Christmas fun!

And Christmas season 2014 has begun! My most favorite time of the year! I just love soaking up all the family time, love, and magic associated with this season! 

Our first Christmas activity was putting up our Christmas tree and decorating the house with lights. This actually happened before thanksgiving--we just couldn't wait!  Augusta thinks it needs to be on at all times. If I don't immediately do it when we wake up, she instructs me to do so! 

Then we had to go and visit Santa Claus. I thought Augusta would love him this year...not so much. We've visited him twice. And since then had atleast three other opportunities, abs every time Augusta declares she doesn't want to see Santa. But at least we ended up with a sweet family Santa picture to document the year. 

Out elf on the shelf, Tinsel, is also back with ya this year. Augusta loves finding him each day. Her face as she points him out to you is priceless! 

Next came the town Christmas parade. Augusta had a blast watching with her cousins. And it was so nice that the weather wasn't super cold. Calla enjoyed the parade too and hardly made a peep during the whole thing! 

The next weekend was my mom's family reunion. It's always great to get together with our extended family; all that remain of my great-grandparents 9 children and their extended families. Augusta loved visiting and playing with distant cousins. She also loved the game of dirty Santa. She had a blast picking out gifts for anyone who would let her! And everyone enjoyed sweet Calla. She was passed all around and loved on by everyone! :) Post reunion we had a family shopping trip to tupelo which was a blast--call me a crazy but I love shopping during the Christmas season. Just being out in that hustle and bustle is so fun to me! 

Then this weekend we visited Starry Nights at Shelby Farms in Memphis. It was our second year to go and we loved it even more this time. Both girls were amazed. Calla soaked it in and goo keit talking about every display with complete awe. They also had a snow machine set up that she was obsessed with! She kept spinning in the snow saying, "This is amazing!"

Yesterday my parents got their tree and as our tradition goes, we helped them to decorate it. This year it actually wasn't just me decorating the whole thing!! My mom and sister were much more hands on. And Augusta was right in the middle if it all. Climbing the step ladder and hanging all get ornaments practically in the same spot! ;) 

Calla has been great with the tree--only twice has she tried to pull an ornament off, and our tree has been up nearly a month. She loves seeing the lights of the tree too. She smiles so big when you plug it up. 

Another fun thing this Christmas has been how into decorating and wrapping presents Augusta has been. She wants to help you wrap and place gifts under the tree. She likes picking a gift tag and writing the name on it. She also loves putting up ornaments and moving then around on the tree. She very into lights and inflatables. She's also gotten to Christmas carols and it loving Jingle Bells. Seeing the joy and amazement in my girls' eyes makes the spirit if the season more alive in me. 

Thanksgiving 2014

Another holiday under our belt as a family of four! Yay! Calla's first Thanksgiving was wonderful! First off it was great to be on break and have so much family time! 

We started the break with Augusta's third birthday party (see previous post). Tuesday, Augusta and Chase had a daddy-daughter day--they shopped all morning and she even accompanied him to his haircut that afternoon! At home, they also put up the outside Christmas lights! Really glad they got some good time just the two of them. And of course Mommy and Calla got to enjoy each other too. 

Then Wednesday we went to Tupelo to do some Christmas shopping. (Almost done--yay!) We went to Walmart and Toys R Us and got the girls a few things, and then we headed to the mall. At the mall Augusta was pumped to see Sabta. She hugged him and talked to him. When it came time to add Calla to the mix, baby boo completely freaked out--obviously she's not a Santa fan. Since baby sis was crying and being held by mommy, Augusta started whining too. So meeting Santa was an epic fail! We ended our mall trip with cookies and a ride on the carousel. Then we had Dickey's BBQ for lunch. It was our first time to try it and it was amazing! Def will be back! 

The next day was Thanksgiving! We left early for Memphis and headed to Bass Pro Shop. We had to do some Christmas shopping and had been planning to meet Santa. (We were hoping this trip went better than the day before!) And success, we ended up with a family pic, but at least there were no tears! (In the picture, anyway) 

We had a delicious lunch with Chase's mom's side of the family. There was a huge variety (even Augusta ate something! Lol!) and it was all delicious! Augusta had a blast playing with her cousin, Emma Claire. That's one little girl that can put up with her roughness! :) it was so nice to see everyone and it's always nice to have a really warm, loving, family-filled place to go at the holidays. 

For dinner we headed to my parents house--we actually made it home in time to help with some of the cooking. Just like at lunch, the food was fabulous. But there was nothing Augusta would eat. So after socializing with everyone and loading up on food, we headed home to make her own thanksgiving dinner! 

