Christmas 2011

What a wonderful and blessed Chritsmas it was!

We began celebrating on the 23rd with Christopher's family. Chris's grandparents were visiting from Texas and got to meet Abigail for the first time! We had a yummy spaghetti dinner then opened presents.


Waiting for the festivities to start...




Great-grandma Patti


Great-grandpa Richard


I think spaghetti is one of her favorite meals!

Auntie Sarah can always make her smile!

Bella and Audrey loved their play kitchen

Abigail was kind of in the middle of all the mess. She would be sitting up one minute, rolling around in wrapping paper the next (trying to eat it, of course!)


Audrey's favorite gift was the Lala Loopsy Clubhouse, but she was bummed about having to share it with Bella. That's life, kid!

Fast forward to Christmas morning at our house with my family...


Seeing presents for the first time.

After all the presents were put out on Christmas Eve, I snuck into Audrey's room and tied her stocking to her crib. Wouldn't you know it, she woke up in the middle of the night wanting milk and when I returned, she had taken out her toys :) The look on her face was priceless as I told her that Santa brought it. Luckily she went back to sleep and even after she woke up in the morning, the toys kept her busy!



Checking out the milk, cookies, and note that Santa left


Abby watched all the action from her highchair. She was thrilled when Uncle Scott brought her a gift!

Pausing to watch A Christmas Story (it stays on all day and night at our house!)

She stopped unwrapping gifts and just read for the longest time as her presents were getting piled up!





After all the gifts were opened, Abigail took a nap and we got ready to go to Mom Maw's house for more celebrating!



Second time meeting cousin Ansley!

Audrey loved watching cousin Nina rock the karaoke!





We ate and opened presents and had the best time. We missed Uncle Ryan and Auntie M, though!

It was a long drive home and we were so tired! The girls went straight to bed. Hard to believe that it's all over. I love Christmastime so much! Next year we'll have a 4 year old and a 20-month old! They'll both be running around and squealing and I'm sure it will be even more crazy. Can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

It was a really great day!

Audrey woke up in a great mood as we serenaded her with 'Happy Birthday.' She really loved busting out of her room :)




Hiding under her pillow as we sang :)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING!

I took her with me to go grocery shopping and run some errands. She picked out her birthday cake and was so excited to get home because Aunt Kelly & Jeremy were coming over early to celebrate with her. They got her an amazing present- all of the Disney Princess dolls!



She had a nice afternoon nap then it was time for her party!





This is as close as Audrey will sit to Abigail. She laugh and pulls away every time Abigail touches her (I think she's afraid of how hard Abby can pinch and pull!)

We were so excited to celebrate with close family. Grandma and Grandpa Allen (her great-grandparents from TX) were able to come and that was so special.


Audrey and Bella mostly played in her room

Chris made a spiral ham and after we ate she opened presents. She kept telling Bella, "This is my present, Bella!" and then Bella would dramatically turn away, lol. You could tell by her tone that she wasn't at all trying to mean, more like, "Look what I got!" She had the best reaction to getting the Lala Loopsy Tree House...she cheered and sang and danced and it was so funny!


Time for presents!


Opening the princess book from Aunt Caroline and Uncle Jason :)



My favorite part was the cake. Of course I loved watching her as we all sang Happy Birthday. But then, to my surprise instead of spitting all over the cake, she blew out the candles on her first try! I don't think she could believe it either :) And then, before anyone could stop her, she took a big lick from her cake!! I let her go for it, because she had been DYING to "take one little lick" the entire day. Grandma Allen got it all on video, too!






3 years old= 3 licks!


It was such a fun little celebration. I'm so grateful to everyone who came out to help celebrate, especially with the craziness of it being Christmas Eve. Audrey felt so special and can't wait until next year :)

Audrey's Slideshow

"I Hope You Dance"

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

Audrey is THREE!

Our sweet Audrey Cate is 3 years old. It’s so hard to believe…it’s so hard to remember what life was like before her. Three years doesn’t sound like a long time, but my goodness! I look at her and every.single.day I’m amazed. I am beyond grateful that she’s healthy, happy, and free-spirited. She completely lights up our lives and gives us purpose.

This was a huge year! She went from diapers to panties. She went from short, very simple phrases and babbling to full-on (run-on) sentences. She gave up the paci (whoa!) She became a big sister! She became more assertive but also learned boundaries. One thing I learned about Miss Audrey- she will do things when she’s good and ready. It’s like a switch- one day she’ll be kind of unsure and reluctant…the next day she’s a pro.

Audrey, one day you will be reading this. And I want you to know that we are so very much in love with you! We have high expectations of you. We love you unconditionally and with all that we have.

Some things to remember from this past year:

Your favorite phrases/sayings: “No, you don’t say those words to me!” Actually, that didn’t last very long because you learned real quick that you don’t talk to us like that…so really, you don’t say those words to us ☺ You can be very dramatic when you talk…you love superlatives: “I am so very tired,” and “This is the best _____ ever!!” You definitely mimic what you’ve heard us say…“I almost forgot!” “Wait a second!” “What the HECK?!” And somehow you’ve gotten it in your head that “4 minutes” buys you a lot of time: “I go to bed in 4 minutes, I play for 4 minutes.” You randomly tell us that you love us "SO MUCH!"

You are so positive. You're always telling us that you're going to have a good day. And then, at the end of the day you tell us that you did in fact have a great day :) We can usually get a smile back on your face when you become frustrated or sad or upset and I really love that about you- I hope you always try to see the bright side of things, hold your head up high with confidence and not let others get you down.

Sometimes you drive us crazy at bedtime. And lately in the middle of the night. You almost always ask for a second cup of warm milk. And sometimes you just want us to love on you. When I ask you what you need you say, "You." Heart melts each time :) Lately you’ve been asking me to rock you, “like you rock Abby.” And of course I do. I will rock you when you are 3, 12, 30…I cherish those few minutes when we sit in silence and I just breathe you in. I adore you!

I can’t believe how well you’ve adjusted to having Abigail. You are very protective when someone is holding her. You like to get in her face and “baby talk.” You sing her a special little song that cracks her up. It’s so funny to watch! You’re well on your way to becoming best buds.

I could look at your sweet face forever. I wish I could keep you at this age forever!!! But I know there is so much to look forward to…before we know it, you’ll be riding to school with me as a Kindergator. For a while now, every time we passed UMW I would tell you, “That’s where you’re going to college!” And now you say, “I want to go there!” I just can’t imagine a time when you’ll leave me…luckily we’re far from that- but for serious, please don’t ever leave me ;)

We’re coming up on a challenging age; I promise to be as patient as possible as you test limits and continue to form your little personality. You’ve only been with us for 3 years but I feel like we’ve loved you forever. Thank you for lighting up our lives and bringing us so much joy each and everyday since you were born. We love you more than words could ever say!

Happy Birthday, sweet Audrey Cate.













Trying so hard to hold up 3 fingers...


:)