the walker

This one's for you, Aunt Holly! Enjoy.

a boy and his dog

Max is a good sport when it comes to Emery.

big step

I feel like I lost an old friend this morning. Five months ago, I rented this beauty and used it for every ounce of liquid gold I fed Emery. Today, it was retired and will move on to help another struggling new mother provide for her child. I never thought I'd be sad to stop, but I am.

It was a good run.

Christmas Day

After a test run with the new stroller and a happy boy in his Christmas PJs, over the river and through the snow to grandmother's house we went.
We passed our church building, which was being blanketed with a blizzard.



It was a gorgeous white Christmas.

Emery wasn't easily entertained that afternoon, although I captured the one moment he seemed content without a nap.


Dinner was delicious, even with the undercooked turkey which was promptly heated in the microwave.



Big thanks to Ina for her delicious recipes. And big thanks to Nate for one of my favorite Christmas presents this year:

scrumpous carrots with dill


and homemade gravy


Come dinnertime, Nate was ready for a nap.


Martinellis all lined up in a row-- we were ready to feast!


Emery enjoyed the mashed potatoes and yams.


Nothing like naked time to end a good meal.


It'd been a long day and we headed home before a huge meltdown occured-- one was certainly on the way.

Christmas morning

Nate awoke early enough to take some morning pictures by moonlight.
There had been a huge snowstorm throughout the night, so it was a lovely white Christmas.







Santa brought Emery a walker. Nathan brought Kelly the stroller of her dreams. Bliss!



It took him a little while to get the hang of it-- he loves his jumpy and initially tried to jump the second his feet touched the ground.
We can't get him to stop, now!







It takes a lot to fill Nate's stocking!





Opening presents...



Emery modeling his new outfit from Grandma Karen and Grandpa Wynn



and feverishly playing the piano they got him.



He didn't want to let go of the books Aunt Lindsy and Uncle Kurt sent, either.



Nate will most likely return his presents unwrapped today, but this one's a keeper.



And he was surprised to find these tucked away under the tree. They were a present to myself.
Merry Christmas, Kelly.



Thanks Aunt Holly for the darling sweater!!



And what's this? Another pair of shoes boxed for mommy? I shouldn't have...



but I did.



Three times.



At least my husband had a good sense of humor about it!



Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas Eve

We were lucky enough to be able to spend Christmas Eve Day with Brooklyn this year! We had pizza and a gift exchange for lunch. It was so fun to see her open up all the goodies, especially the awesome Country Vet Play Set for our budding veterinarian.





Aiden and Hunter were good sports to sit patiently and watch Brooklyn unwrap each gift.



Emery relaxed next to Brooklyn on the floor.
He was much more interested in the paper than the presents.







The boys were relieved to see Brooklyn finish, as it meant they had the green light to open their present from us-- a fort as big as them!



Grandma was sick and home in bed, so that evening we changed the dinner venue to our house. Brooklyn's favorite neighbor Izzie and her family came (Angie, Jim, and Louis), along with the Jiles and all our crew-- Robby, Emily, Aiden and Hunter, Corey, Grandpa, and Brooklyn.



o



We ended a lovely Christmas Eve with the reenactment of Christ's birth. Nate read from the Bible while:

shepards tended their flock


(yes, Max was a sheep and attached to the leach which Aiden is holding so intently...)


and the angels looked over the child, not quite lying in a manger.


There was a set back or two, but nothing a burp cloth couldn't fix.



Soon after, we all settled down for a long winter's nap.