JOY, unspeakable joy.

We are blessed beyond measure.  The pure JOY that fills ours hearts when looking at our two precious gifts from God is just indescribable.  Even amidst the sleep deprivation that comes with having 2 sick ones all week, I am SO thankful and SO full of love.  And to know that our heavenly Father loves ALL of us even more than this, more than I can ever imagine…well that brings a joy like no other.  Let us not forget the reason for the season…the birth of our Savior - the love of our God.

Eloise Joyce, 8 months

Elles Belles!!!!  8 months.  Stop it.  Just stop it.  I really cannot handle how fast this is happening.  You're crawling (Daddy called you a spider monkey this morning), you can stand holding onto something, and you can even walk if someone is holding both of your hands.  This completely blows my mind because you are still such a little peanut at just over 15lbs!

You continue to be the most happiest and chill baby I know, though teething was tough on you.  You popped through 2 teeth in the last 2 weeks, but in between that, this smile basically sums up your attitude.

And most importantly, you are sleeping through the night!!! In your crib!!! You and your big sis are sharing a room quite nicely, and you sleep from about 7:30pm-5am.  You take 2-3 naps a day, depending on how long your morning nap around 9:30am is.

You are getting some hair and it appears to be growing in a dark blonde/light brown with a wave just like your big sis.

Such a joy you are, my dear.  Such a joy.

Looking Like Christmas

phew!  It's been a fast-paced 2 weeks around here, but I'm finally able to rest in the end of busy season. Besides waiting on a newborn in the NICU and 2 more to be born before Christmas, I'm so happy to be all caught up on work. I'm pretty burnt out from photography right now, and I'm looking forward to a lighter schedule for the months to come.  I'm tired.

I think things are always so crazy around here because we (ok, maybe 'I') insist on still doing it ALL!

Andrew would have loved to just nap the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Like this…(hehe)

, but instead, I made everyone get up early so we could go meet Santa and his reindeer!

But Adalyn was NOT interested.

And frankly, the reindeer looked pissed about being there too.

She eventually started to warm up to them, and I thought we would then try a photo of the girls on Santa's lap.

Do not be fooled.  That look from Adalyn is not a happy scream.  At one point she actually kicked Santa (by accident, but still…) and Andrew and I jumped in to try and salvage something.  At least Santa could have smiled!! sheesh.

Ellie's face basically sums up her feelings about the "North Pole" trip. 

Last Friday, Andrew stayed home in the morning so we could go and get our Christmas tree.  I really, really, really, wanted to go cut one down at a real Christmas tree farm, but Andrew did his best to talk me out of another failed Christmas excursion - and he won.  Once again, we headed out to Stew Leonards for our pre-cut tree...in the rain.  Andrew was right, it was just about all our little family could handle.  These are not the faces of happy children.

I was not really feeling the Christmas Spirit at this point, so we quickly (in like 20 seconds) picked our tree.

 Yes, it is TINY because so is our living room.

  

It sure is pretty, and it smells wonderful.

Last Saturday, I spent the most glorious day, kid free, with my mommy friends in NYC.  It was AMAZING. I had to bring my pump along for the ride, but it really did feel like a day just for me.  I love these women so much and have met them all through church.  They are just like family and I don't know what I would do without them.  <3

These are almost all of our kiddos watching Rudolf last Thursday. 

On Tuesday, we had our first decent snowfall of the season and I had a snow day in with the girls.  I spent the better part of the morning trying to get some macro shots of snowflakes and was SO happy with the results.  That had to be my most difficult photography challenges to date and I know I want to practice more with manual focus and macro shots.

I felt bad that I left the girls  inside for at least an hour while I took pictures on the deck (I could see them and kept checking in), so after Adalyn's nap, Eloise got to experience her first snowfall and then we made our first snowlady! 

Eloise LOVED the snow (baby girl, these are your 8 month pictures for now.  A post with pictures is coming next )

As did Miss Adalyn is her new BRIGHT pink snowsuit.  

And if you noticed, yes, these are the same mittens from last year.  No, they do not still fit her, but she insisted. ;)

 Ummm, they are the best.  God is SO good.

And then on Wednesday, as part of our Newcomer's group in town, I took Adalyn on the Polar Express while Eloise stayed with our nanny.  The train was from our town to Stamford and back and they had milk and cookies - and Santa. Go figure that this time, she was totally into him.

Andrew and I are headed out to a big Christmas party in town tomorrow and then I fully plan on relaxing and enjoying the rest of the season. We are supposed to get a decent amount of snow tomorrow, so perhaps there will be more snow pictures to come.  Happy Weekend!