Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! We hope your day was merry and bright, and that the New Year brings you all health, happiness and abundant blessings!

Lots of Love, The Cooks

3 Christmases

Lila's 1st Christmas finally arrived!! It was all I could of hoped for and more! She was so sweet and enjoyed all 3 Christmases so much! I was a little worried about how it all would end up playing out...I took her to the doctor on Monday with a terribly congested nose and a cough. She ended up testing negative for everything, but she's been pretty pitiful all week. I was really worried it would put a damper on all the festivities for her, and while she wasn't 100%, she did seem to enjoy everything that was going on.

We started out the holidays Wednesday night at Josh's Aunt Dawn and Uncle Eddie's for his side of the family. Lila really didn't feel too well, and she and I only ended up staying for about half of it. We did enjoy seeing everyone, and she had as much fun as she could!

Family Shot ... Our Girl's First Christmas!

Opening up all her goodies Dancing to the Christmas Carols Clete got some cowboy stuff! Jackson opening his presents. Sweet Karlee taking pictures with her "camera." Josh's parents came and spent Wednesday night with us, and we got up Thursday and celebrated our Christmas! It was such a joy to watch Lila walk into the living room and see all her loot. She really didn't know what to think of it at first ... she just stared and stared. We absolutely loved our first Christmas as a family ... we were both just full of pride!

Riding in her car! Pushing her dolly in her new stroller. We came to Madison Thursday afternoon and were with my family on Christmas morning. After a pretty sleepless night for Lilabug and myself (we ended up in the recliner), Lila walked out to find that Santa had found his way to her in Madison. We all really enjoyed watching her play, dance and laugh Christmas morning.

She loved to dance to the songs this thing sings! Sitting in her adorable chair from Aunt Casey and opening presents! Helping Aunt Casey open Christmas presents.

Happy Birthday, Pop!

Dear Pop,

Happy Birthday! Daddy, Mama, and I enjoyed eating birthday dinner with you, Mimi, Granny, and Clete at Oskar's!! I hope you had the best birthday!! Thanks for being such a great pop. I'll see you Wednesday to celebrate Christmas!

I love you! Lilabug

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha!

I mentioned in Lila's 11 month old post about how we're brushing those teeth now. Finally remembered to pick up the tooth-brushing supplies at the store this past weekend. Here's our first experience brushing those sweet little teeth.

11 Months Old

I can't believe Lila is 11 months old! I'm a little sad today just knowing that this is the last of the "under 1" photos I'll be taking!! In one month we will be celebrating this little stinker's first birthday! I'll have a one-year-old!!

Some things about this month:

1. She's gotten so busy, and the only place I could place her where she wouldn't run off was in the recliner ... so here we are. She walks EVERYWHERE! She hardly ever is on her knees anymore. Her walking really took off at Thanksgiving, and she hasn't slowed down yet.

2. She is such a sweetheart. She has gotten to where she really hugs and loves on you. Every morning when I get her out of her bed, she throws her arms around my neck and hugs. Same thing at night when I'm about to lay her down. It's so incredibly sweet.

3. She says "mama", "daddy", and "uh-oh" still, but she's also learned "papa" (for my dad), and to say "ho, ho, ho" ... I'm not kidding! It's hilarious. She also talks all the time in complete gibberish ... I love it!

4. She loves music! Most of the time when music comes on, she'll break out in her little bouncin' dance. At church, she's gotten to where she throws her arms up and helps direct the song.

5. She's on three meals and one snack a day ... no more bottles except right before bed. She drinks all her milk out of a sippy cup. We've yet to transition to whole milk, but the time's coming. She's a really good eater ... hallelujah!

6. She's got 8 teeth ... four on top, four on bottom ... she just cut the 8th one day before yesterday. We're brushing those little teethies now too.

7. She's had a few firsts ... first Thanksgiving, first Santa trip, and first birthday with Mama.

8. She got her big-girl carseat this month -- we're liking that!!

9. She loves a bath. She hears that water running and she takes off for the tub. I think she'd sit in there forever if we'd let her.

10. She has the sweetest sounding belly laugh! It's our goal to get a laugh like that out of her.

11. The gate has kept her off the Christmas tree, but she does like the lights. She'll go stand and look at it every once in awhile.

She is so sweet, and we've been blessed this year with a healthy and happy child!

P.S. Thanks Aunt Essie and Lucy McLean for my nifty Christmas socks and my ornament! I love them!!