Friday we slept in (while the guys went hunting) and then had a girls day. We relaxed around the house and then went out to do some Christmas shopping! Town was crazy, but I always love shopping in the crazy, holiday bustle! I'm crazy, I know! 

Saturday was a lazy day where we hung around and watched the game with family--minus Chase who had to work. But Sunday was Augusta's third birthday! She had a great time celebrating with family and going to church! So thanksgiving holidays were a blast--now to breeze through these three weeks of work and on to the Christmas holidays!! :)

  

Where has my baby gone?

Instead if a baby, I now have a smart, strong willed, compassionate, snuggly, gorgeous three year old! Time has gone by way too quickly. Cannot believe that three years ago we were in the hospital, taking in the realization that we were parents and it was up to us to care for this little miracle! I think we've done alright so far! 

This year has been a big year for Miss Augusta. She became a big sister--watching her interact with Calla, with such love, passion, and protectiveness has been nothing short of amazing. You're also now completely potty trained--even through the night! Way to go big girl! (Hope you're not too embarrassed now!) 

You went from speaking in shorter sentences and being not completely intelligible, to being able to carry on conversations with totally strangers and have them understand you. You're vocabulary is huge! You never cease to amaze me with the words and expressions you use (even if they aren't always used correctly!) I sometimes wonder where you learned the things you say--I guess it's true that you're just a little sponge and you're soaking up everything! 

Here are done of your favorites as you turn three...

Food: chicken nuggets and Mac & cheese

Drink:cranapple juice & chocolate milk

Candy: M&Ms

Books:Search & Find Series, Where's Spot, The Very Hungry Catepillar, and Peek-a-Baby

TV show: Team Umizoomi, Sofia the First, Lalaloopsy, & Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Toys: Lalaloopsy dolls

Animals: Gorillas and Fish

Colors: Pink and Purple

Friends: Maddie, Turner, & Emma Claire

Restaurant: Chick-Fil-A

Desert food:Chocolate Chip Cookies & Chocolate Milkshakes 

Movies: Frozen & Despicable Me (1&2)

Song: "Let it Go" & "Floatin' Bubble Song"

Things you dislike--your family being separated. It causes you slight anxiety when we (Me, Dada, you, and Calla) are not all together. Your parents going to work--trust us, it's not our favorite either! Almost all foods--you are so picky and have an extremely hypersensitive gag reflex. You'll just look at food and gag--like last week you gagged at the sight of your Dad's biscuit! Sharing--you still haven't completely mastered this, but Calla is helping you learn. Not getting your way--think it just comes with the toddler territory, but you do not like to be told no. Waiting your turn--again, part of being a toddler but you're not very patient--you really don't like waiting in line or being told not to interrupt. 

You really love: your family! And we absolutely thank God for this everyday. We hope you always love us this way; in a way that there's no one else you'd rather be with. It's so fierce and so amazing--the same way we love you girls. Spinning--this is your dancing. And it's pretty much your favorite thing to do. You will literally spin for five minutes or more without stopping--don't know where you got that balance from but it's incredible. Snuggling--you are a cuddle monster and love to cuddle up and watch TV and most nights need a snugglebuddy to fall asleep. Being with friends--you are starting to be a little social thing. You love playing with your friends and going to your classes (church and tumble) to see them. You especially love the times you get to play with your cousin! 

On your actual birthday, you had an awesome day--you had sprinkle pancakes for breakfast. You helped by pouring on your own sprinkles. Aunt Lys and Uncle Brad were also down to help celebrate. Then you headed to church and got to see your friends in children's Bible time. Next Mims made you a big lunch and even had cupcakes and ice cream with sprinkles for dessert. We had a great afternoon nap and ended the night watching Frozen! 

At her 3 year check up, she was 39 1/2 inches tall and weighed in at 34 pounds. She is in the 94th percentile for height--she definitely didn't get that from her mommy! Her weight was around the 76th percentile, which is awesome! Her bp was great, she was so still whole the cuff squeezed her arm. And she did awesome with her finger prick--only whining, no tears. We ended the appointment with our perfect bill of health and a purple sucker! 

Augusta Kate--you have grown into an amazing little three year old. I am blown away by your independence. I love all your confidence, and your strong willed nature (even though it tests me at times). You make your daddy and I want to be better people, and to do better for you girls. You two are our inspiration. God blessed us so greatly by choosing us to parent you. We cannot wait to see what great things your future holds--though hoping like it won't feel like it's coming too quickly. We love you, our first born baby girl! 

Just a few shots from this past year--I could so keep posting pics, but I don't need to make this the longest post ever! We love you, Goo!