5 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

Today is Day 5 of Bryan's 12 Days of Christmas...

5 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

(in no particular order)

1.  He loves me unconditionally.  No matter what craziness I do or say, he still loves me.  I could not ask for a better husband.

2.  He is the father of my children.  I would not choose anyone else in the world that I want to have kids with.  I love Callie Grace and the wonderful combination of us that makes her special.  I can't wait to meet the new baby and see his/her personality!

3.  Every single day he comes home excited to see me and Callie.  No matter what happened in his day, he sets that aside and is a wonderful husband and father.  He wants to engage with us, talk to us, play with us, and be present - physically, mentally, and emotionally.  He is active and involved in every aspect of our family and in raising Callie.

4.  He still makes me laugh.  He sings loudly without caring what anyone thinks just because a song popped into his head.  He tells completely ridiculous jokes.  He laughs so loud while he is watching TV and even at the movie theater.

5.  He is the spiritual leader of our family and he takes that role very seriously.  I am so proud to have a husband who wants to step up and lead our family in a Godly way.  He loves the Lord more than anything else, and is always wanting his relationship with Christ to grow and working on that relationship.  He studies and learns how to be a better husband, father, and man, and that means the world to me.  

I love you, Bryan!

 

Fall in Clemson

Game 5: NC State

November 17

Fall in Clemson is such a beautiful time of year!  The leaves are so colorful, and the temperatures are lovely...during the day.  We had a great time at the lake house with the whole Cranston clan (minus Aunt Lauren who had to work), the Pages, Pattersons, and Shorts.  

Callie had a great time at tailgate hanging out with Paw Paw (don't you love her hat?!)

and getting lots of kisses from Auntie Em.

Callie watched the entire game in the stadium - which was a new record!  She sleep in Gigi's lap for most of the second quarter.  Who can sleep in the middle of 86,000 screaming fans?

Homecoming in Clemson

Game 4: Maryland
November 10

This year for Clemson's homecoming weekend, Mama D and I drove up early on Friday morning to take Callie to see all of the floats.  We also were motivated to make it to Monterrey's for lunch.  We got to see Auntie Em and walk around Bowman to look at all of the floats. 

This one was Callie's favorite.  The Tiger was enormous!  (Sorry his head is cut off.)

Tailgate was as much fun as always.  Callie hung out in her little chair and had some lunch.

Got lots of love from all the family, including Uncle Danny and Aunt Lauren.

And we took an "old timers" picture.  How sad is that - we are the "old timers"!  I do not think I appreciate being called that.  :)  It was great too see everyone!

Auntie Em officially has a boyfriend - Devin - and Callie is in love!  

After the game, Callie celebrated the Tigers win!

Little Tiger

Trick or Treat!

Who wouldn't want to give candy to this sweet face?

Callie Grace was a tiger (what else would we dress her up as?) for her first experience with Trick or Treating.

She was so excited to walk around the neighborhood and was talking to everyone.

She walked half way down the street yelling for Brantley (which really sounds like Baabbaa).

We stopped at Billy and Amanda's house to pick up her friend Brantley, and of course get some candy.

By the end of the night, she was a happy girl as long as she was holding on to her bucket!

Shots! Shots! And More Shots!

Callie's 15 month appointment was quite the experience!  When we started walking back to the room, I think she knew what was coming, and she was not happy.  She had to get 5 shots (yes 5!) and she did not like it one bit!  I did give her a lollipop though to help calm her down, and that she loved.

Weight: 20 pounds 12 ounces

(18th percentile)

Height: 29 inches

(12th percentile)

Head Circumference: 17 1/2 inches

(7th percentile)

She is my little peanut!

Who loves frozen yogurt :)

Callie eats anything you give her, and I feel like she eats a lot!  Her PawPaw teases her and asks her, "Where does it all go?!"  She sleeps great at night, and still takes two naps a day.  In the morning she is in the bed from 10:30-12 and in the afternoon she sleeps from 3-5.  She talks all the time, and a few of the words we can understand.  Callie can say hi, bye, Bear, Mom, Dad, PawPaw, Em, up, and probably others that I can't think of right now.  

She is growing up so fast!

Pumpkins

Last week, Callie and I, along with Carrie and her three little ones, and Amanda and Brantley, went to Cahills for lunch and then let the kiddos play in the hay and pumpkin patch.

Callie had fun trying to figure out how to climb on the hay, and with a little help, she made it to the top.

She picked out a great pumpkin.  And even though she tried, she could not pick it up.

She paused for a photo shoot with Brantley...

...and to give Aliza a hug.

This is what happened when we tried to take a picture of all five kids...

...but overall it was a fun day at Cahill's!

Big Sister!

Callie Grace is going to be a big sister!  (And doesn't she look thrilled about it haha!)  Baby Coker #2 is due on May 18, and we are so excited!

Game 3: Virginia Tech

October 20

We told our families the exciting news the week of the Virginia Tech game, and Callie wore her Big Sister shirt to the game.

We took our annual family picture at tailgate...

She also had picture time with Mama D and PawPaw...

and of course her aunts...

Callie made it through the whole game in the stadium this time!  She loved cheering the Tigers as the ran down the hill and was dancing with the band.

By the time the third quarter came around though, she was exhausted.  Who can sleep in the middle of 86,000 yelling fans??

Another win for the Tigers makes us 6-1.  And we have a few weeks at home before 3 home games in a row in November.  We will rest up and be ready for the last 3 games!

Llamas and Goats and Horses, Oh My!

On the one weekend that we were actually home this fall, Bryan and I took Callie to Lawton Stables in Sea Pines to see the animals.  Callie loves animals, and it was fun to watch her get excited to see them. Some of them she wanted to pet, and some she really did not want to get too close.

They have a deer named Callie that will let you touch her.  Callie Grace didn't really know what to think about that; she held on to Daddy pretty tight.

She did however like to touch the goat...

and the donkey.

She thought the llama was weird...don't you love this face?

And she loved the horses!

Fun family day at the animal farm!

The Rest of our Days

So what do we do besides go to Clemson for football games?  Here are a few things that keep us busy during the weeks of October (in no particular order).

Seeing how many Cheerios she can fit in her mouth at one time...

Reading books...

Gymnastics every Thursday...

Being a cutie...

Falling in Home Depot and getting a huge bump on her head...

Cheering for HHCA Eagles at Homecoming... 

(She actually enjoyed the Tiny Eagles Cheerleaders at halftime more than the football.)

Loving on Mom...

Taking a lot of walks - even when it is cold...

Falling off the chair to hit the corner of the table...

(I did not enjoy this day.)

Eating out at Firehouse with her friend Brantley...

Going to the park...

Learning with Aunt Debbie...

Swinging in Beaufort...

Visiting the grandparents in Hartsville...

...and making her "fishy face".

Gotta love it!