Baby's First Christmas

Looky What Santa Brought....

I AM IN LAUNDRY HEAVEN...who says you can't enjoy house work!

Christmas Day 2007

Our First Christmas as a family of four was amazing. Here is a highlight of our favorite memories this year.

-Seeing Lily's face Christmas morning when she came down the stairs
-Opening presents for hours
-Eggs and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, chicken salad sandwiches for lunch
-Staying in our pj's all day
-Lily opening her camera from Santa and taking pictures all day
-Emma trying to eat all the wrapping paper
-Reading all the girl's new book
-Jeff and Emma in their Santa hats
-Emma's very first Christmas!!
-Opening our stocking stuffers
-Lily getting trucks, cars and a pirate ship....she LOVED them all!!
-My new washer and dryer in cherry red...yay!
-Talking to all our loved ones
-Emma and Lily playing with Emma's stage
-Being settled and enjoying our first Christmas in our new home
-Yummy Christmas cookies from our neighbors and friends
-Watching Lily and Emma play together near the tree
-Hearing Lily say "open it Daddy, open it Daddy!" after every present
-Being together


Here are ALL the pictures we took Christmas day. I just loaded the entire album, rather than pick through them. I just wanted to get them posted. It may take you a while to view them all...enjoy!

Our Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve was very relaxing. We stayed home and enjoyed some quality family time. Jeff made a delicious meal of baked chicken, stuffing, butternut squash, mashed potatoes and rolls. I contributed a little and made a chocolate cream pie for dessert. It was a true feast...that we enjoyed for several days. Christmas Eve is almost as big as Christmas in my family so we decided to have our "big meal" on Christmas Eve. The leftovers would allow total relaxation on Christmas day. During the day we made a Gingerbread house and talked to most of our family. After our yummy dinner, we finished up the Gingerbread house and then gave the kids a bath. As tradition goes, we let the kids open one gift each. Jeff and I also opened my Mom's annual stocking stuffer lottery tickets (we only won $1.00 Mom). After the gifts we read some Christmas books and then put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Lily was SO excited for Santa to come and bring her presents. After we put the kids to bed Jeff and I stuffed the stockings, enjoyed some cookies (hee hee hee) and placed all the gifts from Santa under tree. After we finished prepping the house we snuggled on the couch. It was truly a great day.

Emma @ 7 Months

Emma turned 7 months on December 23rd. We are amazed at how fast she is learning new skills. We felt that Lily was quick, but Emma seems to be blowing through milestones. Here is a glimpse of Emma at 7 months...she's a busy one!

Can crawl up on all fours
Can pull up very easily and cruise along the furniture

Can transfer from the couch to the coffee table

Has 6 teeth (she's currently getting the two next to her front teeth)

LOVES every solid food we give her

Can feed herself

Loves to eat Gerber Puffs and Mum crackers

Loves chasing Lily, Kastor and Kody

Is a COMPLETE Mommy's girl, she even gets upset when I'm out of sight

Wears size 6-9 months clothes and a size 3 diaper

LOVES her big sister and wants to play with all her toys

Naps twice a day (occasionally a short third nap)

Sleeps 10 to 12 hours some/most nights (depends on the week)

Has the sweetest belly laugh and a full face smile that melts our hearts

Can babble mamama, dadadada, bababa

Loves to go to the playground and swing

Can drink from a sippy cup if we help her

Enjoys the occasional Baby Einstein Video

Has stranger anxiety, mostly with men

Takes baths (sitting up) with Lily and loves it!
Loves to bite and chew on anything and everything, including Mommy

Loves going running with Daddy in the jogging stroller

Moved out of the "baby bucket" and into the big car seat
Is getting a head full of hair (I think she'll have Lily's curls)

Firsts this month: First time on the swing, in the backpack, first Christmas, first time meeting Santa, first time standing and cruising around, first time feeding herself and eating crackers

Emma has completely come out of her shell. She has decided that she no longer wants to watch us quietly, she wants to actively participate in family activities. At this rate, I think she may even beat Lily's 9.5 month walking record. She is so excited to be standing up and playing with her big sister. As exhausted as Jeff and I are with her inconsistent sleep schedule, Emma is a complete sweetheart. We feel so blessed to have another busy little bee to chase around. She truly completes our family. We are head over heals in love with our little pumpkin. We love you Emma!!

Holidaily Wishes

With just one night of sleep until the big day...
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

Getting Ready for Santa

She is so excited!!

An X-tra Holidaily!!

12 Days of Christmas Gone Wrong!!!

Make sure you pause the music on the right, and turn these guys up!!!

Only 2 Holidailys to Go...

I am obviously in love with Christmas and everything that is involved with the season. But by far, my favorite thing about the Holidays is all the extra time I get with my loved ones. Usually Jeff is able to take some leave from work and we enjoy several days of uninterrupted Christmas fun as a family!

Last weekend we tried to take the girls to see Santa at our local mall (not a good idea a week before Christmas) and realized it was a bit too hectic. The line for Santa was over an hour long and as many of you already know....a 2 year old does not have that kind of patience. Since we were already out, we decided instead to hit a diner and enjoy a festive family lunch. Lily had a blast playing songs on the jukebox and Emma was happy as a clam nestled up to the table in a high chair eating crackers and playing with a straw. We ate burgers and fries and enjoyed a yummy chocolate shake. The food was delicious, the mall was decorated beautifully, but the afternoon spent giggling and laughing with my family was priceless. I am truly blessed.

