Three Months

January 8 was the three month anniversary of our family day! On one hand, it feels like just yesterday Chris and I were waiting in that administration room with all the families in our travel group and on the other hand, it seems like a lifetime ago.  All three of our lives have changed by leaps and bounds, but in every way we are becoming a family.

* Photos compliments of Wendy Nielsen Photography. Actually taken in November but since they were gifts and Christmas cards, I didn't post them until now.

Happy Birthday, Mama!

January brought my first birthday as a mom, which was pretty cool, and I was excited to share a birthday with my girl, sweet husband and best pup pal. To top it off, friends came over for pizza and helped us show Maddy the birthday ritual of cake, candles and even singing! 29 is starting off as a good year (again). 
* note: the yummy cake was homemade by Chris. Not only did he bake for me, he told me I didn't look a day over 25. The man knows how to make me happy, what can I say.

*Verifying for myself that she's actually smiling for the camera

Holidays by iPhone

Christmas Eve morning. 

Modeling her Christmas outfit in the dog bed. Obviously. 

Christmas lights outside of church. 

Trying to get out of Mom's arms to run to Baby Jesus again. 

Antonetti lasagne for Christmas Eve dinner. YUM!

4 little stockings. 

Hmmm... which one is correct?

Relaxing in her princess chair with her feet up on present, eating a pastry.
Ah! This is the life!  

Riding our new horse, Leroy. 

Don't mess with me. 

Anything cuter than a tiny girl in a tiny robe? Nope.

Holidays are good stuff! Happy New Year!

Joy to the World!

We certainly had a joyous Christmas. While we missed our families, we reveled in spending Maddy's 1st Christmas together as our little family.  One day she will not want to just hang out with her mom and dad but instead meet up with her cousins, friends, etc. So we soaked it up. This meant the three of us danced to Christmas carols, watched Christmas movies, made a delicious dinner and were full of joy to celebrate this Holy Day together.

Maddy didn't understand Santa this year (although she can say 'hohoho' really well!). She did, however, like Baby Jesus. And in the end, isn't this what it's all about? She also didn't really want to tear open gifts but play with the first ones she received. We realized that we can't tell her to push those toys aside just to keep opening as that's a little too commercial and not the spirit of Christmas. So, thanks to our wonderful families, we still have gifts to open. That's right- we're going to have some New Years Presents!

Playin' some tunes and ridin' my bike. Awesome.

What do you have there, Dad?

New wheels!

Baby bed that was Mommy's

Santa had time to make a play area in the basement! 

Stuck while trying to demonstrate the tunnel system. Apparently, these aren't made for adults. 

Facetime with our Christmas Buddies!

Christmas dinner! Yum!

Christmas Eve

We had a very special Christmas with our little family. It's hard to capture in words or pictures how blessed Chris and I feel this year. I think the best moment may have been on the 23rd when we were all three in the basement, preparing for Santa to make a play space for Maddy with some music on. She and I were dancing and she waved her Dad over. She then smushed all three of our cheeks together and held onto both of us as well danced and Daddy wrapped his arms around us. Yes, a family truly is the best gift.

Here are some pictures of Christmas Eve. We took over 200 pictures between the 24th and 25th so I tried to choose some good ones but spare our blog readers from the crazy-picture taking parents.