Christmas Blessings

I have been in the Christmas spirit more this year than ever! I know a big part of that is due to the gift of Reaves and knowing that we were going to be able to begin to make memories and start traditions for the years to come.  He will get an ornament each year for our tree, we will leave cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, and we will read him the Christmas story from the chapter of Luke! Below I am posting several pictures of Reaves celebrating his first Christmas throughout the month of December. He has been such a blessing to us!

This year we were also blessed with the birth of our niece on Christmas Eve! Tatum Oliva Cataliotti joined the world at 3:03 am early Christmas Eve morning. We are so proud of John and Sara they are going to make the best parents! What a special Christmas gift! We can't wait to hold her and kiss her sweet face!

(Pictures to come)

However the best Christmas gift this year and every year is FREE and will last FOREVER! The birth of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift you will ever receive. I've known this my whole life but the story of Hallie Lynn Green made that gift seem more real to me this year more than ever. Hallie left this world to be with Jesus early Christmas Eve morning. Although I've cried and cried reading her story it has strengthened my relationship with Christ as he has worked on my heart more than ever over the last few weeks.You can read about her story http://thelittlegreenfamily.blogspot.com/ I'm not sharing this story to make you cry because you definitely will cry, but I wanted to share her story this Christmas to encourage you have hope as Hallie's dad Chris says  "Our "Hope for Hallie" is that people would see life as a gift, and draw near to God." Thank you Hallie Lynn Green because of you I see the life of my seven month old son Reaves, my niece Tatum who was born yesterday on Christmas Eve, and all those we know and love as not just a gift but a precious gift, and have drawn closer to God over the last few weeks than I have in a long time!

Hallie Lynn Green (picture from their blog)

A Christmas Blessing

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

November in a Nutshell!

WOW!!!! November has been a super super busy month! Reaves turned 6 months old on November 2nd. He is now weighing in at 16 lbs 12 oz!!!! Where did my 7lbs 6oz baby go? He is Mr. Personality!!!!!!!! He laughs and smiles like crazy and loves looking in the mirror! He is eating bananas, pears, apples, sweet potatoes, and green beans!!!! This boy likes to eat! He loves everything we've given him so far! Joe's parents just gave us the Baby Bullet so we can't wait to start making foods for him! His eyes have definitely turned brown just like his Daddy's, but believe it or not some people are saying he looks a little like me! I'll take it! I do think he has my nose! He is also starting to cut his first tooth and puts EVERYTHING in his mouth! Needless to say we are loving every minute with out little man!

We went down to Wilmington the second weekend in November to celebrate our good friends Will and Claire at their engagement party! They got engaged in New Orleans at Pat O'Briens so we tried to recreate the magic downtown Wilmington with a Pat O'Briens theme! We had a great time! Claire and Will actually introduced Joe and I in college! We will forever be grateful!

I PASSED my National Boards!!!! I am now a National Board Certified Teacher! National Board Certification is achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do. I've spent the last two years along with my good friend Christy working torwards this accomplishment! The word Congratulations has never looked so good! I was a nervous wreck until I checked it the Sunday before Thanksgiving, because the year before I didn't pass. I feel that I am a better teacher for having gone through this process and am looking forward to the 12% pay raise! Yay for teachers and for our students!!!!!

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.  ~Henry Adams

A few teachers decorated my door!

Turkey day was celebrated twice this year! We had lunch at mom's the Sunday before Thanksgiving and then we went down to celebrate with Joe's family in Havelock! We ate and ate and ate and had so much fun with family! We feel especially thankful this year thanks to a sweet baby boy who has blessed our life beyond measure!

Abby, Joey, Reaves, and Kelly

Cousins

The weekend after Thanksgiving was spent up in Woodbridge Virginia to celebrate the Eakes Family Reunion and my great uncle Bob's 80th birthday! We had a blast catching up with all of the relatives! Mom's cousin Sandra and her husband Steve hosted us for a brunch on Saturday and then we enjoyed dinner and dancing later that night at the Country Club! Reaves did really really well and got lots of attention!!!!! I am so thankful to have such a fun and loving extended family! I hope this family tradition goes on indefinitley!

Uncle Bob is 80!

Aunt Mary Lou, Cousin Ashley, Mom, Aunt Kathy, Sister Carla

Mom and Me

Reavsy Boy!

