Thursday, January 6, 2011

Goodbye 2010... Hello 2011

I just realized I haven't written since Thanksgiving. THANKSGIVING?!?! It's Jan. 6th. This is unacceptable. So, in this blog, I will try to recap the entire month of December. WARNING: Tons of pictures.

You've read about them in my blog before, but the Harrison's are our very dear friends that live across the street. When Andy was working out of town, Avery & I got in the habit of visiting them... every night. Now that he's home, we've continued with our nightly visits. They love our girl like she is their own and are they closest non-family family that we have.


Howard, Kim, & Avery

Kim's birthday dinner was at the country club, with a surprise appearance by her parents, her niece Ali & her significant other, her aunt, two dear friends, and the Caudill's. It was so nice. Great food, great fellowship, and a few good pictures.
So: Happy Birthday, Kim! We love you!


The Caudill's
2010

Ali & (her) Andy


me & my girl
(she was getting a little sleepy after all the festivities)


December 16th we had another ultra sound for our "little" and everything looks great! We also discovered our "little" is a "SHE little"! I was kinda surprised hearing this. I just assumed boy, because I'm carrying 110% different than I did with Avery. Don't get me wrong, we are very happy! I love the idea of sisters that close in age. My sister is several years older than me, and we never really had a close relationship growing up, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out. :)



She looks a lot like her big sister did at this age. ;)




We always do Christmas eve at my mother's, and this year was no different.


Love her red shoes.


 We had our traditional Christmas dinner with all the normal Harding fixings (my mother's side of the family). Ham (with bread to make sandwiches), hash brown casserole, deviled eggs (yum), baked pineapple, and this dip that my Grandma used to make (that only people with Harding in them seem to like) with Frito's. I was so full I had trouble breathing.

Then it was time to open presents. :)  

Uncle Blake had to help her out quite a bit (much to his delight).


sweet. (rotten) sweet.


Singing in her new chair from her mymoe (which is now what she calls my mother).


I was still having trouble breathing, but it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and blow out the candles on the cake.



Mymoe helping Avery blow out the candles.

Christmas morning was quiet in our house (which I'm sure will be the last quiet Christmas morning in a LONG time). I had to wake the girl up around 9:00 o'clock and it didn't take her long to get the hang of things.

Her first stocking! :)

It took us a little bit to actually make it down stairs to see what Santa brought.

My favorite and most memorable Christmas memory is going through my stocking with my mother. Santa brought our stockings into our rooms while we were sleeping. Once we woke up, my sister and I would yell at our parents to come look. We'd sit on our beds and show them each and every single thing he brought us. Then, we'd race down the stairs, where my grandparents were waiting for us by the Christmas tree. My sister was usually the "gift passer-outer", and we would take turns opening so that the givers could enjoy the look of surprise/excitement on our faces as we first laid eyes on our new favorite things. 
I'm hoping these can/will become Caudill traditions. This year, it looked like this:

She really didn't know what to do with herself.


Brought everything she could carry over to show me. :)


 I've never been able to spend a nice, quiet New Year's Eve with my husband, and probably never will. Guess that's what I get for marrying a musician. Therefore, I don't have any fun, cute pictures of us surrounded by friends, puckering up for our kiss to bring us into 2011. But, that's OK. I think I'll still keep him. ;)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of you!
(I know... I know... I'm a little late, but just go with it!)