Our December in pictures

A very special Christmas

This was one of my favorite Christmas’s to date. And not just the actual day of, but the weeks leading into the holiday. Because Taylor totally gets it now, and under any signs of acting out, all I had to do was squint my eyes at her and say, Don’t make me tell Santa. It was pure gold. And I’m a bit bummed I have to wait 11 more months to use that gem in keeping my daughter well behaved.

Chris’s parents came into town the week before, showering us all with love and lots and lots of presents.

Luke was hilarious opening gifts this year. Each time he unwrapped a present, whether it was a ball or a sweater vest, he would gasp and throw his hands up like he had never seen anything so wonderful in his entire life.

On Christmas Eve we followed our own family tradition of going to mass early and then coming home to open more family gifts and eat lots of junk food.

Christmas morning was filled with discovering what Santa brought us and opening presents from the four of us to each other. Everyone scored pretty good this year.

Merry Christmas!

Beeba and Parker come to Asheville

Since my sister had a limited amount of maternity leave and her husband was busy at work, I coaxed her into making her first mama-baby roadtrip to Asheville in early December. And the Amys family was very happy to welcome Beeba and Parker into our family for four days, showing them our new house and letting me get my newborn fix by smelling that sweet baby skin. Ah... Fresh baby smell is the best.

We even ventured out for a day of fanciness at the Biltmore Estate.

Miss Parker Grace was NOT impressed.

It was a joy to have my sister in town. I have been very spoiled the past months, being able to see Libba five times in the past five months. I hope 2013 will give us the same luck!