Our Christmas in Photos

We had a wonderful Christmas. I loved sharing the day with my little girl. It was so much more fun seeing it through her eyes.

Here is a recap through pictures.

We took Bug to visit Santa the day before Christmas Eve. The pictures speak for themselves...

She clearly loved him. Side note: She's wearing my Christmas dress from when I was her age! I love that I got to share that with her!

Christmas Eve is spent with the hubs's family.

The hubs's grandmother with her five great-granddaughters.

Then it was off to home to open up our Christmas pajamas and enjoy our Christmas tree!

Then...before we knew it, Christmas morning was upon us!

Bug's read: Hopalong Jack and the Blue Bunnies

Bug's wear: two new dresses and headbands from Little Hip Squeaks

Bug's need: big girl car seat

Bug's want: her very own playroom (more on the playroom later)!

Then it was off to my parent's house for Christmas with Bibi and Papi!

Bug got me my Mama Bear sweatshirt from Loved by Hannah and Eli and she got her daddy those camo pants he's wearing in the picture.

We had such a wonderful Christmas, now onto the New Year and a certain little girl's first birthday!

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

Motherhood has it's seriousness and frustration as well as it's laughs. That's why we are here. Life is much easier when traveled with companions! So mamas, let's join together in the spirit of motherhood and share our moments together. We want to hear the happy, sad, tough, terrible, hilarious moments that make being a mother the best job in the world!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to Cara from The Building of a House and a Family. Her post titled Santa is Just For Fun went right along with our Christmas week. There are so many fun things about Christmas, including Santa, but I think that Cara gets it right when she says Santa is just for fun at Christmastime. The real reason for Christmas is Jesus!


Alrighty, now it's time to link up your posts!

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs 

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

Motherhood has it's seriousness and frustration as well as it's laughs. That's why we are here. Life is much easier when traveled with companions! So mamas, let's join together in the spirit of motherhood and share our moments together. We want to hear the happy, sad, tough, terrible, hilarious moments that make being a mother the best job in the world!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to Heather from Like a Morning Cup of Coffee. Her post titled To The Ones Who Married Young was a post that caught my eye because I am one of those who married at a pretty young age!

Aren't they such a cute couple?

Alrighty, now it's time to link up your posts!

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs 

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

11 Months!

Seriously? 11 months already? Do you mean to tell me that my little Bug will be a year old next month?! How is that even possible?! I really don't understand it.

weight: 21 lbs 11.5 oz       

height: 28 3/4 in 

eating: nursing 3-4 times a day and 3 meals of solids a day  

floor time: crawling, standing, getting into everything

happiness: she is normally such a happy baby, but unfortunately has gotten her first major sickness this month

loves: her mommy, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, peek-a-boo, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, music, standing, and eating

sleep: we're down to two naps a day and still sleeping through the night!

first word: MAMA! second word: DADA! third word: Moo

Poor thing has her first real sickness this month. Stupid RSV. It's been heartbreaking. But thankfully my girl is on the mend! And she's been taking her breathing treatments like a champ. I'm so proud of her.

We've been here there and everywhere it seems celebrating the holidays. We've been on the Christmas Train, up to South Carolina to celebrate the holiday with my grandparents, and everywhere in between. 

her first reaction to the Christmas tree as captured by the iPhone

I'm super excited to be celebrating Bug's first Christmas. She's loves all the decorations and ornaments. We've put "her" ornaments on the bottom and she loves taking them off and playing with them.

captured via iPhone

Dear Bug,

In one month we will say hello to our little one-year-old. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to tearing up a bit right now. You've grown up so fast and right before our eyes! I love watching your little personality develop! And girl, you've got yourself a BIG personality. You keep me and your daddy on our toes. This month we've been doing all things Christmas, and it has been so much fun to share it with you and start all these new traditions! We're so blessed to have you to share the season with. I'm doing my best to soak up every moment I can.  

Gitchee gitchee goo!

Mommy and Daddy

Christmas Card

This is my first year doing Christmas cards, but who could resist not doing them with this cutie?! I'm hoping to keep these going. There's something special about receiving a Christmas card in my opinion.

The picture is from my cousin's wedding. There was a little barn with Christmas lights, and I just couldn't help but capture the moment! I won't mention what we went through to get this picture, I'm just happy it turned out.

I knew I wanted to design the card and make it my own. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I ended up ordering them through Costco, and I just love the way they came out! In my opinion, they're perfect.

Linking up with the Christmas Card Carousel! Merry Christmas everyone! May your days be merry and bright!

Time

My baby girl will be 11 months tomorrow...where has the time gone?

