The older I get the more I realize how fast time goes by, especially around the holidays. Here’s a pro tip to slow Christmas down, decorate your house November 1st. I’m only joking… kind of. Christmas seemed to take forever to get here this year, and then flew right by. 
Every Christmas Eve we spend the majority of the day with my cutie husband’s family. 

This year we had lunch at his parents house. We stopped by my parents on the way over for half an hour just to hug them. (It feels weird if I don’t see them atleast for a second on Christmas Eve). After they loved on the boys we headed to lunch. 

We had sandwiches & chips, peach cobbler & JKMs (what I will refer to the hubs as majority of the time) Grandmama’s chocolate cake. We then opened presents with Grandmama, JKMs parents, brother, sister in law & the boys. Too fun. 

After putting ourselves into a sugar/carb coma we headed home for the boys to nap. 

Christmas Eve night we always go to JKMs  grandparents house with that whole side of the family. We always have lasagna, spaghetti & salad from a local Italian place. This year, Nanny got Nothing Bundt Cakes bundtinis. Amazing. We opened presents and then headed home to get ready for santa. 🙂 

Hannah 

That’s what MKM says when you ask him how old he is. Don’t forget the half, ok? It’s insulting. As are most things to him these days. Bringing brother home has been the highlight of his life. Towards the end of my pregnancy with B he would randomly cry and say, “Need Branson to come home NOW! Need to tiss him!” He’s even more in love with little bro then he initially planned on. He’s also a lot more outspoken these days. I’m really loving it now but fear what will fall apon his preschool teachers ears come September. 

Here are a few of my most recent Mason-isms:

• “Branson is NOT a mailman.”
• When asked to stop ramming trucks into my dishwasher while BKM naps, “I’m just playing. That’s all!”
• When climbing into our bed at 4:30am. “NO TISSES!” 
• “What you sayin’ Mama? What you say?”

I’m fully aware we are quickly approaching the “why?” stage. I can feel it. I’m mostly dreading it because I feel sad I’m not going to ever be able to answer his questions and I’m not real good at coming up with random answers. Just ask him about why every night he asks for a Batman, Robin and Joker bedtime story and they ALWAYS go to the mall to get pretzels. That’s all I got, kid. 

♥ Hannah

Motherhood or “mamahood” as we like to call it here in the south is many things. MANY. Things. 

Growing up, I wanted zero kids. Then one kid, then four kids – back to three kids. After I had Mason, it was immediately known that two would be just fine (if the Lord allowed). It didn’t take me too awful long to get the swing of things with MKM. We bonded instantly. My boy, my fella, my whole world. We spent our days together. Doing whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. Then I got pregnant again. We still continued doing whatever – whenever. Then things got even better.. We found out we were having another boy. Everyone was excited! I would have two boys! Be a boy mama fo’ lyfe! Perfection. We didn’t have to buy much, I had the boy thing down, matching outfits til their eighteen, ball games, no weddings to fund… 

Don’t get me wrong, if Branson would’ve been a girl I still would’ve loved him. I would’ve just started living in fear of his teen years from his first breath. (Girls terrify me and this once upon a time smart mouth teen is not interested in paying for her raising). 

Anyway, you could say I was confident in my “mama skills.” Rookie mistake. As soon as BKM came home from the hospital and MKM was returned to us, I quickly realized I do not have this down. Granted, that was only four weeks ago, but I’ve learned more in those short weeks than I have in years. No lie. 
Mamahood is messy. Most days I do alright to shower. My mama made it look so easy, effortless even. She’s a red headed sorcerer. It isn’t easy. I yell too much, don’t cuddle enough, rewash the laundry 13 times & lose myself daily. That’s exactly where I hope this blog comes in. The biggest lesson I’ve learned in the last 28 days is every mama needs an outlet. This will be mine. 

♥ Hannah 

P. S. Let me explain the title of this here post real quick… My boys names are Mason & Branson. For you non-rural folks, both of their names are also names of tractor companies. Real life, my children are named after tractors. You’re welcome.