"I can not believe we were that good" Christmas Post

This was such a wonderful Christmas. The best in a very long time. There is nothing like witnessing Christmas through the eyes of a child. I was just plain giddy by the time Christmas arrived.

(note: click on the pictures to view them larger.)

On Christmas Eve we spent the day at my mother-in-law's. We had yummy lasagna, opened presents and then headed out to our church for Christmas Eve service! It was amazing. Lo joined us for the service and she was so good. She loved all the lights and music. Once we got home we got ready for Santa to come and visit! This was a surreal moment for Chad and I because we just looked at each other after Lo went to bed and said "we are Santa now...weird." Of course, then we promptly scarfed down the sugar cookies.

(picture note: It was my Christmas wish for Lo to start walking by Christmas...sadly while we are oh so close we are not walking yet...New Year's?!?! Also, that stocking she is in was the stocking the hospital gave Rachel to bring Chad home in...pretty neat!)



Christmas Morning we got up and around and had our little family Christmas. Leighton didn't seem too excited about her gifts...she was most thrilled w/ her $3 puzzle we got her...out of all she received. Kids.
Then we headed over to my parent's for the day. It was so fun watching the girls play and interact! They just love each other. Melissa had made the girls these matching onesies...aren't they cute?!

What a difference a year makes?!!

A few of our favorite gifts:

I made this KU shirt for Meg...she really liked it. Somehow (against our better judgement :) HA!) she has decided to attend KU in the fall. No just kidding we are excited for her!

Chad and his Sproles jersey...I think this made his Christmas!

I got this cool watch. Chad is AWESOME at gifts. I mentioned during the movie "Blindside" that I wanted a cool watch like Sandra Bullock had and he delivered!
(We were doing a 4-Gen pic her on Chad's side)

Well, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! And I hope the New Year brings you great things!

10 Months

Sigh.
10 months old.
A year ago I was big and pregnant wishing I could hold my sweet little girl in my arms.
Now she is here and making this Christmas one of the best I have experienced.

Happy 10 Months Leighton

Here are all the fun and crazy things you are up to this month:

*You are starting to say "da-da", "bye", "bah" whenever you see the dogs, and on occasion say "ma-ma"

*You "sing" along to songs. As soon as you can talk and sing I am sending you to Jendy for voice lessons :)

*You dance to music. Especially, when the pop-tart commercial comes on. You stop whatever you are doing to look up and start to boogie.

*You climb UP the stairs.

*You throw your toys and mostly importantly the ball for the dogs (as promised in this post ;) ).

*You give us your toys, food and sometimes kisses when asked.

This is your bed head. I am excited b/c you have to have HAIR for that! :)

*You still aren't walking on your own, but bolt around the furniture and on your walker like a pro. Although today you took 1 tiny step (twice) before falling. I am hoping for a Christmas miracle. It is all I want for Christmas...for you to walk!

*You had your first overnight stay with mommy and daddy for a small group retreat. This resulted in you sleeping in a tiny twin bunk bed with you just so you would sleep. You are not a fan of the pack 'n play evidently. A very tiring, long night for mommy. Although I did love waking up next to you and snuggling you all night...sometimes sleep is a tad over-rated. ;)

*Finally you are almost weaned.

Our very 1st bottle together.

This is a decision that didn't come lightly. I planned on nursing until you were a year. However, with your recent weight loss caused by my decreased milk supply I had limited choices. It was sad at first but I am loving it now.

We did go to the Dr. today to do a weight check to see if you had gained. The verdict:

Your 10 month stats are:
Wt: 15lbs 40z Ht: 26 in

So you have gained (up about 11oz)! Yay! Just another of many affirmations of my decision to wean.

It also means daddy can help more and it allows him some much needed bonding time with you. You even hold your own bottle.

*This month we celebrate your first Christmas and I can't wait.

I have never laid under the tree and looked up at all the lights? Am I weird do other people do this. It was neat and sort of peaceful. Go on try it.

We love you sweet girl. You are growing up to be a beautiful and delightful little girl. I look forward to seeing your big smile every morning. Happy 10 Months!

