Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Christmas was so much fun this year!  I am really a little bit sad for the first time that it is time to take down the tree and realize that it is over.  I know it will be back in the blink of an eye and next year will be even more fun with Sofia, but this year was amazing!  It truly is wonderful to have a little one to celebrate the holidays with!  She is so much fun and watching her get excited gets me excited too!!!  We had a wonderful time with friends and family and everyone and everything in our lives is such a blessing and I am so very thankful for it all.  

Our first celebration was with J.R.'s family.  Sofia knew exactly what to do with the wrapping paper and was excited to get new toys and clothes!  

Then we had our annual "Women's Party" Christmas style with my mom's sisters and their girls.  This is an event we all look forward to every year.  We are so lucky to have such a big, loving family for Sofia to grow up with!  It's one reason I am content with one child because she has her cousins, my cousins, aunts, etc. that are all there for her to grow up with.  It makes me so happy when I see how excited she is to see them all!  They are a bunch of fun, loud gals to be around and she fits right in when we all belt out Christmas carols and laugh and hug!  What a blessing our family is!

She just couldn't stop hugging my niece, Rayley, or as she says, "Ra Ra".

Our group.  My mom and her sisters and sister in law and their girls and my Granny.

Then we had the big one at my Mom and Dad's House!  It's always a bunch of loud chaos and begging to open gifts and it is wonderful!!!!!  Sofia was a little overwhelmed at times but got the hang of things pretty quick.  She absolutely loves being part of the family and jumping right in!

Sam had a little too much turkey!

Making her way through the piles of present remnants!

By the time Christmas morning arrived she was a seasoned pro!  Ready to see what Santa left for her and couldn't stop playing with her new kitchen!  

Playing a little tune for us on her guitar!

The best thing about the holidays though is time together.  She loves her cousins like they are her siblings and they simply adore her!  It makes my heart 10 times happy to see her light up and scream their names when she sees them!  After years of not knowing if I would ever have my own baby I am still so happy and thankful to God for all we have been blessed with.  It is such a content place to be and I never want to lose that feeling.  Knowing what Christmas is all about is the real reason it makes my heart happy to celebrate it with those we love.

Sofia and her cousins

My Mom and Dad with Sofia

This is her new pose!  Feet crossed, arms too, and a serious look.  What is it with trying to get a toddler to smile on camera???  Sheesh!  :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!  May the New Year bring us all joy, peace, love, and happiness!!!!  Happy New Year!

Giving Thanks

People say it all the time.  They tell you that time flies by with your little one and to cherish every moment.  I listen and I believe but it still never ceases to amaze me just HOW fast the time does go!  When I was little time seemed to almost stand still.  Christmas and birthdays couldn't get here fast enough, and the school year seemed to never end.  It really does seem like that was so long ago yet it also seems like yesterday.  I remember so much about my childhood and it is all good and wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing.  Thank you Mama and Daddy!  

Anyway, now that I have my own little angel and watch her grow each and every day, I try so hard to remember that she won't always be this little and to spend time with her, take pictures and videos, spend time with family and friends and to make it the best for her.  I only want the best for her...as all us parents do :)

That being said, the holidays are here again!  Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and Christmas is upon us!!!!  I LOVE it people!  Do you hear me???? L.O.V.E. IT! Yeah, we are in a hustle and bustle, more and more $$$$ is going out, but come on, you know you love it too!  Family time, friends and parties, dressing up little babes.  It's great!  And nothing is better than laying on the couch at Mama's after a big meal and watching the latest children's film release while we all lay around and talk and the kids play.  I just love it!  And not to mention the way the house feels when all the lighting is from twinkling lights upon trees and garland.  Ahhhhh...are you there?  Good :)

So, while it may make me a little sad that the time flies, I have this to look back on...

Thanksgiving 2011 Sofia is 5 months old

This is our little Rosebud this time last year.  Flippin cute!  I miss those fat little legs and belly!!!!!  Thank goodness there is a little left ;)

And here we are today.  She is becoming such a little girl...

November 2012 Sofia is 17 months old

Sister is obsessed with chap stick for those of you who don't already know.  But would you just look at the girl that baby has become.  sigh...

Happy times are here!  Anytime I get down about how fast it goes or look back at her baby pictures I remember what a parent at my previous job told me.  She said that it is a good thing if we get to watch our babies grow.  It means we are raising them the best we know how and they are healthy and growing the way they should.  We should be thankful.  And that is just what I am this Thanksgiving.  THANKFUL.  For my girl and her health and all her little ways, my husband, my family and friends, and for a loving and grace giving God to whom I owe it all.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  Gobble gobble till ya wobble!!!!

xo

16 Months!

Our girl turned 16 months old on October 5th, and boy is she changing more and more every single day!  Here are just a few photos I snapped out in the back yard yesterday.  Her facial expressions are killing me!  I love her so much...sigh.  Enjoy catching up on month 16!

