Looking forward to 2012

Well the larger part of the Holiday season has come and gone. I think 10 months is the perfect age for Ella's first Christmas. She was old enough to know how to rip the paper off of her gifts and to get excited when she saw the toys hiding underneath, yet she was still young enough to sit on people's laps and let them cuddle with her during the day. One thing is for sure this girl has a TON of people who love her :) Sean has had this whole past week off which has been a huge blessing to get to spend some quality family time together. Ella has gotten so spoiled having him here all day long, I hope she can adjust well when he goes back to work. Here are some of the highlights of Christmas...



Opening presents with Daddy


Technically an "outtake" from our Christmas Eve
pics, but its my favorite one!



OK here's a better one of her by the tree


This was her Christmas Day dress

Now that all the Christmas festivities are dwindling down I am looking forward to New Years Eve! 2011 has been both the best and most challenging year of my life! This year I...

-Became a Mom
- Got fired for the first time
- Decided to stay home with Ella
- Made some awesome new friends
- Gotten really close to some old friends
- Developed somewhat of an obsession for learning how to home make things
- Connected with God in a way I have never been able to
- Celebrated 4 years of marriage to my best friend!

And thats not even the half of it. 2011 has definitely stretched me beyond my comfort zone but made me mature. I've been able to catch glimpses of the woman I want to become, the woman I'm striving to become... and I really like her :). The thought of starting a New Year is normally kind of frightening for me. I am a worry wort... I over analyze things and I can't stand not being in control of situations. However, that part of me seems to be dying off. Lately I've just got much bigger things on my plate and worrying has no room in my life. Who knows what 2012 will hold. If the Mayans are right it will be the last year anyway :). Hopefully it will bring me one step closer to finishing school. Maybe it will bring some crazy new adventure or some kick butt part time job for me. Maybe another pregnancy. Whatever way it takes me I know that God is in control and for once in my life I'm content with saying " We'll just have to wait and see".

Holiday Cheer

Normally I am a huge Scrooge over the holidays. The whole gift giving process that Christmas has turned into really makes me cringe. I would truthfully much rather get together with my family and friends, eat delicious food and play fun games the whole time. However, this year is my daughters first Christmas. I keep thinking that this is the year that we establish what our traditions will be. This is when I get to start something that future generations will remember me for. For my Grandma it was baking. We always got together the night before Christmas Eve to make cookies and desserts for everyone. Though she's been gone for 10 years now I still get excited for that part of the Holidays. My mother and I have since turned her tradition into what we call "Cookie Madness". We get all of our girlfriends together and have a baking frenzy and then exchange cookies that we package up as gifts for other family members. It truly is Madness!

So this year I am trying to decide what I want my special tradition to be. What special thing I can do with Ella each year that she can get excited about? I have a little list started but I haven't quite made any decisions yet. I know she's too young to know whats going on this year but I want to be able to tell her "you've been doing this every Christmas since you were born". I'm sentimental and silly I know. Any suggestions?

On another note Ella has 3 teeth now. I found this out the hard way because I was nursing her and she bit me. OUCH!!! She is soo close to walking too! So far she has only taken one step in between Sean and I but she will stand up in the middle of the room and just look around like she's going to just take off running. The bigger my sweet little baby gets, the more I feel the baby bug starting to creep up on me. I really miss being pregnant. Watching my belly shake and jump. We always said we wanted our kids to be 2 years apart... we will just have to wait and see what 2012 has in store for us :) For now i'm enjoying all the one on one time I've been getting with this precious little face...

Kitchenaid giveaway

Just found this sweet give away on the blog www.momspotted.com . She is giving away a KitchenAid mixer. A $550 KitchenAid® NEW 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Residential Stand Mixer to be exact!!! I have always wanted a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Ever since becoming a stay at home mom I have been trying all kinds of new recipes and finding ways to save my family money by making everything from scratch. As of now I've just been using a hand mixer and my Magic Bullet blender for most recipes but having one of these babies would help a ton :) I know the odds aren't in my favor but hey a girl can wish can't she :) Hop on over to www.kitchenaid.com and drool over all their products like i do :)