Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

I absolutely love this time of year!!!  We've definitely been rockin' around and having a lot of fun!  We've been soaking up lots of family time, enjoying our Christmas trees, all the Christmas movies on tv, a couple of warm fires on a few of the colder nights, hot apple cider, baking sugar cookies, and just taking in the holiday season.  Here are a few pictures of our "lately."

 

 

 

Church last Sunday

 

 

 

This Mommy is having so much fun dressing our beautiful girl for the holidays!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matt had his company Christmas party Saturday night. (This is the best picture we could get.)  I really enjoyed meeting all the people he works with.

Reese has been LOVING her playmat!!

 

 

TUMMY TIME!!

 

 

 

We enjoyed a date night on Monday @ Sushi Cafe'

 

 

VICTORY!!  Aunt Bee and Uncle Blake were fabulous baby-sitters.

 

 

 

Lunch with good friends

 

 

 

Our little family of three will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow night.  I talked to Santa and he said he would be making a special stop tonight to leave Reese a BIG present.  Can't wait to see what he brings!!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Months Old

To say that the last three months have been the best three months of our lives is an understatement!  We wake up every morning so blessed to be the parents of such a sweet little girl.  Don't get me wrong, there are trying times, but the good far out weighs any bad. 

 

 

Our sweet Aven Reese is 3 months old today.  I really can't believe it!  It seems like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and I was looking forward to being at home with her for 16 weeks.  Well, that time is almost up :(  You are growing more and more every day and we love to watch what you will do next.

 

• You have been a ROCKSTAR baby and began sleeping "through the night" at about 8 weeks.  You have been sleeping 9-12 hours at night for the past 2-3 weeks and Mommy and Daddy LOVE it!!  You usually go down around 8:00 and sleep until 6:00 or longer. 
 
• You've been sleeping in your crib since you were 9 weeks and you do great as long as your sound machine is on (with white noise), as well as your humidifier.
 
• You constantly smile and there is nothing that makes us happier.  Your noises and expressions are endless. 
 
• You have really been loving your play mat the last few weeks.  You love to swat at the animals and kick your feet to make noise on the crinkly leaf.
 
• You still enjoy bath time.  It seems to really relax you before getting ready for bed and taking that last bottle for the night.  We're still working on reading a book, but you just don't seem to be very interested right now.  We'll keep trying!  ;)
 
• You're taking 6 ounces of formula at each feeding now and usually don't drink all of it unless it's the early morning feeding or the one right before bedtime. 
 
• We're working on your naps...you only sleep for about 30 minutes during the day, maybe 3x a day.  You're like your Mama...you don't want to miss ANYTHING!! 
 
• You love to watch the Christmas lights, the fire in the fireplace, and the t.v. - anything that glows and is bright has your full attention.
 
• You aren't really a fan of tummy time.  You will tolerate it but it's not your favorite.  You do a great job at holding your neck up and using your arms to lift yourself.  You've rolled over one time and are so close to doing it again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checking out Jovie ;)

 

 

 

 

Reese, we are so excited to spend this Christmas with our greatest gift of all...YOU!!  Mom's got the video camera charged and all ready to capture every minute of it.  We love you to the moon and back sweet baby girl!!!

 

 

 

 

A Day I Will Never Forget

My heart has been so heavy since last Friday, December 14th, when 20 children and 6 adults were taken from this world in a horrific tragedy.  I have cried so many times thinking of those precious, innocent angels.  Our lesson at church on Sunday was so good - it was a reminder that this world is not our home.  It's safe to say that Satan is all over the place and definitely had a presence in Newtown, CT on Friday. 

 

At times like these, I find comfort in knowing that God sent his Son to reclaim what was His.  Yes, this world is full of so much evil, but what a great hope we have in knowing that one day this life on earth will end and we can go home to be with our Lord!!  I saw this on facebook and thought it was so comforting, I wanted to share it.
 

 

 

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."




Every day, Matt and I pray for these families who have lost so much.  I hope that you, too, will continually lift them up and pray for peace, comfort, and healing.  May God be with our nation!!




 

Thankful Mama

AHH!!  Why is time flying by so quickly?  And how is it almost January, when this Mama has to go back to work full time?!?  WOW!!  I have been so blessed to be at home with Little Miss for almost 4 months!  When I get upset about having to put her in daycare, I think to myself how lucky I am that she didn't have to start at 6 weeks (like a lot of children do).  I am so thankful that we have her in one of the best (and of course the most expensive - BOO!) day school's in Little Rock.  I am also thankful that her Daddy has a job that allows him to be off two days during the week, therefore she'll only spend 3 days @ Chenal Valley Day School. 

 

 

Truthfully, I have struggled with the idea that Reese has to go to daycare.  Sure, I could stay at home with her and Matt could work, but we would also (like any other family) have to make some huge lifestyle changes.  Right now, I choose to work to be able to provide her with a life full of amazing opportunities.  It truly is unbelievable how you can love something so small so very much!!  When I get sad that I have to take her to day care, I'm just going to remind myself that I work for HER!!  I want her to have nice things, go to Little Gym, dance, or gymnastics if she wants to.  I want to take BIG family vacations every year, and I want her to never have to go without.  I just consider myself very fortunate to have a job with so much flexibility. 


I love being Mom, but I will also look forward to being "Kia" for 6-8 hours a day.  The girl who loves the sale, loves interacting with professionals, and loves dressing the part.  ;)



I write this post as a reminder for myself.  I am definitely a thankful Mama!!




 

Fitzgerald Family Pictures

Over Thanksgiving break, we took professional pictures with Matt's family in Monroe.   Our photographer was so talented and did a great job.  With four kiddos, you can imagine the laughs we had trying to get everyone to pose.  She snapped some good ones!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engagement Party Fun

My college roomie is engaged to get married!!  Saturday night we had our first of many parties to celebrate Heather and Sam's engagement.  We met at Sam's house for drinks before heading to the party.  The hosts were good friends of Sam's, and we enjoyed meeting a lot of new faces.  Matt and I had a wonderful time and left around 9:00 to get home to our sweet angel.  (Thank you to our amazing neighbor, Heather Duran, for keeping Reese!!  We know she had fun!  :))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My handsome date!

 

 

Take One...

 

 

 

Take Two...

 

Third time's the charm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Such a fun night!!

 

 

 

Today, we went to church and then ate lunch at Panera afterwards. (We've been on a Panera kick...there's a brand new one with a drive-thru right by our house.)  We hit up The Toggery and then stopped by Fresh Market to pick up our dinner and have enjoyed being home all afternoon. 

Here's our little munchkin before church...

 

 

 

All dressed up in her Christmas dress

 

 

Daddy and his mini-me

 

 

Mama's girl

 

 

 

We are all snuggled in tonight eating chicken parmesean and twice baked potatoes.  I wish it were colder out, but we are enjoying the lights on the tree and watching The Grinch on the family channel.  Perfection!!!