The Great Sippy Debacle

If anyone is looking for a sippy cup, we have one. We have now tried probably ten sippys in the past two days! I really thought that ABS was rejecting the sippy over the bottle in some sort of 12 month rebellion. I've figured out that this is not the case (I would expect something like that from EBS, but not my compliant one). Anyway, I've figured out that it's not rebellion, it's pain. The poor thing can't suck on the sippy cups with the suction device because she has a double ear infection and it hurts! BAD MOMMY! So, after Avents, Baby New, Dr. Browns and other $10 sippy cups, we've found one we love - the $1.44 Nuby!

I'm not a Nuby rep, but don't waste your money - just buy these!

Christmas Day in Fairhope and Tallahassee!

Merry Christmas everyone - about five days late. We're finally back in the Ham, unpacked somewhat settled - exhausted. What a grand time was had though. From time in Fairhope to a visit in Tallahassee, we're "christmased" out here.

I totally fell out off the weight watchers wagon this week. In fact, I gained 2 lbs, but I'm back in the saddle and doing pretty well. John was kind enough to keep the girls last night so I could spend some time with some dear friends at the lake last night. We had such a good time. Funny though, when John asked me what we talked about all night - all I could say was "our children and our husbands."

ww update: 47 lbs (that includes the 2 I've gained - ugh)

Santa must not have realized that it would be 30 degrees and raining when he dropped off Ellabee's bounce house in the back yard.

Can we please please please open presents now?

I seriously have this same picture from the past four years! Paw Paw in a recliner, covered in presents... just waiting.

I'm loving all these fantastic toys mommy!

Not even a double ear infection can slow us down! Serioulsy though - can we have ONE Christmas without illness?

And Miraculously, we are in Tallahassee that night in our Belle Dress!

We can always count on our Uncle Ben and Aunt Jen for books!

Helping Mimi cut out cookies for the big party - in our princess attire (the apron really compliments the ensemble).

It was so great to spend some time with Aunt Jen and Uncle Ben!

Just in case you missed it the first time - what a trip!

Christmas Eve in Fairhope

From decorating cookies and playing with our sister to a last minute trip to the store and dinner at Aunt Amy's - we were ready for the fat man to come!

Making cookies, Dobson Style, takes camo

And then enjoying them... serenity!

And then there's the time spent working the cookies off.

Leaving cookies for Santa - and carrots for the reindeer.

Ready for the fat man!

Napping at the Wally World

So, I've always found it endearing when children can sleep anywhere, but this instance bordered on the sublime. Seriously! Anne Bailey, notice, is bright and perky in the seat and then in the back is Ellabee - sound asleep as we shopped for groceries! Like I said, the sublime.

It's not a party until someone has a melt down!

We celebrated Anne Bailey's birthday on Saturday. I kept it VERY small and ended up with 11 adults and 8 children (3 of which do not eat solids). Anyway, aside from a little snafu with the bakery - suprisingly, Edgars (never had a problem before) - we had the party and the birthday girl had a good time. It's really really hard for me to believe that she's already one. Where did this year go?

When your house looks a little like St. Nick threw up on it, it's somewhat hard to make it look like a birthday and not Christmas - so, I admittingly went a little over the top - but it looked so great!

There was a little hat malfunction during the candle blowing out ceremony (again, a little odd) but once that was fixed...

We jumped into the cake and decided we liked it!

Laurie and Capp, Molly and Anne Bailey, Kristen and Emma - babies babies everywhere!

Anne Bailey with just a few of her peeps: Capp and Kennedy.

Being the big sister definately has its benefits! Ellabee loves a good party!

Anne Bailey and her Daddy - actually on her Birthday, but too cute to not include!

The Birthday Girl

We were doubly blessed this year and got to celebrate Anne Bailey's first birthday with both sets of grandparents. We stopped through Tallahassee for a night with Mimi and Papa who had a cake waiting for Anne Bailey to celebrate her first birthday a couple of days early. Then we had visitors, Maw Maw and Paw Paw, come for a visit on the actual day - December 12th.

Anne Bailey received several fun gifts, but more so loved everyone bursting into spontaneous song! She would laugh and clap each time someone sang "Happy Birthday" to her.


I can't believe she's one! SHE'S ONE! Here are some pictures of the celebration.

Mimi baked us a lovely cake for our first celebration!

We weren't too sure what to think of the cake, lit on fire, coming at us (it is a rather odd tradition if you think about it for a litle bit)

Anne Bailey and Ellabee with Mimi and Papa

The birthday princess, with the nonbirthday princess and Maw Maw and Paw Paw.

Anne Bailey loves her caterpillar rocking horse! Thanks Maw Maw and Paw Paw.

and a few more...

and more photos!

Hanging out with Mickey and Friends!

Christmas in Disney is just delightful! I'm so glad that we came at this time of year. Not only are we enjoying all the Christmas decorations - all disneyied up - but the fact that we came during the first week of December means that we have not had to wait in ANY lines and the crowds are SO doable. I also think that John and I are just in the mindset of not stressing out about seeing everything. We are well aware that the Stone family will be coming back in another couple of years, so we don't feel the need to force the Disney experience!

What fun we've had. From breakfast with the princesses to meeting Mickey at Animal Kingdom - it's been a blast. And to top it all off today - we were able to meet Mary Poppins and Alice (our absolute FAVORITES) together in the United Kingdom (EPCOT)! How's that for it all falling into place.

We're planning on being here tonight for an early to bed for both the girls - man are they (and we) exhausted. We'll be at Magic Kingdom tomorrow to catch a parade (and miss Anne Bailey's nap) - so we're going to need all the sleep tonight that we can get.

Here are some highlight pics.

Starting the Holidays

It's Christmas... we're cutting down trees. Anyone for some Joni Mitchell? We can't have a real tree because of our cat. Frank loves to "nest" in real trees, so after having a real tree the first couple of years we had the cats, we realized that a fake tree was the way to go for us. I kindof miss the whole going out and cutting down the tree, etc... but the hassle of watering, it shedding, etc. is not something I miss. Anyway, it's coming on Christmas and other people are cutting down trees.


We decorated the house so that we could set off to sunny Florida for a week at Disney. Woo Hoo! I think John and I are more excited than the girls (well, Ellabee) are. I'm not sure she gets the magnitude of Disney World because she asked me if it's as big as our house. Hum... not sure how to quanitfy the size of Disney World for a three year old. Just something she's going to have to see for herself, I guess.



I've been reading that book, The Unofficial Guide to Disney World... hum, those people are a bit fanatical, but we're going to take some of their suggestions. It's been helpful in thinking through schedules, napping and what to take. I recommend it but like other "how to" books - take it all with a grain of salt. Hopefully I will be able to report the success of my research when we return next week.



Until then, here are some pics from our early morning Christmas card shoot. The girls did great (it may have been that I got them up, put them in their dresses and we went immediately downstairs - so that there was no time for dissension in the ranks):

Coolest Aunt in the World! No really, I just work at a cool place

I'm so excited that I was finally able to show my nephews (and adopted neices - Brooke and Caroline) where I work. The kids had a great time and I think the adults did too. Mother had never been to the science center!

Chancellor on the high cycle!

Playing virtual reality soccer.

Chancellor (who let me know he prefers to be called Chance - no WAY) on the pin wall!