2016: a year in review

2016 year has flown by, it seems unreal that we're just hours away from 2017! We have had such a wonderful, full year. Our more notable events of the year were Margo's early February arrival and getting used to having a new member in our little family, I was a bridesmaid in two weddings (both of my Amanda's got married this summer), we took a trip to Lake Michigan with my side of the family and we have spent a lot of time with friends in and around Edwardsville. It has been one of our lesser traveled years, but we have had so many great new adventures!

I cannot wait to see what 2017 has in store for us! 

Happy New Year!

January 2016- Baby Shower

February 2016- Margo's Birthday!!

February 2016- going home from the hospital

March 2016

April 2016

May 2016- Amanda & John's wedding

May 2016- Amanda & John's wedding

June 2016- Amanda & Patrick's wedding

June 2016- Amanda & Patrick's wedding

July 2016- Lake Michigan

July 2016- Lake Michigan

July 2016- St. Louis Art Museum

August 2016- Edwardsville Rotary Criterium

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016- Halloween with Princess Leia

November 2016

November 2016- Thanksgiving

December 2016

December 2016- Margo's baby dedication at Trailhead Church

December 2016- community group gingerbread house competition 

margo: ten months

We have had such a great year, it's surreal to think that our sweet Margo is 10 months old! She is weighing in at 18.6 pounds, 27 inches long and her little noggin is 41.6cm. Her appointment at the endocrinologist went really well and all of our prayers were answered. The doctor saw no cause for concern and thinks she is a healthy little babe. As long as she is growing and her growth is following her growth curve (even if she is on the small side), she should be fine. She is meeting her milestones at or ahead of the average and is right on track.

We have a crawler!! She has been crawling all over and has started pulling up! She proudly claps for herself after she sneezes, sits up, crawls, finds a new toy and for Moose when he walks by. She is becoming so much friendlier with strangers and flirts with almost everyone who gives her attention. It has been so much fun to watch her grow and develop her own personality. She is definitely a mama's girl.  When she's tired, hungry, crabby, etc. she wants me to be there to comfort her. It's a curse and a blessing- I know I'll miss it when she doesn't want me anymore, but it does make it hard to pass her off to others when I need a minute away.

She loves food and eats whatever we're eating (unless it's spicy) and she still loves bananas and cottage cheese. She wants whatever toy Moose is playing with and loves her little piano. She hasn't paid too much attention to the Christmas tree so I'm thankful we didn't have to have a battle of wills. I'm excited to continue watching her grow and learn. This year has been so much fun, I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store!

we went for a walk and I forgot her mittens, she didn't seem to mind my gloves

she likes to help me with laundry 

merry christmas

Christmas is by far my favorite season of all! I love the nostalgia of the season, the crisp air, all the jingling bells, the giving spirit, copious amounts of cookies, twinkling lights, cheerful carols and mostly the celebration of Jesus' birth.

My prayer this year and for all Christmases to come is; as we parent Margo that we can teach and model the importance of this season beyond the giving and receiving of gifts. I pray that we can share the importance that God chose to send Jesus to redeem us from our sins. It is such a celebration and deserving of all the joy and merriment!

We hope you have the merriest Christmas and enjoy spending time with friends and family, eating the copious amounts of cookies, singing and jingling!

margo: baby dedication

Yesterday was Margo's baby dedication at church. We publicly dedicated ourselves, as parents, to raise Margo in a home that follows Christ and our family and friends publicly agreed to hold us accountable and to come along side us in raising her. It takes a village and we have the best village possible.

My Mom, Dad, Aunt Linda, Becky, Jared, Ethan, Nora and Atley were able to represent my side of the family. Alex's parents, grandparents and each of his siblings and their families were also able to join us and our community group was able to be there too! I am so thankful that everyone saw the importance of this event and could join us.

After the service we had a delicious lunch and chatted while the kids played. My heart was so full getting to see all of our favorite people in one room. It's not often that both sides of our family and friends are all in the same room, I think the last time was at our wedding! All in all, it was a great afternoon and we feel so blessed, thankful and loved.

Margo and Jack were the only babes being dedicated this week

All of my nieces and nephews that were present 

(my other six nieces and nephews live on the west coast)

but it quickly turned into a loud mess of yelling CHEESE!

let's zoom in on that poor babe 😂

(she was soooo tired)

Atley was disappointed that Margo wouldn't say CHEESE! 

"Margo say cheeeeeeese! Margo say it!"

margo: nine months

Our little peanut is growing before our eyes! She had a doctor's appointment and weighed 18.6lbs (42%ile), measured 26.5" (17%ile) and her little noggin was 41cm (0%ile). Her doctor is still concerned with her height and head circumference, so we'll be heading to an endocrinologist for a second opinion right before Christmas.  

So much has happened in the last month- Halloween, an election, our friends moved in next door, Thanksgiving and now we're decorating for Christmas! Margo has been such a trooper and is growing and learning new things every day. Some of her newest tricks include clapping, waving, demonstrating that she's "sooooo big!" and feeding herself finger foods. 

Her new milestones seem to be coming in clusters, but she still isn't crawling. She rolls across the room and scoots when she really wants a toy, but she's not crawling...she's not in any rush and I think I'm ok with it. Either way, she is a happy girl. 

Her schedule is still the same: two 2-hour naps (9a-11a and 1a-3p) and nursing four times a day (7a, 11a, 3p, 7p) and eating solids twice a day (8a and 5p ish) and sleeping from 7pm to 7am ish. Her favorite food is cottage cheese and she really liked turkey on Thanksgiving, so we'll add that into her diet more regularly. We still go on frequent walks, albeit a little more bundled up,  we read books, play with Little People and sing silly songs. 

We are so smitten with this girl and it is so much fun getting to see her grow and achieve new milestones!

we voted and have the stickers to prove it!

mid-stroll photo session 

patiently waiting for naptime

she's a proud Blues fan!

practicing for our Christmas card pictures

snuggling with cousin Nora

 bath time with cousin Atley

Margo's one and only Thanksgiving picture

her onesie says "Gobble til you Wobble"

go vote

Today we had the opportunity to cast our ballot and vote for local, state and federal offices. I'm not one to share my political views publicly, but I will say that I'm glad that, after today, we won't be receiving any more political phone calls, letters, fliers or door hangers! Today was the second time that Margo got to go in the voting booth and I look forward to explaining the democratic process to her as she grows up.

margo's first halloween

Admittedly, Halloween is one of my least favorite holiday's but, having my very own baby doll to dress up made it a lot more fun. She was more interested in the leaves when I took her outside, but she was a happy little jack-o-lantern. 

"Seriously Mom, how many more pictures are we going to take?!" -Margo

Then she had a wardrobe change into her Princess Leia costume. She was such a ham in this outfit, it was hard to narrow it down to just two pictures. I made her wig with a tutorial from this website. It was super easy and she didn't mind wearing it at all. My mom found a plush Princess Leia for her and she loves to chew on the buns!