Well our Christmas tree is finally up, thanks to a new tree stand :) I also spent a ridiculous amount of time changing my blog layout to a Christmas theme, only to get extremely frustrated and settle for a layout that I am less than crazy about. But oh well, I guess it will do. Here are pics of our tree and stockings.

We got Elfed!

This is our family's version of being elfed...too funny! Check it out:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9634807797

New Pictures

Look how sweet he looks in his snowman PJ's!

Snuggling with Aunt Amy

Hanging out with Uncle Nick


Ayden meeting his cousins Briar and Braxton at Thanksgiving

This is Ayden's typical reaction to being put in his carseat!

Ayden is not so sure he likes his new hat, but mommy sure does!

Ayden meeting his cousins Natalie, Emily, and Hannah for the first time

Christmas tree troubles!

I simply need to vent so I am choosing to do so on my blog! I have spent all day decorating the house for Christmas and have been working on my tree for the past 5 hours. I was very much looking forward to finishing it all tonight and posting pics on the blog, but that's not going to happen! First of all, out of 8 sets of Christmas lights, only 1 set worked. So I bundled Ayden up and went to Wal-Mart to buy more. I put a total of 7 strands of lights on the tree (I am a complete light fanatic!) then continued with garland and ornaments. The tree was looking really nice. I was about 5 minutes away from finishing the tree when I sat down to feed Ayden. From across the room, much to my horror, I saw my tree slowly crash to the ground. I have no idea how it happened, but it did, and in the process it broke off 2 of the tree stand legs, so it cannot be put back up. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I am somehow going to find a way to fix the stand because I refuse to buy a new tree and start this process over again!! Wish me luck!

Counting our blessings

Chris and I would like to thank all of our family and friends for their thoughts and prayers for Ayden during his hospitalization. It meant so much to us that so many people had us in their prayers. We are home now and Ayden is doing wonderfully! He came through the accident with absolutely no complications and we know God was truly watching over us. Chris and I are still somewhat reeling from the entire traumatic experience, but we have never in our lives been more thankful for our healthy baby boy.


Priceless smiles



Daddy and Ayden- so happy to be home!!!

Dogs

I thought I would post a few pics of our dogs. We admit that they don't receive anywhere near the attention they did before Ayden arrived, but they seem to have adapted pretty well. Today Chris built an elevated feeding table to make it easier for Sampson to eat and drink since he is so tall. As you can tell in the pics, Jack quickly figured out a way to use it himself, while growling to keep Sampson away! Poor Andy isn't spry enough to do that!

Thumbsucker

Ayden's night out

Tonight Chris and I decided we needed a long overdue dinner out. Since our closest babysitters are 80 miles away, Ayden got to come along with us! It turns out, having a baby has even more perks than we thought...we got to bypass the 30 minute wait at Chili's and were immediately seated. Incidently, it was in the bar, but we were just happy to get a booth so quickly! (But I couldn't help but to think of that line out of Sweet Home Alabama where Reese Witherspoon says, "You have baby...in a bar!" hee hee :) Regardless, Ayden slept happily in his carrier for most of the meal, and when he finally did wake up, his attention immediately went to the basketball game on the big screen TV over our table! We actually got to enjoy the entire meal in peace (well, as much peace as you can get at a sports bar!) Here are a few pics of Ayden from the night.

Ready to go!


Watching the game

Waking up...

Sleeping angel

Ayden at 3 months

Ayden will be 3 months old on Saturday and I just wanted to share some little things we are noticing as he is developing his little personality. He is overall a very happy, smiley baby and as long as he gets to eat the second he is hungry, all is good! He HATES his carseat, but if you sing to him in the car he will stop crying. He loves to lay on his changing table and have his diaper changed, but he hates to have his clothes changed. He will not even consider taking his binky anymore, he has found his thumb and that is now his first choice (after mommy of course!)He has started babbling in place of crying if he is just mildly unhappy with something. For example, if I put him in his bouncy seat while I need to shower or eat, and he is not in the mood to be there, he will chant "Nah Nah Nah!" He also loves the tongue game, where I stick my tongue out at him and he sticks his back out at me and then laughs. He has yet to sleep one night in his 3 months of life in a crib or bassinet. He loves to be held and talked to or sung to and loves to be bounced on your knee. Sometimes when I lay him under his kick and play I notice that he is not looking up at the animals and bright lights but has his head turned and is watching TV, usually football! Now that's his daddy's boy! And, it must be said, he knows and loves his mommy :)

looking for that thumb!

Ayden loves his changing table!

Waking up happy from a nap

It's 9 AM and he's still snoozing...now that's precious!

Just hanging out on mom and dad's bed

Finally he is big enough to ride in the stroller without the infant carrier!

Week in Mena

This past week on the way back from Texas, Ayden and I decided to spend the week in Mena. We had a great time and Ayden got to see all his grandparents and great-grandparents. We spent lots of time outside enjoying the pretty fall weather. Ayden also joined us for a day trip to Little Rock complete with lunch and shopping! He also went shopping with us at Stage and was a very good boy. On Friday we all went to a Christmas fund raising luncheon and Ayden was very good--we have decided this boy likes lunching and shopping with the ladies! I know someday that will change and he will want to go hunting or fishing or watch football, but for now I just love having him with me all the time! I very rarely take Ayden anywhere, (partly for fear of germs and partly because I don't prefer to breastfeed in public without the comfort of my glider and the boppy pillow!),but it was really nice for us to get out of the house. We really enjoyed spending time with everyone, but we were sure happy to get home and see Daddy! He is getting so big and "talking" so much now. He is easily filling out his 3-6 month clothes and weighs approx. 14 lbs! I can't believe he has been here 12 weeks- the time has flown by!
Ayden with his Great-Grammie and Great-Papaw Cunningham


Ayden with his Mimi

Ayden with his Papaw

Grandpa's trying to get a smile out of Ayden!


Ayden with his Grandma

Get off the phone, Grandpa, or I'm gonna go sit in Grandma's lap!

Enjoying the great outdoors!


All dressed up...ready to go!

New Pictures by Jenny Leigh!

While in Texas, we took advantage of Aunt Jenny's photography studio and had lots of great pictures taken. Here are a few of my faves...