Christmas Festivities

I think I might actually be caught up after this post....I think. 

We decided last year that Christmas day would be spent in our own home. We love visiting family for the holidays but it is important for us to start making family traditions of our own, in our home. 

One of the traditions is of course, decorating the Christmas tree. We had the tree up a few days before Thanksgiving but because we got new floors installed a few weeks before Christmas we didn't actually decorate the tree till a few days before Christmas. 

We made two trips to the Gaylord Texan this year. The first was just the four of us to see all the pretty decorations and the second was with Papa and Gramielle to go to the Ice Exhibit. 

Ava is such a good helper these days. My two little elves assembled Connor's tool bench from Aunt Lisa one evening. 

Ava and I made sugar cookies on Christmas Eve

And Ava and Daddy were in charge of the cookie decorating

We went to the Christmas Eve service at church.

 (this is our attempt at a family picture with camera propped on the bar)

Christmas day was quiet but special none the less. The kids enjoyed opening their presents and seeing what Santa brought them.

Alli and Greg came over later that morning to spend the day with us

(Alli's dog loooves to give kisses. I don't think Connor appreciated a lick in the ear though.)

Connor got a cool guitar with lights and sounds. 

We were so excited to see snow on Christmas! It snowed on Ava's first Christmas and now we can say it did on Connor's too!

Ava and Daddy were anxious to make a snow man. It was so windy and the snow was pelting her in the face so I don't think she enjoyed it as much as thought she would. (picture taken from front window)

Enjoying a peaceful Christmas afternoon by the tree with her new toys. 

My sweet Mimi cross stitched Connor and Mikey's stocking this year. Now we have a complete set for our mantle. Thank you Mimi! We will treasure them always. 

Papa, Gramielle, and Uncle Lance came to visit a few days after Christmas. Uncle Lance got her a DVD she had been wanting to see for so long...Ice Age. I think we have seen it about 30 times now. No lie.

P & G also got the kids an inflatable bounce house for the backyard! It was a big hit for Ava and I know it will be for future playdates with friends! 

Gramielle and Ava made "christmas mice" as a special treat. Yum yum!

About to see the Madagascar Ice Exhibit!!

You may remember we did this last year with Papa and Gramielle so we thought it would be fun to do it again this year, especially since it was Madagascar, a Munchie favorite! I'm not gonna lie though. It is a little too cold for me to really enjoy it, and you can tell by the look on her face that it might have been for Ava too, but we made another fun memory. 

We went down the ice slide! 

Gramielle pushed Connor around the Gaylord while we went to the exhibit but Papa came with us.

Papa and Connor playing dress up. 

Ava and Gramielle drinking hot chocolate

Collecting sticks while Papa and Daddy took down Christmas lights. 

These pictures are out of order but here she is with her new apron and the Christmas mice that she made with Gramielle.

And here is the new bounce house!! Super fun! 

9 months old

9 months old already?! I can't believe you are just 3 short months away from being 1 year old! I really wish I could freeze time and keep you this little forever! This past month has been lots of fun. I feel like you are starting to look more and more like a little boy than a baby. You are thinning out some, thanks to all that crawling that is burning calories, and your hair is starting to grow more. Your cheeks aren't as chubby but they are still so kissable! ;)

*You weigh 22 lb.s 8 oz. and are 30 inches long.

*You are wearing some 12 month clothes but mostly 18 months. You still wear size 4 diapers.

*You are pulling up on everything now and have started to stand unassisted. Such a big boy!

  *No real steps yet except for when we hold your hands or when you are pushing your walker toy. I can tell by that sweet grin of yours that you are so proud of yourself when you take steps.

*You are still such a happy baby. You smile back at people all the time and you finally started babbling. Had me worried for a little bit. ;) You say "ba ba ba" a lot and also like to make cute little spitting sounds with your lips. I think you are trying to copy your sister who does this often when yall are looking at each other in the car.

*You give the sweetest "kisses", especially to Daddy and Ava.

*You had your first case of the nasty stomach bug recently. Seeing my babies sick is one of the worst feelings ever. I enjoyed the extra snuggles and time I had just holding you but it made me sad to see you so sick.

*I think it's safe to say that I can classify you as a picky eater. You will not eat any finger foods other than puffs and mum mums and the only soft food that you will eat is yogurt (your absolute favorite), rice cereal or oatmeal, and bananas. I don't know if it's because your stomach still isn't back to normal but you wont even eat foods such as sweet potatoes or butternut squash, two things that you loved last month. Hopefully this will all change in a few weeks and you will be willing to try, and actually like, some new foods.

*I nurse you about 4 times a day and you eat 3 solid meals a day. I am noticing that you can go longer between feedings now and I might start dropping one of the middle feedings soon since you only 3 more months till we are done nursing. :( Bittersweet time for your mommy.

  *You still take 2 naps. Your first nap is always great and your second nap is usually about an hour. You sleep with your blankie but I think the majority of the time you are chewing on it or sucking on one of the tags. You like to carry it in your mouth, along with other toys, which always makes me laugh.

  Connor, my life since you has been such a whirlwind but I hope you always know that every minute of my day that I spend with you is filled with priceless memories. Changing countless sick poopy diapers, feeding you food that you spit out in disgust, carrying you around on my hip everywhere because it's just easier, watching you play on the floor next to your sister, seeing you snuggle with your daddy when he comes home from work.....I take a 100 mental pictures a day of every moment with you sweet boy. I love you more and more each day! Gosh, I'm lucky to be your mommy!

xoxo,
mommy