Christmas Eve

This was our first Christmas away from Washington and extended family.

It was different, but very pleasant.

I tried really hard to plan fun things for the girls and I to do, 

so we could make special memories of our own. 

We made reindeer food

(Oats, sprinkles, and some spices)

and scattered (dumped) it on the lawn.

Layla said that one reindeer would get really lucky if he landed next to her pile of food.

Gwen took her sweet time.

We lit a fire.

(a first, since we've never had a fireplace before)

We made Santa and Snowman cotton ball pictures...

Here are Gwen's.

She insisted that I helped.

The feeling of the cotton balls freaked her out.

And Layla's.

She did it ALL by herself.

Cute.

Trying on her stocking.

Before opening Christmas jammies, we had a fun little family night lesson on the symbols of Christmas.

Nobody payed attention.

Too excited.

P.J.'s

We made cookies for Santa and then I took the girls on a drive around some local neighborhoods to marvel the Christmas lights.

They had their hot chocolate in hand and blankets tucked around them. 

It was awesome.

Everyone fell asleep peacefully, happily awaiting Christmas morning!

One fine morning.

Practicing sitting in the Bumbo.

Mesmerized by jammies that have lady bugs on the feet.

"I'm going to get you!!"

"I got it! Did you see that Ma?"

Breaking the personal bubble rule a little bit...

the green finger is from marker.

The girls love to draw from the minute they wake up.

Proof:

Layla says this is "The Carol of the Bells" song going off in her brain, "OVER AND OVER AGAIN!"

She had a bit of an obsession with that Christmas carol this year.

A random view into our kitchen.

My cute baby

Sitting like a big girl

She thought it was pretty special.

Maggie 2011

Little Mags is such a sweetie.

She's 5 months old now.

That's just crazy.

But yes, she's doing all the normal 5 mo. things.

Rolling over both ways, since Christmas Eve.

Babbles a LOT.

Wiggles around, making me wonder how she gets in certain positions.

She naps pretty well and sleeps pretty average at night.

I think some teeth are trying to work their way up.

Excessive drool, fussiness, and chomping on everything.

Still not on rice cereal, I like to wait till 6 mo. usually.

She is highly entertained by her big sisters.

Layla plays on the rougher side.

Squishing her cheeks, tapping her feet to her face, shaking her hands about.

She loves it.

Gwen talks to her in a very high pitched, nasally voice.

"Hiya Baggie! You're so cuuuute. Silly Baggie, don't pull hair!" 

It's so fun watching my girls interact together.

We sure do love our baby.

These pictures of Gwen just kill me...

And Layla, 

picking her nose like a lady.

She's definitely got her father's ears. 

hehe.

LOVE her!

Gwen 2011

The thought occurred to me yesterday evening, that I needed to post all my pictures and info from the end of this year, that I've been desperately behind on.

Well, I sat down at about 11pm, realized my computer is too full of data to download anymore pictures, tried transferring them to photobucket, got really confused, then just gave up after 2 posts. 

So...

Here I am again today.

A new day. 

A new year.

And some old posts. 

Oh well. 

One of my new years resolutions is to be less hard on myself. 

Who really cares if there are 2011 posts in 2012.

Okay, so it really bugs me badly,

BUT I'm letting it go!

"Gwennie Wynnie"

That's what I call her lately. 

Not really sure why. 

Layla Lou

Gwennie Wynnie 

and

Maggie Baggie

Not the most creative nicknames... or cute. 

Gwen calls herself Wynnie and she calls Maggie, Baggie.

That's probably why.

ANYWAY

My little 2 year old is growing up right before our eyes.

I feel like I've only blinked and she's not a baby anymore.

Talking up a storm.

Telling me her dreams

and funny jokes.

She has quite the personality.

Quiet, but so funny.

Silliest faces, and body language.

She knows what she likes and will tell you when she isn't impressed.

She can count to 10 and sometimes higher.

She can recognize and spell her name out loud.

Sleeps in a big girl bed, but not even close to being potty trained.

Loves hot chocolate, cheese, mashed potatoes, strawberries, chicken nuggets, and smoothies.

Tries desperately to do things just like her big sister Layla.

ADORES her baby sister Maggie.

I've never once encountered a problem with her and the baby.

She's so sweet by nature and doesn't cause much trouble, BUT I have a feeling she's busy taking inventory of all the naughty things Layla does and will try those things out in her own time.

STILL will NOT go to nursery by herself. AT ALL.

Still loves to cuddle and tell me how much she loves me. 

Hope that never changes.

How can you not fall in love with this girl?