Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

It's hard to believe we're already ending 2012,  I remember this day last year thinking we had so much to look forward to and how it was going to be the best year yet.....and it was!  2012 was such a good year that it's sad to see it end, but it will always hold a special place in my heart! It's the year our family grew, we became parents for the first time by welcoming our beautiful baby girl into this world and we shared lots of new firsts with Estella! Lots has changed for us in a year, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
This year my New Years resolution is to become more ORGANIZED, I need this badly! I feel like papers and piles are starting to consume me and drive me crazy!!! Bry promised we would work on it together :)  I Think 2013 has a lot of fun in store for us, we're looking forward to another great year!!!

Wishing Everyone A Happy, Healthy New Year!!!

Stelly Girl ready to PARTY;)

Estella's 1st Christmas

Well I have to say it again, having a lil one sure does take the Holiday's to a whole new level... we had so much fun with Estella! Her first Christmas was a success, we were busy going from place to place but she did awesome:) She got all kinds of new goodies and boy did Christmas come at the perfect time because she was starting to get bored with her toys! We started out the festivities on Sunday going downtown to watch the Holidazzle Parade! Christmas Eve we went to church, Gg's & grandpa's house, then back to our house for Bry's moms Christmas. Christmas day woke up had our time together, went to brunch at Gg's, stopped by my aunts for bit then headed to Bry's aunts!  It's pretty crazy having to go to all these places and I always get overwhelmed thinking about it, but in the end it always works out and we had a great time seeing everyone!

Ready to watch the holidazzle parade! We got to stay nice and tosty and watch from the comfort of my dads office, he hooked up speakers so would could hear it and watch from the windows one floor up!    

Christmas day morning at home

Opening stockings, it was pretty cute Stella sat and pulled everything out 

Christmas day at Gg's and Grandpas for brunch and aunties birthday, my poor sister has to share her birthday with christmas

Girlfriend was a rock star at opening gifts! We did have one incident on Christmas eve she got a lil piece off that we didn't see and it made her choke a little till she projectile threw up everywhere, on me, her and the floor, Yikes!!! 

Yep, me and Stella have matching leggings on ;)

Stella got to see all four of her Great Grandma's over Christmas

Christmas Eve at our house for Bryan's moms side

At auntie Gale's Christmas day for Bry's dads side! W/ auntie and w/ papa & kathi

Now with Christmas being over,  It's time for this mama to start planning Stelly's 1st Birthday! It's only 5 1/2 months away and I have lots of things I want to make! I got a cricket for christmas and I can't wait to start using it:)   

Merry Christmas To All

Wishing Everyone A Very Merry Christmas!!!

Estella's 7 month photo shoot

We were a little late on getting Estella's 6 month photos done, it came up too quickly so she was just a few days short of being 7 months! I didn't want to miss out on capturing this fun age she's at:) Of course she was all smiles till the camera came out, then we couldn't do anything to get one! She was a trooper though Stella never cried and let use change her into 6 different outfits! I got a sneak peak right away so I can use them as Christmas gifts! These are some of my favorites so far

7 months!

I'm not going to lie,  having you turn 7 months old was kinda hard and I may have teared up a bit. It means you are closer to a one year old then a lil baby and that makes momma sad even though each month gets more and more fun! Time just keeps going faster and I can hardly believe it's been 7 months since you your born. It's hard to even remember the day I went in to labor or how tiny you once were (Thankfully I have this blog to look back on)!  You are such a big girl now and everything you do always seems to amaze me. I may be a little biased but I think you are the cutest, most fun loving baby around;) We've done lots of fun things lately getting prepared for your first Christmas. We've been busy reading Christmas books, making ornaments for you to give as your gift to family(they may or may not look like a hand print but that what we were going for) listening/singing to christmas music, watching me decorate, brunch with Santa, lots of shopping, you've helped gg bake and you got your first elf on the shelf :)

Weight/length~ 18 lbs, 1oz  and around 25 in

Love~  Your biggest love right now is your furry big sis Chloe, you love to grab her ears and fur it never fails if she walks by your face lights up, it's so cute! You love playing with your big girl toys anything that lights up and plays music is your favorite, jumping in your johnny jump up, playing peekaboo, ripping up paper if you can get your hands on some...you are going to have so much fun opening your presents! You still love putting anything and everything in your mouth to suck on, especially our sweatshirt strings you always seem to find them or your toes when you can get them in your mouth. Your loving you blankies big time right now, you want to snuggle your face into them. You love to grab at everything, including our faces...I think you like the feel of daddy and grandpa's beards!

