Southern Christmas

I got to go home to Texas this year for Christmas and to meet my new niece and nephew! It was so good to be home and spend some time with my parents and siblings and other family and as always, it's good to be back in our 'cozy' little apartment. It's weird, Texas doesn't feel like HOME home, just like home. Does that make sense? The uncrowded and clean neighborhoods welcomed us, southern accents and all. It was amazing.

Parker was somewhat of a little terror on the flight out. He slept about half of it, then the other half he was awake and crying. We had to wake him up early to go, so he was grum-PY!

ping-pong and pizza Christmas Eve

cousin love, Mallory and Mikenzie

 Grandpa calming the squealy boy

kissing cousins....this may or may not one day serve as a potential blackmail picture

centerpiece Christmas morning for our traditional Texas Breakfast of eggs, biscuits and gravy and bacon

 Grandma love

 four generations

my mini-me sister, Kayla

uncle Chris love

 Chris brought up his N64...the boys spent a considerable amount of time on this couch

Auntie Janene getting practice

our neighbor's little bit of Christmas cheer

 Little P's first Christmas! Love you little man!!!

Post-Christmas story telling and song-singing in church with everybody. 

Love it when everyone's together! P$ was again, not a happy camper. 

I think he was pooping in this picture actually...

Raquetball for the boys (Steve and bro-in-law, Aaron)

Grandpa...this pic cracks me up! Steve said my Grandpa was surprisingly good!

 and nails for the girls

Mine was supposed to be dark purple but ended up black. I'm digging the wintry look.

 My prego sister Janene and sis-in-law Brittany getting our dranky drank on while shopping for all things bebe

 Our cousin Scarlett and her husband Chris and little boy Grayson (and little girl on the way!) came over to play...Parker LOVES little people, he just stares and smiles at babies and little kids. They were so cute together, touching and talking to each other...Grayson's a doll

Thanks for coming guys, so good to see you!!!

Uncle Michael starting him out young with the dirtbiking. He's such a cheeser!

 Lunch with my favorite high-school ladies. Eli and I went to church together and then Steph, Brittany and I had some computer class together in 9th grade and have done a lot of crazy things since. Let's just say we all have some blackmail on each other! Coxes!

Janene and Aaron had their sweet little Savannah Jane on December 28 and we got to meet her!

I hear Janene was a rockstar during delivery and she couldn't have done it without Aaron.

 She's beautiful and sweet and I just love her!

Parker loves her too

 The next day, my brother and sis-in-law Brittany had their adorable little boy, Grant Mark.

He is the cutest little boy and so tiny! I just wanted to hold him forever.

Brittany also delivered like a pro and everyone is happy and healthy

5 month difference...huge!!! 

(I had a cold so my eyes were all sorts of puffy. Don't hate)

 New Year's Eve...little sis Kayla headin out to the dance (she's wearing heels! Ok she's still taller), drinking the bubbly with little bro Michael and catching up with cousins Shawn and Becky.

Chill and fun. We called it at 11pm. Losers.

Seriously? The best.

Wii tennis

Cousin get-together. We're all growed up!

My kid can beat up your kid! 

Oh, the newborn stage is so precious, I miss them already!!!

Proud Grandma and Grandpa with babies coming out of their ears

 Until next time Texas....

 So we definitely busted out the benadryl for the plane ride home after the nightmare flight out....LIFE.SAVER. He slept a little over 2 hours and was a chill little zombie for the rest of the flight and until an hour or so after we got home. 

It was amazing after the crazy week we had of an irritable little P. We attributed it to traveling and being out of his element and I kinda thought he'd been teething for a while but no chompers yet. On the car ride home he was gnawing on my finger when I felt something sharp. HELLO!  

His first little bottom tooth had made his appearance the week we decided to go home for Christmas. Of course :) He's still pretty impossible sometimes, I can't put him down. I feel for the little guy and wish this wasn't bothering him :( I want my happy little baby back!

We're getting acquainted with our homemade no-sew moby wrap (bought my own fabric for about $10)

and hanging out at the park, talking to the birds, sticking our tongues out to feel the wind, and kicking out feet in the grass. Because it's 80 degrees. And we can.