Baptism

Reese was baptized on December 23.
Father Tim Luchen performed the ceremony.

It was a special day with special people.

Special people who all love Reese.

Reese especially liked the part of the ceremony when she was able to stick her fingers in daddy's mouth,

When loved ones signed a cross on her forehead,

and when she had a chance to play with mommy's necklace.

We weren't sure if she'd enjoy the holy water, but she didn't seem to mind it.

Maybe it reminded her of the baths she loves so much.

Whatever the reason, I believe her Aunt Tiffany was thankful she still loved her afterwards.

Reese with Father Tim.

He is such an amazing priest and friend to my dad.

I am very thankful he agreed to baptize Reese.

Reese with her Grandma and Grandpa Sanders.

Reese with her godmother.

Also known to her as Aunt Tiffany.

This is Reese's Great Uncle Mike.

He and my Aunt Pam gifted Reese her baptism gown.

They bought it for the child they never could have.

Reese with her Godfather, my dad, and her Nana Charlotte.

Papa Don and Nana Janell were there, too!

Reese had many cousins there and others as well.

I'm thankful she has so many wonderful people in her life to support her through it all.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I had two of my nieces stay the night a few weeks ago. 

I had purchased them gingerbread houses hoping they would enjoy crafting it up with me.

I was in luck, they did!

Reese didn't want to miss out on all the fun so I placed her in her highchair so she could watch her cousins create their candied houses.

Tayler's final creation.

Beautifully done if you ask me.

Karson's gingerbread house.

Equally as beautiful.

Between the start and finish of our crafting we took the girls to Irma's Burger Shack for dinner and then to look at Christmas lights at Cheaspeake Energy.

The lights get prettier every year.

Tayler wanted a picture taken in front of a blue tree.

Her favorite color.

Karson wanted to stand by a pink tree.
This is no surprise since this girl loves pink!
Just call this girl Pinkalicious.

I just wanted a family picture.

And a bunch of close ups of my baby girl.

To end our girls' night we got in our pajamas and watched The Polar Express.
I love this Christmas movie.

Thanks for an awesome night Tayler, Karson, and Reese!
It was a special evening.
Hopefully we have many more together.

11

Reese turned 11 months old last Thursday.

Right now this girl has two loves.
I am not talking about Joe and I, unfortunately.

Love number 1 = puppets.
You're golden if you can put on a good puppet show.
Kinda like Papa Bear did the other day.

Love number 2 = dogs.
Reese tries to say dog, but she can't pronounce the "g".
Her and I know what she's saying though.
And that's all that matters.

She loves dogs so much, in fact, that her 1st birthday party is going to be a DOG THEME!
Here's the invitation.
The dog's head moves. It's the cutest thing.

I am going to have a blast planning this bash!
Can you believe she's turning 1 year old next month?
Yea, me either!

Red Cake Day

Red Cake Day has occurred the last three years, or so.
The women on my mother's side meet to celebrate.

Celebrate Christmas, celebrate my grandma Carol, celebrate our love of red velvet cake.
We eat, visit, laugh, exchange gifts, and are merry.

Reese was able to attend, out of the womb, this year.

My Grandma Carol was a great cook.
I loved it best when she made Red Velvet Cake.
Her icing wasn't the usual white, which made it special.

First, the ingredients are mixed.

Then, poured in cake tins.

After the cakes cool

they are placed on a cake plate.

My new sister Amy, a baker, was there to help us out.

Then it's time for the best part. 

The icing of course!

This years' batch was the best yet.

So delicious you have to sneak a finger taste.

When we weren't baking we were...

gathered around my Aunt Christi's fireplace,

or catching up.

Reese caught up on some reading

and was swung around by her Nana

again

and again!

Wheeeee!

My Grandma Carol is loved and missed.
We honor her memory on Red Cake Day!

Peek a Boo

Reese loves playing Peek a Boo lately.

I love watching her play it.

This girl cracks me up!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

CHRISTMAS!

Better known as my favorite time of the year!

We started a new family tradition this year. 

We went to Martin Bird Tree Farm and picked out a real Christmas tree!

There's something special about having a real tree.

The smell maybe?

Joe and Reese by our first real Christmas tree!

All loaded up on top of the car with my cutie inside.

When it was time to light the tree Reese wanted to help.

A little too much actually.

The tree all lit up!

Notice someone pulling on the string of lights?

Yea, momma's little helper alright!

All decorated with ribbon and ornaments.

Some one's stoked about their first Christmas!

I don't blame her.

After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year!

Sock It

It seems like Reese has been teething non stop lately.

Two more upper teeth have broken through.

And it looks like two more are a cookin'.

How is Reese dealing with all this teething?

By sucking on socks of course!

Teething can SOCK IT!

She's got it whipped!