All I wanted for Christmas...

Dan made sure I received everything I even slightly mentioned I might possibly want for Christmas! I am so spoiled.  If I stop blogging for a few months it's only because I am obsessively playing with my new Splinter Cell Double Agent spy game on my new Wii!  My feet will stay nice and warm in my new slippers while I take great action photos using my new tripod.Dan got new dress shoes (hardly a gift because they were a necessity) and a backpack carrier to tote around Lydia.  He also got a new coffee maker from my parents and Ladro coffee beans (the only kind he drinks) from Cole!  Now he can enjoy piping hot Ladro coffee every morning (and leave a little in the thermal carafe for me)!  He also ordered new irons from his parents and grandparents.  

Lydia got a pony (well, a play pony at least).  She needs a little coaxing to play on it right now, but I think she'll warm up to it.  

My nephews, Matt and Josh, got a teepee!  Lydia also gave Josh a headdress and drum (drum was a huge hit...hahah...get it, hit?).  

It was a long and fun Christmas "morning" (technically it went into the afternoon).  I'm so thankful that Amy and Jeremy and Christina and Brett came to Texas to celebrate with us.  If you want a horrible travel story, check out Christina's trip home here.

And if that weren't enough, Amy and I are going to the spa today to enjoy another Christmas gift from our hubbies.  Ahhhh!

Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas...

Cole was all smiles!

The cousins replayed the Nativity Story for us! Speaking lines and songs! Josh (with a long white beard!) was Joseph, Emily was Mary, Matt was an angel, Lizzie was a lamb, and Cole was baby Jesus (Lydia was napping).

Mom gave all the girls and grandkids coordinating pjs! Lydia and I are pictured here with Christina and her boys!

Nana and Stephanie join in the pajama picture fun.

Gumbo Night

Lauren and Brian hosted the family for dinner tonight!  This officially kicks off Christmas celebrations (although we missed Dad DeSutter and Dan...both working).  

Stephanie got to meet Cole for the first time!

Nana with Lydia and Cole

Amy, Jeremy, and Cole

Christina and Brett

Emily

Matt (smiling so nicely) and Lydia playing

Josh dressing up in Emily's princess clothes!

...and so much more to come in the next few days!  I hope my camera battery lasts!

Puppet Show

Last Saturday we took Lydia to the Kids Crazy Christmas Show at church.  She loved it for about 15 minutes, then daddy's shoe was more entertaining.  I was impressed with the stage, props, and cute songs.  It will be fun to bring her back as she gets older and can pay attention longer!

I've been tagged

8 shows I watch:  The Office, 24, Project Runway, Desperate Housewives, Law and Order, King of Queens, CSI, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

8 favorite restaurants:  Collinas, Chic-Fil-A, Taiko, Guadalajara, Perry's, nameless place in Florence (thanks for remembering, Jac!), Hungry's, Vic and Anthony's.

8 things that happened today:  Lydia took a long morning nap, I avoided a traffic accident on 610 using side streets, I saw family (Christina, Brett, Josh, Matt, Jeremy, Amy, Cole, Brian, Lauren, Emily, Lizzie, Stephanie, Jon, and mom) in the Woodlands, I made Cole laugh for several minutes, I made paper angels, I had gumbo at Brian and Lauren's,  I finished reading "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," I drove from the Woodlands to my house in 41 minutes

8 things I look forward to:  having all my family together for Christmas, helping the nieces and nephews perform the Christmas Nativity, opening my Christmas gifts, getting new carpet, seeing Dan this evening, warmer temps tomorrow (it's 34 degrees today, burr!), more children, vacation

8 things I wish for: spring, God's blessings for my marriage and children (that's a big one!), a few good friends, more time in the evenings with Dan, to take Bible classes, to write a book, to always be close (relationally) to my sisters, and to be close (physically) to my sisters!

Prayer for Lizzie

Lydia and Lizzie playing under the coffee table.

