Happy Birthday Jesus

Christmas is always a special time of the year, but this year really brought back the memories and feelings of being a child at Christmas time. Christmas is so magical when you are a child, and somewhere along the way that magic disappears.

As with most holidays, our intent is to teach Emerson the real reason behind each holiday - with the focus staying centered on the true meaning. Yet, we still want to include the fun and excitement that is placed around the commercialization of the holiday.

We began our Christmas season early - with a visit to see Santa on my birthday. In our opinion this is still to early, but having a seven month old, who had no idea what we were doing, and the hope of skipping lines we went early. It was PERFECT! Emerson loved Santa! He talked with Santa, took some wonderfully sweet pictures, and even got a small candy cane. Luckily - NO tears! I can only pray that every years goes this smoothly!

Christmas Eve, following the early Mass, Brandon and I put Em to bed and quickly got busy helping Santa in his workshop. Santa was kind enough to bring his workshop to us this year! Papa Den and Mimi, sent a gift early. So we assembled a little radio flyer wagon so Emerson could enjoy it Christmas morning. Santa filled stockings with all kinds of fun stuff and even left Em a talking, singing puppy dog. After speaking with Santa we agreed that one toy and a stocking was gracious plenty for this little boy!

On Christmas morning we woke up, watched some cartoons together, ate breakfast and then enjoyed what Santa brought! Emerson was such a happy boy. He did not know what to think of all the stuff around him. He loved his little wagon and some bath books that he found inside his stocking.

We also made sure we had a little prayer time, and sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. I can not think of a better way to start celebrating Christmas as our little family. I know each year is going to get better and better and we can wait to see what each one has in store for us.

On a side note: We celebrated Christmas on other days throughout the Advent and Christmas season with our extended family.  We feel so blessed to have each of them. Emerson, Brandon and I enjoyed seeing everyone and feel so blessed by all the wonderful gift that were shared with us.

Merry Christmas!

Moooove Over Chick-Fil- A...

I spent many teacher workdays, holidays, and summers' off from school at the Chick-fil- A headquarters. My Gram worked there for many years and it was always such a treat to go and visit. In my opinion the Chick- Fil- A headquarters is not your "typical" work environment, at least not from a child's perspective. (even an adult for that matter)

 

Visiting my gram at work, meant Chick-Fil- A for lunch, an icedream to follow, and then special little surprises here and there. On occasion it was a juice bottle to take home, or a stuffed cow, or something that you would normally receive in a kid's meal. At one point, we even had name tags made for us, just like they had to wear while at work.

  

So it should be no surprise that I wanted to share this experience with Emerson and Brandon. This past Fall we took a trip over to Atlanta for me to share this child hood memory with them. Luckily, one of my mom's childhood friends still works there, as do many of the women that worked with my Gram - so we were able to visit.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch, with an icedream to follow. It was nice to visit somewhere that I had grown up. It is funny how things seems so much different being there as an adult with a little boy of my own.

After lunch we walked around the building to visit some of the people who worked with my gram for so many years. We also had the privilege of visiting Truett Cathy's office. It has so many fun and unusual items in it. I know once Em is a little older he is really going to get into it.

  

And as with most Chick-Fil-A trips, Emerson got a cow!!! He was a loved on and one lucky little boy that day. It really warmed our hearts to see all those people loving on and enjoying what we get to enjoy everyday.

My gram would have been IN LOVE with this little man and visiting the Chick- Fil-A headquarters would have been a must if she were still working there. I know her heart was so full that day. She would have been one beaming great grandmother!

Charlotte Katherine Wesley

We would like to congratulate the Wesley family on their new addition.

Charlotte Katherine Wesley

She was born February 5, 2013 at 11:47 am. She is a little bitty girl weighing 6 pounds even and around 19.5 inches long.

Miranda and Rob are doing great! They feel so blessed and are excited to start their new little family together.

Emerson loves Charlotte. He was very sweet with her in the hospital. He even tried to pat her little blanket and talk to her. We know these two will have so much fun together once Charlotte is a little older.

Zoolight Safari

This was by far one of the coolest/funnest things we have done together as a family. If you live in the Birmingham area and have kids, in my opinion, it is a must! We all loved it! We decided to bump Em off his schedule and take a night out with Jeff, Kristen, Gwynn, and Luke.

There were lights everywhere. Emerson loved looking at all of them. As we entered, they had a snow machine going! To my knowledge this was Emerson first time seeing snow. We were also greeted by a snowman. Emerson was a little unsure of the snowman at first, but as soon as it started talking to him - he chatted right along with it. It was so sweet.

After walking around the Zoo for a bit, we decided to ride the train. Even as an adult - Brandon and I loved this-  I think as much as Emerson. Throughout the train ride we saw lights all over the place. We even saw Santa! Emerson looked around the entire ride and talked up a storm.

Before leaving we took a moment to walk through the petting zoo. This was Emerson's first time seeing animals up close (other than dogs). I wish I had video of how precious this was. He would reach out for each animal and try talking to it. It was so sweet. I can't wait to visit the Zoo again to see if he has the same reaction.

Like I said, this is a must do each year. I hope Emerson loves it next Christmas, just as much as he did this past Christmas. I keep hearing his "fear" of things is going to set in, but I sure hope they are wrong. I love that he is so interested in everything around him!

Merry Christmas!

On the Move...

Emerson is on the MOVE! If there was another word that could stress how fast and curious he is at getting around the house I would use it. He is a man on a mission. We have baby gates surrounding the perimeter of our living room just to contain him. He has gotten into so many cabinets, drawers, closets, etc.

Please let me stress - it is not because of our lack of attention to this little man. Literally, in the blink of an eye he has rounded corners, pulled shoes off of shelves, and even emptied my spice rack for me.

 

Although, we now have to be on our toes 24/7 we LOVE this stage. He is so curious and so much fun to be around. His personality has come alive with his new found freedom. He is always smiling and blowing raspberries - and laughing so hard.

I think some of my favorite times is when you pretend to be chasing him. He will take off and then crash just a few moments later from getting so tickled he can hardly move. Boy do we have our hands full with this stage of his life and we are LOVING every moment of it!