Eating~ Your drinking Soy Formula & eating solids twice a day. Your like drinking water out of your sippy cup with the straw, the other ones you won't even try. I tried giving you a mum mum but right away you acted like you were choking and you also did that when I gave you a teeny tiny piece of banana, so your definitely not ready for little finger foods!  But you did like when I put a banana in the munchkin mesh feeder, you went to town on that thing!

Sleeping~ Most nights you still sleep great. You go to bed between 730-8 and getting up around 6 or 7. But the last few nights have been rough. You caught the stomach bug not sure where but you have had the runs for five days now, you poor thing. We took you to the doctor they said this kind of stuffs been going around like crazy and to make sure we have you drink lots to keep you hydrated

 Clothing~ 9 month or 6-12, It's been so fun dressing you in all your festive wear! Your in size 3 diapers It

Fun Facts~ You have the rosiest cheeks I've ever seen, You've started reaching a lot for us now, You are such a lil wiggle worm, so changing your diaper has become quite the challenge! You always try to feed yourself, you snipe the spoon away from me and you get so mad when I take it back. You also like to hold your own bottle too. Your great at fake crying to get what you want, it usually starts out with a cough that so over exaggerated, but it's kinda funny. You could play with a water bottle or unopened bag of animal cookies forever...who needs toys when you have those!

Firsts~ We were so excited that you got to meet your great grandma Kaye for the first time, she's visiting from Az! You had your first Thanksgiving, first brunch with Santa, first time sitting on Santa's lap, first stomach bug so you had pedialyte for the first time too:(

I'm so excited to celebrate your first Christmas this coming week! I will always cherish your firsts & all our special times we have together! I thank God everyday for blessing me with such a sweet, beautiful baby girl! I can't wait to see what new, exciting things you will be up to this month! We LOVE you to pieces Estella!!!

Love Always & Forever,

Mommy & Daddy

My Heart goes out to all the families affected in Newtown, I can't even imagine what they're going through, my heart hurts for them! Sending lots of love & prayers their way!


I'm only a few days behind on this, but I'm also linking up for mommy & me monday over at  Dear Owen go check it out! Cute way to add a picture of you and baby each week:) 

Christmas Card

Initially Snowflake Christmas

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Christmas Tree Time

OH What Fun It Is To decorate the Christmas tree!!! It brings back so many fun memories from over the years with each ornament we hang! The accent colors I chose to use this year were red, lime green, and silver and I like to add anything with some sparkle:)

Here's a look at our 2012 Christmas Tree

I really need to get going on my wrapping, I'm a lil behind on that this year

Red glitter stars & berries on sticks help add a splash of color and dimension 

Bryan's Favorite ornament along with his cigar one;)

My favorite Christmas ornaments are my Swarovski crystal snowflake, I've gotten one every year since we've been married so I love that they have the date on them


I Hope you like it...there are lots of ideas and pretty trees at Honey We're Home  or add your tree too!!!

Christmas Mantel Decor

Isn't decorating for the Holidays the best? Well one of my favorite things to decorate is the Mantel and I Love how mine turned out. Each year I like to add a little something new. So this year since I'm obsessed with bunting I just had to make some to add to my Christmas decor.

 Oh and our elf on the shelf is new a new addition too, she is just the cutest!

(Sorry for the blurry Pictures I took them with my iphone)
The Garland I've had for a few years, it came with the pine cones but I got red glittery accents to add some sparkle and a pop of color. My mom made our stockings a few years ago so they match the colors in my home more then my mantel decor but I still decided to use them.

Full view, next year I would like to take down the picture and add a giant wreath

Glittered Trees to add some height 

Bunting I made, I added a glitter Garland over the top to again add some sparkle

Hope you've enjoyed seeing my Mantel, there are lots of great ideas at the link up party at  Ten June!

Santa's Coming to town!

Estella had her very first visit with Santa Claus this weekend! Sunday morning we headed to our golf club for brunch with Santa, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity so we wouldn't have to wait in long lines at the malls! Lil missy did pretty good, she only cried for a second and then she just stared at him like who are you! I was a little disappointed at the Santa they had, I was hoping he would have a real beard, but none of the kids there seem to care, so why should I...right?

Estella telling Santa what is on her wish list:) 

Here is what I overheard Stella telling Santa she would like for her 1st Christmas~

1. Halo animal print sleepsack, From pottery barn

2. Fur animal print chair cover for her anywhere chair 

3. Boon bath toys from Land of Nod

4. Footed zipper pjs from Children's place 

5. Baby Stella Doll from Creative kids stuff

6. Leap frog Picnic basket Shapes & Sharing toy set from target 

7. Vetech sit to stand learning walker from target

 What fun things did you find for Christmas presents this year? I always love hearing great ideas:)