Lillian's FIRST Christmas

I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone. This has always been my favorite time of the year, and I am sooo excited to get Lilly in the Christmas spirit when she's older. I must say that this Christmas has been the BEST yet! Jordan kept asking me what I wanted for Christmas and I could only think of a few minor things. It's funny how that works. I used to have a whole list of things I "needed", but this year all I felt I needed was my daughter. Every time I went out to Christmas shop, I would always pick up a few things for Lilly. I wanted to buy for Lilly more than myself...or even Jordan...poor guy! I got so many Christmas presents for Lilly, that I finally had to just give them too her because I didn't want to wrap all of them! haha... I hope that's typical of a first time mommy! ;)

 Usually on Christmas day, we open presents and then go to Jordan's parent's house for breakfast, but this year we wanted to start our own tradition. Jordan and I decided that this year we would not only open presents at our house, but also cook breakfast at our house as well. We decided to make biscuits, gravy with sausage and eggs. It was so delicious that we vowed to make this every year for breakfast before we go see his parents.

Jordan and I were sooo excited to wake up Lilly on her first Christmas, and to spend time with her on this special day. Unfortunately, she had her own agenda. She was only awake for 30 minutes before she wanted to go back to sleep! At least she got to see what all was in her stocking and play a little peek-a-boo with her daddy. We still enjoyed our time with our daughter, but I'm looking forward to next year when she'll actually be interested in presents and toys.

We had a glitch in our plans this year for Christmas day. Since Jordan's family wasn't able to get together that day,we headed over to my aunt Pam's house where we had a wonderful lunch of ribs, chicken, potato salad, and deviled eggs. It was nice being able to see my parents twice for Christmas, and I know it was extra special to them to be able to see Lilly. I don't think grandparents ever get tired of spending time with their grandbabies...I know mine sure don't! 

After our visit with my family, we drive to Hurst to spend the night with Jordan's family so we could be there with Jordan's uncle, aunt and cousins came in from North Carolina. Lilly had a few Christmas presents that we wanted to give Jordan's mom and sister and they had a few for Lilly too! We were so surprised to get a package from Jordan's cousins Emily and Jeremy from Germany. They even sent  some German cookies, a German tea mix, a Stein shot glass for Lilly (don't worry, she won't get it anytime soon!), and a wood teething toy.

This Christmas has been the best one yet and my sweet baby girl was and will always be my best present Jordan has ever given me. I can't wait till next year and the years to come when we get to celebrate this joyous season with Lillian Grace!

My Christmas girl.

Hubby cooking breakfast...man do I have a winner!

30 minutes into opening presents Lilly got tired and passed out!

Yummm Yum!

My little punk rocker's first Christmas!

Lilly's getting her music lesson in for the day. :)

Papa and Lilly

my mom, McKenzie and me on Christmas Day.

Opening her present from Aunt Erin.

Lovin her Grandaddy....

Lilly's first Stein glass...I guess there's a first for everything.

She looks like she's thinking she can't wait to get her mouth on those wooden things!

A nice relaxing way to end the night with a warm bath in the sink.

Santa's Coming to Texas!

Every Christmas Eve, we spend the evening with my parents at their house, and then go to my uncle Gailand's house. This is the time when my parents give Jordan and I...and now Lilly our Christmas presents from them. Jordan got lots of work and casual shirts and I got a purse, shoes, and some super cute clothes. I think Lilly's Papa and GiGi thought Lilly was extra nice this year, because they gave her tons and tons of clothes, 5 PAIRS OF SHOES, a doll, and her big present was an Away We Go exersaucer. I can't wait till Jordan sets it up so Lilly can play with it!

After we opened presents at my parent's house, we went to dinner at my uncle Gailand's house. For dinner we had fajitas...yummy and my mom made a Mexican casserole. We had so much fun spending time with the family and everyone just cooed and bragged about my sweet Lilly.

Jordan was also a hit this year. I told my 5 and 10 year old cousins, McKayla and McKinzie, that Jordan could look on his phone and could find exactly where Santa was that night. So, all night the girls were asking him to show them were Santa was. You should have seen the looks on their faces as Santa got closer to Texas! I'm looking forward when Lilly get's that excited about Santa, although I hope she still remembers that Jesus is the real reason for the season!

Papa and GiGi with Lilly

Kissing Crystals that my parents got for Jordan and I. Don't they know that's how we got Lilly and we're not ready for another one quite yet??? haha

Lilly loved all of her new clothes!

Jordan and his Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

It's true...a girl can never have enough shoes!

