Christmas at Nana's 2013

We had our Christmas celebration at Nana's house on the Saturday before Christmas. It was a great day except for the constant downpour of rain all day. Bleh.

We had the usual big lunch followed by the opening of gifts and then dirty Santa! Luci had so much fun playing with her big cousins (particularly Jathan), and Emmi got passed around like the bread basket! ;-)

Jathan proudly sporting his "onesie" pajamas that he had been begging me to buy for him for months!

Grandkids and greats

Emmi Reese- 4 Months

I am interrupting the series of Christmas posts to back track and catch up on Emmi! I make no apologies for my slacking in blogging...an infant, 4 year old, full-time job, and full-time wife are taking up all of my time these days! :-)

Emmi turned 4 months old on December 30th...and to properly commemorate that day, she had her 4 month immunizations. ;-( Emmi's appointment went great. She is right on schedule for everything. She cried just for a bit with her shots...and never really fussed in the days following. I couldn't have asked for it to have gone better.

Since she is a constant spitter...more like projectile spitter...Dr. W. suggested we try thickening some of her bottles with some rice cereal. It seems to have helped a little. We have also started feeding her out of a spoon with rice cereal at dinner. She is not really interested at all. We will wait until she is closer to 6 months before we start baby food...I figure it will take that long before she is even semi interested! lol!

4 Month Stats:
13 lbs 6 oz - 50th percentile
24 1/4 inches- 50th percentile
Moved to a size 2 diaper
Moved to mostly 3-6 month clothing

She loves to be held and cuddled. It is probably a good thing that I went back to work. I think I would just hold and cuddle her all day if I didn't!

Emmi rolled over a few times from back to front...but did it in the night in her crib...so we never saw it. We just heard her crying, went in, and found her on her tummy. She has yet to perform for us when we are watching. Little toot.

She is smiling all the time and laughing out loud. It is so stinkin' cute!!!

Most of the time Luci can calm her for a bit if she just starts talking to her when she is crying.

Emmi will go from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds when she is hungry. There is no middle ground with her. She is either hungry...or she's not.

She went on her first overnight vacation this month. We went and stayed in a hotel in Broken Arrow for 2 nights during the holidays and then we went and stayed for 3 nights in the condo at Branson. She did exceptionally well. She slept in her Rock n Play in the hotel and Pack in Play in the condo. She was not a huge fan of the PnP.

She got her first true cold this month. Lots of coughing and a little stuffy. My mom kept her for a few days and Mitch and I took turns staying with her too. It probably wasn't completely necessary to keep her home from daycare...but I just wanted to make sure that she 100% of the attention! :-)

Here are some pics from this month!

School Christmas Activities 2013

Luci had her school Christmas celebration on December 20th. The day started with a visit from Santa! Luci was so eager to sit in Santa's lap this year!! This is a BIG change from the last few years!

I am so in love with the picture...Santa looks a little grumpy...but Luci just looks like a doll! I love the pure joy on her face!

Around noon, she had her Christmas program. Mitch, my Mom, and me all came over to watch it! She was an angel...and to me, she truly looked like one. I was so proud of her. She has a horrible case of stage fright...but she did so well.

Melt my heart!

Luci and her BFF from 7 weeks old!

All ready for the day's activities!

After the program she had her party and then went back to Paris with Mimi to spend the night! It was a cousin sleepover with Jocie, Jathan, Jordan, Ellie, and Brendon! Emmi still isn't allowed to stay overnight...:-)

Emmi's school celebrations were obviously small-scale! Lol! I sent Christmas books for her classmates and mason jar mugs for her teachers (Luci's classmates got goody bags and her teachers got mason jar mugs as well).

 
Emmi also had a gift for us from school. Oh my goodness, this made my heart melt! Look really close at the manger!!

Pomp and Circumstance- MSCED 2013

Last Saturday, Mitch proudly walked across the stage to receive his diploma (ok, the actual diploma will be mailed) for his Master of Science in Community and Economic Development (MSCED)!!!

Mitch began this program in fall of 2011 and worked straight through until December of 2013! 

