Twas The Night Before Christmas...

We had such a wonderful Christmas! I can only hope that every Christmas is just as good as this one was!

I'll begin with Christmas Eve...

Christmas Eve morning began with cinnamon rolls and chocolate truffle coffee. It was nice to relax with the family before all the chaos began!

It was extra special this year, thanks to a jolly baby girl celebrating her first Christmas, and my sweet big kids!



Every year, the kids leave food for the reindeer in our yard. We decided to move it up to before the festivities began this year, so nobody missed it due to falling asleep in the car! After the Steelers game ended, Dylan and Lexie sprinkled our front yard with reindeer food.



We then headed to my sister's house to celebrate with my family. Good food, good conversation, lots of baby hogs, and a great time spent with family! What I love most about Christmas Eve is the love, the happiness, and the togetherness.






All was going well, and then I glanced over and saw Dylan holding his head, screaming. I thought Lexie had accidentally hit him with a present, and then I saw blood streaming down his cheek. I frantically asked him what happened, and he pointed up at the mantle, and then I realized a stocking holder had fallen off and hit him on the head.

I rushed him to the kitchen, and put a towel on his head. There was so much blood that I began to get woozy. By that point, everybody else had caught on to what had happened, and surrounded him. I had a feeling we'd be heading to the ER, but we managed to get the bleeding stopped, and realized it wasn't necessary to get it stitched up. Dylan was a trooper, and recovered quickly!



Our evening with my family ended too quickly, but it was time to continue the fun with Grant's family! I love spending time with them. On Christmas Eve, after church ends, we spend time together at Nannie's house. We eat, listen to Christmas music, do a small gift exchange, drink homemade eggnog, and enjoy our time together!






Every Christmas Eve, the kids get one small gift to open from us, followed by new ornaments from MawNaw and PapPap, and then new Christmas pajamas to open and wear! I love our traditions, and they really seem to get excited about it!






We had fun with Grant's family, although it was much quieter than the time spent with my family! We have so much fun on Christmas Eve that it always flies by too quickly!



Finally, it neared midnight, and the kids grew tired, so it was time to head home.



Lexie fell asleep on the way home, so Dylan put out the milk and cookies for Santa, and hung up the Santa key, with "help" from Lily.



After a long, happy day, the kids were all snug in their beds...





...and soon after, I ran into a special visitor...

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve last year, we shared our photo card on this blog, which announced our pregnancy! This year, our little miracle is here!

From our family to you and yours: Merry Christmas!

Christmas Time Is Here!

I'm in astonishment over the fact that Christmas Eve is tomorrow! When you're a child, it seems like it takes forever for Christmas to get here, but as an adult, time flies!

We've been participating in last minute Christmas activities over the last few days!

On Wednesday, we made our gingerbread house. We made one for the first time last year, and it went so well, that Grant opted out this year. ;) Lexie really wanted to make one, so my mom bought her a kit. Since Grant had enough fun last year, I got to be the builder this year. Let's just say that I'm passing on that tradition to my parents next year. OR buying a pre-assembled one!




Sweet Lily laughed at the chaos.



After multiple house collapses, and icing getting everywhere, our house was complete!



Yesterday, Dylan had his last day of school before Christmas break. He had such a fun day complete with a Christmas party and a Christmas program. Right after he got home from school and Grant got home from work, we ate a quick dinner, and loaded into the car.

Our destination? Hartwood Acres Celebration of Lights!

We go every year, and it is gorgeous! Christmas wouldn't be the same without seeing the lights first!

Here's the description:

Enjoy a spectacular 3.2 mile stretch of twinkling holiday displays through Hartwoood Acres Park in the North Hills, all leading up to the beautifully illuminated Hartwood Mansion. More than 2 million lights and over 400 displays ranging from 3 to 40 feet tall are used to create this dazzling spectacle. The Hartwood Celebration of Lights helps raise money for WTAE's Project Bundle-Up benefiting the Salvation Army, which provides new coats, gloves and other cold-weather clothing to children and senior citizens. Suggested contributions by visitors also help to support the Woodlands Foundation which serves children and young people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Dylan and Lexie were so excited to see the lights! They look forward to it every year!

We always try to get there before the gates open, because if you don't, you end up waiting in traffic for hours to drive through the light displays. This year, we got there ten minutes before it opened, and drove right in!



Dylan and Lexie loved it! Dylan's favorite display was the man shooting a bow and arrow, and Lexie's favorite display was the big snowman blowing air out of his mouth!




Baby girl slept through it, though. I was SO tempted to wake her!



The lights were just as beautiful as ever, and there were even a few new displays to enjoy!













After we left the park, we surprised the kids with a tasty treat! We got ice cream cones and milkshakes at McDonalds!





Once we got home, the big kids had a sleepover, and my jolly baby watched me wrap a tower of presents. I think she was surprised by just how much there was!



The excitement level in this house is high! We can't wait for Christmas!

Month Four

I'm taking a break from all the Christmas fun to write Lily's very belated (by 18 days) 4 month update!



Dear Lilybug,

You are 4 months old! All traces of the newborn you once were are now gone. In the blink of an eye, you have changed into a mobile, alert, chubby baby! If I could describe you in just one word, it would be joyful!



You are such a blessing. I say it every month, but that's only because it's true! You are so sweet, so content, so easy-going, so happy, and so good! I am so lucky to be your mama!



This month has brought many changes. For one, it was nearly impossible to photograph you! You are constantly moving! I often find you completely turned around or at the opposite end of your crib after naptime.




You have grown SO much! At your 4 month check-up, you weighed in at 15.5 lbs, and were 26.5 inches long! You wear mostly 3-6 month clothing, although a few 0-3 month items still fit. We finished out this month in your last pack of size 1 diapers. You have some serious thigh chub! (No worries, baby girl! You are going to end up tall and thin, like your siblings!)





This month (November 15th, to be exact), you found your voice. In addition to the babbling you had already been doing, you discovered you could squeal. Really loud. You also began to blow raspberries!



You teethed like crazy this month. Your days were filled with drool (you are my first drooling baby!) and chewing on anything you could get your hands on!



This month, you became so curious. You had to explore and look at everything!








Your eating and sleeping habits remained the same. You nursed every 3-4 hours during the day, and the stretches between feedings were much longer at night. You continued to (mostly) sleep through the night, and you took marathon naps! Often, you would take 5-6 hour naps! All your naps are in your crib, but I admit to falling asleep while feeding you at night. What can I say? You are a little snuggle bug (Daddy calls you that!), and I can't resist cuddling with you! I know just how fast you'll grow up.



Some of your favorite toys this month were your Taggies Elephant, your duck ball, and your jumperoo! You love jumping in it, and you have really strong legs from using it so much! You also love it when we hold you in front of a mirror. You can't stop smiling when you see our reflections!





You began rolling much more this month. You knew you could do it, and you did it often!




Another new thing is the thumb sucking! You began to give up your pacifier at night, and choose your thumb, instead.



You are one of the most easy-going babies I've ever met. You go with the flow, and are happy to do so.




What I love most about you is your happiness. You wake up with the biggest smile on your face, and that smile never stops! You love to interact with people, and are quick to offer up a big grin! Keep smiling, baby girl, because that smile lights up our lives!



Happy 4 months, Liliana. I hope one day you will realize just how much you're loved!!!