I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We had a wonderful day and thankfully we were mostly healthy. I have had a post in the works for day and hope to get it finished up tomorrow or Thursday. Alysa is almost over her latest and thankfully more mild cold. So my goal is to get back on track with my blogging. I feel so lost, I'm so far behind on my majorly neglected blog as well as my bloggy friends, sister and father.

I have tons of pictures to sort through and post as well!

I hope everyone had wonderful and magical day!

Sick again - Kayla's got a stomach bug now. It's like never-ending these days. Just when I thought we may be healthy for Christmas with my cold the only thing lingering...

Will it be too much to ask that this bug will avoid the rest of us or at the very least make it's way through and finish BEFORE Christmas Eve???

Someone, please stop my 2 year old from getting too big too fast. She's been using the potty. And I mean pooping and peeing. This has been voluntary on her part and I'll even admit mostly for J. Then again, a sick, zomby-like Mommy for 3 weeks probably doesn't instill much motivation. She's now thrilled with the chocolate reward for using the potty - so is Kayla. How can she be getting so big?

And you know it's noticeable if you hear this from your 3 year old...

Kayla - Mommy, Alysa is getting so big. She is growing up."

You think???

**will be back to explain my absence (hint-stomach virus and colds and birthday party)**

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Today, my youngest, my spitfire turned 2. With the odds she beat to come into this world, it still amazes me that she’s here. I am not sure it will every fully sink in that I have her and she’s mine.

She is so full of life and such a funny little girl. She can be so moody and definitely has her independent and defiant streak. But Alysa is also the sweetest little girl and oh so affectionate. Random times throughout the day she will run up to me, throw her arms around my legs and say “I love you Mommy.” In fact, after her birthday party, she looked at my Dad and said “I love you Gramps” and then opened her arms and said “Hug”. She proceeded to do this to my Mom, J and I and repeated the cycle a few times.

She has such fun playing with her sister, but will also sit quietly for long periods of time reading or quietly playing by herself. She would never dream of going to sleep w/o her Taggie and Baby and we would never even try to get her to. She will show her dolls the same love and affection she shows us and every day when Kayla is in school she get so excited to go pick her up.

She’s our baby, yet she’s getting so big. Happy Birthday Alysa – we love you!!!