Congratulations!

Congrats are due to some more new parents... James and Laura welcomed their new baby boy Jack this morning! He wanted to come a month early to enjoy Christmas with his family! Mom and baby are doing well from all reports. What a wonderful Christmas gift!

Here's a fun side- note... Laura and James are the SAME Laura and James whose wedding we attended the weekend before Alyssa was born. Check out this post with pics of my VERY pregnant self dancing if you want a good chuckle!

Christmas Comes Early

I have never been patient. About anything. Christmas is no exception! Growing up, we were given a new set of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve (a tradition I plan to continue with Alyssa). As we got older (and more crafty with our pleading) we got to open a present or two on Christmas Eve. For the last several years, my parents have been giving us Christmas socks and jewelry weeks early so that we can wear them for the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Since Mike and I have been married, I am not sure if there has been even one Christmas where we have any presents left to give each other on Christmas Day! I am usually too excited (and too impatient) to wait! And since we previously did not have kids to wake us up on Christmas morning, we weren't upset about getting to sleep in, either!

Now that Alyssa is old enough to sort-of understand what is going on, I am having an even harder time waiting until Christmas to give out presents! She has been so interested in the ornaments on the tree and the packages underneath. She has been carrying them around and pulling off tags, but has only really opened one or two. We have had such a good time watching Christmas movies and watching her dance to the Christmas music that I can't help but be in the spirit. I just want to give her all of her presents!

Yesterday, to appease my need, Mike agreed to one present each... I gave him a blanket for his game-playing comfort, he gave me a GREAT book on the making of the Twilight movie (yes, I also have been sucked into the teenage- girl crazed phenomenon... I couldn't put any of the 4 books down! I'll be glad to share it with my obsessed friends who shall remain nameless... you know who you are!), and we gave Alyssa a princess tent. She loves it! She has been having so much fun going in and out and putting all of her jewelry on while inside, peeking out the windows at me, watching her morning shows from the front door, etc. I have had so much fun watching her... I've had the giggles all morning! Check out the pictures!



Princess

PS I am trying out a new way to share the photo albums... leave a note and let me know how it works for you! Is it any quicker than the previous ones from Bubbleshare? Do you like the controls any better? How does it look in general? Thanks for your input!

Simple Pleasures

I love the fall... right through the holidays. I love the change in the weather and the colors and the general atmosphere at the end of the year. No matter what else is going on, I always feel better when October arrives. Now we are into December and I am very much enjoying life with a munchkin. Some of my favorite things that we have been experiencing...

• Walks in crunchy leaves


• Watching Alyssa discover things for the first time


• A munchkin carrying her bucket on walks and picking things up for her collection... pine cones, leaves, seeds, flowers, pine needles. A true nature lover already!


• A very polite little girl... "da do!"= thank you, "peas"= please. I'm so proud!


• Thanksgiving dinner... all my favorites including stuffing, cheesecake, and card games with my wonderful family


• Evening strolls... checking out the lights, pointing out the moon and the stars


• Having my sister home for a while... we've missed having Allison around the last 3 years while she's been out making a difference!


• Baby dress up. See below!


• Weather that is cool enough to warrant jeans, sweatshirts and hot chocolate or tea when we get home!


• Decorating for Christmas. And then redecorating after Alyssa has removed all the "pitty" ornaments within her reach!


• The tell- tale jingle of bells on the tree as tiny hands get curious, and then the grin that follows when she knows she's been caught!


• Being duped by a little monkey! She'll ask for "joosh" (juice) or some sort of snack, wait until I'm in the kitchen, and race me to the computer to play! I think she'll love her own mini laptop... full keyboard and mouse for her to click away like Mommy and Daddy!

Best of ALL my fall and Christmas favorites? Voluntary kisses from sweet little lips and "I ya you!" I'm putty in her hands!

Thank heavens for simple pleasures!