Daddy's Home!!

So, do any other Moms feel a little like Daddy's life keeps on ticking when babies arrive, but Mommy's life changes significantly? Maybe that's my own fault. Of course, I've made efforts not to drastically change "me," but after all, babies do change a few things... for sure!! I wouldn't have it any other way though. But it does bring me to this post (I just had to give Daddy that jab). He left us to venture on a week-long dove hunting trip in Argentina. A "work" trip he dubbed it. Ha. Ha. Ha. Anyway, he's back and we are excited!!

Poor Daddy having to go on this "work" trip. We felt so sorry for him.

Adventures in Babysitting!!

We started our next bible study tonight, and we decided to get a sitter (other than our Moms and Jonathan's sister). This is a HUGE step for me!! I got several recommendations from people and ended up using a recommendation from my good friend, Jennifer Payne. Thanks, Jenn! Our little sitter was absolutely precious (a Tri Delt at USM - elementary ed major, works part-time at a daycare and knows CPR... perfect!!). Cecilia was a sleeping angel when we arrived home. Success!!

Not only did we need to start using sitters, hello, but Jonathan's Mom couldn't cover tonight anyway. His parents had dinner plans, as today is their 42nd wedding anniversary!! Congratulations, Mrs. Roxie and Mr. David!!

Another quick note - I LOVE our bible study group. I look forward to seeing these friends more often!! I miss them!

The First of Many...

Well, Cecilia officially has her first runny nose!! I am actually a bit excited about it; we need to build her little immune system. (She has given me her runny nose, of course.) She has been a trooper and doesn't even act sick. Let's hope she stays spunky through this cold. This is a short, quick post, but at 13 months, I had to document her first cold!!

We did it, we did it!!

I've mentioned this in my other posts, but Cecilia was premature - by 10 weeks. She was 3 lbs, 5 oz at birth and is now ~21 lbs. She is doing GREAT, great, great, but Mommy has still kept her a bit sheltered. I'm getting better... slowly. Anyway, our BIG time outing this week was to WALMART!! I thought I wouldn't take her in that germ infested pile of bricks until she was at least 5. Well... we did it. We did it!!

Christmas & New Years Eve 2011

What an exciting, special Christmas this was for our sweet family! Last year Jonathan and I spent our Christmas in the NICU visiting Cecilia. She was 16 days old on Christmas day last year. Oh, what a difference a year makes!! Below is a picture from Christmas day last year. The nurses glued a red bow to her head. My precious girl!! She's a little fighter, that's for sure.


This year, we celebrated with my family a few days before in Gulfport. We celebrated Christmas and my little brother Jules' birthday (Christmas Eve baby). Then, we spent Christmas morning at our home watching Cecilia in amazement, followed by a Christmas service with Jonathan's family at their church, lunch and opening gifts at their home. The Tuesday after Christmas, we went to the family fish camp, Lagniappe, in Bay St. Louis to spend a few days with Jonathan's extended family. It was a busy week but oh so fun!!

Then there's New Years Eve. How your idea of what is fun changes!! New Years Eve Eve we had a low-key adult dinner at our favorite restaurant in Hattiesburg with two other couples, then on New Years Eve we had one of those couples over to our house for dinner. We were definitely sleeping at midnight.;)

Pics from Christmas day:

Rise and shine, Mommy & Daddy!! I'm ready!

At our house, tearing into her gifts from Santa

At Maama & Papa's house after church

Wishing Baxter a Merry Christmas. She asked her Daddy for a puppy, but he hasn't given in yet.

The Girls

Playing around with Uncle Josh

I love my new wagon!! Thanks, Maama & Papa! Now Baxter and I can cruise the neighborhood!!

Opening gifts is exhausting!!

Pics from Lagniappe:

The Girls

Grandchildren and one great!!

The Duhons

She can't get enough of Aunt Sarah!! CAN'T!! Thank goodness Sarah has some time off from medical school for the holidays. Mommy has commissioned her for some babysitting!!

Loving her wagon

Maama & Papa

Leah, Jonathan & Sarah

Another exhausting day of opening gifts!!

Three Generations

Aunt Leah & Uncle Josh

Getting clean after a long day

Pics from New Years Eve:

Waiting on her playdate to arrive!!

Cecilia and her New Years Eve playdate, Ella Hartel!! We can't wait to take these two on vacation!! Her Mom, Maurie, and I both stay at home with our babies, so there are many more playdates in their future.

Cuties!!

Of course, Cecilia found Mrs. Maurie's iphone on the floor and would not give it back!! All the toys and those babies always find what they aren't supposed to have.

Take this off!!

Maurie and I tried!!

I'd rather eat mine!!

Nummy!!

We told her that her playdate had to leave for bedtime, and this is what we got!! Her "OH NO" face!!