Happiness Is...

Happiness is having a husband who will let you sleep in two of the four mornings of Thanksgiving weekend.  It's baby smiles and slobbery kisses.  It’s hearing Mama in the correct context for the first time and knowing that “Mama” is me.

Happiness is playing at the park and, for a certain little guy...eating grass.  It’s bath time and teaching Patty Cake.  It’s the awe of Christmas lights and decorations.  Happiness is snuggling to Christmas movies and eating Gingerbread ice cream.

At their 9.5 month doctor's appointment Ainsley weighed 15 lbs 3 oz and was 27 inches long and Tate weighed 16 lbs 15 oz and was also 27 inches long.  Neither one of them is even close to getting any teeth...which is fine by me because I love their little gummy smiles.  In these pictures Ainsley is still rocking the 3 month size onesie and Tate finally graduated to the 6 month size.  At 9 months Tate loves to growl, eat finger foods, walk along the couch or any upright structure, jump in his jumper, visit the swings at the park, put any and everything in his mouth, playing in the bath tub,  giving lots of kisses, and climbing on his mom and dad.  It takes him a few minutes to completely wake up and he loves to snuggle right after we get him out of his crib.  He hates: when he hears/sees the shaking of a garbage bag or any plastic bag for that matter...unless he is the one doing the shaking.  It puts him into hysterics.  Ainsley loves: clapping, playing patty cake, talking to herself in the mirror, going on walks, bath time, her stuffed hippo, Pinky, giving the "I'm So Happy" face, licking anything and everything, giggling, giving kisses, snuggling, and reading books.  She hates: having her zip up blanket put on...she knows it means bed time.  She also hates when her mom coughs or sneezes, it brings tears nearly every time.
    

Happiness is knowing that my little 9 month old cuties are happy and healthy and learning new things every day.  It’s getting to spend every day playing with and loving on them.

Happiness is having matted hair due to a brother’s great big slobbery kiss.  It’s having a fenced in play area and trying to bust out of the gate via licking.

Happiness is spending Thanksgiving with our Arizona friends that we are fortunate enough to call family.  It’s trying to count my many blessings while knowing it is an impossible feat.  I am oh so blessed.  Happiness is making garlic mashed potatoes on the day after Thanksgiving simply because it’s my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal.  It's evening strolls through Christmas lighted neighborhoods and the tin of Danish Christmas cookies sitting on my counter.

Happiness is dance parties to nursery rhymes and singing every silly song imaginable as dinner time entertainment.  It's watching football and playing "Daddy Jungle Gym."  Most of all it is knowing that all of my many blessing come from a Heavenly Father who knows and loves me!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your Christmas season is full of the joy and wonder that only the month of December can bring!