The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I'm not really sure how to even begin this post.....I can't hardly describe how humbled and thankful we are for such amazing family and friends. We have had the absolute best holiday to date! We traveled to KC on the Friday before Christmas and didn't have to leave until the 30th! It was awesome!! Granted, it was still hectic and busy and included lots of driving but we were also able to spend days at a time with our parents and siblings and it was sooooo nice to be able to do that....to just rest and relax (on our vacation no less!) A few days out of the trip, we were able to visit with some friends and that was super nice to as we rarely get to see them. Mellany did happen to get an ear infection on Christmas Eve so we made a trip to my childhood doctor. While the circumstances weren't great (at all!--think screaming, crying child!) it was cool to have my childhood doctor (he actually delivered me!) meet & treat my little girl. She recovered from the infection rather quickly and she was back to her normal spunky self! 

Mellany was starting to get the hang of opening presents and ripping the paper but because she spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day sick she didn't get to see Santa or really open all that many gifts. And boy, did that girl get some amazing gifts. From handmade items to riding toys and books and everything in-between.....she got some excellent gifts! (She's not spoiled or anything!) For me the most amazing thing about this holiday was to watch her interact with our families. That girl is SO loved and it is awesome to see how much she loves them too.

All in all, we were sad to leave our family & friends, but it was oh so nice to be home! We spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day unpacking, un-boxing and assembling all of our Christmas goodies! Johnny's first day back to work was today and it was hard to see him leave this morning. It has been so nice having him around and I know that Mellany has enjoyed it too! For now, it is back to the daily routine. We don't plan on making a trip to KC until May for my cousin's graduation. In-between now and then, I'll be making a trip to Maryville, MO for a baby shower and we will all be traveling to Columbia, MO to buy a new truck! While we have a few exciting things happening in the next 6 months or so, it will be nice to hang around Kearney and enjoy being at home! :) 

She's officially a "big girl"....she's facing FORWARD! She absolutely LOVED it!

KC here we come!

Mellany with her free balloon from the doctor's office. These balloons aren't given out anymore but Dr. Fish said he had a secret stash for his "old" patients :) I used to get these balloons as a kid and loved them too!

Christmas Eve with the Barrett Family!

Mellany rubbing Daxton's shoulder

Christmas morning stockings

A little Baby Einstein on Christmas morning

Daxton loves his truck that we got him!

Mellany helping me with my stocking

Mellany's new ball pit! (Daxton liked it too!)

Christmas Day with Grammy Jones

Mellany found a gift!

Mellany talked Aunt Mae-Mae into watching Baby Einstein....again....

Daddy snoozin...

She loves her Elmo from Grammy

Day after Christmas with the Joneses

Mellany's new 4-wheeler....we weren't sure about this one because Mellany is pretty "reserved" and easily intimidated by things of this nature but she got on it the first time and pushed that button like she had rode it a million times.....her face is priceless!

Dominos with Grandpa and Teresa

Pushing around her baby in her new stroller

Fun with Grammy

Chloe & Mellany playing "drums"

Piano time with Nana.....this girl is bound to be a musician of some sort...she LOVES music!

Reading at her new table!

...and having tea!

We hope that everyone had as great of a holiday as we did! We are so excited to see what 2013 will bring! 

"Laundry Sniffer"

Mellany really likes to help me put clothes in the dryer. One day, she decided that she really need to make sure the clothes were clean...so this is what she does to ensure they are lol...

{{Somewhat}} Wordless Wednesday

Mellany just LOVES her babies! She carries them around, pats them on the back and hugs and kisses them like crazy. Funny how they learn this stuff at such a young age. 

Her very own Christmas card from Uncle Raymond and Aunt Nina!

Daddy's Girl!

Happy girl with her Truman

Mama & Mellany

Lazy Sunday Morning....

We hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas with safe travels! I can't wait to see what Santa brings for Mellany! :-) 

[{Somewhat}] Wordless Wednesday!

Nothing super eventful going on here at the moment (ahhh...it's nice to breathe isn't it?!). We are definitely gearing up for a great Christmas with family and friends and just taking it slow until then. Johnny and I were BOTH sick with the stomach flu last weekend so we are getting back into the daily routine slowly but surely. Mellany is making some huge developmental changes lately....a few words added to the vocabulary, labeling items, playing lots of games and one day we swear that during naptime she grew a couple inches; just to name a few. It is such a neat stage...it might actually be my favorite! 

