we went to look for a new entertainment center since Ascher is on the move and getting into all the cords. We found a new entertainment and a china buffet!! I love it! I have been wanting one forever but our house isn't formal enough for one that has a big top so when we saw this one we knew it was perfect. And it matches our table perfectly! I love love love it!! We said Merry Christmas to each other! : )