22 Months Vlog Style

You are 22 months.
In 2 short months you will be TWO!
And we will have 2 kids...ummm can you say crazy?!

Filling out Aunt Meg's Shoes!

This month I am trying something different. You are so full of life, spunk and personality I thought I would share it with the world. So here is my first Vlog "Watch Me Grow" post. A big thanks to daddy for editing it all together. We tried to keep it short, but there is oh so much more I wanted to add. I think I am going to be posting a lot more videos of all your cuteness from here on out.

So enjoy.

Leighton 22 Months Vlog from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.

Character Traits:
You have one of the most tender, sweet and sensitive hearts I have encountered. At your young age you already express empathy towards others. This is a character trait that no one can really teach or learn, you just possess it. I pray no one EVER damages this trait in you. May your heart always be tender towards others.

My favorite example.
*I am in pre-term labor (more on that later), but when I am contracting really bad and practically in tears, you will come lay down by mommy and give me kisses, even when all you want is for me to do something for or with you. It means so much to me every time I see that display of compassion towards me.

There are no words for the cuteness below.

However, you are a toddler and everything is M-I-N-E! (or Lei Leis). We are working on sharing currently, which you sort of get a least in the short term.

*I have been trying to get you to nap in your toddler bed, so I stay in there until you fall asleep. One afternoon you handed me your beloved poodle blankie and said "share." Then about 3 minutes later you took it back and said "mine." Hey it's a start. :)

Verbal:
I wish (and I tried my darnedest) to get you to say all the new words you are saying on the video. You are finally getting very verbal and able to say lots more things. However, part of the problem is lots of the words sound very very similar. So I am thanking myself for teaching you all these new sign languages, without them our communication would be so difficult. I rely on those signs to dictate for me what you are saying.

Miscellany/ Quirky Things:
Whenever I do something wrong {which is hardly ever ;) } you yell "Maaammmaaaa!!"

You are getting an imagination. And I love it. I am a highly imaginative person, and love to make up stories and songs. So watching you be imaginative is exciting. You play tea party with your babies, you play chef in your little kitchen {Santa, I need an upgrade ;)}, and princess castle (your little people dollhouse) and dress up.

Every night she sets up her bath time "bar."

Carrying ALL 5 of her babies

One of her tea parties with her babies.

Your new favorite song is Airplanes by B.O.B and Hayley Williams ::ahem, thanks Aunt Meg:: She will sign and say "airplane" in the car over and over until I play it. And then once it is over she insists on playing it again and again.

Story time w/ our bestie JuJu. Those two will melt your heart every time.

Well, I will leave it at that. You are my sweet little girl and I love you plain and simple.

Christmas Tour

Here is a tour of my Christmas decor this year. Pretty much the same as last year, so a bit of a recycled post.
I am usually fairly bah humbug about Christmas, but after having Lo she has changed all of that. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning everyday. I love seeing the joy on her face everyday when we turn on the tree or do the advent calendar. It is just plain magical.

Anyway, on to the tour:

These are my Christmas Angels that my Grandmother and Grandfather made me. I just love and cherish them so much!

I heart snowmen...in case you couldn't tell. :)
(please excuse the junk in the back...forgot to move for the pic :( ).

The miniature Christmas trees are from my Jan winter wonderland wedding.
(Nearly 7 years ago!!! WHOA!)
We found these trees for $1.99 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby that year and just went to town flocking and spraying glitter all over them. They are one of my favorite things!

These are our stockings that my mom knitted. Somewhere along the line a relative knitted one for each new child with their name and birth year. My mom has picked up the tradition to ensure all her family and grandbabies have one. And yes, even our dogs have stockings (only they are store bought :) ).

And now the tree.

This picture does NOT do our tree justice. I think our tree is so beautiful lit up at night! It just sparkles. We use ~6-700 mini lights and then ~100 big bulb lights as garland.

I then add these glitter tree sticks (again from my wedding, nearly 7 years ago!!!!) to make it look like frost has landed on my tree.

Last year I found my cousin's beaded snowflakes from her Jan winter wonderland wedding and added them and man does it make the tree sparkle even more. I heart sparkle and glitter. :)

I love the icy look. Plus, as an added bonus the tree decor matches the rest of the upstairs in color and theme...not that I planned that or anything ;)

Now Lo felt like the Tree needed a little something extra this year. ;)

Now I know this may be stupid to some, but I L-O-V-E my tree skirt!
I never want to buy myself anything, but fell in love with this skirt. I thought it was way too much money at the time, but my husband insisted I get it (and not wait for the after Christmas sale) and every year I get it out I so thankful to him for getting it for me, just something little I cherish.
And of course the model is pretty dang cute too! :)

My special ornaments.

Yes, my dogs each have a "Puppy's First Christmas" Ornament.

Lo's First Christmas Ornament.

I bought this long before I thought of babies. Now that we have Lo each Christmas Eve we write a letter to Santa and leave it in this pouch and then Santa always leaves a letter back to open on Christmas morning...sort of a spin off a Christmas tradition from my childhood.

Have I told you Chad and I will be married 7 years in Jan? ;)
Our Wedding Ornament, in no less than snowmen.

Finally the entire reason for the season.
The Nativity scene.
Our is the Willow Tree collection. You will find Willow Tree people all over my house. I love how they capture moments so beautifully.

I can't wait to get more ideas and see how everyone else decorates! It is such a fun season.

Merry Christmas!

Now go check out other homes with The Nester, and Kelly's Korner.

Momma Needs One of These

I think this is so funny. All chores should be decided like this.