The Big 3-0

Jason and I both turn the big 3-0 this month. His birthday was last Saturday and mine is next week...so in honor of our birthdays I just threw both of us a birthday party! I just wanted it to be some laid back fun with some of our friends and it definitely was!
These guys we have known for forever! Half of them actually helped build our back deck so it was only right that we finally had a party where we got to sit out there and enjoy it! Two of my sweetest friendships. I am thankful for Kim and Lisa and the long lasting friendship we share!

Ashley takes the friend of the year award. She offered to make our birthday cake and I then asked for a three tiered cake and she was willing to make me one. Then when I came to my senses I realized I didn't need a three tiered cake but just the fact that she would have done that for me makes her the best!! But we all still enjoyed Ashley Macs strawberry cake!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet husband. And don't worry I am not letting my birthday pass without some noise...I turn 30 on March 30th....its my GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Always Playing Catch Up

We are a little behind on technology over here at the Brantley casa! I believe that our hand-me-down lap top is a little outdated on software because it won't open or pull up anything anymore including our own blog! So I am finally getting around to updating the blog from Jason's computer. So here is our life over the last month or more....WARNING, this could be long and in no chronological order.

One of Kate's teachers was out at the Mercedes race watching her son when she saw me come by and took pictures of me. I thought that was so sweet and she actually got a lot of good ones. I am proud of this picture because this is mile 12.5 and I am still smiling!
My sweet friend Ashley McMakin cooked a fabulous Valentines dinner for us. It was a sweet night of fellowship with dear friends and scrumptious food and NO KIDS!

Kate is quite the diva. Back in January when it snowed she so wanted to go out and play but then hated when she would get snow on her shoes or gloves! Cutest part was when she saw the snow she lit up and yelled "mommy its christmas!"

This little fella was all smiles in the snow!

Clearly I am objective, but could he be any cuter?

Kate dresses up like a princess almost everyday! Then she proceeds to sing about her being a princess... its always entertaining around here.

My mom and I took Kate to the circus when it came in town. Kate was in awe and it was really cute to watch. My mom offered to buy Kate a toy and of course Kate picked the $25 wand!!

We went up to visit my brother Michael and his family while they are living in the north GA mountains. After the roadtrip up I thought we would never travel with the kids again... I think we had crying 3.5 of the 4 hours we were in the car! But we had a blast and laughed more then I had in a long time. And the kids had a blast chasing each other and playing all day.

I am still spending most of my time running as I had so much fun at the Mercedes race that now we have a group of girls heading to Nashville in April to run the Country Music Half Marathon. I also have cleaned off the dust on my sewing machine and have been sewing some bubbles for Whit and dresses for Kate for spring/summer. And the weather has been so beautiful that the majority of our afternoons are spent outside playing with all the neighborhood kids.

UPDATE: Most of you know that over a year ago Kate potty trained. But pooping has continued to be an issue for us. These past six months I knew she understood and was so frustrated with her when she couldn't keep her panties clean or she would go so frequently to the potty that it was annoying/inconvienent. I finally hit my breaking point and took her to the doctor. As I sat there and cried and told him that if he told me that all I needed to do was take away something she cherised I was going to scream. I told him that it had to be something more. So the doctor ordered an x-ray of her tummy and it came back that she is so full of poop its not even funny. Her little intestines and colon are so backed up that we are having to go see a pediatric GI to figure out how to best "clean her out." So poor thing has been like this for who knows how long and I feel horrible now about getting so mad when the whole time she couldn't control it. The doctor said until she gets this fixed there is no possible way that she could be successful with potty training. We are just glad to have answers and be working our way to a solution!

13.1 Miles

After running 13.1 miles yesterday I am more then pleased with my time!!!
2 hours 3 minutes 11 seconds
9:25/mile pace

My goals were to run the entire 13.1 miles and to finish with a pace under 10 minute/mile. I accomplished both!!

Lisa and I have been friends for over 25 years. So it was really fun when I talked her into training for a half marathon with me. However it ended up being that she was the motivator to keep going and actually reach this goal I had. So after training for months together and meeting at 6am in 20 degree weather we finally accomplished our goal yesterday at the Mercedes Half Marathon!

Lisa is a faster runner then I am but for whatever reason I was able to pick it up at the end of the half marathon and Lisa and I eneded up finishing together. It was fun to think that we trained all the this time together and then we got to finish together.

