Week 23: Christmas Take 2

For the most part, I think the pictures speak for themselves. It was an abundant Christmas with Nana and Papa and wonderful to spend with a cousin! Jackson is so much fun and always on the go! Dave wanted to know why I posted the last pic of Lily. Mostly, I guess, because for me this blog is as much about us using it as a virtual diary, as it is about us sharing our lives with others. Lily was so overstimulated that day that she could no longer process any more requests of pictures, or demands of her attention. I felt that picture captured her in that moment.

Week 22: Christmas; Take 1

We'll be celebrating with the Campbell's on Christmas this year, so we headed out to Gran's house today to celebrate with her and Uncle Jonathan before they took off for HHI. Considering this is the first Christmas Lily will remember, might as well have as many chances to open presents as possible. I don't think one package was opened without her assistance. How much fun to have a baby sister to open presents for...the best were the enthusiastic phrases of excitement 'oh my gosh' and 'awww, yay' even before the wrapping was off the reveal the gift. She does love to be dramatic. Caroline, as usual was along for the ride with her wide-eyed smile.


















This is for me to remember our first cereal eating experience with Caroline. It went as expected...but she tolerated it and will get me out of a feeding for now, so I'm very excited about that! My little baby is growing up!

Week 21

Here's a quick comparison of the girls...thought I might try to do this every 10 weeks or so. We are enjoying our sweet Caroline more than my words can do justice. She is using her 'words' so often these days. She'll just go on and on...sometimes she'll furrow her brow as if to emphasize her point. My absolute favorite thing is when I lean in and she reaches those dimpled baby hands up to my face...first one hand, then with a steady concentrating stare, the next..and then the open mouth...love it.

Here's a glance at our two trees. The first is the tree in the front window. It's so pretty from the outside. The second is our new acquisition thanks to Mom's school partner Mrs. Hall. This is her 9 foot tree that she graciously passed down to us because it just became too much for her and her husband to put up. It looks great with our high ceiling. We are so grateful!!

Week 20: The start of a new era..

Dave was charged with the week picture this week, because we didn't get it done over the weekend. We were a little busy. I worked into Saturday morning and on Sunday.....yes, on Sunday, we picked up the new addition to our family. (Thanks to Nana and Papa for making that happen!). Some of you have been privy to our discussions about this topic over the last months...and have heard my absolute objections...well, you see how much pull I have in this relationship ;). I've told Dave that this career choice of mine is really working out well for him. First he gets a dog (because of my guilt of moving him to TN away from everyone he knows) then he gets another dog...and now the m*#&van (still not saying the actual word), because of guilt for ALL that he does for our family with the girls. He pointed out that in this case he did 'earn' it, and I'd have to agree. I frequently have patients and nurses ask me how I juggle what I do with a growing family and the simple answer is I don't. My husband does. So, yes, he has earned it and I have to admit I am happy for him...and the girls, Lily doesn't have to risk hitting her head everytime she gets in and out of the car and we don't have to break our backs trying to help her do that. She's been given a name...The Black Pearl..very conveniently this is the name of paint...so when we reference 'The Pearl' you'll know to what we are referring. And I conveniently don't have to say the 'm' word.


Baking some Christmas cookies, one of Lily's favorite things to do. I heard she was also an excellent quality control analyst during this process...I wonder where she gets that from :).




The maiden voyage...and that is actually an unsolicited smile from Lily...a rarity for pictures..guess she's as excited as her Daddy. Happy Birthday, Dave!

Week 19: Thanksgiving

With a work schedule that I've been handed the last couple years, it has made us acknowledge that Thanksgiving is about just that, no matter which day you celebrate it (though I think working turkey day 2 years in a row is quite enough, thank you).
So we ended up having our 'Thanksgiving' on Saturday which was nice to have a little time to prepare and get a little shopping done in between (very little shopping, but successful nonetheless!)

The turkey Caroline is sitting with was made by my mom's mother ('Nonie' is what we called her.) We lost her many years ago, but she was lovely and I have nothing but warm, loving memories about her. The dress Caroline is wearing is the one she came home in from the hospital, it fits her perfectly now. It seemed appropriate as she is nothing but a blessing to us.




Lily was such a help in the kitchen this year. Luckily the dressing required a lot of crumbling of cornbread and biscuits...and I can't think of a better 'crumbler'! She loved every minute of it.



She also gave me a little help with my dessert...she was so excited to put her apron on. She was such a cutie-pie.


The spread.

The 'fam.'



'Classic' Lily set to help Daddy put up the lights.