Let it Snow, Let is Snow, Let it Snow...

Brian got to take a good amount of time off work this holiday season and we have absolutely loved it! I love having him home and spending time as a family. Day to day life gets so busy and chaotic, it is refreshing to have the opportunity to relax together and have no schedule to follow or places to be. We were able to spend a little time outside...enough to get a picture or two and play in the snow for just a bit. Don't you love the pink camo snowsuit Jared and Steph got her?

Family Time

After we celebrated Christmas morning with Stella, the rest of the Christmas festivities began! We headed to Grandma and Grandpa Butcher's house Christmas afternoon where of course Stella was showered with gifts from her grandparents as well as her uncles. She just flashes her smile and it melts their hearts. Her smile said it all. She loved her blocks, books, a beautiful blanket (one that I would like for myself...you can see her sitting on it in the picture below), and baby doll. She loved her stuffed moose and looked so cute in her pink camo snow suit from Jared and Steph. She loved reading her Santa Claus book from Tyler too! It was just too much fun!


After spending time with the Butcher's on Friday we joined the Ringger's on Saturday. Busy, busy, busy! Again, Stella loved her Christmas gifts as she was showered by her grandparents! She got new bath toys (fishing ones from Grandpa Ringger). She (and I) was also surprised when she opened a Baby Stella Doll! I looked all over for one and wouldn't you know that Brian and my mom were in cahoots the whole time!?!?

She thinks it is hilarious to tickle the baby's feet...

The Gongaware's got her a ball popper. She loves it! Every time we turn it on she squeals and her arms flap a hundred miles an hour!

And I was also able to convince Brian into posing for some family pictures. He didn't love the idea, but he had to admit some of them turned out pretty good :)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas has always been fun. I love every minute of it. Decorating, music, snow, gifts, family, etc. However, it is even more fun spending it with the little person you brought into this world not even a year ago. How can she bring tears to our eyes and not even realize she is doing it? Sure she is young enough that she won't even remember it, but I will!

I will never forget...

....her fun bedhead and huge smile as we ate breakfast....

....or her lack of interest in her Christmas donut.....


...the first Christmas card I recieved as a mom...


...watching her with her daddy...

Christmas Eve

Stella set out cookies for Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve....

But before she went to bed, she decided to sample a few herself. Just to make sure they were good.....

Well, a few turned into a lot and before she knew it, she had made a mess!

Suddenly, from the rooftop she heard such a clatter! Yikes! She is going to get caught eating Santa's cookies!!

First Shiner

Stella lasted all weekend with her wild boy cousins without getting injured. After being home for an hour she gets her first shiner! She was standing on the laundry basket and went to move to the other laundry basket and missed. Face planted into the laundry basket. Sat there for a bit. Didn't cry. Kept playing. We didn't even notice it until later that night. First of many, I am sure.

Fun and Busy Weekend!

Well, we finally got to meet Cousin Amelia this weekend and she was absolutely perfect...so, so pretty! I couldn't keep my hands off of her, and as you can see above, either could Stella! She loved the dark hair....you always want what you don't have I guess.

Stella was pretty tough this weekend with her cousins. They loved her to pieces and wanted to hold her all weekend. They still think she is Baby Stella. This weekend we upgraded her name to Cousin Stella. They were quite determined to hold her still though!

Baby itch? I walked in the room to catch Brian just looking at Amelia....so sweet. We realized this weekend that our baby is quite a baby anymore :(

First snow to play in, and she loved it! She took right off crawling everywhere. Who would have guessed....she hates the grass, but loves the snow!

As she was crawling she thought she would give it a taste...oh dear. I knew it would end badly....

But actually it didn't. A little whining and surprise look. After this though we thought it was time to go inside and warm up :)

Just having some fun :)

Hanging out watching some TV...who wouldn't enjoy that?

First ponytail! Although you can barely see it in this photo...

Ahhhhhhh!

The first snow always brings some craziness. But seriously, on a Monday? Lima Road started construction....right before winter begins? Why would anyone begin major road construction now? Then we ran into pile up after pile up on I69 South. Ugh....happy Monday!

But we all made it safe and sound to our destination....which is the important thing, right? So we will just continue to be thankful for that because we all know how easily it could have been us along side the road or in car accident. Try to focus on the positive :)

Happy Birthday!! (Posted on the 3rd, Bday on the 4th)

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear mo-om,
Happy birthday to you!!

Love you!