A Better-Than-Good Goodnight
Having this baby on my chest, my hubby by my side on the couch, big sister playing happily in front of us....these must be the good ole days.

He's such a little snuggler. And he's in that phase where they reach for your face with both hands. I know it's a developmental thing, the reaching for me, but it doesn't make it any less wonderful.

Cocoa Krispy Turkeys

Just Playin Around

Sutton, laughing at Pops.

Nonnie with the babies.
Sometimes love is a little uncomfortable.
Natalie's not loving the fact that brother's getting quite grabby in his old age.

Prying her baby from brother's fingers.

Walking Darby.

Sutton's first Thanksgiving dinner.

Real baby boys wear pink.

Oklahoma Turkey

Around our table we were thankful for our jobs, healthy children, a salary, our family and our health, more time, a surgeon who saved a life, our church and our friends. Lots to be thankful for.

Wide Open

Not sure who was having more fun, Natalie...

or Pops?
Natalie loves to ride that horsey and go downtown.

Natalie and the Nativities

and some other stuff.

I LOVE Christmas. I love that it's cold outside and warm inside. I love Nate's Nectar (a delicious secret beverage recipe my husband is famous for). I love giving gifts. I love that everyone listens to and sings songs about Christ's birth. I love all the traditions. I love the lights. I love trying to make all my friends who think they're too cool to do it, sing christmas carols for my neighbors. I love dipping things in almond bark. And I love decorating. My love for Christmas only grows with sharing it with my children. Natalie was quite a bit more helpful this year than last at taking out decorations. I love how much she liked the nativities.

She arranged them all just perfectly. I bet that shepherd really did just go right past Mary to get to baby Jesus. And those wisemen, I bet they all just went right in that stable one right on top of the other to get a closer look. Forget Mary, Joseph and Jesus being the only ones inside. Natalie knows better.

Sutton pretty much just chewed on this plush version of Mary, but I could tell he was trying to figure out how special she must've been to be chosen to be the Mother of Christ.

Helping Mom decorate the little tree.

One tired little elf.

Baby Caroline and Sutton. She came over to help us decorate.

Caroline's Mommy and Daddy being silly with Natalie. I believe Mrs. Alyse would fly Natalie to the moon if she could.

Tree Tradition

This is one of the only true family traditions we've started all on our own. At least for the holidays, that is. The weekend before Thanksgiving, Zona Rosa lights their tree and has reindeer and songs and general Christmas merriment that we love to take part in. It's hard to believe this is Natalie's 3rd Christmas and one she'll get to share with her kid brother. Oh what fun...

What I got when I said look at Mom for the picture...

My 3 favorite people on earth.
Sutton's first year at the tree.

An old tree lighting pro. Her face was priceless when that thing, and the many little trees around us, lit up. Oh, to be a kid at Christmas. It IS quite magical. I guess the next best thing is to have a kid of your very own at Christmas. That's pretty magical too.

Checkin out Frosty. She actually went up and hugged him, but I was too excited to take a picture. Is that just the most stupid thing you've every heard? Why was I so happy she liked Frosty?! I can't even tell you myself. All I can think of is how cute her little cautious smile was.

Can't hardly wait for Christmas.

Reindeer Games

We couldn't decide if it was the reindeer that were keeping her attention so well, or if Natalie just liked climbing on the railing to see them. Either way, she kept asking to go back to see the reindeer at Zona Rosa over and over, for days and days. I have to admit, they were pretty cute.

Houseguests

We had Mimi and Pops in from Oklahoma for a weekend, then the very next day Granny and Grandaddy flew in from NC. It's always nice to have the grandparents around to lend a helping hand and love on all of us. It's Thanksgiving Day as I write this, so I'll just add how thankful we are for parents who are willing to travel so often just to get their hands on us and our babies.

The cute ponytail and purse combo. I am so happy to have a girl.
Granny K and Sutton at Gymboree.

Just watching all the action was enough to wear him out. I know, you're wondering how we haven't eaten those lips right off his face yet. It's a challenge everyday. :)

Just being Natalie. She's arrived at the "I do it myself" stage of toddlerhood. Hats, coats, shoes, headbands, all put on all by herself.

Sleepy and sweet.

Looking Back

I was trying to find some pictures of Natalie at the same age as Sutton to do a little comparison for you, but I kind of got lost in looking at how stinking cute that girl was/is! I know all faithful bloggers probably remember this picture like it was yesterday, but I mean really, she was SO cute. The sassiness has only grown more intense as her vocabulary more adequately supports her attitude.

I promise to find some good comparison pics soon, so you can all say, "Man, they looks exactly alike" or "They look like siblings, but Sutton's cheeks aren't 1/100 as big as Nat's were" etc...

Solid

Baby Sutton is quickly moving from baby to big boy. Here's his first few tastes of "solid" foods.