Oh Christmas Tree!

Sammie was very excited to help me with the Christmas tree this year, and she only broke one ornament!

And then...

...and then she was here!  7 lbs. 14 oz. 21 1/4 inches long, our Brenna was here!

And we were a family of four...

It was a rough start, Sammie came down with RSV which turned into pneumonia literally the day I delivered Brenna, which then of course, Brenna caught, sending she and I back to the hospital for eight days.  Finally though, we came home to stay, with two healthy girls to be a family...

It has been exactly one year since we became a family of four, since we were blessed with our second beautiful daughter, and all I can say is thank you God for our special gift, for our wonderful girls, and of course to our sweet little Brenna Bear -

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!

We love you sweetheart!

On this day last year...

I was packing my bags, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and hugging Sammie like crazy.  Nathan and I were getting ready to head into the hospital that night to be induced and I was running around like a mad woman getting the house "ready" for our new arrival, and Christmas. 

It was nice knowing this time, that we were heading in, when and what to expect as far as delivery goes.  I found myself much more calm about the whole thing.  I sat in Brenna's nursery in the rocker, and remembered all the hours I spent rocking Sammie in that same chair, reading to her before bed time, singing to her, and just soothing her when she wasn't feeling well, and I was thrilled to embarking on another adventure with our new baby girl.

We ate dinner as a family, then packed up the car and took Sammie over to my parents for the night before heading to the hospital.  We explained to Sammie that mommy was going to the doctor to have her baby sister.  This actually worked out great, since the day before we took her to see Santa and she told him she wanted her baby sister for Christmas!  My mom took a picture of us before we left, our last time as a family of three...

Then we headed to the hospital and the fun began!  My labor this time around was easy, and since my body apparently loves epidural, I think if they hadn't messed the initial one up, it would have gone even faster!  As it was, my labor was only 8 hours and then...

The Day After

The day after Thanksgiving this year we were all very tired.  So we spent some time relaxing and napping...

There was some decorating...although probably not the kind you would think...

And of course, we all ate some leftovers...yes, in our pajamas!

It was the first year that I didn't get up and immediately go crazy Christmas decorating, but we had a wonderful day with the girls, and we just may have started a new tradition...we'll have to see!

Mamma's Visit

Mamma (Nathan's mom) came in for a visit for Thanksgiving for the first time since she'd officially moved to her new home.  So for this holiday weekend, we had a visitor for a couple of nights - Mamma!  The girls had a blast hanging out with her for two days strraight and Nathan and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit.  She was also an enormous help to me preparing Thanksgiving dinner (somehow I always convince myself its going to be easy...)

The holiday was wonderful, the visit great, and we look forward to many, many more to share together!

The Hats

It never ceases to amaze me that not only does Sammie come up with ideas like this, but all the adults in her life choose to go along with it AND let me photograph them...Doesn't Nathan look happy!??

Nathan's Aunt Joanie wins the award for best posture as she somehow managed to walk all around the kitchen with this on her head!

Turn about is fair play, Sammie...

Thanksgiving Day - 2009

The table was finally set and ready!

After dinner Samme recruited Grandpa for some more dancing...

And while Sammie and Grandpa danced, and Daddy took pictures, it became official, I have the best assisting clean-up crew around!  We got everything cleaned up, separated for "doggie bags" and put away in no time flat.  These ladies are awesome!  Thank you Grandma, Mamma, and Auntie Karen, I couldn't do a holiday without you!