December 2015

To say that December was a wild and crazy month would be quite the understatement. We started our first Advent Calendar, saw baby sissy's due date come and go, welcomed Baby Sissy to the world, celebrated Christmas in Athens, AND traveled back to MS. We are truly blessed!

You HAVE to LOVE a screaming baby and Santa picture! This Santa really was great. This was our first year to have a real tree so we decided to go pick one out at the Christmas Tree farm.  SG got to visit with some of the farm animals too.

SG was a little more comfortable talking a look at Santa from my arms...maybe next year! While we were there, we ran in to SG's best friend Brooks. They absolutely LOVE each other and were excited to get to hold hands and take pictures by the trees.

Someone gave SG this "Little People" princess carriage for her 1st birthday and she now enjoys RIDING on it around the house.  It plays a fairytale tune fit for a princess...Princess Suzanna Grace!

Suzanna Grace continues to love music class and is learning more and more with each session.  I think she will be leading the class by spring.  We LOVE Mrs. Cathy and all of our sweet friends.

We started December off by setting up the Nativity Scene.  SG loves playing with all the pieces and rocking Baby Jesus.  Her princesses usually end up in the manger as well.

I am pretty sure that this was the morning that CJ was born...and if it wasn't then it was very close. I have loved having a HOME to celebrate Christmas in this year.  I told Kyle that this Christmas season has been the BEST. I think it has something to do with our growing family and just our overall JOY in life. 

Kyle Moore was THRILLED to be able to buy SG her first soccer ball and shin guards.  She was less than thrilled when we got to the intramural fields to practice. She was much more interested in the dogs and boys playing flag football.  When we are at home without distractions, she LOVES kicking the ball with her Daddy though. 

SG kept showing off her bracelet...

Every morning before Daddy left for work he and SG would take a look at the Advent Calendar and read the days activity together. We had a fun time serving others AND spending time as a family. 

On Dec. 7 we welcomed sweet Baby Sissy to the world! SG LOVED her alone time with SuSu and Dada B but also enjoyed coming to visit us in the hospital...for about 5 minutes.  She was excited to see Baby Sissy and give her kisses! It didn't hurt that Baby Sissy had suckers waiting for her visit too. 

While Mommy and Baby Sissy were still in the hospital, Daddy got to visit SG's class for their Christmas Party. My sweet friend Cameron snapped these pictures of SG's face when she saw her Daddy walking in the door.  Precious angel baby.

We made it home with our sweet Little Sissy and were lucky enough to have BOTH SuSu and JJ come to help us for about 2 weeks. What a blessing and thank you Lord for Mommas!

Carolina James is quite the smiler just like her big sister!  See if you can tell which is which in the bottom picture.  I think SG's dimple gives it away a little.

This sweet big sister is quite the sport. She has, for the most part, handled things beautifully.

We went for Baby Sissy's 1 week DR appointment and had to stop for donuts afterwards. Yum!

The middle of December saw lots of laying around and enjoying our growing family. As any nursing Momma knows, you have LOTS of pictures like the ones below. Everyone is half naked and snuggling.

One of my favorite things about having babies is getting to share them with our families. It has been such a special time between my Mother and me when Kyle and I have welcomed a new baby. There is just something about a mom...no matter how old you are. I am lucky enough to have TWO Momma's who love us and took such amazing care of our whole family.

Poor SG was SICK for the first 2 weeks that CJ was home and it was NOT fun for anyone. Daddy slept with her on the couch and I slept with CJ in our bed.

We LOVED all of our newborn pictures.  SG was SUCH a trooper and did an amazing job! Sweet baby CJ was just along for the ride.

Max Templin came over to official ask Kyle for Carolina James' hand in marriage...when they are old enough. JJ and SuSu also took SG on all kinds of adventures each day. They went hiking, visited the zoo, and even went to a puppet show!

Grandmothers are known for their Mar Poppins bags and SG and CJ's ALWAYS bring great surprises! JJ had a fun gingerbread house for SG to decorate but the candy itself was WAY more tempting.

JJ and SuSu left and what were the girls to do?!? Well, we decided to hit up RUSH for trampoline time...of course!

Oh and during all of this, MA and I started a small business...nap time not consist of planning, designing, listening to/watching courses online, and snuggles...of course. I also had to document CJs hair...because, for the record, she did have hair on the top of her head for several weeks (before it all fell out). I think it even has a little touch of strawberry blonde.

We enjoyed a family night at the zoo drinking hot chocolate and looking at the lights. 

Daddy was in charge of "Princess Day" on the Advent Calendar. He took SG to the store to buy a special treat and they came home with tattoos. You basically put Elmer's glue over a stencil and then sprinkle it with glitter.  Can I tell you that the tattoos lasted over a week...

We celebrated Christmas as a family the weekend before Christmas. The girls wore their matching PJs.  SG was very in to the little girl in the window and didn't want to smile for the camera.  She does, though, love giving Baby Sissy kisses. That same time we went to Kyle's work Christmas Party and had a blast! Oh how different it is from baby #1 to baby #2...12 days postpartum = parents' night out. Well deserved and needed. :) Apparently I did not take a single picture of our Athens Christmas either...oops. We were just enjoying the moments.