Christmas at Carver

Every year, Carver's 2nd grade gets to perform the annual Christmas play. Lila got to experience her very first one this year!! She enjoyed the singing ... up to a point. My "other" kids did awesome though -- I was so proud of them!! I have a bunch of sweeties this year! Yay for Mrs. Cook's 2nd grade!!

Some of my kids :) ... They weren't all able to be there.

Trying to get a high five

Singing their hearts out!

Don't mind my face -- I was trying to sing with the kids! Josh was beside me snapping away.

Center of Attention and Lovin' It!

Ahem...

... someone had a birthday today. We won't mention ages. I truly enjoyed my first birthday as a mommy!! I had a great day today. I got two very sweet cards from my lovies at home, then I got to school and got lots of "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Cook" and "How old are you??" Very sweet ... I've got a good group of kids, and they treated Mrs. Cook good today (considering Christmas break is 7, YES 7, days away!).

This evening, we chose Shogun to have my birthday dinner. Josh and I haven't been to eat Shogun since the night I went into labor. Yes, for those of you who don't know, my water broke at Shogun. That story will come on the Bug's b-day... We had a great dinner. This was the best picture we could get with Lila...she just wouldn't look.

After dinner, we headed over to see Santa. Think this will be a new tradition ... visit to Santa on Mama's birthday. I loved it!!! Lila ... not so much. I thought she'd do okay because she usually goes to anyone, but she wasn't diggin' on ol' St. Nick.I tried to sit with her and talk her through it...

and so did Josh.

She just wasn't gonna have it. The ladies were nice enough to take a family shot though, and I thought that turned out pretty cute!
Flashforward to last weekend: We headed to Madison early Saturday morning. We celebrated my birthday with my parents and sister, and more importantly I got to visit a few minutes with my dear cousin Andy. (P.S. PLEASE keep him in your prayers. The cancer has completely invaded his body. He is extremely weak and in a lot of pain. They admitted him to the hospital this evening. Please pray for some peace, a reprieve from the pain, and continued strength for him and his parents and sisters.)
Lila helped me open some gifts from my parents and Casey. She got into the paper-ripping...shouldn't have surprised me.

The girls before church Sunday morning.

One of Grammy and Papa's Christmas presents to Lila was a carseat...YAY! She looked like such a big girl in it!! She seems to really enjoy riding in it...she's got lots more room.

ALL IN ALL, I had a spectacular birthday!! I'm one blessed lady for sure!!

Yum...

The fact that Lila can feed herself equals one messy girl at the end of dinner time!!

Opelika Christmas Parade

Opelika's Christmas Parade was this afternoon. Thankfully, the terrible weather that we have been having all day quit in time for the parade. Josh and Lila got to ride in the parade with Uncle Eddie on the City Council float. I was so excited that for Lila's first parade she would actually get to participate! She did so good sitting in Josh's lap throughout the ride. She was the cutest little thing in that parade!! :)

Daddy and Lila before the parade

Sitting with Uncle Eddie

Smiling with Mayor Fuller

Coming up the street

Riding by!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

I love the gate around thee!!

This handy, dandy gate (courtesy of Lila's Sissy) is wonderful! It may not be the prettiest of my Christmas decorations, but it is certainly saving us some headaches. As usual, Lila is into everything, and this gate lets her get close to the tree and look. No touching is possible though, and that's what's so great!! I worried about her pulling the tree on top of herself, and this keeps that worry from becoming reality. I finally got all the decorations up yesterday, and we're enjoying the Christmas spirit around here.

Lila was much more delighted by the little tree in her room. She "helped" me hang the ornaments, and then we took it back and plugged it up. She's way more interested in the colorful light ... the plain white just don't do it for her!

Soooo excited to be celebrating Lila's first Christmas holiday!!!

Sunday Best

On Sunday, Josh decided to have a photo shoot with Lilabug while I threw clothes around our room trying to find something to wear to church! I thought they turned out pretty cute! :)

Iron Bowl Friday

Josh and I had a rare day together on Iron Bowl Friday. Lila headed to the lake with her grandparents, and we got to go tailgate and go to the game! We had lots of fun, and I enjoyed hanging out with my hubs even if his team beat mine!!

Lila pulled for the Tide Friday... Mimi and Pop bought this little cheerleader outfit for her, and since they were the ones so graciously keeping her for the day, this is what she sported. She still looked pretty cute...