Oh Christmas TREE!!

The girls have been SOOO excited for Christmas this year. Last year we had no tree and activities were limited (all totally worth it tho). So this year we were all anxious to do some decorating. We broke down and bought an artificial tree. Ive had a live tree since I married Mike and it has been fine. However, live trees bring problems that I didnt care to deal with in a new home and with a mobile baby. So the girls and I went to choose a tree...and we had a lot of fun! The tree has been up for a few days and they have been DYING to decorate it. In fact they have just found weird things around the house to hang on it because I was not pulling out the decorations fast enough. So today is the DAY!! My RS christmas party was last night and life has resumed to normal. Mike is working for the next 48 hours straight so we need a fun activity!I wanted to post a before and after shot of the tree. I was so tempted to buy decorations to have a 'decorated tree' this year. But until we can put up a second tree in the basement for all of our christmas collectable ornaments (you know the ones)...they will be on this tree. So here is our kick off to the Christmas season!! We love this season!!! Anyone else have their tree up yet?????

James is 9 months....TOTALLY late!!

Ok...Im sooooooo late on the 9th month post! Busy month! James has learned so much this month! Everyday he wakes up and seems to figure out a new trick! The first was crawling...he had been on the brink for weeks...and just finally took off one day..and hasnt stopped. Changing diapers and dressing has become really fun..because as soon as you lay him down...he twists and races away! The girls think it is hilarious...especially when he is NAKED!! What could be cuter than a little naked baby crawling around!! It then didnt take him long to find the STAIRS!! OH my! I had to add a soft gushy rug at the bottom so if he stumbled he would have some padding! The girls are great at encouraging this new trick ...they coax him up! But they are also good at following behind in case of balance issues! His latest trick is standing up!!! This one cracks me up because everytime he gets up he has this look of pure excitement on his face as he sees his world from a whole new angle! I just sat down to work this morning...and he comes crawling around and pulls up right beside me with this HUGE GRIN!! So cute! This has been an adventurous month for sure. We are all kept on our toes as we madly search for choking hazards everywhere we go...thus the late post...Ive been busy chasing JAMES!!!