Warning...

Warning:  This will melt your heart... and if it doesn't, you might not have one.. ;) hehe

This might just be the cutest face ever.... *a bit partial but true*  This was taken at the doctors office at his 2 month check up.  He was just smiling away the entire time... The doctor commented on how stinkin happy he was!!  He cried during his shots but by the time we walked out the door he was back to cooing and smiling.  I've really never seen anything like it... ha!  Christian smiled and cooed but it was nothing like this... The child is in a constant good mood and is either smiling, cooing, or laughing!  He rarely cries.. in fact, he really only cries when he lets me know it's time to eat.  #blessed

My Fireman

My mom and I threw a surprise party for Corey for getting on the fire department.  It turned out perfect and he was so surprised and happy!! Here are a few pictures...

 Christian & Harrison in their matching fire truck shirts

 So proud of my husband!

Smiles

You are the happiest little thing!!  You smile ALL the time now!!

Energy

Well, I survived my first week of G-fit!!  Whoop whoop!  I can not believe how much better I feel in just the little time I have been doing this... I'm on day 2 of week 2 and feeling great!  I can tell I have SO much more energy and just feel good.  It's also very nice to not have that nasty bloated feeling anymore... I have really done good about watching everything I eat.  I have cut back a ton, made much more healthier choices, and cut out cokes.. which I thought I would never be able to do!  I lost 4.2 lbs last week (yes, I added the .2 because every little bit makes me happy..ha!).  I can't wait until the end of the month to do our measurements because I can tell I'm losing inches by the way my clothes fit.  I can officially wear my pre-baby clothes comfortably. :)  Everyone is starting the cleanse today and as much as I wish I could do it, it just isn't the best idea for me right now.  Harrison isn't sleeping through the night consistently yet and I don't think I would be able to not eat for three days on no sleep.  My plan is to get through G-fit this month by making healthy choices and not missing any work outs and then next month I will be able to do the cleanse.  I'm excited for the ladies doing it though and their results... You go girls!!  Side note: down and backs kill me... I've never been a good runner because I hate it... but I think they are easier for me to do this week than they were last week so I'll take it!  And as much as I hate to admit it, I do believe all the running is what's making a huge difference (well maybe along with the million lunges we do!!)  Tonight is abs night and I'm dreading the "abc's" but it's a darn good work out that I NEED!! 

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On top of this new boost of awesome energy.... my precious baby boy slept for 9 hours straight last night!!!!  This makes for one very excited momma... and excited daddy, too!!  That sweet little Harrison is just precious I tell ya!  He has turned out to be an amazing baby just like his brother..... and I thank the Lord every single day for this!!  I don't think I'll take my chances on #3 because we are bound to have to pay for these easy ones! ;)  He drank a 5 oz bottle, took a long warm bath, and went to sleep at 8:30 last night.  He woke up at 5:30 this morning, ate, and went right back to sleep until 8:00.  So all in all he got about 12 hours but he did eat once after 9 hours of sleep... We were so excited!!  I did a little happy dance. ;) 

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One more thing... I can not believe how much sickness is going around right now!!!!  The Iovinelli's are avoiding it like the plague!!  I seriously haven't taken my kids out of the house in weeks.. Poor Christian is probably going stir crazy but at least he's healthy.  I am always so terrified of bringing germs home from work because there are so many sick kids coming to school before we send them home AND Corey works at a pharmacy... may be worse contamination than my job! But so far we have been blessed with no sickness.  I didn't even take them to church last week and I probably won't until this is all over.  It's just not worth risking it because the flu is no joke this year!  It seems like everyone that gets it is ending up with pneumonia or in the hospital on fluids.  Strep through is also going along with RSV, which scares me to death!!!  I will continue to wash my hands like a crazy maniac and spray Lysol around the house like nobody's business. :)

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My little bird & I after a fantastic night of SLEEP!!

Harrison - 2 months

2 months old

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You weight 12 lbs 14 oz and you are 24" long.  You did really good with shots.. only cried for a second.  I can't believe how much you have grown in just a month though.  You used to ball up on my chest and now your little legs touch my lap.  You have really long legs.

