Christmas in Nashville

We took Allie to church for the first time on Christmas Eve and she LOVED it.  We go to a 'rock band' kind of church so she really enjoyed the music. 

We had dinner at the Pitta's for Christmas Eve and opened lots of presents. 

Allie opening up her highchair, she was SO excited!

Allie sitting next to the 'Allie' tree, decorated especially for her. Yes, she's spoiled.

Christmas Day we started the tradition of waking up at our house Christmas morning, having breakfast, opening presents, and just enjoying our little family time.  Allie got to play in her new jumperoo and it was so fun watching how excited she was with her new toy.

After our relaxing morning, we headed over to Jeff's aunt Sue's house for lunch/dinner.

We got home and I had a little fun playing with the settings on my camera with my new lens that Santa brought me.  Santa was WAY too good to me this year, I feel undeserving, but I'll take it.

We had such a wonderful first Christmas with Allie and we feel so thankful for everything that we've been given and for all of the people that we have in our lives.  We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Christmas in Lebanon/Knoxville

We started our Christmas celebrations 3 weeks before Christmas with my mom's family in Lebanon. Christmas is a month long celebration in my family, sometimes even spilling over into the new year. I failed at taking pictures at the Lebanon Christmas, but here's one of Allie.

And then the weekend before Christmas we headed to Knoxville. We had Christmas with my dad's family Saturday night.

Allie & Nannie

Napping on Papaw

 Sorry guys, but I like this pic :)

Allie's new hat

Allie with uncle bunny

And we finished off the weekend with Sunday brunch with my mom, brothers, etc.

My sweet nephew Jayson

Jayson's so sweet to Ayee (that's how he pronounces allie)

Having fun with Dad

Jeff giving Jayson a play dough mustache

My brother and nephew

Allie & her new gear

Cousins

And then we headed home after a fun filled weekend. Allie was pooped from all the present opening. She loves car rides, she usually sleeps the entire way.

New Years Resolutions

I have a feeling I'm going to regret this post before I even finish typing it, but they say if you write down your resolutions you're more likely to follow through with them...right? And I feel like the more people I tell, the more obligated I will feel to follow through with it for the sake of not being a fake planner. So here goes...my first new years resolution/30th birthday goal is to run the Country Music Half Marathon on April 28th.  Phew...just typing it out makes me tired.  For those of you that don't know me that well...I hate running.  I mean HATE. Like I'd rather go to the dentist then go for a run.  A half marathon is something I've never felt like I could accomplish.  But when I watch the biggest loser and I see them do a FULL marathon, I think to myself, 'if they can do a full, surely I can do a half.' 

Well I attempted my first 'training' run on New Years Day (clearly my New Years wasn't wild enough). It was only 2 miles, which to most of you sounds like a walk in the park, but for me it's quite a challenge.  I told you, I HATE running.  Jeff said "it should only take you about 15 minutes" to which I replied "you've lost your mind, you clearly don't know me."  I downloaded the Nike app on my phone, which is awesome and tracks where you ran, the time, the distance and you can make comments on how it was.  The first mile wasn't SO bad, it took me 11 minutes and 20 seconds...not good, but not terrible for a beginner.   The second mile, not so much.  The wind picked up, and I was seriously wondering if I was going to make it back to my house.  I walked most of it.  Twenty Five minutes later, I finally made it back to my driveway, thank God!  I could hear the angels singing hallelujah, it was glorious.  I've never been that happy to see my house.  I can't wait for the 13 mile run...this is gonna be fun.  

And my other resolutions are pretty typical, but things I still want to accomplish.  Be a better mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, aunt, etc.  Go to church more often, and find a good sunday school class.  Do more things in my community/help others.  Work on my photography skills/gain photography skills.  Become more organized/Purge (my belongings not my food). Make my home look more pinterest worthy (all of you pinners know what I'm talking about, and for you non-pinners, don't worry about it, this is an addiction you do NOT want to start in 2012).  And last but certainly not least, make lots of great memories with family & friends.  

We have a lot of exciting stuff coming up in 2012 and I'm really looking forward to it. Not only will it be a year of firsts for Allie, which will be so exciting, but we have several trips planned (thanks to everyone getting married).  We will be traveling to Park City, Utah in March, Knoxville in June, New York City in July, Florida in August (and hopefully several more trips to florida in between), and I'll be going to Charleston in May for my BFF's bachelorette party.  Exciting stuff!!!

I hope you all had a very happy new years.  Welcome to 2012!!  

And because no post is complete without a picture of Allie...

Bittersweet day

I am filled with so many mixed emotions as today is my last day of work.  Words cannot describe how excited and grateful I am to be able to stay home with my sweet angel.  She is my world, and making sure she is happy, loved, and taken care of is my #1 goal in life.  But I've been with Morgan Keegan for 5 1/2 years in which time I've had lots of highs and lows, made lots of great friends, learned a lot about myself, and really grown as a person. This is a big deal for me. I've worked very hard to get where I am (not that I'm some huge success or anything, but I've come along way from where I started) and I'm not gonna pretend it's not hard to give that up. While being a stay at home mom has been a life long dream of mine (yes I have high ambitions), it's not easy giving up your career and what has been part of your 'identity' for so many years.  With that said though, I am very confident about this next journey that God has laid out for me and I am so very thankful to be given this opportunity.  I have been blessed beyond belief in 2011 and I am so excited to see what 2012 has in store for me!  I have a feeling this is going to be my best year yet, and here I thought 30 was old, the fun is just beginning!