Here's the deal...I am so, so, so proud of him. Lots of people get their graduate degrees. Lots. And it is such a huge honor and accomplishment for anyone that does that...but, let me brag for a bit!!! I am so proud of him because he did it, working full time, involved in many community activities (Rotary, FSM Steering Committee, WAPADD board), achieving his CDI certification (3 years in the making), raising a 2-4.5 year old, dealing with a pregnant wife...then a newborn...and never once did he ever make his family feel neglected or overlooked. He is the Master (ha!) of balancing...and he does it so well. 

We are so proud of you Mitch!! 

P.S. Now that he is finished, he must resume his "Cinderfella" duties...dang it, I am tired of dishes! ;-)

Mitch's office got him this great cake!!! Sooo sweet of them!

On our way to Conway!

We had a pre-ceremony lunch with Mimi, PePaw, Nana, Grammy, Granddaddy, Meri, Alyson, Colin, Tasha, Andrew, Presley, Kerri, and Taylor!

Luci was being such a goof ball!

5.5 years ago...and then look at us now!!!

His hard work is now going to allow me to stay at home with our girls more! More details on that later! :-)

Thanksgiving Festivities 2013

We had a great Thanksgiving break! It was so nice to spend quality time with the girls, family, and friends.

What did we do?

Wednesday- We spent the day visiting and playing with Amanda and Charlotte while Mitch worked at the office. Luci got a new hair cut...and I ate my weight in donuts! Later that afternoon, we traveled to Paris to eat supper with Mimi and PePaw and visit with Nana and the Texas White's who came in for Thanksgiving!

BFF play date!

Luci's new big girl hair cut!

Luci and her fav, Jathan!

Thursday- We woke up early and headed to Broken Arrow to spend Thanksgiving with the Okies! :-) We had quite the yummy feast, and Luci had sooo much fun running around with her cousins! Emmi was good and took some long naps. We also got the kiddos dressed in some Christmas outfits to takes some pictures for Susan's Christmas card. We headed to back to Fort Smith in the evening...and then I went out at 11pm to shop with Jen at Carter's and Target!

Pit stop to feed Emmi on the way to BA! She wanted her turkey early! ;-)

So thankful for these two turkeys!

One kiddo was excited for Thanksgiving...the other wasn't so sure...

Cousins!

Friday- We spent most of the morning being lazy...and then I decided to snap some pics of the girls for our Christmas card! Later, I took Luci to meet Mimi, and she spent the night with her. Mitch worked some on his final paper...and Emmi and I wrapped some presents. :-)

Christmas Card Pic Outtake...as you can see...they were so excited to be taking pics! Lol!

Saturday- Emmi and I loaded up and went down to Paris to pick up Luci and meet up with some of my friends who have recently had babies! There were 4 babies ranging from almost 6 months to 2 weeks!! It was fun to catch up and love on the babies! Later that night, Becky and Kelli came over to watch Luci and Emmi while Mitch and I had our first solo date since Emmi was born! We went to see Christmas Vacation at the Movie Lounge!

Parking lot selfie!

Sunday- We were pretty lazy...cleaned house...and I started cooking for our dinner guests later that night! We had my old boss and S & K over for dinner! It was fun...and Kristal got to give Emmi her bath! :-)

Emmi was worn out from a 5 day weekend of festivities!!!

Emmi Reese- 3 Months

Emmi turned 3 months old yesterday! I know I keep saying this over and over again...but time, please slow down. I just can't believe how fast it is going.

Emmi Facts from this past month:

Size 1 diaper
Grew completely out of her newborn clothes and is now in 0-3 month clothes.
Almost rolling over
Getting great head control
Lots and lots of smiles
Cooing and laughing (sooooo sweet)
Loves to cuddle and be held
Eating 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours
Is sleeping about 6 hours every night...it is just that it starts at 9 or 10...so she is up at 3 or 4 to eat.
Has adjusted to daycare really well. We are really liking where she is at!
Is soooo much better about riding in the car

We love you Emmi Reese!!!

Pics from this past month...

She celebrated her first Halloween! Lambie and Doc!

She completely gave up sucking a paci and moved to hand, fist, fingers...

She gave soooo many great smiles!

Started using a Bumbo...Luci on left, Emmi on right!

Decorated the tree for her first Christmas!

And had a blast doing it! lol!

Had a play date with her BFF Charlotte!

Celebrated her 1st Thanksgiving

  (Yes, I know these tights don't match..I put some matching socks over! ;-) )

Happy 3 Months!!!!