Merry Christmas Season to Everyone!

Hello Everyone! It's been a few weeks, well maybe a little over a month. But, we have been very busy! I am going to post a couple of different posts today that will show you all what we have been doing! Here are a few pictures from this week: Julia Kate and I have been trying to decorate for Christmas! Of course, really I get items out and she has to play with them. She is mesmerized by the snow globe. It's a little heavy for her to when it stops she knows that Mama will shake it up so she can watch it over and over and over and...........Of course it doesn't take long to move on to something else........note the toys, who knows what Santa should bring?Then, it's just too much!I have started dressing her in footed pajamas at night with the hopes that she will stay nice and warm since she has a tendency to throw her blanket off and wake up! This is one pair, she wouldn't model for me, you can see her Daddy's toes in the picture and I'm sure they were having a very important discussion since she is very serious looking! Then, this is a new MK original. I had to try it on her Tuesday night. Well, Tuesday Julia Kate also received 6 shots! Bless her heart, two in each thigh and one in each arm. But, she was a trooper and allowed me to play dress-up anyway. When I was taking these pictures, I noticed her upper lip on the left side looked funny and sure enough it was swollen. She looked so pitiful - we still aren't sure exactly what happened, it was ok by morning.
She says a few words, mostly "Mama", "Dada", and "ball". However, I can say, "Where is (in this case) the teddybear?" and she has that little finger pointing! Or flipping pages, she loves to "read" her books and flip the pages!

The Birthday Party!!

We celebrated with her friend, MaKenzie on October 30th at "Miss" Betty's. When I got here, Betty had their high-chairs sitting together and they were ready to party! I brought cupcakes and we sang Happy Birthday and then blew bubbles. I even took balloons! We absolutely LOVE our Mrs. Betty. Now when we turn in her driveway Julia Kate squeals from the backseat! This is our Mrs. Betty.....I couldn't get JK to look at the camera, but this was still such a sweet picture.When we got home on the 30th Jason was working on her swingset, so she got an early birthday present and Daddy let her try it out! I will post more pics later, she loves her swing! Jason pushes her really high and she loves it!Then for party night: We had our family over and Jason grilled hamburgers. Since I wasn't the one taking pictures, all that I have are her opening presents and eating! But, really what else is there? I made regular yellow cupcakes with both cream cheese and chocolate icing. Our precious friend Mr. Todd insisted on Julia Kate eating some chocolate. Well, at first she ate it one finger at a time..........But then, she savored every bite! I can't believe we had her very first birthday party. The entire time surrounded by our family and those special friends which I include when I say family, it was surreal. God has shared this special blessing with us for these years and we are eternally grateful to call her our baby girl.