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You are wearing 0-3 month and 3 month clothes now.  You are so long and petite but you still have rolls everywhere!  You aren't a big chunky baby but your rolls are so stinkin adorable!!!  You are still wearing size 1 diapers.

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Sleeping at night is still up and down... some nights you do great and others you wake up every 3 hours.  It depends on how much you eat during the day... sometimes you don't eat that great for your Nana so you want to eat a lot at night.  You usually go to bed around 8 or 9 and for the most part you only wake up once to eat... you have made it all the way through the night a few times.  You wake up around 7 in the morning.  I would say that is really good for only being 8 weeks old.  You are still sleeping in our room in the pack and play.  I'm sure we will transition you to your room in the next couple of months.

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Your eyes are still blue!!!  They are the most beautiful blue... such a deep blue and I'm starting to think you might just stay blue eyed!  I'm kind of hoping because I think it's neat to have a brown eyed boy and a blue eyed boy!!  Your hair is still a light brownish blonde color... you haven't started losing any yet.  You smile ALL the time now and coo a lot.  It melts my heart.  You smile so big and you smile with your eyes... you are such a sweetie!!!

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You hold your head up really good and really high during tummy time.  You have rolled from your stomach to your back once by yourself but you usually need some help.  You inch worm crawl and it scares me to death!!  I don't remember Christian doing this and you seem too young to start doing that but you can move yourself clear across our king size bed!!  You are doing better about going to other people now but it's still pretty apparent that you are a momma's boy... You would lay on me all day if I let you and be completely content!  You also like your swing better now and your little vibrating chair.  Your daddy says you also like to watch football.. ha!  You are just perfect in every way and we love you so much!!  

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 You already have such a personality with your expressions! 

 Smiling at your brother <3

 2 months old today! 

Loving on your Nana... You keep her very busy during the day! ;)

Comparison Pic!  I can definitely see a lot of similarities in this one!!

Wonderful Tuesday

Yesterday just so happened to be one of the most wonderful days ever... I just signed up for G-fit this month and I've been really excited about getting started.  Monday we had weigh-ins, measurements, before pics, and a talk on what to expect and how to eat.  I went home so excited to start this new journey of healthy eating and getting in shape.  Last night was my first work out and holy smokes - it kicked my booty!!!  There were times I wasn't sure if I could keep going but looking around at all the other women helped motivate me.  I might still be a tad bit hormonal but I got teary eyed several times watching how encouraging these women were!!  It truly is amazing... I've heard that G-fit is like a cult... Well I will proudly be a part of any cult that is made up of amazing women like this!!  There is absolutely NO negativity and everyone helps you out.  In fact, no one finishes last and no one finishes alone... everyone keeps going until everyone finishes.  I just couldn't get over how motivating it really was!  I woke up today and it hurt to get out of bed, to step in the shower, and it really hurt blow drying my hair!  Confession: I had to take a break because my arms were about to fail me. ha!  It felt good to be so sore.  Can't wait for round two tonight... abs... Lord knows I need that!!

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I also begin eating "clean" yesterday.... I will say it's only been 2 days and it is verrrrry hard for me.  I'm praying it gets easier and that it becomes my new habit.  I am so used to eating whatever and drinking cokes.  No more cokes and a TON of water = horrible headaches for a caffeine addict!  I'm just pushing through and I really think it will make me feel so much better once I conquer this first rough week.  I am also making myself eat every 3 hours and that has been hard to get used to.  Thankfully my husband is doing the diet with me and Christian loves healthy food so I don't have to cook good fattening food for them and smell it. I know if I can get through this 30 days I will be SO proud of myself!

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Corey had his interview last night at the fire department.  Getting on the fire department is a lengthy process... It's not something you just apply for, get an interview, and done deal... There are different steps you have to take before you ever get to the interview and you just have to be patient and wait.  We have done a LOT of praying about it.  This is really what he is passionate about and what he wants his career to be.  I know he was so nervous going into that interview.  I got home from working out about the same time he got home from his interview and we were talking about how it went and how we would pray for patience since it could take a while to find out... As we were talking, he got a phone call.  I saw his face light up and I just knew... They called to tell him he got the job!!!  I can't tell you the emotions I felt... we grabbed each other and I was squealing - haha!  I am so proud of him and excited for this new journey and our future! :)  We both say how undeserving we are of this life and all of our blessings... To God be the glory.  May I also say that I'm pretty excited to be a fireman's  wife.. ;)  

