Getting Ready...

The first half of January was spent enjoying time with our sweet "baby" girl before the big day. We spent those last few weeks as a family of three just soaking her up and enjoying life with her.

She sat atop her perch many morning and evenings while Mama got the dinner plates ready or cleaned up the kitchen. I couldn't help but stop dead in my tracks one evening in awe of just how much my heart melts when I look at her. Particularly when she is just being herself and doesn't notice my watchful gaze. This evening she was sitting quietly, cross legged, just reading her book while I tended to the hustle, bustle, hurry up and get everything done... She didn't even realize I had grabbed my camera to capture the perfect moment until she heard the shutter click.



And another moment where I caught her -- enjoying her oatmeal and chocolate milk one busy morning. I will always remember this as her "spot."



We also enjoyed many evenings after dinner and bathtime curled up in Mommy & Daddy's bed or her bed reading books. Her favorite? "Love You Forever," which of course, I could never finish reading to her without crying at the end. This girl has grown way too fast, and while I cherish these moments with her now, I know she won't be my "baby" girl much longer.



I know in just a few short weeks, our lives will change dramatically (for the better, of course), and I am so excited to watch our sweet girl become a big sister. I know my life would be incomplete without my siblings, and I am so excited that she will get to experience a sibling bond, as well.

Christmas Pictures

We braved the crowds at the Gaylord Texan in December to get a few photos for the Christmas cards. I am very happy with how they turned out. Big thanks to my friend Emily for snapping our family picture!




And my favorite. Oh, that sweet smile...


We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with love, laughter and happiness!

Our Christmases

We had a very blessed Christmas this year. Our families all traveled up to see us since we didn't want to get too far from home this year, and our girl enjoyed every minute spent with all her favorite people.

Christmas Eve




Decorating our first gingerbread house!



This is her new "scary monster face" that shows up in a lot of pictures nowadays. ;)

And leaving cookies and milk out for Santa.


Christmas Day
She woke up and was so excited to see that "somebody" ate the cookies and drank the milk we set out the night before. Santa was very good to her and to "Baby Stister." :)


Mom, Mike, Dad, Bubba and Andrea all joined us for the afternoon. The girl had so much fun visiting and playing -- and of course, opening all the presents!

She even got her very own hot pink crossbow! :)




Modeling her new pink boots

There's that scary monster face again!





New Year's Weekend
We spent the following weekend with the Rodriguez crew. It was great to be able to see everyone at one time in one place, and the Sweet Girl had an absolute blast playing with her cousins.


Playing in her new tent


The whole group!

Great Grandma with her three Texas great grandkids

Christmas Parade and Santa!

We finally got out and enjoyed our town's Christmas parade this year after living here for 4 years. Our girl was hesitant at first, but she LOVED every minute of the hour and a half parade. She also collected way more candy than we would have ever thought! Guess we need to take a bucket next year.


She loved the band (that's my girl!)

Just the beginning of the loot...


We also made a trip down the street to see Santa at the beginning of December. Our HOA talks him into coming to our neighborhood every year so that we don't have to go stand in line at the mall. It's quick, easy, and only 2 minutes from home! Thankfully, the sweet girl was not afraid of the big guy this year. She was very excited to see him but started getting a little nervous when we arrived. She did go up to him and hop in his lap, but when he asked what she wanted for Christmas, all she would say was, "Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?" all while putting on a fake smile. It was so funny. She ended up getting a candy cane and a few Hershey's kisses from Santa, which totally made her day. After that, she asked to go see him almost every day until Christmas. :) And from then on, when someone would ask her what she wanted Santa to bring, she'd tell them a candy cane!

Thanksgiving

We had a low key Thanksgiving this year. We spent that day relaxing, watching the big parade and preparing food for the "crowd" we would have on Friday. On Friday, we spent the day with Mom & Dad R and Katherine. It was a nice relaxing holiday!

Carrying on the tradition -- the Thanksgiving Day parade and newspaper ads!

Making salad dressing and casseroles with Mommy!

Enjoying a yummy lunch with the family


Playing games with Kat & Grandma. This girl was in heaven!

Best Big Sister

(from November)
The sweet girl is so excited to be a big sister. She actually grasps the fact (well, I think she does) that Mommy has a real baby in her tummy and that "baby stister" (what she calls Baby R2) is going to come out and join us eventually. We were playing around in our room one evening before bed and she came up with this with no coaching from me...



She also loves playing Mommy (or big sister!) to all of her babies. All of her babies have specific names, and she always refers to them by name. One of these days, Daddy will learn who is who... ;) She loves to put them down to sleep in her bed, in the doll bed, on the floor - wherever they want to take a nap at that particular time. And they always go face down. Not sure why, but that's what she does. :) She's such a funny little girl.


Reading her babies a bed time story

Chatty Madie @ 2 1/2 years

I originally wrote this back in October when she turned 2 1/2, but I'm just getting around to posting.

"My face is pretty." while pointing to her lips. A few minutes later we realized she had reached up into the junk drawer and found a glue stick that she then used as chap stick. Thankfully, it was old and pretty much dried out. Whoops.

The other day she played by herself in her playroom (without getting into any trouble) for a good 30 minutes while I dozed on and off (right there beside her!). As soon as I got up and walked away, though, she decided to be artsy. She came up to me, arms painted up with marker and says, "My arms are pretty," while nodding her head up and down like she's agreeing with herself.

M: Mommy come find me!
Me: "Ok Im coming to look for you!
M: I'm in the kitchen!"

I was rocking out to one of my favorite old country bands, The Judds in the car one day.
M:Mommy stop singing.
Me: What you don't like my singing?
M: No.

Me: Did you color that fish? It is beautiful (with an excited inflection).
M: With the same silly, over inflection that I used, "Well thank you!!!"

She loves to say hi to everyone we meet or even pass in the store. The usually say hi back and ask her "how are you?" her response? "Two!"

When she wants something and we don't want her to have it, we've given her the excuse that we don't have any more -- guess we have to go to the store and get some. Now when we say we don't have something, she always asks, "we gotta go to the store and get some?" Yes, dear. We sure do.

Tennis shoes = ten-dee shoes

Speaking of shoes, she is obsessed with her shoes. She loves putting them on and taking them off just to put on another pair. She understands and knows what to do when we tell her they're on the wrong feet. And she loves to put on socks with her sandals. ;)

Meatloaf = meat-lope/canteloupe

We were playing with her foam castle while she was in the bath this week and she took a playful swipe at my cheek with one of the pieces. I opened my mouth and widened my eyes with a sad look on my face, and she immediately smiled and said, "It's okay Mommy. I just kidding."

While watching game 5 of the World Series last night, Josh Hamilton made a great catch in center field. I clapped and said "Yea!!," and she turned around, looked at the tv and said, "Yea, Murphy!" Only one position off, but she knows Mama's favorite player, at least! Then as she was saying her prayers before bed, she included "And thank you for Gosh." Gosh = Josh Hamilton.

We planned a trip to an animal refuge place, and we kept asking her what she was going to see... Me: Are we going to see giraffes?
M: and lions! And little boys!

This kid gets funnier and funnier (and smarter) by the day. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!