Christmas Eve Photo Attempt

I am not a photographer as  you can tell from the photos below.  However, as you can see, I also do not have the most cooperative two year old subject. 

Ella insisted on wearing her sunglasses.  Not a bad picture, but I wish they were closer together (touching maybe) and I could live without the sunglasses. 

Hug.... 

Ella is actually looking at the camera, but refusing to smile.
Abby looks picture perfect. 

Ummmmm.... no and no. 

Another failed attempt. 

And seriously folks, this is what I got.

This just about sums up the health of my household during the month of December. 

7 Months

Yesterday Abby turned 7 months.  She celebrated by visiting the Big Man (pictures and post to come tomorrow?) and by getting a 102.7 fever.  Awesome.

No joke, this was our third visit to the doctor's office in three weeks between both girls.  First, Ella was sent home from school with a fever three weeks ago.  She was sick for 3.5 days and had a temperature that reached 103+.  Then last week Abby had a cold and eye goop.   She missed a day of school.  And luckily now I am on winter break because my sick days are disappearing fast.  Pretty soon I am going to be all tapped out.

Sick Abby eating her celebratory Mum- Mums or Bun -Bums as Ella calls them.  

Abby appears to be in decent spirits in the above picture, but let me tell you, she was pitiful and pathetic today.  Poor baby girl was just not herself. She looked sick.  Her eyes said it all.

Go Me....

I have been husbandless for a full week (minus the 16 hour whirlwind "visit" that was mostly spent sleeping).  That is a long time.  I am mostly used to it, as a pilot's wife, you have to be.  With the new job he was gone for six weeks while training on the new plane.   However, since that training he has only been gone a handful of days due to an unusually quiet schedule.  Not this week.

As a result, this week seemed long after having him home for such a long stretch.  Perhaps it was because it was the week before Christmas Break or because both kiddos were recovering from some sort of illness or because I have a gazillion and twelve things to do like finish my shopping and wrap presents while managing a full-time job and two kiddos.

One of the the to-dos on my list was to take the girls to go see Santa.  I wanted to squeeze it in over the weekend because this up and coming week is busy, busy, busy too.  So, on Saturday I dressed and bathed both the girls, dressed them in holiday finerary, and trudged to the outdoor mall.  Ever the planner, I assumed there would be no line because by now EVERYONE should have already visited Santa.  I mean, Santa has been in the malls since Thanksgiving week.  Surely, everyone who was going to visit the big man must have already done so.  Wrong.  Dead wrong.

So, after all my holiday primping and prepping, we waited in the outdoor line for precisely 10 minutes.  During those ten minutes I was formulating a plan to get my two year old to agree to leave the line and return another day.  She happily agreed.  Thank YOU, Ella, because I believe we would still be in that line waiting.

Along the same lines, today we made it to church.  I dressed them in their same holiday outfits and let me tell you, we were actually on time.  This is a first.  Is it just a coincidence that I managed to dress them, and get them out of the house husbandless?  You decide.

Awww... Sisters

Wearing a headband... a holiday miracle

I love this dress, and Abby, of course. 

My First Homemade Ornament

Without a doubt, my favorite ornament on our tree

Sweet Tooth...

For those of you who don't know our momma she  has a sweet tooth, she is a bit crazy when it comes to the holidays, and she likes to plan parties.   Hence, she is the one who begins planning a cookie exchange in October for December.  Yes, our momma sent out evites before we even wore our Halloween costumes!

But, we agree (and so does daddy) that cookie exchanges rock.  Just check out our freezer, as we have a freezer filled with milk (don't ask unless you want to know) and cookies.  Cookies of all sorts.  Chocolate chip.  Brownies. Fudge.  Candy-can ones.  All different and all equally yummy.

Heck, we would not be surprised if our momma was planning cookie exchange 2012 as we speak.

XOXOX,
Ella and Abby

Not going to lie, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our tree.  And I kinda dig my apron too.  

Just some of the cookie loot.  Two other varieties did not fit on the table.  All of these cookies make me insanely happy. And I am 100% serious about that. 

My tree... Squeal

Bakers... Friends... Neighbors...
So lucky

One of the best things about Junior League... Mama Heidi

Ella was in heaven and tried to swipe some cookies of her own.  She is so mu daughter.

Ok.

Turning 6 Months is Painful ...

For mommy... 

All Smiles  

Three shots are nothing Looney Toons band-aids can't solve... (and Ella was pretty jealous)

6 Months...

Dear Abby~

Almost three weeks ago you turned six months old.  It is so hard to believe that you are six months already.  In fact, it seems like you have always been a part of our family, but on the other hand, these six months have flown by.

You are currently wearing size 12 months clothing although 18 months works just as well.  You are still in size three diapers although those days will be coming to an end sooner rather than later.  You have started eating solids and are a natural.  Unlike your sister, you did not grimace at your first tastes of cereal, carrots, avocado, or sweet potatoes.  You are a natural eater (like me), but more likely, you are just so easy going and easy to please. I love that about you.

You have a laugh that just makes me happy.  It is a deep belly laugh that lights up my heart. I want to bottle it and keep it with me forever.  You are so happy.... all the time, and you hug.  Yes, I swear you do.  You wrap your arms around me and squeeze.  I would not believe it if you it didn't happen on a regular basis but your teachers say you do it at school too.  Precious.  Abby, you are a love bug.

Turning six months is also hard work  It involves a trip to the doctor and THREE shots.  

Height: 29 " (99.55%)

Weight: 22.5 lbs (99.54%) 

Abby, I love you always in all ways... 

Momma