My wonderful friends at work had a surprise breakfast for me this morning.  I cried when I walked in. Of course.  I've received lots of sweet cards, emails, and kind words...it's a good feeling knowing you'll be missed.  I love all of you (ok well MOST of you) MK'ers and will miss you very much, but I promise to come back and visit (and bring Allie, since that's who everyone REALLY wants to see). 

Here are a few pictures of my last day at MK with my favorite peeps.

*disclaimer - I apologize for those not pictured, you're my fave's too, but you were either not here today or already gone home this afternoon, please don't be offended :).

Thank you all again for a fabulous 5 1/2 years.  It's not goodbye, just see ya later.  Signing out.

Allie's 3 Month Pics

Allie had her 3 month photo shoot at the beginning of December with Ashley McDonough Photography.  I'm a little late in posting these, but it's been a busy month.  She did not make it easy for Ashley to capture these pictures, she decided the moment we got there that she was NOT going to smile for a camera, no matter how many tricks you had up your sleeve.  I mean I could have stood on my head wearing a clown costume juggling jars of similac and this girl was not going to crack.  She gets her stubbornness from her Dad, when she's made up her mind that she doesn't want her picture taken, she means it.  I really hope she grows out of it, because I love pictures, and I love having updated professional pictures of her.  It's gonna get ugly if I have to start dragging my husband and a toddler kicking and screaming to our photo sessions...but I'll do it...that's how much these pictures mean to me and I'm not backing down.  I got a new camera lens for Christmas too so Allie better look out and start smiling cause the mamarazzi needs a subject to practice on.

Here are a few of my favorites, I think they turned out great, especially with what Ashley was given to work with.  Even when she's pouting though, my baby is the prettiest girl in the world!

This one cracks me up. Classic pouty face.

 This one to me looks like she's getting a lecture from Daddy.

 I love this look on her face...

4 Months Old

I know I say this every month, and let's be honest...I'll probably continue to say it every month for the rest of her life...but I cannot believe my baby girl is 4 months old!!  She was pretty shocked herself when I told her...

She's at a really fun stage right now, jabbering and laughing away, she definitely keeps us entertained.

Allie's top 10 favorite things right now are:
1. Similac
2. Sitting up like a big girl. I think she's pretty good at it too for only being 4 months, not to brag or anything.
3. Being cheered for when she's sitting up like a big girl (or doing anything for that matter, she just likes being cheered for).
4. 'Flying' with her daddy. And again, being cheered for while 'flying.'  (this girl loves some praise!)

 5.  Similac
6.  Anything with flashing lights & noise
7. Ceiling fans
8. Playing on her play mat
9. Similac
10.  Playing in her new Jumperoo that Santa brought her for Christmas...

Yes I know Similac was listed three times, but that's by far her favorite thing right now.  See, I'm not lyin...

You've never seen a baby girl get so excited as when I shake her freshly made bottle in front of her face, she throws her arms up with excitement, like she's just won the lottery.  And if you even think about taking it out of her mouth mid-feed, you're likely to lose a finger.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

She had her 4 month checkup this morning, which meant two more shots for her...which equals not a happy camper.  She was just hanging out on the table, enjoying the crinkly sound of the paper as she moved her legs from side to side...

 And then BAM she was stabbed in both legs with two very large needles.  I'm not gonna lie, I hate shots, it took my mom, 1 Dr. & 3 nurses to hold me on the table to give me a shot when I was little, so I don't blame her for screaming bloody murder...I would too. But she was left with two pretty stylish battle wounds.

Everything else looked great.  She weighed 16 lbs. 3 oz. and was 24.5 inches long.  Unfortunately for me, this means she's officially outgrown the size 1 diapers that I have been desperately trying to squeeze her chubby little legs into in hopes of finishing the value box that we received as a gift.  But I think it's time to suck it up and move on to size 2.  I know Allie will be happy, no more wetting the bed...hopefully.

In other big news, she gets to start on solid foods this week, man is this exciting stuff or what?!?!  I actually am looking forward to it, and I'm sure she is too. 

Alright, you want bigger news than that?  Drum roll please...I am officially going to be staying home with Allie starting on January 2nd!!!!!  Can I get a whoo hoo???  After lots of deliberation, Jeff and I have decided that it would be best for all of us if I stay home and take care of Allie.  It's a little bittersweet ('more sweet than bitter'...for all of you Big Head Todd fans out there) because I do love my job and I love the people I work with...but I couldn't be anymore excited to be able to stay at home with my little sidekick.  But before you start getting visions of me and Allie laying on the couch in our PJ's watching Days of Our Lives, I have to say, I'm not completely off the hook.  I will be working from home doing work for Jeff so my days will still be very busy (if not busier), but at least I'll be there with Allie.

So that's all the big news I have for today, sorry for the long post.  I have more posts coming with pictures from all four Christmas' we attended...but I'll spare you today and save those for tomorrow.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!