Christmas Eve

Our Christmas eve tradition is for moi to cook a few pies while daddy and Brody play, and then we all get ready to hangout with my immediate family and attend the candlelight service at church to celebrate the real 'reason for the season.' We decided to open presents before church, this year. AND it goes like this......

Someone got a rocking horse from Santa

Opening ALL his gifts
"Humm...what's this"

"maybe I can try to climb on it"

"yep!"

Posing with my stocking and Lolly & Pops

Everyone wanted a picture with me

L.O.V.E my Lolly

From my parents house, we went to the candlelight service at our church. Brody stayed with us during "big church" for the first time. I was nervous, but he did great! After church, we went back to my parents house to eat my mom's homemade lasagna. Delish'.

More about Christmas, later.....

Christmas Party'n

Last Sunday night was our Church's Christmas party. It was past Brody's bedtime so we were exiting the building to head home when we ran into Santa and Mrs. Claus. :) They were coming to see all the kids at church, and kindly stopped to take a picture with us.

"Hummm....isn't there something different about you, this time??"

Posing with Mr. and Mrs. Claus



Next up was Brody's teachers Christmas breakfast at school, then my Faculty Christmas party at school, after that my class Christmas and Brody's class Christmas party. Oh, and our small group Christmas party at church. Also, Justin got to spend time with his "little brother" that he mentors and give him a Christmas goodie.


AND then.....Today........


Today we had Christmas with my mom's side of the family. As always, it was a blast [shout out to my Aunt Tina and Aunt Peggy who read the blog! Love y'all]. Brody got to open his first big Christmas gift. Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short because baby boy started running a fever.







Let's just say, I hope how he unwrapped gifts today does not foreshadow what will be our Christmas this year; the child TOOK HIS PRECIOUS TIME. Carefully, he ripped and examined every inch of that gift.

Bub Meets Santa

One of the girl's Justin works with is a member of the Junior league of Little Rock, so he surprised Brody and I with a pass to their Holiday House Christmas Wonderland.

[Side note: I was the baby/little girl that was screaming, crying and throwing my arms out for someone to release me from that crazy old man. I've heard these stories over and over throughout the years. I would tell people that I hope Brody loves Santa unlike his mom.]

Fortunately, he behaved exactly how we all thought he would; he just examined every inch of his face and tried to grab his beard. :)

waiting in line

"Humm....let me check this Santa guy out."

After bub saw Santa, we trekked upstairs to take a look at all the fun arts and crafts they had to offer.

Before we left we had to get a picture beside the garland elf. Brody was clapping!

We ended our outing with a family lunch date. A fun day for the books!

The [late] Thanksgiving Post

Well, I can't miss documenting a FIRST holiday with our baby boy. This Thanksgiving was a bit different from the rest because I was chasing around a busy 10 month old. So, to be honest there aren't many pictures to show for. Thanks to my mom for capturing a few at the McConnell Thanksgiving. Yes, we still do both families on the same day.

Pops and Brody

[I have to mention that other than myself, my dad is Brody's favorite person right now. It's pretty cute! He's obsessed with his Pops!]

Doing what we did ALL day. Play, play, play.


Talking to the camera and camera woman. :)

Snap, Snap, Snap

Well, Justin and I got an early Christmas gift this year. Can you guess what it is....

A new SPIFFY camera. So, hopefully, now we will be better about taking TONS of pictures. [Even if it is another heavy item for me to keep up with.] We were thrilled, and we can't say "thank you" enough to my generous parents. Although, they do have an ulterior motive to give us this certain gift - more pictures of their grandson! :)

I have to run, but I will have a special post about a baby meeting Santa, soon!

10 Months

I was over-the-moon excited to spend the day with bub on his 10 month birthday!

We played hard, cheered on the Hogs, and tried to take a good monthly photo. As he gets older, the harder it is to get him to sit still for a picture.

Here's how it goes....

"humm....there is a picture frame for me to reach for, grab, and throw on the floor"

"mom's bribing me with a q-tip"

(closest thing I could find that he hadn't already played with)

"what's this...."

q-tip didn't last long, so then he goes for the remaining monthly stickers

"mom, can we please just read a book"

I love how you wear me out, going none stop for hours, and then when it's time to wind down you let me wrap you up in my arms to cuddle.

Happy 10 months, bug-a-boo!

First Haircut (trim)

Bub had his first haircut this afternoon, and I must say, it was a SUCCESS. She didn't do much; just trim around his ears and the back with a RAZOR. It didn't take him long to have every woman in the salons' attention. He was hamming it up!

I feel like just yesterday I was decorating our house for Christmas with him in my belly. How is this possible?!

I'm thankful for a happy, active boy!