That's just how we roll

Daddy's turn to watch Alyson while I run some errands. I come home to this. I think I have two crazy kids sometimes... :)

Merry Christmas!

Santa came!

Alyson hadn't paid much attention to the Christmas tree since we put it up, but this morning she immediately pointed at the toys and started clapping at what Santa had put beneath the tree. I love her Christmas PJ's. They were a gift from Me-Maw.

A new baby doll. She's giving her baby a kiss.

A baby doll, 3 new learning toys, a rocking horse from grandma and books, books books!

What a wonderful Christmas!

Aly's first laptop. She went 13 months without a computer- you try doing that! She's amazing!

Checking out her rocking horse with daddy. It makes real horse noises!

Thanks Grandma!

And when it is all said and done... they both go back down for a nap. Best Christmas ever!

Christmas Eve- Winter Wonderland

Let it snow; Let it snow; Let it snow!

On the 23rd it was seventy degrees and Aly and I were playing barefoot in the front yard. What a difference a day makes! We had an Arctic blast come in Christmas eve morning and the snow fell all day. I don't remember it every snowing all day before and I think this is my first white Christmas too. This is the view from out front door.

Alyson wasn't so sure about going out in the snow at first, but she loved to look out the window and watch it fall.

Finally, with daddy's encouragement, we ventured outside. She had so much fun! For about five minutes.... Then we were back to the warm living room and looking out the window at the snow. P.S.- I love this picture!

This is the scene at our house everyday around 4:15. That is about the time we start to expect daddy to come home. Now that it's too cold to sit on the front stoop and wait for daddy, we look out the window. "I'm so glad when daddy comes home...."

How Texas girls stay warm

She would stay like this all day if she could.

Someone's a daddy's girl....

Getting ready for Christmas

The nativity. We only set up one this year, Alyson liked to hide baby Jesus

so I put the others up.

My favorite decoration. Alyson likes the lights.

We have our first real Christmas tree. Previous years we had a fake tree but we threw it out and are enjoying the real thing. So far no one seems to have an allergies, so hopefully we can always have a real tree. It smells so good. This is Aly's first tree too- since last year I wasn't up to putting up the tree.

Alyson got to visit with Santa at the ward Christmas party....

she was not a fan....

I got the "look" after our attempt at Santa sitting. If looks could kill....

Food Storage Fun

The shelves are deep- they even fit babies!

Jonathan's mom has been great about helping us get out food storage together. When we replaced our central heat and air we moved the unit from a closet to the attic which left me with an empty closet. Jonathan added these super deep shelves and made us our very own food storage pantry. He surprised me and installed it while Aly and I were visiting friends. And thanks to Kathy we have something to put on our shelves. Hooray for family. :)

Alyson's 1 yr old pictures

Her birthday post is three separate posts because I couldn't get all the pictures in one post. Plus they some how are out of order, but just go with it.

So, I usually don't write personal things, but her birthday brought out a lot of emotion for me. I was filled with an overwhelming gratitude for being her mother. Alyson has such a sweet spirit and I am so thankful that she chose to be part of our family. She is smart, sweet and just adorable. I thought a lot about her birth during the days leading up to her birthday and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me to be a mother and then allowed me to be healed afterward so that I could be here for her. She is so fun and has learned so much this year and I am again in debit to our Heavenly Father for allowing a way for me to be home with her. Hopefully it will be something that I can continue to do.

She had a blast at her party. She might not have known what a birthday was, but she was all smiles and giggles. Her cousins Gracie, Madison and Jett were there. The rest lived too far away to come. She opened presents with the satisfaction that she was aloud to destroy the wrapping paper and devoured her cake like she had never had chocolate before... which she hadn't :) She loved her toys and clothes and I am thankful to all that came, sent presents and helped with the party... and to all those that helped me a year ago when she first arrived.

Here's hoping we all still like her when she turns two....

Happy Birthday to Alyson

It makes noise and lights up??? I love it!!

MMMM.... chocolate cake.....

Alyson likes polk a dots too, so this is supposed to be her

polk a dot birthday cake to match her polk a dot party dress. (which was removed for the cake eating festivities)

Her Me-Maw and great Aunt Sheila helped me with it.

Finally! I'm aloud to tear things apart.

No, No- I got this. No help needed.

Fun to be One!!!

Fun to be One!!!

Alyson's favorite color is any shade of purple, so we had a purple party. I didn't like any of the decorations at the party store, so I made my own.

Her birthday thrown

I don't want to wait!!

Alyson in her party dress.

I think she some how knew she was getting presents....

she kept giving out hugs and kisses- which are usually reserved for just her daddy.

Alyson's was a ladybug for her first Halloween. I made the costume for her because I thought she would be more comfortable that way. It turned out way cute, but I think that mostly had to do with her being so cute- not the costume. :) Anyway, we went to the Trunk or Treat at the church on Friday night. It was cold and she was kind of confused with everything going on. We didn't get a single smile from her. But she looked good and when you're 11 months old- that's all that matters.

Checking it all out.

Looking at me like I am crazy when I ask if she wants to go trick or treat with the big kids.

Nevermind me in this picture. I didn't have time to look nice, I was busy getting her ready. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Her wings

Learning to eat finger foods

Aly's 9 month old pic

I get to wake up to this face every morning! 

How do you not have a good day?

She's such a Daddy's girl! That was her 

1st word by the way- da-da. 

Aly was surprised by a bag full

of new toys to play with from a friend 

from my work. Her favorite was 

this Little People Doll House 

Alyson finally has enough hair for

pony tails. She's showing of her

bows to the camera. She was so proud.

We stared in the mirror a lot.

We are learning to crawl! Mostly she army 

crawls, but she's beginning to do it the big girl way

Like her daddy, she reached her limit on pictures.

This face means it's time to stop. :)