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  We are off now to enjoy this beautiful Fall weather outside!

Fall Sweet Fall

Sofia and I recently tagged along on a family trip.  My sister, Patsy, and her family and in laws planned a trip to Florida (Watercolor, right beside Seaside) and my Mom and Dad went as well.  There was one bunk bed left so there was just enough room for Sofia and I to join Emme and Rayley in their room.  So, opportunity risen, we joined in on the fun!  J.R. was not able to go due to vacation days with work and all, and he insisted we go along and take advantage of memories made and fun times while we are able to do so.  What we didn't expect was how much we were going to miss each other!  By hour 12 I missed him so much that I was not sure if going was the right thing.  Then I would look at Sofia and see how much fun she was having with her cousins and I knew it would be worth it and that it would only make me that much happier to see him when we returned.  Seven whole days apart, and let me tell you, that is the LONGEST we have ever been apart in our 8 years of marriage!!!!  We couldn't wait to see each other!!!  Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and the trip was wonderful for Sofia and I to get in some family time.  Here are a few photos from our vaca.  It was somewhat rainy and cloudy most of the trip but we made the best of it!  Enjoy...

The Fam

Sofia acorn hunting on a walk

Emme and Sofia snuggles!

Beach time!

She points her little fingers like this and says "Cheese"!

Mommy and Sofia

Toy store fun

One tired girl on her way home to her Daddy.

We had a great time and love getting to make memories with family!  Thanks everyone for letting us be your tag-a-longs!!!!  xoxo

Catching up!

As you can tell by my lack of blog posts, I have been a little lazy about them lately.  Sorry for those of you who enjoy keeping up with our girl this way but now I am back and with LOTS of photos to share with you!

We have been enjoying the cooler temps here in ol Tennessee the last few weeks.  We have been able to go outside and actually stay there for more than five minutes!  Here are a few things we have been enjoying...

Visiting our friends in Nashville.  Here Sofia is making a move on our buddy, Townes.  Yep, you got it...she's a cougar!  He is only 10 months old and they can't keep their hands off each other.  Ok, ok. It's mostly when Sofia hits Townes for trying to take one of her toys, but a few kisses are thrown in there for apologies :)

Playing out on the patio with Maggie (the dog, not the cousin!).  I believe she is trying to feed Maggie a rock here.  Good grief!

Sunday nights at Cracker Barrel.  Just rockin on the porch and having a fashion show inside.  

Lunch time!  Sofia is such a great eater usually but has been battling fall allergies and has become somewhat picky at times with texture.  Overall though she still eats good for her age.  I'm sure she is checking out something on her hand here.  I might possibly be making her a clean freak, but don't you worry about that. Anywho...

Trips to the pediatrician for nothing really.  Now, you would think a Mama that is a pediatric nurse herself wouldn't worry about every little thing, but I do.  Just a cough and sniffle and here we go!  Oh well, better safe than sorry, right??????

Oh yeah!  This is Sally.  Not the child, the pink car :)  Sally is Sofia's most favorite thing goin on right now.  We sing, "ride Sally, ride!" and she dances and sings and points outside.  Sally pretty much goes everywhere with us that she can.  Every store, walk, visit to other's homes, you name it...Sally will be with us.  "She" keeps the peace, if ya know what I mean ;)  And I tell ya, we get some looks rollin into TJ Maxx with her, but we think they are all just jealous they didn't think of bringing Sally with them to shop and their screaming child.  Just saying.

Mexican with Cousin Cade continues!  Sofia was stealing all of Cade's food here!  Cade is like, "Dude!  Get your girl some of her own food!"

Ahhhh yes...the car buggy at Publix.  Pre-child I would say I will NEVER let my kid ride in one of these ridiculous, germ infested things.  Let me tell you for those of you that are in that place now, you will.  You will do almost anything to see them smile and get through shopping without crying.  It happens.  Trust me though, that things gets a mean wipe down with the toxic baby wipes before sitting in it!  

Sister is already practicing her reverse and parallel parking skills ;)

Speaking of driving skills, this is probably right up there with Sally on the favorite list.  Driving our cars in the driveway.  Daddy cranks up the music and they roll on!!!!  She thinks she is big stuff I tell ya!

Well, there you have it.  A blog post to make your Friday even better than it already was!!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and gets to enjoy this beautiful weather we have coming our way!!!!

Beep beep!