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Last but not least by any means.... Our sweet little Harrison is starting to sleep through the night!!!  I was questioning whether or not he would be a good sleeper but he's turning out to sleep a whole lot like his brother - we can only hope.. :) 

Harrison's Newborn Pics

Harrison was 5 days old when we did newborn pictures.  Our friend, Devin Kuhl took them and he always does a great job.  I told him I definitely wanted them to incorporate what means most to us, that he's a child of God and will be raised in a Godly home.  The pictures of  him laying on the bible and his little foot with the verse are two of my favorites.  I also am in love with the pictures he took with Christian in them.  That wasn't even planned by the way... C was at my moms house and came home to take his nap... we took his clothes off to change him and decided to take a couple since he was also in his diaper and they just turned out perfect.  

New Year - hello 2013

We really wanted to spend New Year's Eve with our babies so that we did.. We went to dinner at Red Barn with some of our family. Christian acted so good and everyone kept commenting on how he doesn't even act like a toddler but more like a little boy. I seriously can't get over how good he is all the time. I'm honestly not trying to make him out to be perfect but he really is!! His sweet personality is precious. Harrison wasn't AS good... lol He didn't cry but he wanted to be held a lot of the time.. He also decided he needed to eat in the middle of dinner even though I fed him right before we left. That was just fine though. :) After we left there we went home for the night and hung out. Christian played and played and we had a lot of fun with him. He usually wants to go to bed early but he stayed up til about 9 or 9:30. We watched Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special like we do every year and barely made it to midnight!

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I have a few resolutions this year... I'm going to try really hard on each of them. I wasn't going to share them on here but I think I'll like going back and reading them someday. So here they are.....

1. I want to work harder on living my life completely for God. Make better decisions, read my bible more, get more involved in our church, and inspire other people to live Godly lives by my actions. It's easier to talk the part than walk the part. I also want to stop being judgmental of others that I feel do that bc that makes me just as bad.

2. I want to unconditionally love my husband passionately no matter what happens (I already do this but it will always be on my list!) I need to stop complaining over silly things and I want to work harder making him feel as special as I think he is!! :)

3.  I want to continue working on spending a lot of time with my boys together and also one on one.  I would like to set aside a night just for Christian every now and then where we just take him somewhere fun and let one of the g-parents keep Harrison.  I want to work with Christian more on teaching him things.. It's so much fun for me to see how much he is learning now, I love it! 

4.  I want to lose weight and get healthy.  I didn't lose all the weight after I had Christian and then got pregnant again so I have some work to do.  I would like to lose about 15 lbs and tone up a lot, but more than anything I just want to live a healthy lifestyle.  I'm guilty of cooking very southern and I would like to start making healthy meals which will also be so beneficial to my family.  We only let Christian drink water and milk and a little juice so I don't know why we put so many bad things in our body.  We need to try harder to live by the same standards.  I'm starting G-fit tonight so I'm really excited to see my results.

Overall I want to be a better christian, wife, mom, daughter, teacher, and friend.

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So, there ya have it! =)  Hopefully this will hold me more accountable and this time next year I will be proud to say I did it!  

 Before NYE dinner

 

I had the most handsome dinner dates ;)

Giving Nana kisses!

 Christian thought this was hiarious... lol

 H having some fun, too.. Waiting to bring in the New Year!

The traditional New Year dinner

C was a huge fan of the black eyed peas - that is one strange toddler.. ha!

Snuggled up with momma - His favorite thing to do!!

Christmas 2012

We had five Christmas get togethers total so this might be a long one... Christmas this year was so much fun, the best one ever!!  I absolutely loved having both boys this Christmas... kids are just so much fun!!  It kind of brings the kid out in us all over again getting to do all the fun traditions with them.  Not to mention, Christian is at such a fun age... I'm sure it will keep getting better and better!  

