Christmas week

Christmas week was full of fun and family at our house.  Sweet Miss Anslie learned how to reach out and grab one of her toys on Christmas Eve day!  I think she surprised herself.  She got a little frantic when she couldn't figure out how to let it go.

On Christmas Eve, we had dinner at home (just the 5 of us) and then went to church for candlelight service.  The music was beautiful and we all enjoyed it.  After church, we rode around for a while and looked at Christmas lights even though it was raining.

The kids always get to open one present each on Christmas Eve (usually new pajamas).  However, the boys got to open two each this year because I handed them the wrong box the first time.  They didn't complain too much.  Here are the boys on Christmas morning in their new pajamas waiting to open gifts.

(yes, Will is still a Gator fan even though he's wearing Tech gear!  Georgia Tech has become his secondary team since one of his good friends has taken him to 3 GT football games this season.)

The youngest person in our family always gets to open a gift first.  Here is Anslie with her first present.  

She had a big smile after Walton helped her open it.

Anslie got a case of diapers from Grandma and Grandpa.

And so did the boys!  Look at the excitement on their faces!  Woo-hoo!  (Oh, I kid....we used an empty diaper box to wrap their big gift from us.)

Those silly boys.

Mid-day on Christmas, Walton's brother Tim and his family arrived for a visit.  We had some friends over for the evening, so I was too busy to take pictures - but we had a nice time together.  Anita left with her boyfriend's family to go out of state the next morning - and Kyle left for church camp.  So - it has just been the younger kids here with us having fun.  We think Robin and Will are enjoying not being bossed around by their older siblings!

We enjoyed a visit from the Macon Allen cousins Sunday afternoon - once again no pictures, but it was great to spend time with them.  (We missed you Terri & Dean!)

This afternoon we went bowling.

Aunt Joy waiting for her turn.

Walton and Tim tried to outbowl each other.  Tim started out on a roll with a turkey -  3 strikes in a row.

Will had high hopes that Tim would get a perfect game.  They ended up each winning one game.

"RaRa" getting some smooches.

Mommy and Anslie.

And then after we finished bowling, we took Robin and Will to the mall to get their noses pierced.  Kidding again - they are just little rhinestone stickers - but they looked real at first glance!

We came home and cooked salmon on the grill and we're lounging around watching college football.  Baby Girl has had fun getting to know some more of her extended family.

 

Merry Christmas!

At Christmas and throughout the New Year, our family wishes you the peace and joy that come from knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

"And His name shall be the hope of all the world."     

  ~ Matthew 12:21 (Living Bible)

3 months old

Anslie is 3 months old today.  She is such a precious, cheerful little person and we are so thankful she is part of our family.  At 3 months, Anslie is:

-still taking 5 ounces of formula every 4 hours during the day.
-sleeping well at night.  She doesn't take a bottle in the middle of the night any more, but sometimes wakes up with cold hands and needs to be snuggled up to get warm again. (we don't mind a bit!)
-fascinated with her hands.  She will sit and stare at her hand, moving it back and forth in front of her face.  Her movements are becoming smoother and more coordinated.  She also loves to chew on her hands.  We are trying to keep her from becoming a thumb-sucker!  She does like her paci and falls asleep with it.
-becoming quite the "talker".  She responds to us talking to her with big squawks and coos, and is beginning to laugh a little bit.  She has also figured out how to get our attention by calling out to us when she's sitting in her bouncy seat when we're eating dinner or doing chores.  We are usually rewarded with one of her adorable crinkle-nosed smiles when we respond to her.

Look how she's grown!

sweet

Our niece Nita is in town for the weekend to see Kevin.  She stopped by yesterday for a visit and Anslie had all kinds of fun talking to her.  We have to keep a bib on Anslie these days because she is starting to be a drooly baby!

Last Sunday night, Walton and I were busy straightening up the house and getting organized for the week.  Will was holding Anslie on the couch and we noticed him just talking away to her.  He had turned on "Dora's Christmas Special" and was holding Anslie so she could see Dora and talking to her about what was happening.  So cute.  (We do not put Anslie in front of the T.V., but this was just too fun not to share & remember!  Will loves his little sister.)

Christmas parade

Last weekend we took Anslie to her first McDonough Christmas parade.  She wore her cute little Christmas onesie with her name on it.

I ordered this red and white hairbow for the Christmas season- it was described as an "infant bow", but it's waaaay too big for her tiny head!  Walton and the boys about had a fit about how crazy it looked, and of course she did not leave the house with it on.  She looks a little frightened by it - or else her neck muscles are tired from holding it up!

It was freezing on the night of the parade.  We were glad that our niece Anita's boyfriend's parents, the Lewis's, invited us to hang out with them in the community room at the bank while we waited for the parade to start.  We enjoyed some yummy treats and time with friends.  As you can see, Anslie was not as excited about the parade as she will be a couple of years from now. Walton kept her inside where it was warm most of the night - they just came out for a few minutes to see Kyle march by with the OHS band.  (Which worked out fine for him as well since he left his winter coat at home.)

Here are Kevin and Anslie wishing that Anita was in McDonough watching the parade instead of far away in sunny Florida.

Will and his buddies were bundled up and having a great time.

My nighttime photography skills are not so good - but here are the Marching Mustangs:

It was hard to get a good view of Kyle playing Christmas carols in the dark.  He was completely frozen when they finished.

Finally, here are a few recent favorite pictures of Anslie.  We are happy to report that she has been sleeping through the night most of the time lately. She is very smiley and chatty these days - so sweet!

GO GATORS

Please note that Miss Anslie is smiling while wearing her Gator gear....Walton is so proud of her.  (she didn't smile when we put her in UGA or Auburn gear)

Thanks Nita K for the little Gator outfit - we love you!

Thanksgiving and 2 month check-up

Anslie had her first plane ride to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Illinois for Thanksgiving last week.   She was a perfectly happy baby on the plane ride (and all week long, really).  My sister-in-law Annie (who has something like 17 nieces and nephews) declared her the most content baby she's ever seen.

 Kyle and Will piled on Grandma after our delicious Thanksgiving dinner with their 4 Illinois girl cousins - they are soon to be joined by 2 boy cousins from Ethiopia.  How much more can Grandma's loveseat hold?

Cousins Lucy & Megan enjoyed some baby time.

Cousin Marla got some hugs in, too.

And Anslie had a big snooze with Grandpa in the recliner after Thanksgiving dinner.  What could be better?

Anslie also got to meet her Great-Grandma.

Later that day, everyone enjoyed a family game of BINGO with a tray full of fabulous prizes to choose from.

The day after Thanksgiving, we had lunch at Uncle Allen & Aunt Annie's house.  Walton helped Allen & Dad frame up some closets & do some wiring in an upstairs room at their house. We bundled Anslie up against the chilly Midwestern day in the bunting Grandma got us  - she doesn't look too thrilled about it here, but she was toasty warm!

 Kyle and Julie after lunch:

Will and Megan went outside to check on the hens at the Weeks Egg Co.

Friday night, we got together with some old high school youth group friends.  All of our kids had a blast getting to know each other, and we enjoyed sitting around the fireplace and catching up on each other's lives.  I was especially happy to see my sweet friend Lisa.  Our time together was much too short!

We flew back to Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, and Anslie had her 2 month checkup today.  Walton took her today because she had her first set of immunizations.  (I am a big chicken!) He said she cried louder than he has ever heard her cry before when the nurse gave her her shots.  She has not had much appetite this afternoon, but she hasn't been fussy either.  Her weight is now 10 pounds, 5 ounces and she is 23 inches long - growing fast, but still a tiny little thing.