Jason, Kate, my parents, and my good friend Kristen came out to support me and it meant so much! It was an absolutely beautiful day and the race was so much fun that I am signing up for Nashville's Country Music Half Marathon in April!!

Tomorrow is the big day...

Tomorrow is the big day!! I will wake up way earlier then I have in months and head downtown to run my first half marathon! My friend Lisa and I have been training for months and now finally we will go out and run 13 miles. For whatever reason I am a little nervous but the reality is whether I run it all or walk it all I will have gone 13 miles and that is an accomplishment in itself.

So I will be back to let you know how it goes and will hopefully have some pictures where I won't look like I am dying!! I also am so behind on posting, so maybe I will get some pictures up of the snow, the circus, dinner with friends and so much more!

9 Months

Seriously? This year is going by way too fast! It was just yesterday that Whit was a tiny little baby!! :(

His 9 months stats are:

Weight 21 pounds

Height 28 inches

Whit just got his first tooth last week and the second one is coming in any day. He is quite the cranky one with teething. He continues to be everywhere. His new thing is getting into the kitchen cabinets and pulling stuff out so we are baby proofing the house tomorrow. He has conquered the stairs so the gate is going up too. I just gave him Cheerios for the first time this past week and he loved them so I need to start letting him try real food more!

He is such a joy!

I Believe in Auburn and LOVE it!

Not going to lie....this was a lot of fun!!!! WAR EAGLE!

Let me say that after seeing the Grand Canyon I am in awe of our creator. The Grand Canyon is really an amazing site and I was just in awe at the sheer size and beauty of this place.

Hopefully this won't be a once in a lifetime trip! I hope to be going to more National Championships in the future!!!

8 Months

Whit is 8 months old today! I can only imagine how much he weighs as he is not missing any meals! He is still a great baby and just as happy as he can be. However, I have never seen so much drool come out of one person before in my life!! His motor skills are impressive. He crawls everywhere, pulls up on everything and is now learning that he can get around upright while he is holdng on to tables and such.

Kate is really sweet with him....starting to play a little more rough now that he is getting bigger but will she be in for it when he is bigger then her! But pretty much life is just getting into a little bit more of routine since Whit is finally a good sleeper at night and is taking good naps during the day. I am still waiting for teeth to pop through those little gums. I have been saying this since he was 5 months old but I swear he is teething! :)

Recap of December Happenings

Instead of doing a lot of different posts I thought I would just try and recap our month of December with a few bullet points and pictures.

We went to zoo light safari with some of our good friends. It was freezing and we barely stayed an hour but Kate loved it.

One of my dearest friends is moving from NC to TX. So I was glad when Shea called and wanted to do a little pit stop in Birmingham. So Shea, Jake and Shea's little sister Kelsi made the road trip here and stayed with us. Shea's family is like my second family so while they were here they got right in on the action. Jake read books to Kate...Kelsi fed Whit his breakfast and protected Kate from the crazy dogs running around all at the same time! I am thankful for these sweet friendships and that it is like no time has passed when we are together.

Whit found the toy stash the other day and his eyes just lit up! You have to imagine that he was thinking "where have these toys been all my life?"

Did I mention that he is ALL OVER THE PLACE???

Tyring to get pictures of the kids in front of the Christmas tree...like I said, trying.

Jason and I took a weekend trip to Orlando early in the month for his company's Christmas party. We left the kids behind and had a really great time. Too bad I brought my camera along but never took it out of my bag to take any pictures!!

We had lots of Christmas parties but one that is dear to me is where a group of my pledge sisters get together for an ornament swap. I don't see the girls that much so it is a sweet time to catch up and spend some good time together.

Christmas Eve and Day were a lot of fun. Kate is a little more tuned in to Christmas and Santa so that was fun. Whit was just into the tissue paper! But here are a few pictures from the day.

Until next year!!

Beautiful Savior

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!
Love,
The Brantleys

Happening Way Too Fast

It still feels like Whit was just born yesterday and should be this little bitty baby. However the fact is that he is 7.5 months now and crawling all over the place and he is even.......pulling up and standing! Really? This is all happening too fast for me!

Kate is a lot of fun these days. Jason and I got her this huge lollipop and it was fun watching her try and eat it! Three year olds crack me up!

It was sweet because she really wanted to help daddy put the star on top of the tree!

Sorry for not posting much. We have been doing the Christmas party stuff and Jason and I just got back from his company's Christmas party in Orlando. So it was a great time away with no kids! But unfortunately I haven't been taking a lot of pictures so not much to post!