Every Single Month

Month 21 was a ton of fun! Between December 17 and January 17 we had a lot of holiday gatherings and to-do’s, but doing life with you two was simply our favorite. This Christmas season we enjoyed you guys fall in love with lights, blow up Santa Clauses and snowmen, and the repeated “ho ho ho’s” that you two said all the day long! Last Christmas you girls just kind of sat there, but this Christmas, you were really into it! On Christmas day, you woke us up like any other day, but out in the living room was a brand new Little Tykes Basketball Hoop from yours truly! We had to laugh though, because the hoop is at a minimum of 4.5 feet, so you little 30 inchers had no clue what to do with it! Mommy says it’s basically my toy for a year until you grow into, and I’m totally cool with that. But I can’t wait until you get bigger so we can play a little two on two!

A few things really stood out this year around Christmas. For starters, each evening we bundled you up and showed you the lights I strung up around the house. Every day we showed you…because you would always point at the door knob and ask. Another fun moment this Christmas was the constant “ho ho ho’s” you two would make at the giant Santa that our neighbor Frank put up. Even though Santa is kind of fun, it’s been a total blast showing you that Christmas is all about Jesus! We spent many evenings praying with you, singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, and you two have learned to say “amen” in the cutest way possible! You basically say “Amy”…but it’s close enough.

Besides Christmas, we partied at the Gardner house one last time for New Year’s Eve! I say we because we technically brought you, but we put you to bed around 7pm, and then your mom and played games with friends and ushered in the new year by singing worship songs with loved ones.

Gracen Things:
Gracen, you love to say “amen” and “tickle tickle”. I basically tickle you every single day because your life is so infectious! So now you’ve started to tickle me, but really it’s just little scratch marks. But I’m sure you’ll sharpen your skills in no time and having me laughing at the gut with our tickle fights. Lately you’ve really taken a liking to Minnie and Mickey Mouse. You love the Mickey puzzle we got you, and love assembling and disassembling it. You also love bouncy balls, and losing bouncy balls. Your favorite food is still mine too (mac and cheese). You’re truly daddy’s girl! I love how lovely you are towards your mommy and I. You’re such the cuddler, we love it.

Gwen Things:
Gwen, you love to cut a rug! All we have to do to get you groovin’ is to put on some funky beats on the iPad and you’re movin’! You’ve also grown an affection to babies. Your nanny bought you a baby doll, and you love to pretend to feed it your food and give her your sippy cups. You also love giving her sloppy kisses! You also love mac and cheese, but you’re a little more willing to try out other foods than Gracen. You even tried bell pepper and you loved it!

Both of you are so fun to raise and nurture. We love showing you two our love and affection. We know there will be times of discipline and tantrems, in fact we’ve already encountered those, but we love you through it all, and it’s a blessing to teach you and show you to love God in all that you two do.

” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)