Meeting the Big Guy

Rather than brave the hour plus line at the mall, we decided to meet Santa Claus on base at the Navy Exchange. There was no line and the girls received lots of one on one time with the man in red. They both loved sitting with Santa and although we didn't get a smile from Emma, she also didn't cry. Considering she has pretty bad stranger anxiety these days, we thought she did well. She was very interested in Santa's glasses and beard. Lily was a little shy at first, but then she chatted away about "kitty" (she's in Lily's hand in the pic) and what she wanted for Christmas.

Holidaily Christmas Baking

On Wednesday Lily and I spent most of the day making Christmas cookies for friends and neighbors (and us of course). We started the morning trying a new cookie recipe, Fudgy Peanut Butter Buttons. I found the recipe and thought it would be great to try with Lily as there are very few indigents. We mixed, crushed and rolled to end up with 70 delicious cookies. We modified the recipe and did half with Hersey kisses and the other half with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. I'll post the recipe below. After the button cookies we made our sugar cookie dough and placed it in the fridge to decorate and bake when Daddy came home from work. The second batch of cookies were a little tough, as my little munchkin was on quite a sugar high and lost interest after decorating a dozen or so. Here are the pictures of our day of Christmas baking. We are still enjoying the cookies and looking forward to our next project...A gingerbread house!!

Just 3 more days!

Cookie Recipe

Fudgy Peanut Butter Buttons

Fudgy Peanut Butter Buttons
Makes: 6 Dozen

2/3 cup Hot Water
1 box (10 oz. each) Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Coco Mix (10 packets per box)
1 jar (18 oz.) Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Light Corn Syrup
3 cups Sifted Confectioners' Sugar, divided
4 cups Crushed Vanilla Wafers
72 Hershey's Kisses


Combine water and cocoa mix in a large bowl; whisk together until smooth. Stir in peanut butter and corn syrup. Add 2 cups confectioners' sugar; blend. Stir in crushed vanilla wafers.Spray a large piece of waxed paper with cooking spray for baking (PAM with flour). Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of chocolate mixture onto paper; set aside. Place remaining confectioners' sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll each piece of chocolate into a ball an coat with sugar. Press one kiss in center of each ball.


Chill at least 1 hour before serving. Store refrigerated in an airtight container.

The Stockings were Hung....

I LOVE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS!! I love shopping for stocking stuffers. I love seeing them hung on the fireplace, especially with a fire lit. I love the idea of Santa filling each one with our favorite little things. What a wonderful tradition....

Just 4 days till Christmas!!

Holidaily pictures

What a beautiful moment preserved in time. This is a picture my sister-in-law, Cindy, took of her son Lucas. I am constantly amazed by her talent.

Last, But Not Least

Big Birthday Wishes to you today Mom!! Enjoy your day off from work and your dinner with Barry. We love and miss you.

German Christmas Smokers

Holidaily Backlog
(With Just 6 days left...) Another one of my favorite things at Christmas are my German Smokers. I love lighting the inscents and seeing the little guys "smoke up". Here is a little history about the German smoker:

History of Steinbach “Rauchermen” (Smoker) For five thousand years, incense, like gold, spices and gems, has been among the most precious gifts of kings and emperors. It has also been closely connected with religion. The bible says in Matthew 2, verse 11, about the journey of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem: “and opened their treasures and offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh”. The festivity of the Three Wise Men is still celebrated in Germany on January 6.
Christian and Germanic customs together with superstition made people believe that the evil spirits of the “Raunaechte” (longest nights of the year) could be driven away by noise and light. Once the devils and evil spirits had left the house fine incense was burnt to bless hearth and home.
The old sign: C+M+B
is also today written in chalk over the front door would be the magic spell that keeps all evil away throughout the year.
After the 30 years-religious-war (1618-1648) that was fought in the heart of Germany medieval piety and folk art combined to bring about new forms of burning-incense. Thus, the “Rauchermen”, carved and turned from wood, were born in the Miriquidi Forest, later known as the Erzgebirge. Over the years all kinds and types of Rauchermen were designed: respectable and professional people, folk characters, heroes and forest workers.
The Steinbach family, that has been making German folk art for 5 generations, has perfected the art and craft of creating Rauchermen. All figures represent a certain German folk character manufactured in the most charming detail. Each one has a quaint personality of its own.
Herr Steinbach and his artists constantly dig into German history and culture to come up with new ideas every year. Once the basic idea is born, details have to be worked out in close cooperation with the production people. Every figure consists of numerous parts and pieces which, designed seperately, have to fit perfectly together in the end. One sloppy step and the whole product is worthless.
After designing, the right wood has to be selected and cut and milled into boards and dowels of many different sizes. Skilled craftsmen turn the rough pieces into their final shapes. Many of the small parts are made on automatic machines. However, also these have to be masterly set up for the tiniest pieces. The experienced hands of the carver give special details.
The larger pieces are then sprayed in the typical Steinbach fashion using colors, blends and shadings in a way that makes these products very special. After a drying period rough spots are sanded off, holes drilled and all the little details painted by the artists. Everything is a very tedious work, but when the many pieces finally shape the finished product, we are all proud of the latest creation.

Holidaily Catch Up

Holidaily Laughs

(With only 7 Days Till Christmas)

Important Holiday tips:
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips:

Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO-HOO what a ride!' "

Three

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR NEPHEW SAMUEL!!

What a cutie!! Have a great day buddy!! We love you!

Attention Moms

Just wanted to share this new find with you all. My friend Erin introduced me to the best alternative to those messy biter biscuits. They are called "Baby Mum Mum" and you can find them at your local Walmart. They're similar to the Gerber Puffs as they dissolve very easily. Emma loves them and I love the easy clean up. Just wanted to share this product with my fellow Moms. Anything that makes my day a little easier is always appreciated. Thanks Erin!