Lilly, GiGi and her new dollie that Jordan named Pippi. (Since he's Swedish he wanted to give her first doll a Swedish name after Pippi Longstockings).

Our FIRST Christmas as a new family.

My parents have this Santa that sings and dances. Lilly thought he was the most interesting thing ever!

Lilly and McKayla

McKinzie, me and Lilly (passed out from all the fun)

Sam (my brother) and cousins McKayla and Paulette at my uncle Gailand's house.

My Time With Her Is Priceless

I must say that not everything that's fun has to cost money to entertain your children...especially a 2.5 month old. I had so much fun playing with my daughter yesterday. I hope that one day she looks back on our times together and think what a great mom she has! haha

Some of the things I think are priceless at this moment are cuddle time, smiles, her resting on my chest, her rubbing my neck while she's trying to fall asleep, waking up to a happy baby, cooes at mommy, tummy time, and all of the bonding time I get with my little girl being a stay at home mommy. I understand that staying home may not be for everyone, and some days it's not for me either, but I'm glad that I am learning to go without so I can be with my girl 24/7...priceless!


Over the past month, I have watching my newborn change so much. She is so much more interested in herself and her surroundings. She loves to yell and talk just to hear her voice. At night, she makes her daddy take her on tours around the house so she can look at herself in the mirror or talk to the candles on the wall! What a joy my daughter has been these past months. I am looking forward to watching her blossom and grow as the months go by.

Yesterday, we practiced sitting up in her Bumbo chair, she listened (with intent interest) to different sounds her toys made, and learned how to hold, touch and feel new objects.We even went on a stroll around the neighborhood since it was such a beautiful day! It was 82 degrees outside in DECEMBER! WOW...only in Texas! :)

Learning how to sit and hold her head up

Lilly loved interacting with these handmade alphabet blocks her great great aunt gave her!

hahaha love these mug shots!

I'm holding my whole world in my hands...

Our stroller ride. She wasn't to keen on getting out on such a sunny day.

...but she enjoyed it so much she decided to take a nap.

A Little Girl That Steals the Show

WARNING: This post just might melt your heart! 

I am so thankful for technology. I love the fact that I can preserve the past and present with pictures and video. I try to capture a little bit of Lilly in photographs and videos whenever I get a chance...if you haven't noticed already! ;-)

Here are some of my favorite videos of Lilly from 12 weeks gestation all the way to when she's 1 day old old. You'll need to pause my wonderful music to listen to the videos. ;-)  (It may take me a while to post these since they are taking a while to upload)

 

 Our baby at 12 weeks and 6 days gestation.

 

Lilly has hiccups at 30 weeks gestation

  

Lilly kicking at 33 weeks gestation

Lilly-One day old

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

One, of my many, Christmas traditions is going to Kadee Tree Farm and cutting down a Christmas tree. This is a family tradition that Jordan's family started when he was younger, and we thought that we would keep that tradition alive when we got married. Now, this year we wanted to share this special family tradition with Lilly.

Kadee Tree Farm is a wonderful family place to go to cut down a Christmas tree for many reasons. First...hello...you get to cut down your own Christmas tree!!!! Second, there is a hay ride that everyone must go on to get to their perfect tree. You just tell the tractor guy what size tree you want and he takes you to a forest of beautiful trees. With your saw in hand, the adventure begins. After you find your perfect tree you have to tag it and cut it down. If you're lucky you will find a guy on a tractor picking up trees and he'll take them back to the front of the farm for you. If you're not so luck...you have to carry your tree back to the front of the farm. This has happened to us a few times but it's always been worth watching my "matcho man" carry our family Christmas tree. Good times! ;-)

While you're waiting for your tree to be measured and wrapped up you can go inside the store and enjoy some warm apple cider or you can travel down to the petting zoo and looks at potbelly pigs, rabbits, goats, and horses. We took Lilly over to the petting zoo, but she was more interested in looking everywhere else but at the animals. I can't wait till Lilly is old enough to enjoy the petting zoo.

Once our tree was ready to go home, we loaded it into the jeep and headed home. I can't stress enough how wonderful my house smells with a fress cut pine tree in my house.It's like it fills my whole house with the smell of Christmas...which makes up for all the pine needles that are laying around my floor!


If Lilly is anything like me, she will definitely appreciate a REAL Christmas tree and the adventures of bring one into our home.

We found our 2010 Christmas Tree!!!

It's our tree and we'll mark it if we want too!!!

Our tree is home.

Now that's what we call a Christmas tree in the St.Clair house!