Our First Christmas as a Family of Four!

Despite the calendar having rolled over to 2014, let's revisit Christmas 2013, shall we? I'm a bit behind on blog posts :)

Our first Christmas as a family of four was pretty uneventful - and that was just how we wanted it to be! Still fresh into the journey from a family of three to a family of four, I just couldn't quite bear the thought of packing up all the stuff you need for a tiny little person and hauling it, the two kids, and our dog several hours south to the in-laws, and so we opted to stay at home and see them over the weekend instead for Ava's party (a post to come on that Monday!). Though I do prefer the bigger family Christmases of my own family, it was a nice change of pace to be at home and able to do what we wanted to do with the kiddos, and starting our own traditions for our own family. 

We started the holiday season off with a trip to see the jazz nutcracker, and then opted to skip the Trail of Lights this year in favor of checking out Mozart's famed light show instead:

We also baked some (dairy-free!) sugar cookies for her end-of-the-semester holiday party at school:

On Christmas Eve, we generally let Ava open one pre-selected present (spoiler alert: it's Christmas books to read before bedtime), but this year we had a second gift for her to open: a gingerbread house kit! I had been to the Thinkery (our new children's museum) the week before and saw that they were selling their workshop kits, so I thought it would be a perfect time (and age!) to start this tradition!

Then we let Ava put the new tree topper on top of the tree - she chose the star earlier that day:

Before bed, we put out some cookies for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer, and anxiously awaited Santa's arrival!

As for Christmas morning, Santa was good to us this year! Ava had asked only for a bike, but her grandparents had her covered on that one, and so he brought her a playhouse that you can assemble and color - he must have remembered her playing with one at Stella's house! She had also requested new bath toys, paints, and for "him to bring toys for her baby brother", and so those things arrived as well :)

 Her bike was the last thing she got, and so we had her close her eyes and surprised her with it! It's safe to say it was a hit!

Baby Jack's first Christmas!

How was your Christmas? Was Santa good to you? And at what point do you transition from training wheels to without?

Jack's First Smiles!

As a reason to be extra thankful yesterday, Jack decided to show us his first little grins at exactly five weeks yesterday:

Now THAT little face I'm thankful for :)

Ava's Big Girl Bed!

From this:




To this:






To answer the inevitable question, she hasn't slept in it yet, and I'm not sure when she will be. Basically, we want to talk it up and get her excited about it (which she is), but we're also coveting the end of our time all sleeping together. I'm sure non co-sleepers don't get it at all, but we'll definitely miss having her. She is such a little snuggler, and we both love it :)

She definitely loves her big girl room, though, and she napped on her bed the first day that it had blankets on it, and took one of the best naps! It is a little high off the ground, so we did manage to get our hands on some great rails to slip under the mattress to ensure she doesn't roll off, but she is very used to sleeping in a bed, so I bet that will be an easier switch than if she had (ever) slept in a crib - ha!

Damn you, Pinterest.

I held out for a long time. A LONG time. But, then, I got suckered into Pinterest, and now my life may never be the same. I seriously have gone into a full-on cooking and organizing frenzy since joining Pinterest. Here are just a few of the projects I've undertaken:

Taken A's stuffed animals and given them a home on her closet door, so she'll see and play with them and they won't be all over her new bed:


Apparently shoe organizers are good for a LOT of things. This one, crafts! So handy! I did this where I nanny also, and it's made for much more accessible (and therefore used more) craft supplies!)


Homemade shaving cream bath paints. Shaving cream + a drop or two of food coloring + paints brushes = euphoric child & mommy win!


I've also cooked more in the past two weeks than the prior two months, including chocolate covered peanut butter bananas, white spinach artichoke lasagna, sour cream chicken enchiladas, bacon and tomato grilled cheese sandwiches, roasted rosemary chicken, potatoes and green beans, and the list goes ON. D is one happy, happy man!

We're in the midst of undertaking a major organizational overhaul at my house, if for no other reason than Ava got her big girl bed this past Sunday and so we're shaking things up! Pics to come once her bedding arrives!!!

And, if I don't follow you yet, leave me a link to follow you on Pinterest. I'm hooked!

Ava's Second Birthday, and First Trip to UT!

We had such a fun day on Ava's birthday. I'm so glad that both David and I were off this past week, so that we could both be able to spend the entire day with her. We started off with just some early morning plans at the bounce house we love, but then we swung by David's office, and decided to have an impromptu day on campus, which Ava loved. Truth be told, of all the things that I've shared with Ava in her two years, taking her to the campus where David and I both went to school was one of the most special! Such an amazing day!

Starting her birthday off right, at Kids N Play! We love this place!





Ava's birthday lunch!

Visiting Daddy's office on campus:

Both David and my former dorm:

Awesome Longhorn street signs:

DKR Memorial Stadium - where the magic happens :)

Ava throwing up the hook 'em at the statue! SO PROUD!

Ava and mommy riding the horse statues in front of the alumni center:

Ava kissing Bevo:

Ava and mommy in front of Bevo statue:

The Texas Exes alumni center:

Mommy giving the hook em' in front of her life member scroll!! So exciting!

The Honor Roll of Texas Exes Life Members!

UT Map:

Just like our family!

Littlefield Fountain with the Tower in the background!

Side view of Littlefield Fountain

Ava exploring our old stomping grounds!

The Tower - an Austin monument!

Ava and Daddy on Inner Campus Drive

The turtle pond! One of mommy's favorite places on campus!

Ava loves daddy:

Mommy's old home base, Gearing Hall

Ava: future sailor?

Happy Birthday, Ava!

Happy baby, riding her new horsey from grandma!