Welcome to the world Blake!

Blake was born via repeat C-section on Jan 16.  While I really didn't want another surgery, in the end we opted for it and I think it was the right decision.  Regardless, he's here, safe, healthy and that's all that matters!

It's been a whirlwind of course - trying to adjust not only to another newborn in the house, but also having a toddler running around as well.

Abby is falling in  love with Blake more and more each day.  She's so gentle, loving, kind and sweet to him it makes my heart melt watching her.  She can't wait for him to "get really really big" so she can show him how to "play her games" and "take him for a ride in her jeep".  But for now, she's content just "petting" his head, hugging him, kissing him and helping us.  She gets diapers and burp cloths or whatever else we need and can't reach.  It's awesome!

Here are some photos over the course of the last couple off weeks.  Can't wait for everyone to meet him!

Goofy family photo ;)

Proud Dad after Blake's first bath in the nursery

Abby meeting Blake for the first time

First bath at home, Abby was a big helper

So handsome (boy's wear pink too!)

Beaming Big Sister

My babies 

(this isn't a good photo, but it's the best we had from the hospital!)

Sweet girl with her little brother

Reading a book to him

Love

Exhausted after his doctor's appointment.  

I didn't even need to swaddle him because he was out before I laid him down!

Baby shower!

Today my office threw me a big baby shower and it was quite a full day.  Me and several of the girls started with Manicures/Pedicures, then we moved over to a restaurant for a big lunch with lots of people that joined us (12 of us), then came back to the office for an even bigger celebration with cake and coffee for the whole office!  There were so many people in the room at one point, I don't even know if I honestly knew them all.  :)

I got several gifts and the cake was awesome.  This baby definitely feels a lot more real now and the countdown has begun!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We are now in full swing of the holiday season and have so much going on that the weeks are just flying by!

Here is a what our crazy girl has been up to lately...and we have lots more fun holiday events planned up through Christmas!

Decorating a gingerbread train with Aunt Heather

All finished!

Eating her Santa cupcake

So yummy!

Decorating a gingerbread house at our Country Club

Visiting with Santa at her school 

(that is her teacher Ms. Erika dressed as an elf)

"I want a candy cane and panda bear, please"

Shelby

On Monday night we had to say goodbye to our sweet Kitty, Shelby.

I found Shelby my senior year of college at A&M and she's been with me through many jobs, cities, moves, getting married and of course having Abby.

It was completely unexpected and I never thought she wouldn't be here to see the newest baby come January. She had grown to become the best cat.  She would let Abby chase her around the house, or hug on her neck and actually seemed to like it.

She was also Abby's best friend.   Those two had become super close and even though Abby doesn't really understand (she kept asking "why" and saying she wanted Kitty to come home with us) she knows she's gone.  She hasn't asked for her or looked for her since, but she mentions her often.   My heart breaks for her.

SeaWorld Christmas

This past weekend Heather came down and we all loaded up and went to SeaWorld San Antonio to see their holiday festivities.  It was 80 degrees on Dec. 1...couldn't beat that weather!

The park was all decorated and was a lot of fun to walk around.  Here you can see most of our day in pictures!

 

Starting the day by feeding the dolphins of course!

Getting SOAKED at the Shamu Christmas show!  Totally unexpected.

Meeting Ms Claus 

Milk and Cookies with Santa

Telling Santa what she wants for Christmas.  

She was a little shy, so Daddy had to help.

Wearing her Shamu Santa hat from Aunt Heather

Daddy being silly

Meeting the characters

Santa Shamu!

Lots of bubbles!

Princess Abby

Dentist

Abby had another dentist appointment today and she was a ROCKSTAR!!!!  I am so proud of her I could burst!  She did so good - jumped right up in the seat, watched the Barbie/Princess movie, opened her mouth the whole time for the cleaning and exam and not once did she fuss/cry/get scared the whole time!  The hygienist and then dentist raved about how good she was and was very impressed.  She was the perfect first patient of the day (as I imagine they get some tough ones...).

Rockstar

"That movie on the ceiling is silly!"

Getting all the sugar bugs

And polishing them up all sparkly

Happy Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we did a lot more decorating and re-arranging of our house than we did eating and being "thankful".  Matt's family came into to town and we took advantage of the help to try and get the house not only ready for Christmas, but for the arrival of the baby in January!  We still have some work to do (the crib isn't up, etc.) but it's coming along at least.

I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few...

Putting up the tree is the best part of of the holidays!

She was working hard

Making Guggenheim stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner

It was hard work!

Convincing Daddy to do her most favorite thing at the mall.

Birthday pictures...

I forgot to post the pictures from Abby's birthday morning and just found them on my iPhone...she was so happy to get to blow candles out when she woke up, and that they were in donuts!  If only every day could be her birthday. ;)

Story time with Abby

**Sorry about the coughing - I tried to hold it back!**