Happy New Year!

I've spent a lot of time the past 24 hours thinking about the New Year- what my goals and resolutions will be, the fact that today is the last "first" holiday for Nancy Carolyn, and what's planned for the year.  To start with, I'm about to lose my husband to training (HA!)... Chris begins his training for Iron Man Arizona next weekend.  Training for an Iron Man is like a full time job, so it will be like he has two full time jobs.  I'm excited for him in this adventure he's about to begin.  He's a captain for the Team In Training "Iron man Team."  I know he's going to do a super job.  You'll be hearing a lot from me about it... as he'll also be fundraising all year. 



Nancy Carolyn's FIRST birthday is rapidly approaching.  We've decided to do a small family celebration at our house.  I'm excited but also sad that this first year is almost over... I can't believe how fast it has FLOWN by!  2010 was just an incredible year for us!  :)

Goals and Resolutions have also been on my mind... Here are the "non"goals that I had for 2010.  I definitely succeeded in my personal goal (which was to nurse NC for her whole first year).  I completed a half marathon in November (WOOHOO!) and for the most part have continued to eat healthy. 

This year, I'd like to set similar goals. 
1.  I would like to continue to run and continue to make myself the healthiest version of me.  I want to set an example of a healthy lifestyle for my sweet girl.  
2.  I want to find a church home.  We've been "homeless" for a while and I'm ready to find a home.  We also need to find a home so we can dedicate our sweet girl to the Lord.
3.  I want to improve my relationship with the Lord, spending time with Him daily.  I believe this will help me to be the wife, mother and friend that HE desires of me.

Winter Adventures

On Monday we packed up the car and headed south to spend the week with Pop and Granma.  They are adding a sunroom and deck to their house, so Chris decided to come down to help his Pop work.  Nancy Carolyn and I are down for fun.  Everyone else goes to work and we get to stay in and play.  On Tuesday, we decided to take a little trip to Dothan.  We ran a few errands while we were there.  In fact, I took my car to get the oil changed and stuff and the only place to eat in walking distance was McDonald's- so NC got to experience her first Happy Meal.  

We've had a fun week with Granma and Pop!

I'm Dreaming...

of a White Christmas...

Can you believe we had a White Christmas, after all?  I totally thought it would just snow and melt.  But it didn't... it stuck around.  My heart seriously just filled with joy and amazement, as we drove home in the snow.  It was beautiful and so peaceful.  The perfect ending to a wonderful first Christmas for Nancy Carolyn.

Most of you know from Facebook that I was baking the whole week leading up to Christmas.  I baked a coconut pound cake, red velvet cake (yes with cream cheese icing), oatmeal raisin cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, black and white chocolate covered cherry cookies, caramel cake, butternut cake and I even made some divinity.  I had a wonderful time baking and look forward to the day when NC can really join me in the kitchen.

On Christmas Eve, we had our family over for a nice meal.  Chris made the most delicious prime rib ever!  Oh and he made mashed potatoes and asparagus.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.  Chris's parents stayed the night with us.  I was so excited about Nancy Carolyn's first Christmas (and so tired from the week) that I had trouble sleeping and was awake about an hour before NC decided to get up (almost at 8 am!)  We had my family's tradition of sausage and biscuits before opening presents.  NC didn't last long though- she made it through the Santa presents and all the ones from Pop and Granma.  While she was sleeping Chris's brother, his partner and his aunt arrived for Christmas brunch.  We had a wonderful brunch and a good time opening the rest of the presents.  After NC's second nap of the day, we headed over to Grandaddy and Nana's house for Christmas with my family.  We had a nice ham dinner, followed by the fun of opening even more presents.  It was the most wonderful day I could have asked for... I'm so very blessed to have such wonderful family! 

 

11 months

On Wednesday, Nancy Carolyn was officially 11 months.  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone and that we are quickly approaching her FIRST birthday!  EEEK!  Where has the time gone?

 So these days, NC is a lot of fun.  She loves to play and crawl around everywhere.  She's discovered the toliet paper and LOVES to unroll it.  (FUN times!)

She absolutely adores bath time and makes a mad dash for her bathroom when she hears the water running.

Nancy Carolyn is definitely "Miss Independent"- she wants to do EVERYTHING herself, which means meals have become even messier than before.  She LOVES to stand and cruise the sofa or with her dino. 




No official stats to report but I think she's between 18 and 19 pounds. 

Santa visit and Pink Pig

 Well, we did them a week and half apart but... the Sunday after Thanksgiving we took NC (and Chris) to ride the Pink Pig at Lenox.  NC wasn't quite sure about it but I think in the end she had fun.  Chris had never ridden either so he rode with NC (I did too, just because).  We met up with Rebecca and her boys (all 3 of them) :) afterwards to exchange some goodies.  We were planning on being there together but it just didn't work out that way.

This past Thursday we took NC to see Santa.  My dad and Sue were keeping Ellis, so they came along too.  We got a picture of each girl with Santa and then one of them together.  NC went first and she didn't know what to think.  She kept looking at him then back to me and Chris with this look like "What is going on and who is this man holding me and why are you standing over there?"  As you can see from the picture, she does NOT look happy but the tears didn't start until Santa had both girls.  She did much better than I thought she would.

Merry Christmas!

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Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  We spent the day with Chris's family.  Our big meal was at dinnertime.  Chris fried a turkey and it was fantastic!  I am NOT a turkey lover... in fact, most Thanksgivings I eat only the veggies and sides... However, this turkey... THIS Turkey was incredible. I gave Nancy Carolyn a taste of everything.  She's such a good eater :)