Hope everyone has a great 12-12-12!!

I missed this shot (of course) but it was so cute...Mellany was laying down right next to Bo and just talking his head off.....I think it's still a pretty cute picture of Bo-Bo though. 

I kid you not; recently one evening, Mellany walked over to the end table, grabbed the remote, sat down turned the channel to Frosty the Snowman, laid the remote down and began reading her book. Luckily, I caught that one on camera....

Doesn't she look like such a big girl?! :( 

Last night's dinner was eventful to say the least. As I was feeding Mellany her applesauce she began to point at it and get really fussy. I had no idea what she was wanting...I thought she just wanted more applesauce. But that wasn't solving the issue and eventually she was flat out bawling! Finally, I caught on and realized that she wanted the spoon....she wanted to feed herself!! (Duh, right?!) So, our big girl began "feeding" herself. She never did get much applesauce on the spoon so it took quite a while, but man, she was sure proud!

Eventually, she tipped the bowl up like she was going to drink it, took a nibble and then sat it back down. It was so cute and of course I missed the photogenic moment. But, determined to get the shot when she did it again, I sat with the camera in my lap ready at a moment's notice. And well, the shot came......as soon as she lifted that little bowl, I pressed down on the button and before the flashes were over, this is what I got: 

....time for the floor tarp! It was a disaster! 

This isn't the greatest shot either (man, I think I need a lesson or two based off of today's pics!) but I thought it was adorable...Mellany playing dolls with Bo :) She just loves her "puppy"!

It's been a while...

...since I last posted much of anything. I figure that's ok though since most of you that are on here are looking for a Mellany picture "fix" anyway. :)

We have been super busy through early fall but things are starting to finally calm down. Harvest came and went and we are really enjoying having Johnny around more often now ;-) Our birthdays were exactly what we had hoped for and halloween was even more fun this year than last! I took my first trip away from the two loves of my life; I went to Omaha with my friend Adrienne for a MOPS conference and some Christmas shopping. It was refreshing for sure, but I missed my babes! Mellany got sick a few weeks before Thanksgiving (like, laying in my arms all day sick) but fortunately she got over it pretty quick and we were able to catch our breath before thanksgiving and thoroughly enjoyed our trip to KC. Mellany got her top 2 teeth on Thanksgiving day so the day was pretty eventful (ahem, full of screaming) to say the least. But, by the late afternoon she was doing great! The drive to and from KC couldn't have gone better and other than the fact that Johnny and I got Mellany's previous sickness on black friday, the trip was really great and we were able to enjoy every minute! (I even did some black friday shopping--sickness and all!)

At this point we are enjoying every minute of Mellany's development and soaking her up as much as we can. Time really does seem to be going too fast (just like we were warned!) so more and more, we are trying to just sit and take it all in.  The Barrett's are super excited for Christmas and can't wait to celebrate with family! We've pulled out all the Christmas decor and it makes me happy to see Mellany playing with some of my old Christmas items. This year will be so fun watching her open presents and such.....I'm sure it will just keep getting more fun!

Here are a few more recent shots. I did a terrible job taking pictures at Thanksgiving...I'm hoping to at least get a couple of shots over Christmas!

Miss. M helping out at the front desk with Kaitlin at Just for Ladies Gym

Spending some quality time with da-da while mama is away...

Sick baby girl :(

Mellany found my Santa! I've had him since I was a kid.

Watching Baby Einstein in her new Christmas chair

Lydia & Mellany reading

This picture just makes my heart melt. As Mellany is able to wander and explore on her own, I find it hard to sometimes let her do so. Well, I decided that one day while I was finishing up some dishes I would let her wander/explore. I just knew that as soon as I went into her room, I would find a disaster. This is what I found....my sweet baby sitting on her changing pad, reading....definitely taught me a lesson for sure!

...the next time I came in, this is what I found. She had turned on the TV (baby einstein of course) and demolished her room :) She was so happy that she could turn on her baby einstein though!