Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas here at our house. When Ella was little Trey and I said that we would always have Christmas morning at our house. That is what both of us did as little kids and we want the same for our kids. It was so sweet watching Ella wake up and see her toys in front of the tree. We had some toys open and sitting out and some for her to play with.

She loved her Mickey Mouse. She is going through a Mickey stage right now and just loves him.

She got a Mrs. Potato head from Toy Story and Play Doh and a Dora coloring book with over 700 stickers. Guess how many are on my coffee table right now?!

She also got this little Crayola coloring thing. The faster you color the fast the music plays. She loves to color!

Reading her new Mickey Mouse book with her new Mickey.

The rest of my family came over for lunch. All Ella could talk about all week was Hunter, Caleb and Uncle John. She usually goes on and on about Granny and Papa, but her cousins were on her mind this time. And her Uncle John loves to play with the kiddos and they all love him.

Hunter came in wearing a Santa hat and Trey had some in his truck so all the kids wore them. Ella kept hers on for a long time! She kept saying Ho, Ho, Ho!

Sweet Hunter with his Papa. Do they look alike or what??

Not to be left out, Trey put on a Santa hat! He might get mad at me for this one!

Ella and my sister Corey.

Hunter took over Ella's job from last year. He would rather sit on his boxes than open the presents.

Ella also got this art easel from her Granny and Papa. She has loved drawing on the chalk board and playing with the magnets.

Aunt Jennie and Uncle Kyle, or Uncle Moo as Ella calls him, got her the cutest Disney Belle dress and Beauty and the Beast movie. She looks like a doll!

Papa and his thee grandkids. Next year there will be two more added to this picture. Our baby girl is coming in May and my brother Kyle is having another baby in July. I can't wait! I hope those two love each other as much as Ella and Hunter do.

Granny got in on the picture.

Our attempt at the whole family. Ella and Caleb weren't cooperating too much!

My amazing hubby and sweet, sweet girl! I love these two!

After a busy day, we cleaned house again because it was a wreck after all those presents and prepared for Trey's family to come the next day. Ella's Grandma and Grandad got her this cute kitchen. It even makes a boiling noise when you put a pot on the stove. We have had a lot of fun cooking in her kitchen.

Ella and Grandma playing.

Wearing her Uncle Zachary's sunglasses.

I didn't do too good taking pictures this day because I was so tired! Ella got the cutest light up Disney princess suitcase from her Great Grandmother and a Little Mermaid tricycle from her Aunt Mary Kate and Uncle Zachary and a sock monkey from her Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Shane. Plus, many many more things! We are so blessed to have the families we do and Ella is one spoiled little girl! I wouldn't have it any other way though!

Merry Christmas!

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: 'Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, Unto you is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 2:11

We Are Having A...

GIRL!!!! I think Trey's heart skipped a beat when it was confirmed by two different doctors during my sonogram on Monday that we are having another girl! He said "oh, two weddings!" as in now he has to pay for two weddings! Haha! All I could think of was more bows, matching outfits for the girls, and just more dressing up! Trey is really excited though. He is such a good girl dad. He is sensitive and caring and just loves Ella to pieces.

Our new baby girl's name is going to be Layla Lou. Lou was my Dad's Mother's middle name. Since Ella is names after my Mom's Mother, it only made sense to name our new baby after my Dad's side. We decided on a girls name a couple months ago, but were still decided on a few different boy names. Trey was convinced it was going to be a boy, but I thought it was going to be a girl. So, now it is on to decorating a new nursery. I already have the bedding picked out, we just need to go crib shopping!! Wooo hooo!

The Night Before Christmas

Ella loves to read books. During a normal day we probably read about 10 books 20 times. I love it when she brings me a book and tells me to "read momma". Every night before bed we usually read about 3 books.

Last year for Christmas my parents gave Ella and her cousins the sweetest Christmas presents. They bought "The Night Before Christmas", the kind where you can record yourself reading it. Dad and Mom alternated reading the pages and Ella loves it. I ask her if she wants Granny and Papa to read to her and she always gets excited. I will admit the first time she looked a little confused and looked around the room like "where are they hiding?".

The other night she looked so cute in her Santa pajamas and when we finished the book she wanted to keep going so I grabbed my camera and watched her turn the pages one by one like a big girl.

I just love her so much! She just adds so much to our Holidays! 

Ella and Santa

Trey and I took Ella to see Santa on Saturday. I thought she would do better this year because she is so friendly where ever we go and loves to talk to people. I guess most people aren't walking around wearing bright red with a hat and beard. Plus, we see a lot of women and not to many big men.
All morning I would say "Ella, are you ready to go?" and she would always say yes. Then I would say "Do you want to go see Santa?" and she would say NO! I guess that should have given it away. We walked in the room where Santa was and I felt her grip tighten a little more around my neck. I told the photographer I was just going to hurry, put her in his lap and move out of the shot quickly. Well, I guess she didn't understand I meant to take it right away, because her 10 second delay did not help the situation. See...

WHen I picked her up she clung to me like her life was at stake! Poor thing! And just for a reminder, here is last years picture. Same Santa, same expression! She has changed SO much in the past year, except for her fear of Santa!! 

One day she will love to look back at these and laugh!

Christmas Time!!!

I love Christmas time and even more so now that I have a little one. It is so fun to drive around at night and look at Christmas lights with her and listen to her say "Pretty lights!" over and over again! I made this wreath and I love the way it turned out. I wanted something that was fun and not the typical Christmas wreath.  

My friend and I went to Canton a few months ago and I found the red/green plaid mesh ribbon that is on my mantle and tree. I want the family room to be more casual and fun for Ella.

All of the ornaments are plastic and tied to the tree with ribbon, so there are no hooks or anything that will break if something happens. With an almost two year old running around I thought that would be best. The "Joy" ornament was mine when I was little. It used to hang on my Mother's tree, but is now on mine. 

My mother-in-law made our stockings for me. I can't wait to see what the latest one will look like? Boy or girl, we will know in 7 days! More camo or more flowers and animal print!

My mother bought me this nativity scene last year. I think it is so pretty and I love having it around and talking to Ella about Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

This is my dining room. It is all copper and gold and more formal.

And this is Ella's nativity scene. My mother bought it for her last Christmas and it is so cute. She can play with this one all she wants and it won't hurt it!

Last, but not least, my sweet girl in her Christmas pajamas reading a book.



10 Days!!

In 10 days we will know if we are having a boy or girl!! I am so excited to find out. The girl name has been decided for a while now, but we are still going back and forth for the boys name. More than anything I am ready to see our baby. To know she/he is healthy and has ten fingers and ten toes and that everything looks great.

Trey, Ella and I will be at the appointment. Of Course at 23 months she doesn't understand the whole Momma's having a baby thing. She points to my stomach and says baby, but then does the same thing to herself. It will still be special to us that she is in the room when we find out. We were overjoyed when we found out she was a healthy girl and we know we are going to be just as excited with this one.

Trey is pulling for a boy, and of course I am pulling for a girl. Out of the 8 people I know that are pregnant right now, 4 are having a boy, one is having a girl and the others don't know yet. The countdown is on!!!