A little of our Christmas morning

I realize it's almost Feb. I'm attempting to catch up on some WAY overdue blog posts. Here are some posts from our first Christmas here in our Charlotte home. Last year was our first Christmas with Drake, but we were in Florence. This year, it was our first year as a family in Charlotte. And this house, well, it's home. It's where my heart is. Unfortunately Drake was diagnosed with bilateral ear infections on the 24th, so it wasn't quite what we expected. Less playing, more snuggling my sick sweet boy. It was so much fun having Eli's first Christmas! He is so easy going and happy, as long as he has his Mommy around. Enjoy the photos!

Dinosaur village.

Santa brought the boys shirts for Disney. These are Eli's!
The tree in our living room. I forgot to take one of the tree in the playroom.
Eli's Santa stash
I just love these place mats.
Dining room...



The first thing he went to when he woke up was the power wheel. Those are some sweet sleepy eyes!
Drake had to step over dinosaurs AND Eli.
Those are some kissable cheeks!
Maybe I hugged him so tight it scared him?
Eli decided to show off his standing skills My baby isn't so much of a baby any more. (Wipes tear)
His stocking had lots of fun toys for our upcoming Disney trip. He loved the light up spinning toys!

Taking the power wheel for a spin down the hall.

We loaded the boys up for their first ride in the new wagon. We did a lap through the living room and den.
Wagon! Yippee Yay! Fun times await us in the summer!
Guess who is going to Disney?
Guess who got a power wheel?
Our neighbors came over Christmas morning to see the boys, see what Santa brought them, and to exchange gifts. Our boys LOVE our neighbors. I cannot tell you how rotten they spoil my boys. It makes my heart smile. Drake dragged this foot stool to the door, and tried to open it for them. He was so excited!
He realized that him and Marley both had dogs on their feet:-)
Drake wanted his presents opened out of the package as soon as he opened each one. This is Eric taking a new dump truck out of the box.

Our den at the end of the day of destruction

Drake's first Haircut!

A few weeks ago, I finally had to suck it up. It was time to trim Drake's hair. And notice I say trim, not cut. Someone still called him a girl last week, at a local bouncy house. Some people are just clueless. A bowl cut does not automatically mean girl! I mean, I know my big boy is gorgeous- but seriously!!!

Here he is pre-trim:

Time to trim up those beautiful blond curls :-(
He didn't like the drape at first. He kept hiding under it. He eventually came out and made friends with his stylist! She was GREAT with him! I couldn't believe how cooperative he was for her. It was obvious that working at a kids salon is the perfect job for her.
Before they were friends:
The first cut:

He was starting to smile at her:
NOW he's into it: I think he spotted the cookies and candy she had on her counter.
She put his hair in a bag, and had him give it to me. Seriously, I almost cried. My big boy is so.......BIG!
Oh yeah baby- lollipops!

A little shout out to the salon; Cotswold location.
All done!

Christmas Fun 2010

As if the pictures didn't say it for themselves, this is from a trip to Santa, a trip to get our tree, and the making of a gingerbread house.

You can see that Eli was not happy about not getting candy from the gingerbread house, haha.

There will be more Christmas pictures, and hopefully not in another month.

Christmas card pictures

Here are the rest of the pictures from our Christmas card session last fall. I'm missing one of Eli, but just can't seem to find it on the computer tonight. Our friend Leah did these, from Leah Gibbons photography.

Thanksgiving 2010

We went to Florence for Thanksgiving this (past) year. Here are a few photos. The boys adorable outfits were made by Grandma.

Where we left off...

...Our birthdays? Eric and I had a nice night away in Asheville to celebrate our birthdays. As fate would have it, I was awake at 5:30 trying to figure out why no one was crying to nurse, and if I was late for work. But then we had an amazing day and lunch at the Grove Park spa. Heaven!

I can't really think of anything in November except Thanksgiving. I know we were super busy, but right this second I just can't remember with what.

I've been so busy planning Disney (March), Drake's birthday (Jan), and Christmas (you know when that is). So busy that I haven't made time for blogging. It's just so much darn easier post photos and updates on facebook, that I'm a big slacker here!