NYE 2011

We headed up to northern Virginia this New Year's Eve to ring in the new year with some of our favorite people.

This is a picture of hearts being filled with laughter and love.



Bailey had the same PJ's as Ellery! How fun?!



I can't even count how many children were running around and playing. But next year there will be at least 2 more (hopefully 4 more).







Peyton and I are both expecting babies this year. We are about 6 weeks apart, this little one will be #3 for she & Brian. So fun!!



The kids had their own countdown to the New Year.

Cary and I brought flashing rings for the girls and glow bracelets for the boys. It's so fun to see their faces when they get new little surprises!



First couple pictures of 2011.






I was too busy taking everyone else's picture that I didn't get ours. Sad. :(



Happy New Year!!

Baby #2 Is....

My husband would tell you that I rarely admit that I'm wrong, however, despite my firm belief that he is only capable of producing girls....

My sweetie threw us both for a loop and gave us a Y chromosome.

Yes folks, we are having a boy.

He is thrilled, I am in shock.

Time with Mimi & Grand Dad

We headed West through snowy weather on Sunday morning to visit Mimi & Grand Dad.

Ellery and I had so much fun playing in the back seat of the car!









The trip was a surprise for Walter & Lynn. They thought we weren't going to be able to make it due to the weather. Of all the pictures I missed it was the expressions on their faces when they saw us walk through the door. Family is the most important thing and nothing was stopping us from making this Christmas trip!

Celebrating Christmas!!








Walter, mounted Cary's fall prize onto a piece of antique wood from his grandfather. This will be on display in the Man Room (located in the basement) in case anyone would like to see them one day.





One of Ellery's favorite moments this weekend was Mimi's hot chocolate.

It was cold and what a more perfect time for the yummy drink?



I think this was the key to teaching her how to drink out of a "big girl" cup.



We didn't have very much time at the farm this trip, unfortunately. We had to get home to a very important doctors appointment....

Time with Mar Mar & Papa

More Christmas

My big gift this year is a new camera, a Nikon D3000 (whatever that means).

This was one of my first pictures with my new toy!!

 

This is the second picture, my brother-in-law Parker was kind enough to pose for me.

Super Cute

Just because she's super cute.

 

Christmas Brunch

We weren't heading to my parents house until after Ellery's nap, so we made a big breakfast following the festivities of presents.

 

 

Cary and Parker grew up eating Scrapple. Don't ask what it is, you DON'T want to know. I prefer the oven baked bacon. Regardless with 2 men to feed there has to be a lot of meat for a hearty meal.

 

 

Christmas Morning

 

It seemed to me the older I got the less anti-climactic Christmas morning felt. That was until Ellery was born. This particular Christmas morning has got to be one of my favorite memories of all time. I know this will probably be the last year of sheer joy, no strings attached. She has not been bitten by the demands of our society to have the best and be the best. All that mattered this particular morning was that she got to rip open paper and find new and exciting treasures, no matter how big or small.

Yes, children bring a whole new dimension to the holidays.

What is priceless? Hearing a 22 month old say "Happy Birthday Jesus!"

18 Weeks

Today I turned another year older but it was such a sweet transition.

Ellery and I had a great day together.

Yes, there were a few moments that required REAL discipline but we both needed it. I needed the practice and she needed the consistency. But regardless they were fleeting and didn't have much of any impact on my attitude.

The gifts have been wonderful, thoughtful and generous. But my time with family has been the most precious.

I have decided that although I might have another "birthday" next year I will not be aging past 32.

Toy Stash

Found this when I went to put mail in the slot this afternoon.



They are small Christmas tree balls that she found a few days ago and is now obsessed with them.

She is also obsessed with putting ANYTHING she can into this mail slot. Just hope I can catch any surprises before the mail man.

Snowman!

The first snow of the season falls during a time when we have a book on Snowmen for Ellery.

It's called "Snowballs" and shows creative ways to dress up a snow dad, snow mom and the entire family.

This morning Cary took her out to play and make her first snowman!





They are so cute together.

Birthday Dinner

Jaclyn & I celebrated my birthday tonight!!!

Only a friend of over 20 years will help you to stuff yourself to the point of feeling like your tummy is about to pop while laughing the whole time.

I. LOVE. IT!!

I love Jaclyn, and not because she feeds me well (although food is always a good way to my heart), but because we have been through thick and thin and I love her more as the years go by.

So here's to a heart filling evening with one of my longest and closest friends. To one of those girls who has helped to shape my life. Our friendship will last until we are old, saggy and living together in the old-folks home (seriously).

Love you Jaclyn!

Fighting A Losing Battle

I don't know why I even think I have a chance of eating healthy this season.

Yesterday was some delicious Chinese food for lunch, home made chocolate chip cookies for afternoon snack and then an over the top dinner at Cheesecake Factory (girls night with Lydia) and yes it included dessert.

I hit the gym for an hour this morning in hopes that I would help myself to feel better about yesterday.

It's no use. I'm doing almost as bad today as yesterday.

Oh well, get over it Leah.

Pregnancy Info

This is more for my memory than anything else, but here are a few things I don't want to forget.

I still exercise by treadmill running (although slower pace), speed walking (walking is harder than running in my opinion) at a significant incline, eliptical, stationary bike and weight training DVD at least once a week (but my goal is twice a week).

I try to work out as many days as I can a week. That sometimes means twice a week, this week it means 3 days in a row so far.

Truthfully a personal trainer friend told me that pregnancy is one time in your life that women can develop new fat cells. Apparently you can shrink fat cells but can't erase them. Now I'm freaked out. NO NEW FAT CELLS!! They need to stay away like stretch marks.

Speaking of stretch marks I have been using the same Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion as with my pregnancy with Ellery. I started that a couple of weeks ago.

16 weeks and 5 days was my first day in maternity clothes. Mainly because the box of clothes came down with the Christmas decorations and I needed to get those boxes out of my room. Most of the clothes in my closet were spring/summer so it wasn't too bad to take them out and move in the winter maternity clothes. I do still have a few jeans that I can use the bella band.

I'm on my second jar of pickles and almost opened the second jar of olives today. I can't stop eating and salty foods are my friend.

Ever since I felt the baby move a few nights ago, it keeps rolling and jumping around in there. Very cool!

Ellery doesn't get it that she will have a baby in the near future. Still okay with me!

Christmas Cookie Play Date

Miss Ella came over this afternoon for a fun Christmas cookie play date!

Ellery has been waiting with crazy anticipation for this since last night (that's when I told her Ella was coming over).



First thing this morning I had a doctors appointment and Ellery tagged along.

As we were leaving she saw a little girl with brown hair in the waiting room. Of course she started waving and saying "Hi Ella! Hi Ella!" I told her that little girl wasn't Ella but she didn't believe me.



At some point it's clear the icing is the most important part of decorating cookies.