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

This week, I wanted to expound a little on Mommy Moments and why this link up is so important to me. I started Mommy Moments with the hopes that this would become a place for moms to connect, encourage, challenge and relate with one another. Alli, Sarah (your co-hosts) and I were all pregnant with our baby girls a year ago. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we had NO IDEA how much our lives would change...and for the better! Being a mother is an amazing gift. It's a blessing, a joy, and a wonderful responsibility from the Lord. Motherhood has it's seriousness and frustration as well as it's laughs. That's why we are here. Life is much easier when traveled with companions! So mamas, let's join together in the spirit of motherhood and share our moments together. We want to hear the happy, sad, tough, terrible, hilarious moments that make being a mother the best job in the world!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to Julie from Don't Lick Your Sister. Her post titled Moments Right After Birth was a post I could definitely identify with. Those first few moments spent with your precious baby are the most special. You never forget them!


Now it's time to link up your posts!

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs 

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

The Christmas Train

This past weekend, we took Bug up to Blue Ridge to enjoy the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Every Christmas they do Christmas train rides complete with the Grinch, Frosty, and an Elf. The best part is that Santa and Mrs. Claus are on the train too!

I was a little apprehensive about how Bug would handle the train and sitting on our laps for the time. She's not much of a sitter, but she loved it! It helped that there was a lot going on and the train was moving.

There were people moving back and forth throughout the train. Lots and lots of children. It was such a fun setting for her!

She seriously loved looking out the windows.

See what I mean?

She kept bouncing up and down and hitting the window, cooing and talking and laughing up a storm!

Despite the look on her face, she was completely in awe of Santa! I expected some screaming due to her behavior earlier that morning, but she was an angel! And that bell in her hands? Her new favorite toy. She likes to stick it in her mouth (don't worry, it's huge and the strings are always outward) and crawl around with it.

See what I mean? In complete awe! She loved it!

The hubs and I have decided that this will definitely be a tradition we do every year! It was so much fun and I loved sharing it with my little girl.

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to Rachel from Diamonds In The Rough! Her post titled Realizing My Season Of Life was a post of few words but with one of the best lessons I've learned. Although Rachel has been MIA from the blogging world, she sees what's important and this little angel is to blame! Stop by and show Rachel and that sweet baby of hers some love!


Now it's time to link up your posts!

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs 

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the day that the hubs and I typically go and get our Christmas tree. It had been a hard couple of days for us, so I was looking forward to getting out and taking Bug tree shopping. 

We went to Cagle's Family Farm to pick out our tree. It was amazing! There were so many beautiful trees that we had a hard time choosing one! Mrs. Claus was there to bring smiles and share joy. She made Bug's day by giving her yummy cookies. Bug was sold after that! They also had free hot chocolate, coffee, and marshmallows to roast. It was such a wonderful experience and we will definitely be going back there next year!

Once we were home, it was time to decorate. Bug went straight down for a nap, so that made decorating a little easier. But once she got up, we had a mini photo shoot.

She was completely fascinated by the lights! I loved her reaction to seeing everything for the first time. It's amazing seeing the magic through her eyes. It makes everything new once again!

I am loving sharing this season with her! It's so special!

I love my cozy fireplace and mantle. It's so cheery and bright. I can't help but smile when I see it.

Our beautiful tree that we got from Cagle's Family Farm! It's seriously perfect - I may be biased though. I loved watching Bug's reaction to the tree. And it's a new reaction every morning. She's already found her favorite ornaments and I make sure to keep those at the bottom so she can play with them all she wants.

I think my favorite decor is the strand of lights we added to Bug's room. There's something about sleeping underneath those lights that is simply magical. I hope they bring sweet dreams to her as she sleeps.

10 Months!

Again...better late than never 

(she was 10 months November 17)

weight: 21 lbs 6 oz       

height: 28 1/4 in (I know she's grown, but I don't know how much)

eating: nursing 3-4 times a day and 3 meals of solids a day  

floor time: crawling, standing, getting into everything

happiness: she is such a happy baby! we are so blessed!

loves: her mommy, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, peek-a-boo, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, music, standing, and eating

sleep: we're down to two naps a day and still sleeping through the night!

first word: MAMA! second word: DADA! and she's continually stringing sounds together! 

I could seriously eat her up! She's so funny. Her favorite room in the house is the bathroom. Why? I don't know, but she loves sneaking in there! And bath time is her favorite.

She's so active and always keeping us on our toes.

We've had a wide range of temperatures here in Georgia, so we've used our fireplace a good bit. I love having a fire. We've blocked the area off with ottomans and such, so far Bug has been good about ignoring the fire.

We went to our first wedding (my cousin's). She was a complete angel! I was so proud of her. And she was pretty darn cute in that outfit!

Dear Bug,

You simply amaze us. You're growing up way too fast, and it makes us sad. But we love watching you grow up and discover new things. You make these cold days warm with your snuggles. I love your giggles and the way you've started to play. I can't stop thinking about just how blessed I am to have you in my life. You are truly amazing and your daddy and I love you so incredibly much!

Gitchee gitchee goo, baby girl,

Mommy and Daddy