First Christmas

Christmas with Lydia in our lives was so very sweet.  We talked and planned what traditions we wanted to begin as a family of three this year.  It was important to me to begin traditions that we could say we've always done.  We wound up packing so much into this holiday season that even Daddy thought another Christmas outfit might be necessary next year! Christmas is such a special time of year, and we wanted to begin family traditions that focus on the real reason we celebrate as well as special time with family and friends. 

Events that we are hoping to make annual traditions included:

•  Journey to Bethlehem with the Rs, Amy, and Mar.  This is an interactive walk through experience of the Christmas story from the Bible.
• A day focused on Christmas crafts with aunt Amy.
• Spending the night of the 23rd with MeMe and PaPa.  Spending Christmas Eve with Marmee.
• Reading the Christmas story from the Bible before opening our gifts.
• Driving around looking at Christmas lights as a family of three.
• Daddy and Lydia adding the tree topper.
• Visiting Santa in Fairview at the bookstore and getting a new Christmas book.
• Putting on Christmas jammies for the first time on Thanksgiving night.
• Christmas parties, concerts, and parades

Journey to Bethlehem with the cousins. 

Parade of lights.  Momma found battery operated lights for the stroller!

She loved watching the kids and the lights go by at the parade.

Daddy's picture of our Christmas card.  She definitely made this Christmas the merriest and brightest we've ever had.

We had fun at the Reindeer Romp with Daddy, Mrs. Kristin, and Cooper.

Christmas concert at momma's school.

Well, we tried...

Lydia's memory tree.  It is a tiny tree, but I completely filled it with important treasures from Lydia's six months of life and a few vintage treasures.  I love, love, love the way it turned out.

Family fun night looking at lights and mailing Santa a letter.

Making a Christmas sussy for friends.

Daddy and Lydia adding the topper to the tree.

One tired reindeer.

So excited to see Santa!

Reading the Christmas story with Daddy before opening presents.

She's ready to open!

Toothpaste and toothbrush for new teeth.

 

Greta girl is never far from the action.

My loves.

New chair from Marmee makes sitting up so much easier.

Lydia's first Christmas was a white one!

Mommy's snow angel.

She is loved!

Muzz with the two youngest girls in the family.

The whole family in the snow.

Photo shoot in front of MeMe's tree.

Not quite sure what Momma is doing.

Her smile is the best gift!

Happy Half Birthday to LVB

Our sweet girl is already half a year old, but daddy still says she is zero!

Lydia's sixth month included:

• Scouting a basketball
• Moving on from her love of Mr. Fan.  He's no longer her favorite.
• Getting two teeth and an ear infection in the same {rough} week. 
• Visiting and loving Santa
• Journey to Bethlehem
• The Grapevine parade of lights
• Reindeer Romp 5k - dressed as a reindeer
• White elephant Christmas party with our baby friends
• Looking at lights and mailing a letter to Santa
• Discovering her feet
• Sitting up briefly on her own
• Sleep regression after Thanksgiving.  Between the sickness and the teeth she never quite got back on track.
• Still squeezing into size two diapers.
• Loves sitting up in the Johnny jumper and exersaucer
• Weighed in at 17 lbs. 14 oz. on December 14

Cheering on the Cowboys on Bedlam game day.

Lydia's cousins were excited to see her at Journey to Bethlehem.

Enjoying the sunshine on an unseasonably warm December Saturday.

Mommy with her precious reindeer at the parade of lights.

Trying out sitting up with the boppy under the tree.

Santa visit success!

 

My poor, poor baby the night before she was diagnosed with an ear infection.  She is never this sad.

Sleeping off her sickness.

Hanging out at MeMe and PaPa's on her half birthday.

Amazing how she's grown!