NYE (all hopped up on sugar)

Singing a little snip-it from her newest obsession, Doc McStuffins. 

New Year's Eve

With mama being pregnant and our time as a family of three shortening, we decided the perfect way to ring in the new year was with dinner as a family. To Greene House we went for a lovely early dinner followed by some walking around Kierland looking at the lights. 

What a year it's been - lots of highs and a few lows - but we are ready to welcome 2017 and all the joy and love it has to offer! 

After putting Ellie to bed, Brad and I went through our 2016 jar. I saw this idea a long time ago and was proud of us for actually sticking to it this year! Throughout the year, we wrote down memories/things that happened/exciting moments/etc and popped them in a jar to be opened on Dec. 31. So fun reliving so many moments from the last 365 days!

Christmas visit from Papa & Gigi

Papa and Gigi came to visit for a few days after Christmas. So much fun until they both came down with HORRIBLE colds. We felt terrible for them being so sick away form home, and I felt equally terrible that I had to basically keep Ellie as far as possible because the following week she and I were getting on a plane to DC and I just couldn't risk her getting sick. They were so down and out that we hardly took any pics, but I did snap a few their first day in town at the park.

Test drivin'

Yikes! Feels like I'm driving a BUS! We're on the road to minivan-land!

Christmas Dinner with the Beverages

So nice to have friends in town and even nicer to have friends who invited us over and cooked for us! A lovely end to Christmas Day with Matt, Colleen and Olivia.

20 weeks on Christmas Day!

Christmas morning videos

Christmas Morning 2016

Let's just say Christmas morning did not disappoint. Ellie was SO excited and curious when she woke up - and her reactions were priceless. It was so special to us to be able to celebrate this year in our own home with our little family of three. Since this is our last Christmas with just the three of us, this meant a lot. All of my Christmas morning memories are of the nuclear family in our own house and it's really important to me that this continues with my kids. From stockings to Santa gifts to all the fun things from mom and dad, it was truly a special year. 

We got to keep the fun going by opening via FaceTime with grandparents and Uncle Ev and Joshy. It was a long couple of days but truly special ones that we won't soon forget. 

Baking cookies for Santa

We spent Christmas Eve afternoon baking mommy's favorite cookies to leave out for Santa. Ellie sort of seemed to grasp what we were doing - the whole Santa thing has been funny this year. She likes him in theory, but really doesn't want anything to do with him. And when we talk about him she doesn't really like it until we remind her that he might be bringing her a gift. I think we'll have a true fan for sure next year.

Of course we sampled one for dessert after our nice Christmas Eve dinner, and she even "wrote" her own note to Santa to leave out before she went to bed...I wrote it down word for word. Amazing.

December in the desert

Train Park videos

3rd annual trip to Railroad Park

We made our third annual pilgrimage to Railroad Park to enjoy the Christmas lights. How fun that we were able to do this so close to Christmas this year! Little girl is so in the spirit and we had an absolute blast on the carousel (twice!) and train. We even got "snowed" on! Watching her this season has been nothing short of incredible and I simply cannot wait for Christmas morning with our girl.

Parenting level unlocked...

...Ellie's gift from Santa is assembled! We broke it up over two nights for less stress and the best news is we still like each other! 

"Princess Pigs"

I decided to give braids a try and to get Ellie to agree, we've decided they will now be called Princess Pigs which she loved. OMG - I DIE! How insanely adorable does this big girl look?!?! We celebrated a full day of mommy's appointment and errands with some fro-yo, her fave as evidenced by the hugging of the fro-yo logo in the window hahahaha!