Christmas in Captions

 Christmas with a little one is so much fun!  We are so excited to start our own family traditions with Carson, but this Christmas we decided to spend one last Christmas in Richmond at our parents' houses.  Carson saw more friends and family than I think we did!  So much love!  Our Christmas was filled with family and friend time, lots of food and more food, and a gratefulness for all that we have.

Christmas Eve, Jeff's parents have a Christmas party for friends and family.  We loved that Jeb and Rachel, our friends who recently moved to Charlotte, could visit with us for a little while!  I so miss them being in Hampton Roads!

Carson put himself under the Christmas tree!  BEST. PRESENT. EVER!

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Carson had the biggest piles of presents out of everyone...but guess what he liked the most?  Wrapping paper:)

Me and my little elf on Christmas morning at my dad's!

One of the best things about this break was that we got to rest and relax as a family

Carson loves his Uncle Johnny!  My bro moved to a new apartment, so we got to go visit.  I love Richmond and all its character.

Happy boy in his new toys!  He loves being able to play upright!

Can't get enough of that smile!

Bethany, one of my all-time favorite people, drove down to meet Carson!

Beth was one of my housemates in college and maid of honor.  I am rooting for California to give her back to the east coast!

Uncle Johnny got Carson a Mickey suit!

So high!

Our little family by the tree!

Our Christmas card/birth announcement!

Thanksgiving Traditions

This post somehow was deleted three times! Since I don't have that much time to write and I was thoroughly annoyed that I had to keep writing the same things over, I just left it for a while.  Fourth time's a charm, right? Determined to post before Christmas!

This is the second Thanksgiving in our house and our fourth married Thanksgiving, so we are starting to form patterns for the holidays.  These patterns somewhere along the way are then deemed traditions.  Our new little family has just a few traditions that happen around Thanksgiving.  First, we watch Elf while decorating our Christmas tree!  Watching Elf is the start to the holiday season!

"Buddy the Elf!  What's your favorite color?"

Hubs has a specific way of putting the lights on the tree, so I let him to that and I am in charge of "fluffing" our fake branches.

Maverick then does his part and takes off the bottom third of the decorations

Hubs love decorating the outside too, which is wonderful because usually it's cold outside= no fun.

Our next "tradition" that was started last year was that we hosted Thanksgiving at our house for both our families.  Everyone brings a little something and we FEAST! I was a little frazzled having been sick the week leading up to Thanksgiving, trying to clean the house and prepare four guest rooms.  Guess my sleep deprivation is to blame for zesting a grapefruit into the cranberry sauce instead of an orange! We had so much fun with all of the family (missing Aunt Sharon and Megs!).  Looks like this tradition is here to stay!

This was their pregame:)

My centerpieces were inspired from a DIY off Pinterest.  Cranberries and floating candles!

That Carson!  He's such a talker!

Finally got to meet Aunt Peggy!

Happy Birthday, Pops!

This past weekend, we kidnapped Pops for his birthday and took him to Smith Mountain Lake.  He was so excited and we were too! We couldn't wait for this four day excursion.  This lake house is owned by my aunt and uncle, and they were so gracious not only to let us use it but got it ready for us on very late notice.  Dad was the only one that had my aunt's phone number and he was in Disney the week prior to our trip...if I were a better detective/planner things would've been a little less stressful. Especially since when I finally did get her number off his phone, we were staying with my dad for the next few days and there was no place to escape him to call her! Well, everything was well worth it! It was so beautiful traveling west across the state.  The trees were brilliant colors. I miss the mountains! We took the opportunity to try to take our Christmas card picture while we were there and got a few more precious pictures too! Carson was not that helpful during our photo session, but we still were able to get a few good ones:)

Pops just came back from Disney and bought Carson all sorts of stuff

We were all able to get some much needed rest, but Carson won the award for the biggest sleepyhead!

My aunt, uncle, and cousin came up to celebrate dad's birthday by taking us to the marina for dinner!  My aunt and uncle were relentless in hinting that they would like a grandbaby soon...sorry Jonathan!

Tuckered out from picture taking

Ahhh so precious! I can't get over this sight! Although, it reminds me of Mayberry...

One contender for the Christmas card

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS!! We loved celebrating YOU!  You are an amazing dad and "pops!"  Thank you for loving us all so much! You breed champions because you are just so awesome:)

8 Weeks and Growing!

My little man is 8 weeks old!  I can't believe it has been that long since I first met him!  He is definitely bigger and is now smiling and laughing a lot!  He is so much fun!  He loves laying in his crib smiling and cooing at the animals on the mobile (Thanks Beth and Brooke!) or laying on his mat (Thanks Great Aunt Sharon!) and watching the jungle animals (above picture).  This weekend we went to Richmond and spent time with the grandparents and siblings.  They sure did love playing with Carson! It is the best feeling when Carson looks at you and smiles.  I love my little boy.  Here are some pictures from this weekend with the family!

Will Carson be a Duke fan like Uncle Johnny or a UVA fan like his Dad?  Hmmm...not sure I like either option. Go Dukes!

Becky and Sarah stopped by to meet Carson!  It is so special to have such sweet friends who share in our joy!

Carson looks like he has old man britches on.  The bulkiness is from his cloth diapers (which we love btw).

Carson thought he would kick back and watch the tube after a full day of visiting with family.

Although nursing is getting easier and I can now start having bottles for him, last night on the way home Carson decided he was really starving and he had depleted my reserve bottles just an hour before.  I had to pull off and park in a hospital parking lot in Hopewell and nurse him.  Ohh motherhood and my growing boy:)

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!

This past weekend, we drove two hours to South Hill for Jeff's Grandma's surprise 80th birthday party!  She and Papa were very surprised!  Everyone was there including her brothers and sisters.  Grandma is just the sweetest and reminds me so much of my Gammy:)  Carson, our six week old, did amazingly! Because he eats about every two hours, we had to do some creative planning. (Thanks Adele!) Everyone wanted to get a piece of our little big man.  He did so well meeting all of his extended family!  Here are some pictures from the party taken by Aunt Carrie:)

Carson loves his Grandma!

Birthday girl and Papa!  Carson is one of three great grandchildren!

Four generations!

Carson getting some Aunt Carrie lovin'!