Christmas 2013

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and it was extra special because it was Georgia Kate's first!  We told our families about her on Christmas last year and we were all so thankful to have her here for Christmas this year! :)

It's been fun to do "Christmasy" things with Reid this year, now that he's a little bit older!  We made a gingerbread house and had a Christmas movie night with popcorn!  

We started a new tradition this year!  On the 23rd, we made a birthday cake for Jesus!  Reid loves helping us cook, so he had a blast making and decorating the cake.  We had some for breakfast on Christmas morning. :)

We spent all day Christmas Eve at Mumsie and Poppies' house decorating cookies, playing, going to church, eating, and opening presents.  

Reid got to open one present before church.  He loves puzzles like his Auntie Alli!  Please excuse what he's wearing.  His pants got really dirty outside and we had to wash them.  

Ribbon is yummy!

Making cookies!

 Attempting to get a family picture before church...

Baby's first (faux) fur coat...

My sweet boy...

 This is Georgia Kate's very first Christmas present...

It's a sweet baby doll from Mumsie and Poppies!

 Reid had fun unwrapping this year!

Reid loves wearing glasses so Chris got some for everyone to wear!

 Georgia Kate got her chair! If you are super observant and noticed that she is not wearing her Christmas jammies anymore, you are correct.  She pooped all over them.  

 Georgia Kate loves watching Reid jump!  It makes her laugh so much!

 The kids' stockings at Mumsie and Poppies' house...

After a wonderful day, we came home and then Santa came!  He was running a little behind in the doll making department this year and Georgia's special doll wasn't quite ready for Christmas, so we decided to leave her presents from us unwrapped and we will give her the doll when Santa delivers it in January! Santa brought Reid a teepee!  He wasn't quite sure about it at first, but we've had so much fun with it now!  Before bed each night we turn on his little lantern and read a couple of books in there.

 I hope I never forget the look on Reid's face when he was opening his fire truck.  It was the SWEETEST thing.  

This is such a precious age at Christmas.  He didn't expect anything.  He didn't ask for anything.  He didn't know he was supposed to get presents on Christmas.  He was just so excited about Christmas because it was Christmas!  I hope we can help our kids always keep this perspective and know WHY we are celebrating!  

 Santa put a Sophie in Georgia Kate's stocking!  THANK GOODNESS.  We have needed her!  

 Usually we go to Gonzales on Christmas day, but this year Chris' family came to us!  It was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy Christmas morning as a family of four without rushing to get on the road.  

 Grandma always keeps Reid stocked up on fun pajamas!

Reid got a Big Wheel from Grandma and Grandpa!  He loves it!  

 Christie got everyone shirts made with the ranch logo on them!  So fun!

We feel so thankful to be able to celebrate Christmas with both of our families every year!

Georgia Kate is 5 months old!

Georgia Kate turned 5 months old yesterday!  We love this precious baby girl so so much.

Look… a SMILE!

It has been really fun to see her sweet personality come out more this month.  I wouldn't have necessarily said this the first few months of her life, but I think she is overall a pretty laid back baby.  She is still sooo snuggly and loves being held.  I love seeing her smile when she sees her daddy walk in  from work.  She has a shy smile that I love.  She smiles and then blinks really slowly.  I also love her rosy cheeks!  Her hair is starting to come in a little more and I'm thinking it's going to have some curl!  I hope so! She loves to be tickled under her neck and arms!  It's usually what makes her laugh the most.   She has used the jumperoo a few times!  Such a big girl!  Her feet barely touch the ground, but she is still able to jump a little bit.

We haven't started solids yet, but have been putting a little bit of baby oatmeal in the bottle she gets before bed with Daddy.  I started that in hopes that she would sleep better at night, but I'm not sure it's working because she is still waking up every 2-3 hours.  What's a growing girl to do? ;) She is in 6-9 month clothes and even a few 12 months!  Lately, she seems to take a good morning nap and usually a pretty good afternoon nap with a couple of quick "on the go" snoozes in between somewhere.

Georgia Kate, we are so thankful that you are ours!  You make our family so happy! 

 She found her feet and Mommy forgot the bloomers! :)

Christmas Card + Outtakes

One of my favorite things about December is Christmas cards!!! It's so much fun to check the mail each day.  It's so special to see your friends' families grow and change throughout the years.  Throughout my pregnancy, I always thought Georgia Kate was a boy.  However, any time I would picture my Christmas card for this year (because it's normal to do that months in advance, right?), there was always a sweet baby girl in a smocked dress and a bow sitting next to Reid. :)  

My parents took our pictures for us again this year.  Mumsie created two beautiful outfits for Reid and Georgia Kate!  Thank you so much, Mumsie!!! 

Picture taking this year was quite the adventure.  Our normally very photogenic little boy was just NOT having it at first.  We waited to get the kids dressed until after we got out of the car so their clothes wouldn't get wrinkled.  Well, Reid wanted absolutely nothing to do with his adorable toy soldier longall.  He was screaming so loud and throwing such a tantrum that all of the other families taking pictures (it's a popular location) were staring at us.  We were off to a great start! ;)  Thank goodness for digital cameras.  For every semi-good picture we got, there were about 50 not so good ones! 

Exhibit A - It's so hard being a two year old.  

I've decided two things.  It's nearly impossible to get a good picture with two children and I always hate how my hair looks in Christmas card pictures.  

Here are a few outtakes of our little photo shoot...

They both look so thrilled.  

Finally giving us a "smile"...

These are a few sweet ones that didn't make it on the card...

Little Stinker… This innocent face makes it hard to imagine the ridiculous fit he had at the beginning.  

Here's the final product!  Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!

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