Well, so much for that...

I thought I'd try to post every day in December. Oh well, I had good intentions.
Last Saturday, Molly got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wants for Christmas. Okay, she really sat on Santa's lap and screamed until her mommy came to rescue her from the stranger with a white beard, but it was adorable and sweet, anyway. Her mommy and daddy love the photos. The official ones printed from the elves will hang with the Christmas cards this year, and then come out every year after to sweetly remember the moment.

12.4.10 The Hustle Edition

Another tradition - this time not just a Christmas one.
Running.
I hope my daughter and I are able to do this often.
Today was the first.
The Holiday Hustle at Oklahoma Christian University.
I ran the 5k pushing Molly in her stroller.
Aaron had to work, so it was Mama Power all the way.
40 degrees.
100 mph wind (honestly not too much of an exaggeration).
When I ran north, I felt like I was running backwards.
When I ran east or west, I had to steer the stroller into the wind so as not to lose her in a gust. Seriously.
When I ran (or was hurled) south - it was blessed and wonderful and delightful.
It was my first race after finding out Molly was coming, and I loved it.
Yay!

12/3/10

I like lists.
One list I add to is "Christmas traditions/ideas I want to remember when we have kids..." (which of course, now we do have a "kid")
Enter the cookie. I don't like to bake, never have.
But, my friend and former co-worker from MJHS is a fabulous baker who makes fabulous cookies to give to her fabulous co-workers (me) at Christmastime. For 5 years I was the recipient of a bag of her Christmas goodies, and then last year, even though I moved in OCTOBER - she brought me a bag of freshly baked Christmas cookies just so I would not miss out when Christmas came around. What a friend! Then, when she later sent me even more goodies in the mail (this time goodies for Miss Molly), she included the recipe of my favorite cookies. Thank you, Tami.
So, I started what I hope to do every year - make these cookies for my Molly, I mean, myself.

Dec. 2

Molly helping decorate.

The church at an intersection very close to our house has a sign with a scrolling marquee that always gives an encouraging Bible verse, gives information about upcoming events as well as weekly service times, and today, it gave me a laugh. I quote, "This week's semon..." Forgive me, but you have to admit it is comical that they left out the "r". (Aaron said it was okay to post this...)

This brings me to another sign I saw a few years back in my beloved Gilbert, AZ. On an elementary school sign, it said, "No Shcool...". I actually tried to return to take a photograph to send to Jay Leno, but regrettably, or thankfully, someone caught it and fixed it.

December 1, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
Or at our house, just a great big mess of Christmas decorations spewing out of tubs with lots of little baby toys mixed in, not to mention a little sock here and there.

{Photo taken Monday, November 22, 2010 at Old Navy. I love the take on "Lite Brite" that Old Navy did with their decorations. I also love the giant Christmas lights they have hanging around. You can seen the orange and yellow ones to the left of us in the photo.}

Speaking of "Lite Brite" - have you seen David Crowder Band's video, SHINE? Go NOW! It is amazing.

Molly's First Thanksgiving

She was supposed to be wearing her adorable denim jumper dress.
She was supposed to go to her Great-Grandma Belle and Great-Grandpa Homer's house in El Reno.
She was supposed to see all of her second/third cousins.
She was supposed to have a big family day.

Instead, she is still in her pjs at 5:00 p.m.
Instead, she is at her own house in OKC.
Instead, she doesn't get to see anyone but her daddy and mommy.
Instead, she has had a low-key, lazy day.

You see, her mama got extremely ill last night. I won't go into all the details. I will just say that I hate the word "ill", but in this case, it is the only word that fits. "Sick" just doesn't cover what I've battled in the last 24 hours.

This Thanksgiving Day, Molly's first in this world, I am super thankful for her and her daddy. I'm thankful for every minute of every day that I get to spend with her and her daddy. Thank you, Lord. I am thankful for so much more, but right now, my heart just explodes with gratefulness for the fact that Aaron and I have such a sweet baby who makes our lives so full.

She is 7 months.

In my mind it is still August. I don't know what has happened to life. It is zooming by in flashes.
Molly is now 7+ months old.
She started crawling 2 weeks ago, got her first tooth on her 7 month birthday, and she can stand on her own for a few seconds. She bounces on her knees, gets bed head, and knows who and where Fletcher is. I can't keep up with her. She is a very busy girl with lots to do. Toys must be played with, magazines must be ripped, laps must be made around the kitchen island, and every inch of the house must be explored while jabbering and/or screeching. She will kiss on the lips, hug tightly, and crinkle her nose which of course is just the sweetest.