Christmas Tree 2014

We went to Asheville the first Sunday in December to choose our Christmas tree!  We ate breakfast at the Moose Cafe and then made our way to the North Carolina Farmer's Market.

Ellie loved running through the rows of trees with Ivey; Thomas just strolled happily in the stroller.  Luckily the weather was perfect!

We scaled down in size this year and so it was much easier to get the tree in the stand this year and we got to decorating asap!  Ellie loved choosing which ornaments and deciding where to put them.  (yes, they all ended up on 2 branches)

Thomas was just fascinated by the lights.

Journey to Bethlehem

A local church puts on a wonderful reenactment of Bethlehem and we were able to go a couple of weeks ago.  It was one of the neatest experiences we have done with Ellie and will most certainly become an annual tradition for our family.

 I had Thomas strapped to me in the Bjorn, so pictures were a bit difficult.  The church went to extensive lengths to ensure that it had a very authentic feel--they had experiences, food, and activities for the children to participate in.  They had live animals walking around as well.  In the picture above, Ellie and Daddy are signing the census and paying the tax to enter.

 Here she was given a little ball of dough to practice rolling out for the bakery.

 Checking out the animals that were for sale for sacrifices. 

 She listened to a story from the story teller.

 She made her own toy with a piece of wood from the carpenter.  This sweet girl helped Ellie make hers--and E told her she wanted her to come to her house and gave her a big hug when we told her good bye!  Hahaha!!

After we stopped by all of the shops, we were able to visit the live Nativity.  It was such a great way for the story to come alive for Ellie!  

Festival of Trees

One of our favorite holiday traditions is the Festival of Trees downtown--we went a couple of weeks ago to check out the beautifully decorated trees and eat lunch at Tupelo Honey.

Grove Park Inn

Grammy and I took Ellie one Wednesday to the Grove Park Inn to see the gingerbread house display.  I wish I could say she was enthralled with it all--she liked it but not quite old enough to love it yet.

 She did love looking at the trees and the beautiful decorations that the Grove Park had to offer.  It was absolutely Christmas perfection.  Wish we could have moved in!

 Enjoying the beautiful view

 and of course she got a gingerbread cookie herself!

 She was absolutely terrified of a stuffed bear that was by the fire place.  Would not get anywhere remotely near it.  One of the ladies working there felt sorry for her (because I was all but forcing her to pet the STUFFED BEAR) and gave her this little backpack that she has on below.

We ended the day with lunch at Corner Kitchen (where I'm pretty sure we will never be invited back...3 years old is not treating us well)!

Tillman's Return

Our elf Tillman returned the Friday after Thanksgiving!  He set up a special breakfast for Ellie and she was ABSOLUTELY THRILLED to see him again.

 She screamed "Oh Tillman, you are so adorable and we have MISSED you!!!"

and we touch our elf!

 She couldn't quit smiling or hugging him.

 and he whipped together the most precious cookies that looked just like him!

 She made proper introductions to Thomas too!

This year has been the magical year for Christmas for E.  She is loving it all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with both families on Thursday and for the most part, it was a great day!  The kids rode well to Lexington and back, the food was great and no major meltdowns!

By the time I took pictures of them mid-afternoon, Thomas was DONE.

 my sweet girl.  She has grown up so much the past couple of months--looks, personality and maturity.  She is so funny to have conversations with.  She can be as sassy as they come but I love just spending time with her--she is at a really fun age right now!

Thomas is 7 Months!

I blinked and this baby turned 7 months!  He continues to be a delight and the sweetest baby.

 Not sure on weight/height/etc.

He is crawling like crazy and into EVERYTHING.  He started pulling up as well and we have to watch him like a hawk so that he doesn't get into anything he's not supposed to. 

We started solids this month and he loves them.  He was more than ready for them--he tolerates all textures and really loves table foods more than baby purees, although he eats both.  He is doing a great job at feeding himself table foods and he much prefers that to us feeding him.  He loves crackers, green beans, puffs, lima beans, black beans and noodles.  Poor love wants to take a bite of ice cream or yogurt so badly!  I am really praying that he is outgrowing the allergy as it becomes more complicated protecting his diet with solids as well as mine.  I hope to make it 5 more months nursing him--and will certainly relish my first bite of real ice cream on April 26th!

 He is wearing:

Clothing: 6 & 9 months

PJ's: 9 months

Diapers: size 3 or 4

His current schedule:

7-Wake up and bottle/nurse

8-breakfast (fruit)

8:30-nap

11-bottle/nurse

12-lunch (veggie)

1-nap

3-bottle/nurse

5-dinner (veggie/fruit/pasta)

7-bath/bottle/bed

 Poor buddy had his flu booster shot last week--he cried for a couple of seconds, Ellie cried for a couple of MINUTES.  and she didn't even get one!  Just crying because that nurse hurt her "baby bru permenent Drama.

Thomas is grabbing at everything.  Jewelry does not happen anymore.  He loves to pinch my face when I'm rocking him.  We also call him the tapper because he will often tap his little arm in a rhythmic motion.  

He loves jumping in his jumperoo and has gotten quite good at it.  He sits in a highchair at restaurants--we pulled out Ellie's old faithful clip on!  He is also sitting up in the carts at Target and Publix.  He is way too heavy to tote around in the infant seat so that pretty much stays in the car at all times.  

His favorite toys right now are all his teethers.  Doesn't really show a favorite besides Sophie and his keys.  He is drooling like crazy right now so I feel like he must be cutting his top teeth.  Hoping they break through sooner rather than later! 

Happy 7 Months, Tom Tom!

6 Month Chair Pics

I used our fall professional pictures for Thomas' 6 month sessions but couldn't leave out his monthly picture with his elephant!  

 This little rascal started CRAWLING today!!!  Ellie is less than pleased.

Halloween Wrap Up

We took the kids to Boo at the Zoo in Columbia the week before Halloween.  It is one of my favorite Halloween traditions and given that Ellie was quite sick the previous couple of days, I was thankful that we squeezed in the trip--even without her feeling 100%.

 She's holding a small Madeline doll that she has in her room at my mom's house.  The doll is how she started loving the story.

 little plumpkin Thomas.  He was less than thrilled with his costume and especially the hat.

 and a couple extra sweet pics of Thomas in his Halloween and pumpkin outfits!