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Our Christmas celebrations started the Friday before Christmas at our house.  My mother in law, Jon, Chris, Jessica, and Kenlee (my precious niece) came over.  We had so much fun eating, letting the babies play, and opening presents.  There were so many presents everywhere it was covering part of our living room!  Christian's favorite present of the night was a drum... that wasn't his... it was Kenlee's.. lol  So needless to say, they had to leave the drum until we could replace it with his own. ha!  He also got some new cars, which is one of his favorite things right now.. such a boy!  He got a remote control car to which I will confess has been much more fun for mommy and daddy than him.  My mother in law got me a DVD player for my car with dual screens that I'm very excited about... the boys will love those and will make traveling wonderful.  I also got a new beautiful cross from my sister in law to add to our cross wall.. my favorite thing in the house.  Completely changing the subject, but I made candy cane punch that night... really good but tastes just like a candy cane... only so much liquid candy cane you can drink, like a few drinks and that's enough. lol  Probably will never make it again but it was definitely pretty on the table. ;)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next celebration was with my daddy... He came over and we had Christmas with him.  He got Christian his first tricycle and on top of that, it was a Harley!  Super cute and C loved it so much!!  He has been pushing it around and trying to ride it constantly.  It makes cute motorcycle noises that he loves.  It even has a CB on it and he acts like it's a phone... He keeps picking it up and saying "Hello?" haha!  We had a great time eating, opening presents, and visiting!  

On Christmas Eve we went to my brother in law & sister in law's house to eat dinner and open gifts with my father in law.  It's always great spending time with him since we don't get to see him often enough living 4 hours away.  He did recently move to Dallas though which is much closer than San Antonio so we will be making some weekend trips there as soon as H gets a little older.  My brother in law smoked a turkey and it was wonderful!!  It was the first time I ever had smoked turkey and it is by far my favorite now.  Christian was excited to get to see Kenlee again... twice in one week!  We really need to do a better job of getting together more often because we always have such a great time with them and our kids are all so close together in age it will be neat for them to grow up together.  I wish I could talk them into moving to Alma but I don't think that is going to happen. ;)  After we left there we went to our church for the candle light service.  This is our second year to go and by far one of our favorite things we do for Christmas.  It is so peaceful and beautiful in the church.  It's a wonderful time to spend with God and my family.... and this year was the best because all of us were there.  Taking communion each holding a child was a little bit of a challenge but we made it work and it was a very special moment with my sweet family.

When we got home from the candle light service we had a blast playing Santa after we put the babies to bed.  We set out a few of the toys unwrapped and got everything ready for the morning.  We put a "special key" out for Santa since we don't have a chimney with a sweet poem about Jesus.  Santa also made a special delivery Christmas Eve night for the boys... it was a book, "God's Christmas Gift."  We read it to them before bed.  After they went to sleep me and Corey opened our gifts from each other. :) I have to say how sweet and thoughtful he was... he knows I love jewelry from Charming Charlie and he's also heard me say I don't have much gold jewelry so he went there and picked out a bracelet, watch, and necklace that matched perfectly.  He also knew that there was a Jessica Simpson purse I loved at Dillard's and was really sad that they sold out of it so soon and he ordered it... he got me a few other things too and I just thought... how special is he that he never just buys some random gift that he thinks I might like.  He really listens to me and takes time to think about special gifts.   The thought he puts into it means more than any material thing he could ever buy me.  I hope when I read this 30 years from now I can still say the same thing.... that we still make each other feel so special and not just on holidays, but every day.

  

And finally.... Christmas morning was AMAZING!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE holidays with kiddos... there is nothing else that compares.  Christian ran straight to his basketball goal and started playing and then after a few minutes of that he started looking at everything else.  He had fun unwrapping presents and playing with all of his new toys.  Let's be honest though, bird barely woke up enough to take a few pictures. haha!  I failed to put his big Santa present out which was a huge bear that I almost had a panic attack over because I thought it was sold out because I just HAD to have it under the tree for him and what do ya know, I forgot about it and left it in his room! hahaha.. Oh well! :)  After we opened presents we went to my mom's and opened presents with her and Curt and ate a delicious meal she made.  I only got one picture over there because my camera battery died.. boo.  We had a wonderful time though... always love spending time with my sweet momma.  It snowed like crazy and it was pretty much the perfect day!  

Khloe got a few presents, too, of course! ;)  So that was our very busy Christmas 2012... and I'm finally getting this post done weeks later.  Life is very busy these days!