Praying for the Johnsons

Please pray for this great family. They are due with their second baby, a little girl in March. Julie is about 26 weeks pregnant and experiencing pre-term labor.
Please check out their blog for specific prayer requests and updates. I just want as many people covering them in prayer over the coming weeks and months.

Zephaniah 3:17 -
The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

From Our Family to Yours

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Show Us Your Life: Christmas Decor Edition

Well, it is Friday and time for another edition of Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner. This week Christmas decor!

We decorate right after Thanksgiving, so we can enjoy all our hard work for a few weeks before it goes back into our teeny tiny storage room.

This year we had a tiny helper. Lo did so good, I was impressed I could still decorate with her "helping."

Showing her, her "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.

Here is the finished product.

Enjoy!

Christmas angels my grandpa and grandma made for us.

I heart snowmen...in case you couldn't tell. :)
(please excuse the junk in the back...forgot to move for the pic :( ).

The miniature Christmas trees are from my Jan winter wonderland wedding.
We found these trees for $1.99 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby that year and just went to town flocking and spraying glitter all over them. They are one of my favorite things!

These are our stockings that my mom knitted. Somewhere along the line a relative knitted one for each new child with their name and birth year. My mom has picked up the tradition to ensure all her family and grandbabies have one. And yes, even our dogs have stockings (only they are store bought :) ).

The Christmas tree.
This picture does NOT do our tree justice. I think our tree is so beautiful lit up at night! It just sparkles. We use ~6-700 mini lights and then ~100 big bulb lights as garland.
I then add these glitter tree sticks (again from my wedding) to make it look like frost has landed on my tree. This year I found my cousin's beaded snowflakes from her Jan winter wonderland wedding and added them and man does it make the tree sparkle even more.
I love the icy look. Plus, as an added bonus the tree decor matches the rest of the upstairs in color and theme...not that I planned that or anything ;)

This year's most important ornament!

Finally the entire reason for the season.
The Nativity scene.
Our is the Willow Tree collection. You will find Willow Tree people all over my house. I love how they capture moments so beautifully.

I can't wait to get more ideas and see how everyone else decorates! It is such a fun season.

Merry Christmas!

¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

The After Thanksgiving Post

Well, we are all 5 pounds heavier and had fun celebrating our 1st Thanksgiving with Leighton!

Thanksgiving Day family pic that was accomplished in TWO takes!

First up my grandparents house where my grandpa got up at 2am to start smoking a turkey. Crazy!
This may be our last Thanksgiving with my great grandma so it was nice to spend a little extra time with her.
Not sure why we wait until the end of people's lives to spend that extra time...
Leighton is in love with Thanksgiving food. (Not her momma's daughter...I could totally skip the holiday and be fine! HA!) She beat her tray and cried when her plate was empty. It was really funny. Can't wait until Christmas!




Next up Grandma Rachel's.
We had ham.
Leighton had just as much fun at this meal too! This girl loves her food! HA!

Bring on the food~ I am ready!

This is the FIRST bottle I have ever been able to personally give Lo!
A Kodak moment for sure!

Overall, a fun a festive holiday.
Babies make it so much more fun!
Bring on Christmas!!

A little preview.

Ps. 100

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalms 100

While Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday (not a fan of the food really), the concept is not lost on me. Taking time out from our hectic lives to stop and remember and enjoy all the things we are thankful for is truly what it is all about.

I/we have many blessings to be thankful for and give God the praise. Here are just a few on my short list this year.

• Our families being close and such an amazing support system.

• My husband, the list is ennumerable, but I am truly thankful for him working so hard so I can be home with our daughter.

• My beautiful daughter. I had waited for her for a long time. I can not begin to imagine our lives without her. She is my biggest blessing this year.

• 

• Our Church and church family and friends.
• Our pups they bring such joy to our home and family.

• And the basics like a warm home, cars, food on the table, and our health.

Again this is just my short list. God is and continues to be so good to our family!

What are you thankful for this year?

~Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!~