Hello, 2013!

 We rang in the New Year with friends up at our cabin.  While this has become an annual tradition, this year we hosted our largest party yet.  With fifteen people and two babies, we were a full house.  But all the people made for lots of laughs and memories.  Everyone cooked a meal (I've been feeling too pregnant to take on those duties) and between boardgames, hikes, and birthday shots, it was a great time to celebrate a new year.  Ella LOVED hosting everyone, mostly because she never lacked having someone to play with.  We look forward to many more years like this--celebrating with friends and their growing families.

Having just been to the cabin for Thanksgiving, it didn't take long for Ella to acclimate to her new surroundings.

Watching snow fall for the first time.

The cold weather brought on a day of snow.  It was Ella's first time playing in it.  She was a bit apprehensive after she slipped on a patch of ice.

As more friends started arriving, Ella started realizing she had many new people to play with.  She got really fond of  her Auntie Kathy.

Dancing with Olivia. 

We made a trip to the waterfalls again.  This time it was much colder than when we came in November.  The bump was MUCH bigger.  Sigh.  (34 weeks)

Hiking in the woods.

Uncle Richard teaching bad habits already (yes, that's a boot of beer).

Playing around.

More boots of beer.

Enjoying a lovely frittata breakfast.

Another hike.

A bird's-eye-view of a fondue dinner.

A group picture after ringing in the New Year.

Merry & Bright

Christmas... my absolute favorite holiday.  This time around, Adam and I vowed to try our best to really enjoy and relish the holiday season.  So often it just passes us by.  We made sure to put decorations up right away and just enjoy what this time of year meant to us.  I think Ella loved how festive it was and I loved starting new traditions with her.  Crazy to think that this time next year, we'll have another little person in our family to celebrate with (an extra stocking to hang!).  It's also crazy to see how much Ella has grown in a year.  Time is flying and sometimes I just can't wrap my brain around it all.

Picking out our Christmas tree.

Helping decorate the big tree.

Helping decorate the mini tree.

The Elf on the Shelf made an appearance in our home this year.  Ella LOVED looking for him every morning, waving and saying hello, and then saying good night as she went up to take a bath.

At Adam's company Christmas lunch.

Decorating her first gingerbread house.

 Christmas this year consisted of a brunch with our families on Christmas Eve, followed by some present opening.  Then on Christmas day, the grandparents joined us for breakfast and the remaining gift giving.

Christmas Eve 

Ella got antsy to start opening gifts.  Here's a very realistic picture of asking an 18-month-old to pose for picture after picture.

Opening her first gift from her Auntie Kathie: a retro milk-truck to pull around.  Super cute.

Christmas morning we opened even more gifts.  Ella got a diaper bag to help with changing her Bitty Baby doll.  Her new favorite thing to do is change her dolls' diapers after declaring someone "cho-cho" (stinky).

She even adds the "butt paste"

With her new Olivia doll (also a new love of her life after watching some episodes of the show at the cabin).

In December, my favorite girlfriends threw me a lovely little shower for our baby boy.  It was perfectly intimate, which was I requested.  I just appreciated the time to spend catching up with friends and getting a kid-free afternoon.

The vintage airplane theme was super cute.  And the food was all cooked by my good girlfriend, Denise, with help from my other awesome girlfriends, Kathy and Shirley.  

We snapped the picture last minute before everyone started leaving.  

My lovely hostesses.

Family, Friends, Food, and Fun!

After Christmas we drove up to our cabin to spend time with family and friends, get away from city life, and ring in the New Year.  It was great being able to host our loved ones!  It was just a glimpse into the many memories we will make there.  With the exception of a failed water pump and the 7 hour drive back through inclement weather, we had a wonderful time.  Here are some photos (with more to come):

Our moms enjoying the sunshine on the deck.

Mia lounging on the chair.

Remy taking in the views.

More Mia lounging.

Enjoying the short bit of sunshine outside, which made the 30 degree weather bearable.

Ashley & Remy: A match made in heaven.

Playing in the little bit of snow we got.