Today at 1:30, the court will decide if Lizzie can continue to stay with Brian and Lauren, and if they can continue to pursue adoption.  Lizzie has been with Brian and Lauren for almost a year now, since she was 8 months old, and is part of our family.  Her birth mother has not tried to get her back, but the father of her two half brothers desires to keep the children together.  While this is a difficult decision, we deeply desire for Lizzie to be raised in a loving, stable, Christian family...the only family she knows at her young age.  Please pray for wisdom for those involved in the decision making and for peace and understanding for Brian and Lauren during this stressful and emotional time.   

A First...

I just brought Lydia outside to see her first...snow!  Can you believe it?  Snowing in Houston...and yesterday it was 78 degrees.

Here's Lydia crawling after Cooper.

Play Group Christmas Party

Jake and Georgia Borbidge hosted our play group's Christmas Party last Saturday.  Georgia made a delicious lunch of lasanga, salad, bread, cheesecake, and fudge!  The kiddos played on the floor and had a gift exchange.  We included the dads in this fun event, and I think they enjoyed seeing the kids play together.  Lydia's favorite part was crawling after the Borbidge's little dog, Cooper.  Her second favorite part was eating a piece of lasagna!  Here are some pictures from our party.

Our host and hostess, Jake and Georgia Borbidge

Grayson Borbidge (he's so photogenic)

Grayson, Lydia, and Katie

Michelle Rigo and baby Asa

Amy & Katie, Me & Lydia, Georgia & Grayson, Sarah & Crawford

Ellie Easter opening her gift

Ellie and Lydia tag team a gift

The babies

my little family

New Blog Header

Did you notice my Christmas-themed blog header?  I want you to know I made it all by myself.  I was crafty and creative!

Sic 'em Bears

Do you think Lydia is trying to tell me something?

Giving Thanks

We spent Thanksgiving with Dan's parents in Conroe. We played lots of ping-pong, Dan water skied (twice), Lydia played with her cousin Grant and her uncles, Ben and Adam, and I shopped on Friday morning!

Swinging

I took Lydia to play in the swing for the first time on Sunday. She really enjoyed swinging, but she actually liked watching the other kids at the park more. I think she wishes she were big enough for the slides and jungle gym. Soon enough!

Play Group

I've been taking Lydia to the same play group for about 5 months. The babies are starting to interact with each other now, and play group seems a lot more tiring! We have so much fun together laughing at our kids and talking through mommy stuff. Play group is often the highlight of my week! Here are the kiddos posing for a group picture (some are wearing their Halloween costumes).These pictures are of Lydia and Ellie Easter. They are best friends at play group. In the first picture they are "talking" through the play gate, and in the second picture Ellie continues to play while Lydia tries to lay on top of her.
On Saturday evening, Nadia and Bruce Chalton came over for dinner with their 6 month old twins. I really do not envy people with multiples, but we did manage to eat and play without too much chaos! Here we are playing with our babies!

Thanks to Melissa

On Monday evening my friend, Melissa Hollon, came over to say hi to me and Lydia. Well, her beautiful face was all the inspiration Lydia needed to muscle up and crawl! Amazingly, I had my camera close by and caught it on video!

Standing

Lydia has not been napping well lately. I could hear her playing in her bed on Sunday when she should have been sleeping. When I checked on her, this is what I found.Standing up! She is so proud of her new trick!

I took this picture today to try to show how she does not stand flat on her feet but rather on the front and sort of on the sides of her feet.She also enjoys playing with the "baby" on the other side of the window (her reflection, of course).

We do!

On Sunday, Dan and I publicly dedicated Lydia to the Lord in our church's Baby Dedication Service. We made a commitment to raise her according to God's love and laws, and we promised to pray for her to one day choose Jesus as her personal savior. We are truly amazed to be entrusted with such an important role in Lydia's life but find encouragement and strength from knowing she belongs only to the Lord. His will for her can overcome any of our poor (or good) parenting!

Here are all our friends from our Sunday School class who also dedicated their children this week! What a group!