Reavesy Boy is 6 months old!

My granddaddy Hesley used to say "Time waits for no man!" Now I know what he meant!!!! The last 6 months have flown faster than ever before and rank as the best 6 months of my life to date. Sometimes I get a little sad at how fast he is growing.....that he doesn't fit into his little elephant pj's anymore and that we need to put his infant seat up in the attic because he has outgrown it with his 26 1/2 inches long self.

But then I'm quickly reminded of all the stages and ages to come! I really love this age his personality is really starting to shine!!!!! He yells for my attention....sometimes so long that his face turns red! He laughs out loud.....I mean really laughs the belly laugh!

These last 6 months have also taught me a lot about life. I find myself trying to sweat the small stuff a little less. I mean when I walk in the door and I see Reaves grin ear to ear just at the sight of me his unconditional love reminds me of what life is really all about!

are we about done here?

not until I get a few pictures with the Mohawk!

Happy 1/2 birthday Reaves Makinson Cataliotti!



Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and has been since I was little! I love singing witches brew each year with my students, going to the pumpkin patch,trick-or treating, carving pumpkins, roasting pumpkin seeds, eating candy corn, and dressing up!

However this Halloween was the best by far. Even on this cold and rainy night. Joe made a pot of homeade chili and roasted pumpkin seeds! I dressed Reaves up in his cow costume and passed out candy. Joe carved a pumpkin so that we could take pictures of our little pumpkin in a pumpkin! We had so much fun!!!!

He does love his mummy! He just lights up when I walk in a room and seems to be getting more attached to me each day! It's the sweetest thing!

Pumpkin Head

I have been waiting for 6 months to get this picture. My sister-in-law Jackie did this with her first child and I just thought it was the cutest!

Happy 1st Halloween!

He was trying to eat the pumpkin as he does everything! Anything and everything goes in his mouth these days!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Moments with our lil' Pumpkin

I've had the last two weeks off of work to spend with my big and little guy. It has been so so nice being home and having extra time with my boys!

Reaves practiced sitting up!

Started Solid foods! He LOVES sweet potatoes like his Papa!

Watched daddy clean the boat! He loves being outside with his daddy and kicking his legs!

Spent lots of quality time with his mommy loving on him!

Went to church nursery for the first time!

Jumped and Jumped and Jumped in his jumperoo!

Tried to eat his toes! He loves playing with his feet!

My lil' pumpkin went to the farmer's market for some FALL pictures!

Mommy's pumpkin head!

Our baby pumpkin in the baby pumpkins!

He is such a chill baby! He did so good getting his pictures taken!

Reaves and daddy! I heart these two!

Dressed up in his cow costume for Halloween! MOOOOOOOOO

Happy Halloween!

From one sweet little pumpkin!

xoxo

5 Months of Joy!

Definition of Joy: Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness

Our baby boy turned 5 months old on Sunday! The only way I can even attempt to describe how I have felt since he was born on May 2, 2011 is to say I am filled with absolute joy. Not that I don't have "those" days anymore because believe me I do! But.........that little bundle of joy that weighs about 17 pounds who thinks I hung the moon makes me forget about all those little things that don't really matter. He is already teaching me more than I can ever hope to teach him and he can't even talk yet! ha ha 

"In thy presence is fullness of joy."

Psalms 16:11

"When we are centered in joy, we attain our wisdom."

Marianne Williamson

"Joy is a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace - a connection to what matters."

Oprah

"True joy is that which gives us more energy
and makes us feel more alive."

                Robert Puryear

Reaves Cataliotti I feel more alive than ever! Thank you God for this sweet baby boy you have given me to recognize how good things are in my life! We love you baby boy!

Look Whooo's Having a Baby

My sister-in-law Sara is having a baby girl!!!! She is due December 29th and we are so excited. Sara is married to Joe's brother John. Some of her girlfriends threw her the cutest owl themed baby shower a few weekends ago! She was just glowing with her bump! I couldn't be happier for them they are about to know a love like they've never known and Reaves is getting his first baby cousin!

Welcome to the nest Baby Cataliotti

Pretty mommy to be

cute invitation

Reaves dressed the part for the party with his owl outfit!

and got some cuddle time with Aunt Court

All the ladies at the shower!

We are so excited to meet baby girl Cataliotti! We can't wait to find out what they are going to name her! They are keeping it a secret!