Christmas Celebration #1

Today we had the first of this year's four Christmas celebrations. We celebrated with my mom since she is going to have surgery a few days before Christmas. My mom, Casey and Cory came up for the day. For me, it was a glimpse of what it will be like to have people over to our home for Christmas someday soon. I love it! We had a delicious spread of hor d'oeuvres for lunch and then enjoyed Christmas-y activities. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

While I was getting ready for church this morning, Abby spotted some presents I had wrapped in my room. I think this was the moment her gift curiosity was peaked.

"What are these, Mommy?"

Later in the day, Abby made her way over the tree and found her gift from Grandma and Casey.

"what's in here?"

discovering the bows

We needed to get some exercise in after lunch and before dessert, so Abby took Uncle Cory on laps around the kitchen and living room until his back hurt.

"Let's go...I'll show you the way!"

Abby and Daddy played some Christmas Carols for us...including Silent Night.

Then, we read the Christmas story from The Jesus Storybook Bible. Remembering the Reason for the Season! Thank you Jesus!

Finally, it's time for Abby to figure out what's inside her very first Christmas gift!

loving the wrapping paper

Abby's new kitchen. Thank you Grandma and Casey.

so much fun

Then the rest of us exchanged some fun gifts, watched the Eagles/Giants game and had some dessert!

The rivalry continues. Giants vs. Eagles! Perfect gifts to go with the Sunday afternoon football game we had on. Eagles pulled it out in the end, but it was fun watching these two root for their teams.

Cory was proudly pointing to the 24-3 score on the screen (Giants), but in the end the Eagles made an amazing comeback and Joe did his victory dance for us all.

Abby modeling her new outfits (with Casey's help)

Mom & her new pajamas

me & my mom

mom, me and Cory

telling Casey some stories

Thankful for a festive day of Christmas celebrations! Merry Christmas!

Only a matter of time...

Abby is moving and she is determined (which has led to some of her very first temper tantrums). She wants to run everywhere. I thought babies were slow when they started moving around. My mistake! Abby holds our hands and starts running. The other day she went from sitting position to her feet all by herself and the proud smile on her face was priceless. Now, if I leave Abby sitting on the floor with her toys and I turn away for a minute or leave the room, it is very likely I will come back to find this:

"Look at me, Mommy!"

It's only a matter of time before she is walking around all by herself. Here's Abby trying her new walking toy for the first time today:

I'm thankful for a little girl who's keeping me on my toes!

Saturday

Our friends, Rob and Kelly, came to visit this weekend. It was the perfect relaxing day with really good friends. My kind of Saturday! We shared meals, told stories and played with Abby. Their visit was such a gift to us. It only took Abby about 3 minutes to get over her shyness before she was batting her eyelashes at Rob and walking over to Kelly to play with her pretty long hair. I didn't get many pictures, but the ones I caught of Rob and Abby are too sweet not to share.

Hi Uncle Rob! I like your beard.

Abby leading the way. She gave Rob a workout. He held on and she walked/ran him laps around the kitchen and living room. This girl can move.

Loving the Season

Abby loves the tree. When I asked her where the tree was the other day, she pointed right to it (a first!). It's amazing to see how much she understands. When we put her in her high chair, she looks at the tree and makes noise until we turn the lights on for her. She already knows that Christmas lights make every moment a little more enjoyable. AND though she has pretty much made it clear that she doesn't plan on all out crawling before she walks (which seems like it could be any day now!), the tree is one of the few things that gets her on her hands and knees and moving.

Jingle Bells

More Happenings

Oh you know...Abby's learning how to give me a hand with the laundry!

This weekend, we traveled to Boston to celebrate with our friends Aaron and Jenn on their wedding day! Abby got to hang out with her Aunt Chrissy at the hotel and Joe and I enjoyed a night out at a beautiful wedding with our friends.

love this man.

the lovely Mr. & Mrs.

It takes a cart to bring everything up to our hotel room. (even for an overnight!) We had fun playing on it!