Pretty in Pigtails

People are always commenting on my daughter's hair. Sometimes not in a good way, but still always commenting. Lots of times I get suggestions on what I should be doing with it. A couple of weeks ago, some girls from my MTM group suggested pigtails. It never occurred to me that she really had enough hair for them but turns out she does!! It is a little hard to see them in the picture because they are small, and I think they will look better once I invest in some of those tiny ponytail holders, but for tonight, these clips did the trick. Pretty cute huh?

Yesterday I had a little Christmas party for the kids complete with a visit from Santa! My mom used to do the same thing for my brother and me when we were little so I have been so excited for my kids to be old enough to enjoy it and begin the little tradition myself. Christopher is at the perfect age right now and I know Lucy will grow into it in a couple of years. He had an absolute ball and I loved every minute of it. We had a few crafts for the kids, lunch, and of course the chance to sit on Santa's lap and get a picture. There were just enough kids here to effectively call it "organized chaos" but I think everyone had a good time.

Merry Christmas to Us!

This year Cory and I decided to give each other a new camera for Christmas.  We went on and ordered it around Thanksgiving so that we could use it for Christmas pictures this year and not feel completely clueless as to how to operate it.  So we've had it for about a week now and we love it!!  Of course, we are still learning how to use it but so far we think it takes great pics!  Please notice the "blurred background" in these pictures.  I've been trying to achieve that look with my point and shoot for over a year!

Accentuate the Positive

Many of you know that my sweet little "Granny" passed away on Wednesday.  Shortly after she celebrated her 90th birthday in October of 2007, a large tumor was discovered in her stomach.  Last Thanksgiving, my dad cancelled his trip to come see us in London, because no one thought she was going to make it much longer.  The Lord blessed her with another full year of life and she died peacefully in her home surrounded by all of her children.  I can't think of a better way to go Home, myself.  

She was a remarkable lady who could always "accentuate the positive."  When I spoke with her on the phone last Sunday, you would have never even known she was sick.  She answered the phone singing and sounded as strong as ever.  She never met a stranger, loved and welcomed people from all walks of life into her family, stayed busy and active in her community, and relied on the Lord above all things.  

These past few days were very special to me not only because I was able to celebrate the life of Granny, but also because I was able to see my dad with all of his siblings in a way I just haven't ever really seen.  The reasons for that are far too complex to even begin to blog about but that is just the way it is.  However, I'm so thankful for what I witnessed these past few days and I really hope that maybe it won't have to be the last time I see it for the next 10 years.  That we'll be able to gather again, under different circumstances.  I know that Granny would love that.  

Her funeral was so different from any other I have ever been too.  All of her children spoke about her with a great sense of pride and gratitude for her.  My grandfather, who passed away in 1984, had an incredible singing voice.  Thanks to some modern technology one of his records was recorded onto a CD that was played at the service.  Who could ask for anything more complete than that at their funeral.  I know Granny was smiling alot today.

While these last few days were such a celebration of her life, I know that hard and sad times will follow in the days to come as Granny will be missed by so many.  Please keep my dad, his siblings, and the rest of the family in your prayers.  My cousin uploaded this video of Granny singing, one of her favorite things to do.  Isn't she precious?   

One of a Kind

My aunt knitted Lucy this hat to have this winter and I'm pretty sure it is the cutest item of clothing that she owns!!  For you knitters out there, each red stripe is a different type of stitch.  She wore it today for the first time and I was stopped everywhere I went by people commenting on the hat.  Pretty cute huh?  Thanks again Pattie!!  I LOVE it!!  

8 Months and MOBILE!

Baby Lucy is 8 months old today!  To say time is going by fast would be an understatement!  Her personality is shining through more and more everyday.  I have discovered over the last couple of weeks that Miss Lucy LOVES a schedule.  The days that I have been able to give her a good morning and afternoon nap, she is such a delight.  Unfortunately for her (and me), providing that schedule in the day to day routine with all of Christopher's activities can be difficult.  Poor second baby!  I'm doing my best and so is she, yesterday she took about an hour nap in the car while I killed some time before picking Christopher up and then got another hour of sleep in the Ergo carrier while Christopher played at the park.  Not as good as the crib, but it worked.

Lucy at 8 months:

• Is mobile!  She makes her way all over the place by army crawling.  Cory and I give the little girl a huge E for effort.  There is not one part of her tiny body that is not making the attempt to move.
• Has 2 teeth!!  Yep, those bottom two teeth finally popped through!  This could also be a part of her change in spirit.  Her sweet little smile is so adorable with those tiny teeth.
• Eats three meals of baby food each day, and usually nurses three or four times a day.  
• Goes to bed at 7pm and wakes up at 6am.  
• Still absolutely adores her brother.  Her eyes follow him all over the place, and no one can get her to laugh like he can!
• Loves playing with her toys.
• Babbles "ma, ma, ma", "da, da, da", and "ba, ba, ba."
• Doesn't care to be read to because all she wants is to chew the book.
• Occasionally drinks water from a sippy cup.
• Is beginning to warm up to people other than Mommy and Daddy (it has been a few weeks since I have been paged by the nursery at church)!

Just for fun here is a picture of Christopher around 8 months followed by another one of Lucy.  

Cookie Exchange

My mom's group had a cookie exchange today.  This was my first time to actually participate in one of these because quite frankly, they have never really interested me.  Too much baking involved and then you never really know what you are going to come home with.  To my surprise I really enjoyed it!   Not to mention that all my mommy friends are fabulous in the kitchen, so far I haven't tasted anything that I didn't like!!

I decided to take Thumbprint cookies, mostly because I knew the recipe made lots of cookies (I was required to take 6 dozen to the exchange) and my aunt makes these every year at Christmas so they really bring the season for me.  We were supposed to be creative with the"presentation" of our cookie so I packaged mine in little bags that were decorated with the thumbprints of my sweet children.  Christopher had fun one afternoon stamping his thumb all over bags for me in the shape of Christmas trees, wreaths, and some holly berries.  They did turn out pretty cute and I actually won a prize for "Neatest Presentation"!  

The other winners were Penny's Buttercream Cookies made by Kori Ledbetter, for Best Lookin' Cookie...

and Snowballs (so yummy), made by Jessica Starr for Most Unique Cookie.