It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I hope everyone has enjoyed this season with lots of quality family time, and hopefully not too much stress. I was going to put this picture on a card to send out, but the stress involved and time away from family to get it done... well, it just didn't happen.

We've had a wonderful Christmas, though. Isabella is really growing. She's learned to transfer objects from one hand to the other. She found her toes and can almost get them to her mouth. She loves to use her tongue to make noises now. I'm constantly laughing at all the funny faces and noises she makes! I love to watch the look of wonder when she sees something for the first time, and the look of concentration when she's faced with a new task or learns a new skill. I'm awed by her sweet innocence. She's such a special gift. It brings me and John closer also, sharing this sweet, special little girl together, and I'm so very thankful to be blessed with Isabella and John.

Isabella's been standing for a while (with support of course).

Me and Isabella in her cute little Santa outfit

One of my favorite takes for our Christmas picture... I love that John's smiling so serenely while he strangles Rocky to hold him in the picture!

Me, dad, and Isabella at our family Christmas party

My cousin's fiance, Kasey, gave these elephant slippers to Isabella. She thinks it's so convenient having these stuffed animals attached to her feet for easy access!

Aunt Lauren and Uncle Cody came for a visit

What a mess

Isabella is learning to eat new foods this month. She's loving sweet potatoes; apples and bananas aren't far behind on the favorites list. I have to ask... Is being messy with food more fun? John says he's just playing in the pictures below when I point out how messy he is when feeding her. Maybe I'm just too serious about wanting food to get into her tummy, but I wanted to demonstrate the difference in mine and John's feeding styles.

Exhibit A:


Exhibit B:
I must say that nursing is much less messy and less time consuming, but at least I have a husband who helps feed her. And I do realize that it's going to get much messier in the future, so this isn't a true complaint.

Our special gift

John took Isabella to see Santa as a surprise for me! I wanted to start the tradition even if she won't understand this year. Isabella doesn't seem to interested in Santa yet, but John said she was getting hungry. He waited for 30 minutes to get her to Santa, so he was relieved that this blank expression doesn't include tears and flailing limbs. It's still sweet despite the missing smile.

And Santa said that Isabella was our special gift this Christmas! I agree.

House divided

John and I agreed before we had children that if we had boys they would be raised wearing Alabama football gear, but if we had girls they would wear Auburn colors! Here's our family ready for the big game. I just hate for Isabella that Auburn lost her first Auburn vs. Alabama football game ever. She shed a few tears and got upset during the game, but mommy was crying with her. Next year Tigers...

***She outgrew her cute little Auburn outfit already. She needs a new one.

I'm thankful for...

My family. I have the most wonderful husband and daughter. I'm so unbelievably blessed. They've become so important to me that it's impossible to imagine life without them. But not only am I blessed with John and Isabella, but so much more. John and I both have a great families; there are just so many people that care about us and for our little girl. God has blessed us with our family and also that we could be so close to them and get to share their lives more often than just Thanksgiving or other holidays.

I want to take a moment to just be thankful for the blessings in my life. I know my last post was about the family I've lost, but I want this one to be about the ones I love that I continue to spend my days with. I have so much.

John's brother (Zac) and his family (Candace, Sophia, and Ellie) and me, John and Isabella

my dad with Isabella... she's had a long day

Ellie, Sophia, and Uncle Zac playing with Isabella

my Aunt Kathy with Isabella

my grandmother, Aunt Kathy, and Uncle Larry

***Our families are not represented in their entirety because they either weren't present or I didn't get a picture of them.

The True Meaning of Life

"What happens to you doesn't matter; what you become through those experiences is all that is significant. This is the true meaning of life." This quote reminds me so much of my mom and her attitude towards all the trials she faced. She knew how to face life with an attitude of fearlessness. She said some people were afraid of dying because they felt they had so much left to do in their lives, but she'd done everything she wanted; she had a Christy and a Lauren. I love that about her. She lived her life, and she made people matter. She knew what was important.

She was never afraid of dying, not that she told me, anyway. And she definitely didn't fear cancer. Some people might have asked "Why me?" but she said, "Why not me? Who am I to think this shouldn't happen to me?" When she was losing her hair, she rejoiced in the fact that she could have a wig and for the first time, her hair would do exactly what she wanted. She also asked the doctor if that meant she didn't have to shave her legs anymore. It amazed me that she could smile in the face of what most people would consider to be a hardship. She used her difficulties to encourage those around her. And she never complained.

It's been a year ago today since she's been gone.  I miss her so much, but I hear her voice in the decisions I make and know what she'd say even if she's not here to say it. I know that when she faced the loss of people she loved, she said she was blessed to have that person in her life, and she went forward with a smile for all the memories she'd always have. I want to be more like her and have her attitude towards life, and death. I know she's gone home, to her true home. Her brother and her dad were waiting to welcome her, and one day she'll welcome me with her beautiful smile and her comforting embrace. Until then, I'd like to say how very blessed I am to have had such a wonderful mom. If she hadn't been so wonderful, losing her wouldn't have been so hard. I thank God for the blessing she was to my life and for all the lessons she taught me. What happens to you doesn't matter; what you become through those experiences is all that is significant.

Playing at the beach

We just bought new hats at the market in Boston.

Trying to look cool in NYC with our Oakley sunglasses

my parents kissing in the hot tub
having a blast on the Buzz Light Year ride in Disney World

my four most favorite people

me and mom at the beach in Wilmington, NC

me and mom getting ready for Lauren's wedding

What's new this week...

Isabella tried her jumper today for the first time and she loves it!  I just love watching her develop and learn new things.  Everything is going straight to her mouth now, which I know means becoming ever more aware of everything that's around her, but I also enjoy watching her explore in new ways.  She's also reaching for things, such as the book we're reading together.  She's been interested in looking at things before but hasn't ever reached for and gotten those things, so that's new for her.  She started playing with a teether book which is really fun for her.  She waves it all around and of course, chews all over it.  She's just so much fun to watch.  I loved seeing how much she enjoys the jumper.  What a sweet smile!