DPP#25: Merry Christmas!!

I wish I could bottle the excitement of Christmas morning and stir a teaspoon in my coffee every day for the rest of the year! Merry Christmas everyone!

DPP#24: Christmas Eve

3 generation shot - Sailor can't be bothered with it... oh well! 

Merry Christmas!

DPP#23: Jesse Tree

Our Jesse Tree is almost full! This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions that we have started with our family. It was introduced to me  by a friend in Nashville when Keaton was a baby. In fact, I started a whole set of adorable felt Jesse Tree ornaments, which I never finished. When Keaton was 2, I finally downloaded these printables online. We colored them together and laminated them to create ornaments. Each day in December leading to Christmas has an ornament. Each ornament represents a story or passage from the Bible that points to or reminds us of the birth of Jesus. Most of the stories are also found in our favorite Jesus Storybook Bible, which is awesome because it does a really great job of explaining the correlation of Old Testament stories to the promise of Christ. The boys love finding the ornament of  the day and hanging it on our "tree" after we read our story every morning. I love that it is such a simple way of reminding the boys of the reason we celebrate Christmas!

DPP#22: Brumbra Time

Enjoying some snuggle time with Brumbra! We have sure enjoyed having her here. As much as I love to snuggle Sailor 24/7, it's sure helpful having an extra set of hands around to help with baby girl.

DPP#21: Navy Chapel

This afternoon, we took my parents down to see the Navy Yard, and Scott got to show us his new office! I love these big red doors at the Navy Chapel, even more with the wreath! 

And since I didn't get to blog yesterday here's one bonus pick of SJ. She is so alert and smiley these days. Love her!

DPP#19: On the nice list

These baby girl clothes are so ridiculously cute. I want to change her outfit every few hours just because I can. It's kinda like having a Barbie doll... that cries and poops alot.

DPP#18: The magic touch

Mark absolutely adores his baby "Say-wah". Lately, Sailor really responds to him also. This afternoon, she was in  the middle of a crying fit, so Mark asked if he could hold her. Amazingly, as soon as he took her, she calmed right down!

DPP#16: Tiger Cub

My handsome tiger cub all ready and excited for the Den 5 Christmas party!

DPP#16: Christmas Cookies

 Today we decorated (and ate) Christmas cookies. This was originally planned to be a party with 6 friends in attendance. Sadly, the stomach bug and nasty colds kept all but one friend away.

I know you're probably thinking my boys eat way to much sugar and you would be so right...

DPP#15: Gingerbread Houses

Another fun after school project!

DPP#14: I have three kids!

Sometimes I just recite that to myself over and over, because it seems so hard to believe!

DPP#13: Date Night

Scott and I had fun exploring Old Town Alexandria on our date. Sadly, this is the best picture we got!

DPP#12: Lunchables

Brumbra kept Sailor so that Mark and I could join Keaton for lunch in the cafeteria with his class and eat LUNCHABLES (a rare treat)!

DPP#11: Baking

The first of many baking projects with Brumbra!

DPP#10: CBS Christmas program

Mark was too cute for words today in his CBS Christmas "program" (they sang 2 songs). He sang out every word of the songs and did the motions with a smile on his face. Obviously his mama did not get the memo that they were performing today or she would not have sent him in his hole-in-the-knee jeans and abominable snowman sweatshirt. 

DPP#9: Brumbra is here!

Let the fun begin!

Mark: "Is Brumbra part of our family now?"

DPP#8: Cookie Monster

Mark can't get enough of his baby sister. Today, he was trying to make her smile with his Cookie Monster ornament. So thankful for these sweet moments...

To quote the great poet Jack Johnson: 

"These are the gifts we keep
And this is the morning that we breathe
And then we see
These moments are the only gifts we need."

DDP#7: Family Shot

 

Grammy needed a family pic for her newsletter, so we set up the tripod after church. 

I love Sailor's expression... it's like "Really, guys?"

DPP#6: Bottle

My little peanut Sailor is a champion eater. She downed this 4oz bottle for Dad this evening and wanted more! I guess that would explain the more than 2lb weight gain in her first month! So thankful she is thriving. She's such a joy to us!

DDP#5: Trimming the Tree

DPP#4: Elf on the Shelf

This boy is so excited about all things Christmas! Every morning, he gets such a kick out of finding where the Elf on the Shelf is hiding. He giggles and points like it's this huge inside joke that only our family knows about.Ha! I love this boy. So far, his big brother (who cornered me into telling him the truth about Santa earlier this year) has been a great sport and played right along with the fun! 

One Month Old

DPP#3: First and Third

Keaton and Sailor enjoying each other's company while I made dinner tonight.

DDP #2: Lunch buddies

Dominic's mom had an appointment today, so he came home with us after school for lunch and a quick play date. He and Mark were being silly for the camera and putting apples on their heads. It felt kinda good to have a friend over and be able to help out another mom for a change. I've been on the receiving end of help for so many weeks!

DPP #1: Moby

Excited to do the December Photo Project again this year!

Just like her big brother Mark, Sailor LOVES her Moby wrap and would spend most of the day there if I let her. She napped there for 3 hours today. I was starting to feel like she was back in the womb!

This picture could be subtitled: "Why exactly did I give birth?

More of Sailor's first days

Scott, Sailor and I spent a total of 5 days and 4 nights in the hospital which is by far the longest hospital stay I've ever had! Even though those days included some very painful moments (c-sections are not for wimps!) and sleepless nights (5lb 13oz babies nurse a LOT), we emerged from our stay with mostly fond memories of a quiet, restful retreat with room service and sweet Sailor snuggles.

She looks so much like Keaton as a baby!

Her perfect hair!

It's hard to believe that walking and even standing was such a challenge in those first few days. This was my first time walking after the c-section. We took a little stroll with Sailor around the 3rd floor.

On the morning I was supposed to be released, I spiked a fever, so the Dr. decided to keep me another night just in case. So, Papa and Grammie brought the boys up for another visit. Unfortunately, Mark was starting to get a cold, so he had to wear a hospital mask. He loves his sister so much!

Sailor got a visit from Pastor Don and his wife Nancy

Finally time to go home!

Sailor was quite popular in the hospital lobby. I guess anything that tiny covered in pink is bound to attract some attention!

On Friday night, we had a very special guest for dinner! My dad was in DC for a conference that weekend, so he took a cab to our house and got to meet Sailor on her first day home!

Papa and his 4th granddaughter!

Sailor Meets her Family!

The next day, Grammie and Papa brought the boys up to meet Baby Sailor. Aunt Jenny and cousins decided to stick around one more day so that they could meet her too.

I  believe that Mark was the most excited to meet and hold her!

Keaton was a little skeptical at first. My little worrier was super creeped out by mom in the hospital bed (IV in arm did not help!) especially because someone slipped and said I had to get stitches. He was also very emotional because his cousins were going back to Charlotte right after this hospital visit.

Keaton eventually warmed up to Sailor but still kept a safe distance!

Most awesome big brothers!

Our first family pic!

Grammie's first time holding Sailor!

Poor Papa had a sniffle, so he played it safe with a mask!

Aunt Jenny and Caroline!

Sailor and her big cousin!

This very exhausted Mama was so thankful to get some snuggle time with her boy!

"Can I hold her again, Grammie?"