Love

This picture gets its own post because I love it so much. 

Christmas afternoon...

The touching is Kate's new thing. When she's falling asleep or eating, she cups her sweet little hand on our neck, chest or chin and just holds it there. 

It. is. amazing.

Merry Christmas!

Here is a little photo recap of our wonderful Christmas. Kate really has been the most incredible blessing this year and there is no better gift in the world! I thank God every single day for her.

This was after Christmas eve mass. Kate's smiling because she got to hang out with Daddy outside during the entire mass ;)

Christmas morning, we headed over to my parents'. Scotty & Jeremy were both home and were so happy that Santa delivered Kate's presents to Nannie & PopPop's (and since Kate is still so young, I couldn't picture my family across the street doing the Christmas morning thing without us)...they even woke up early when Kate did!

The best present under the tree!

Brett, Kate, Kacy, Scotty, Mom, Jeremy (Dad took the picture)

No picture yet, but the big box behind us is an awesome wooden swing that Santa brought me and Brett. We have spent every afternoon on it in the backyard since Brett put it together :)

It moves, so we can actually "sit" there with Kate!

Mom made me an amazing album of our life this fall, which I am SO EXCITED about because Lord knows I haven't had time to do anything with all of these pictures!

Dad thinking about shaving, Mom getting festive

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was on TV, so miss Kate was content

Breaking in some of her new toys

Christmas Day in Florida...in a bathing suit in the hammock!

Christmas afternoon, getting ready to head to Brett's family's house 

(I did take pictures there (and of our Christmas tree), but for some reason my photos won't load onto my computer...I'll post later!)

Hooks/Dinzik Wedding

Santa and our families were too good to us! Thank goodness we had the day off of work because this was the (partial) view of my living room this morning (and you can't even see what's behind the sofa and around the tree). This gift explosion and the number of awesome pictures I need to go through overwhelm me a bit, so I'll just start with last weekend and catch up when I can!

Last weekend, our good friends Matt and Jane were married! The wedding was local, and big thanks to Mimi and Aunt Kacey, who came down to watch Kate at our house while Brett and I (and my family) went to the wedding and reception. It was beautiful and so much fun!

Scotty, who was the best man, with Matt, the groom

 Our sweet baby doll (who is 5 months old now!!)

 My mom and her friends having a blast!

 This cracks me up!! Everyone loves my dad, but no one could get him to dance ;)

Just wait until he has his knee replacement!

Awesome wedding with great people!

And I have to include these because she's my favorite and I missed her so much at the wedding :)

The next day at my parents' house, most of our friends who were in town came over

Holidays!

So if you think holidays are great, then you should have a child because then they are REALLY great! We've had so much fun with Kate. My boss gently reminded me that "you know, she won't remember this" (when I was describing what Santa will bring her), but I will remember this and I will write it down and document it in pictures so that one day, my sweet baby can look back and see just how amazing our life is with her. And this holiday shopping/dressing/visiting Santa/tree decorating/baking/family loving is just the best thing in the world and it makes my heart beat fast just thinking about it. 

So HAPPY EVERYTHING and MERRY CHRISTMAS! Santa stops here ;)

Kate loves EVERYTHING about being outside, even dipping her toes in the ice cold (OK, very cold for Florida) water at the beach.

 Things have been busy around here, so I haven't had much free time to blog, but I'm sure you understand... I'll try to do a "Day in the life" post soon!

So the next few pictures are from Thanksgiving day (told you I'm behind). Yes, we had a traditional meal but somehow have no pictures of that! Scotty and Jeremy were both home so we had a great day with my family, then headed up to visit the in-laws in the afternoon.

Growing up way too fast

Later that weekend, we went to pick out our Christmas tree. We have a beautiful tree in the living room (I need to take pictures) and a mini tree for our mini girl in her nursery.

Jeremy went with Mom to pick my parents' tree out - he chose the most gigantic tree, but because he was excited about tree shopping with his momma, she was just fine with buying the biggest tree there.

And listen to this. Kate cuddles now :) It is so wonderful and I feel like I'm running late to work everyday now because I just can't put her down in the mornings. She's all smiles and babbles and gives me open mouth kisses and reaches her little hands out to the dogs and still smiles at Mickey.

Life is just about perfect.

Santa Claus

OH. MY. GOSH. We took Kate to see Santa and it was the most precious thing! We had to wait in line a few minutes, and Kate doesn't like to just be still, so I wasn't sure how she'd feel about Santa, but with everyone smiling and jingling bells at her, she BEAMED!! 

Everyone was oohing and aahing and I'm so glad my mom had the camera because I just watched, smiled, and froze (and maybe teared up)! 

Until just a few years ago (yes, well into our 20s), my brothers and I always took a picture with Santa for my mom every single year. Now that Kate came along, I think Scotty and Jeremy are relieved that the pressure is off of them!

This was definitely one of those proud mama moments :)

She couldn't really tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas, but if I had to guess, I'd say anything Mickey Mouse, teethers, light up toys, for her mama to stop making her try yucky carrots, and for the ability to sleep longer at night (No? You don't think so? OK, maybe that's on my wish list ;)

Santa will definitely be stopping by this house, Kate has been such a good girl!