Christmas 2012

I have been through many stages of Christmas in my life and I have to admit nothing compares to celebrating Christmas with your own kids.  I feel like there is that stage in between your own childhood Christmases and your children's Christmases where maybe the sparkle fades a little.  The anticipation isn't there and it almost feels like any other day. I am so happy to be in this stage of life and seeing Christmas' through M's eyes. 

This Christmas M's Nama came to visit and stayed with us through Christmas morning, and it was a really great time.  We did a lot of playing and of course Nama M her Christmas gift a few days early- a nice white convertible power wheel.  M loves anything that has to do with "going", "cars" and being outside, so this was a hit.  We learned quickly we are still a little young to drive it alone as our feet do not quite reach the pedals, but "Colly" (our friend across the street) was more than happy to give her a ride around.  M loves "Colly" and his brother "carty".

M was very excited this year when we pulled out her Nativity this Christmas, and just loves "baby Jesus".  

All dressed for Christmas Eve mass and ready to deliver Christmas presents to her Aunts and Uncles. At Christmas Mass to get M to be quiet we would say "Shhhh, baby Jesus is sleeping...".  The best part is when leaving Mass, M screams out to the congregation "bye baby Jesus!!", multiple times! I just love my girl to pieces.

I will never forget the look on her face when she walked into the living room and saw all of the goodies Santa and family had brought her.  I remember thinking it does not matter that I didn't capture that face on camera because it has forever been etched into my heart.

Santa and family spoiled M this year....

M had this look on her face all morning, "this is all mine???"

The aftermath...

M even got her very first snow on Christmas Day!!

I was lucky to have to only work 2 days between Christmas and New Years so I got to enjoy plenty of play time with my girl.  We did a lot of hanging out, napping and eating.  A week off work with this girl is still not enough!

Calling Meme!

Movie watching, cuddling and napping!

We re-decorated the tree, a zillion times....

And we devoured some pizza.

This was my favorite Christmas to date.  I can only imagine what next year will bring.

Santa's Village

Over the weekend we took M to Santa's village and she had so much fun.  This is one of those things I had dreamt of doing with my children since we first discovered it 5 years ago!  I love comparing the holidays as she grows.  She just wants to be a part of everything these days!

Although we did not meet Santa that night, M really thought the fact that she received a cookie from Mrs. Claus was pretty awesome!

Thanksgiving

Before I start to post about all of the wonderful Christmas festivities going on in our house, I want to back track and recap Thanksgiving.

This year was our first year to visit Brent's family in Little Rock for the holiday.  We had a wonderful time, and I have to admit Arkansas is a beautiful place to be during the fall.  The trees are beautiful! 

We have so much to be thankful for always and our life truly is a blessing.

Madison and Nama

Brent was gifted a new 4 wheeler from his grandfather.  To say he was excited is an understatement.
Apparently M really loves to 4 wheel as well!

Daddy and M testing out the new 4 wheeler.

"Rocky"

For the past 3 weeks M will not go to bed without me rocking her.  This is not the norm.  For the past year we would just give her kisses and hugs, tell her "night night" and lay her down.  I'm not sure why the sudden interest in rocking or "rocky" as she cries out in the night.  I think she knows that changes are on the horizon.  I had even planned on moving the rocker out of her room at Christmas to make room for her new kitchen.  Now I'm not sure that will happen.

At first I was kind of frustrated, but that feeling did not last long, as I remembered the last time she let me rock her to sleep.  She wasn't but 7 months old when she didn't want to rock anymore- it was a smooth and easy transition.  Last night, I didn't want to put her down.  The way I was holding her and the way her blanket was laid across her I kept having flashbacks of the day she was born.  Everyone says infancy goes by so fast, but what they don't say is how easy it is to forget what it was like.  It is hard to think back to what it was like when M was only a few days/weeks/months old.  Sure I remember the emotions, but it is all a bit blurry.  They say to live in the moment with your children, and I really believe I do, but last night as I sat there rocking her, even long after she had fallen asleep I couldn't help but wonder how much is enough to let it all soak in, was the 30 minutes I rocked her enough, did I need to rock an hour, or in reality can you never really take it all in.  I could have stayed with her all night, but eventually she started to stir and I knew it was time to lay her down in her crib.  I know that last night I truly lived in the moment as I took a deep breathe and let the time, her sweet smell and love wash over me.

 



October

October was a lil crazy in our house.  Each one of us was extremely sick for a week's time! I absolutely hate when M is sick because I just feel so bad for her.  She would get sick in the middle of the night so I would rush in to help her and she would look at me with these confused, sweet, sad eyes and I just wanted to cry with her- and I might have, a little...

Luckily it is November and Thanksgiving is just a few days away. But first, we will recall Halloween around our house.  Last year M was only 9 months old and didn't really understand what was going on, so this year she had more fun with it.  We still didn't do much of any "trick or treating", but we visited family and sweet neighbors.  We also visited a pumpkin patch for the very first time and M really enjoyed it! This will definitely be a yearly tradition!

Our first stop for Trick or Treating- Meme's house!! I kept telling M, "take your pumpkin to meme and she will give you a treat".

 

When she discovered that she received "om n oms" (M&Ms) for this she was delighted!!

 



Taking pictures of 20 month old is the most difficult thing ever.  She will not sit or

stand still for 2 seconds!!

M's 1st Razorback Game

A few weeks ago I took M to her very first Razorback game! Well, I wasn't brave enough to take her to the game, but only to tailgate.  She had a lot of fun and of course got so many compliments from the college girls on her adorable attire.  I felt so bad that the hubby did not get to be a part of the day, but with his job it unfortunately comes with the territory.  Our beloved Razorbacks do not appear to be doing their best this season, but we will continue to cheer them on!

Kristin and I had a blast taking the girls to the game! Although, it is much different tailgating with a kid than before it was still fun and eventful all the same.

It is always a great time when I get so see my brother and M loves her "bubba"!

 

I love that she had a blast and rocked her Razorback sticker all day!

The Words M Says

I want to take the time to write down everything M is saying, because her vocabulary is really growing.

• Moma
• Dada
• Bella
• Lala- for Aunt Laura
• Mimi
• BaPaw- we were aiming for PawPaw but M decided this is more appropriate
• Sissy- for Aunt Lizzy
• Ta- for Uncle Tom
• Bowl
• No, No, No
• Stop
• Om N Om- for M&M
• Up
• Down
• Outside
• Bye Bye

And most likely my favorite thing she is currently doing: When you say "I love you" to her, she blows you a kiss and says "Love You". 

Melts my heart every time!

I'm sure I'm leaving a couple off, but every word she says is just the sweetest sound ever.