Where have we been???

So, where have we been the last 2 weeks? Well, I'll tell you this much. We haven't been outside! We have officially come to the realization that the 70 degree November weather is gone and winter is here. We've woken up to a dusting of snow on the ground quite a few days lately. It's beautiful, really. I can't wait until it gets deep enough to play in. I am going to build a snowman and throw snow balls at Daddy!

Along with winter come our two favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mommy and Daddy have always loved these holidays, but they've meant even more to them since I was born. Why? Because my birthday is on Thanksgiving Day this year and I came home from the hospital on Christmas Day last year! You can definitely tell the holidays are fast approaching in our home. Maybe Mommy is making up for the lack of holiday decorating last year since it was kind of a crazy time. Our Christmas tree didn't even make it inside. Instead, it went straight to it's permanent home in our backyard. Our Christmas tree last year was a palm plant that Grandma and Grandpa F. quickly decorated for us while Mommy and Daddy were at the hospital with me early Christmas morning, trying to find out if they were going to be able to take me home! Mommy and Daddy said that my NICU nursery was decorated more than our house last year. One day soon, we're going to look at all the decorations that the NICU nurses and NICU alumni made for me. Those decorations are so special to me, just as much as our decorations this year.

Your eyes are not deceiving you. That is a 12 footer! Not.Easy.To.Decorate.


Butterflies are my favorite and Mommy and Daddy put some on the tree for me!

And just so we never, ever forget how good God has been to us....


That's not all the decorating that's been going on. As you know, my playroom is no longer under construction, so Mommy and I have been busy trying to make it pretty. It seems like every day there is something new in there and I notice right away. I go into my playroom, spot something that wasn't there the day before, point and say "oooooh". Mommy loves it!

My reading area

Butterflies, of course!

The kitchen that Grandma and Grandpa F. got me for my birthday (a little early)!

My dining/craft table

Some of mine and Mommy's artwork in the craft area

There's lots more decorating to do in my playroom, but we're off to a good start. See, I told you we've been busy! But, that's still not everything we've been up to. We have been so busy, busy, busy playing and visiting with family and friends that we haven't had a spare moment to blog. Honestly! We have had something happening every day. Here are a few of those things....

Visiting Aunt Julie, Uncle Josh and Noah in their beautiful new house.

I had so much fun playing with my cousin! We even took a bath together. It was a little crowded, but I had fun tickling his toes and taking turns drinking from the cup.

While there, my "Aunt" Kye Kye and "Uncle" Ben came over and brought me some birthday presents!

Thanks for the toy, book, and outfit...I love them!

Later that week, Ariana came over to play.

During which time I got my first shiner.

What's that? No, it's not eye shadow. It's a good ole fashioned black eye (3 days post accident)! Isn't it purdy?

The next week, Aunt Beth came into town to interview for a residency program. As usual, I had lots of fun with Aunt Beth! I'm hoping she had enough fun with me to convince Uncle Matt to move here???? Uncle Matt says "fat chance". :(

Then my friend, Raegan, came over to play. Well, she can't play the things I can (yet), but she did enjoy my activity mat!

I'll leave you with a couple videos!

I'm getting really fast walking behind things. I am so proud of myself though, that I have to stop every few feet to clap.

Bubba and I are becoming the best of friends. I have learned how to tease him with his toys and make him chase me!

Park with Peyton

I love my friend, Peyton. She lives in my neighborhood and we like to go to the park together. Last week was the last day of weather in the 70's for probably several months, so we took full advantage of it! Oh, and I bet you never would have guessed that we're both preemies (me 9 weeks early and Peyton 8 weeks early). Would you? :)

New things

For those of you who have been requesting pictures of a couple of our home's new acquisitions.

Kitchen Curtains

Built-ins (which obviously still need to be decorated, but can we get a big WOOHOO for no more exposed components and wires!)

Basement/Playroom

Sorry peeps, you're just going to have to wait until Mommy does a little decorating down there! Hey, something to look forward to, right?

So, you likey?

Look who found the toilet paper

I have free reign of our first level with the exception of the office, laundry room and now, the powder room.

Broken Dishes

This unfortunate accident happened when Mommy left me alone in the kitchen for a minute. She even thought she had all bases covered when she put Wrigley's food and water dishes up on the table. Little did she know, tippy toes + short little arms spells DANGER!

Wrigley hurriedly tried to eat his food before it got thrown away.

I bet you could guess that Wrigley's dishes no longer reside in the kitchen. No sir-ee. They found a new home in the laundry room, right next to his litter box. (Yes, he is litter box trained. Aren't all dogs?) I do feel bad that the poor guy has to eat next to where he poops. :(

One of my favorite visitors ever!

Mommy's best friend, Emily, came to visit us over the weekend from Chicago. It was a fun weekend, as it usually is when we're with Aunt Emmy. I was already in bed when Emily got to our house so I missed out on what the adults apparently do for fun when I'm asleep. Drinking wine and cuddling with Toby the big bear. Wild times.

I was so happy to see Emily when I woke up Saturday morning. Why would I be so excited, you ask? Because Mommy and Emily always spend a lot of their time together shopping and what girl doesn't like to shop? I knew I was in for a weekend of fun!

All dressed up and excited to go shopping with the girls.

What happens after a few hours of shopping with the two of them.

Did I mention that I usually make out on the deal when Emily is in town? She bought me the cutest new dress from her and Mommy's most favorite store ever...yup, you guessed it, I am now an Anthropologie baby! So, Mommy snapped some pictures of us together and wanted to post practically every one just a couple because she thought they were so darn cute. Thanks, Aunt Emmy. You are the best and I love my dress!

P.S. Who turned on the wind effect in that last pic? :)

Halloween

Well, as it turned out, I didn't make it for trick-or-treat. By "I didn't make it", I mean that I couldn't stay awake until 6pm. :( Mommy tried and tried to keep me up, but could tell that I just really wanted to go to sleep. So, she put me to bed at 5pm. She was pretty bummed out that I couldn't go trick-or-treating, but knew that it was best I go to bed. I must have been a very tired girl because I slept for 14 1/2 hours! No worries, she managed to get a couple pictures of me and Bubba in our costumes!

My little friend, Raegan, came trick-or-treating at my house and Mommy snapped a picture of her so I could see what she looked like in her costume. She was a cute little love bug!