What happens when you sneeze with a mouthful of carrots?

Christmas Highlights

These pictures are truly Christmas "highlights" ... a very few of the 200+ we made. It was truly a wonderful week. We started out in Humboldt last weekend, eventually travelling to Jackson, Lexington, Gatlinburg and Farragut before spending the entire day Christmas day in our own home. Steve and I have not pulled off that feat since we've been married!

Samantha, no surprise, did amazing, despite the fact that she was off schedule and way overstimulated at times. This week solidified our belief that we have the best baby in the world. Samantha also did well in the gift department, though she would have just as soon had the paper. I'll put up more photos later, but here a few we wanted to share. We hope your Christmas was as blessed as ours!

In front of Mommy and Daddy's tree before our road trip started.

A very happy Big Guy and Grammy.

At the "Christmas Tree" house ... 38 trees that put ours to shame!

Pumped up about her first trip to Los Portales, Mommy's favorite mexican restaurant.

Visiting with Aunt Teddie, Gran's little sister.

With her favorite Uncle Johnny.

With her Great-Grandma in her very own rocking chair.

Partying in the paper ... forget the gifts!

All smiles with Wawa and Papaw.

Checking out her loot from Santa.

Trying to decide what to play with next!

Enjoying Christmas day with Will and Caroline.

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus ... his birthday cake was homemade by Jerry Lee right off the pages of Southern Lady magazine. Thanks JL!

Merry Christmas!!

Samantha would like to wish the loyal readers of amy-n.blogspot.com a very Merry Christmas! We are looking forward to many more adventures with our little miracle in 2009. Blessings!

Christmas Happenings, Part 1

Christmas is in full swing here at amy-n.blogspot.com. Hard to believe, but we will be packing up the sleigh and heading to West Tennessee this weekend for the first of our festivities. Where in the world does time go?

Aside from not liking ol' Saint Nick, young Samantha seems pretty taken with what is going on around her. While she is fascinated by our tree, she is more intrigued with the lights across the street, which truly rival the Griswolds. They are classic. We make a nightly trip to the living room window so she can see them in all of their glory. There may be an inflatable Santa Claus yard ornament in our future at this rate.

She's still not mobile, so we haven't worried about her getting into the presents. But she loves, loves, loves the paper. I spent an hour wrapping one afternoon and kept her occupied with a scrap of paper and the empty roll. It was all she needed. Samantha is also being hit full force with my love of Christmas music. It is all we listen to these days. Her favorite, sadly, seems to be Eric Cartman's rendition of O Holy Night, though she is also partial to the Chipmunk Christmas song.

I hope to be better about sharing with you the wonder of the season as we experience it through the eyes of a child. I have been struck more than once that Jesus started out just like Samantha ... relying on someone else for his every need. I suppose I always knew it, but holding my sweet miracle it has touched my heart all the more. What an amazing God we serve. May we not lose signt of that in the madness of the holidays!

Samantha's pretty fired up about Mommy and Daddy's new coffeemaker.

A candid pose ... and one of my all-time favorite photos.

Ready for her first holiday party with Mommy.

Her first party, with Mommy's old work cronies - Ruth, Jerry and Kathleen.

Bundled up for an outing, in one of Daddy's baby blankets made by the original Wawa.

Enjoying her new favorite toy, a water bottle.

Hanging out and admiring the tree.

Fantasy of Trees

When Mom and Dad were in town for Thanksgiving, we all went to the annual Festival of Trees so Samantha could see the lights and meet Santa. Here are some photos from the big day.

Waiting in line to meet Santa. Samantha is blissfully unaware of the tragedy about to befall her.

Samantha + Santa = not happy!!

Sleeping on her very first carousel ride.

Posing with Mommy in one of the displays ... before we saw the sign that said "please do not enter the display area." Oops.

Checking out lights with Big Guy and Grammy.

A happy little girl, pre-Santa.

Wondering where the heck she is and what the heck is going on.

With Grammy at the entrance.

Papaw's Birthday

For those of you counting, Jerry Lee celebrated his 60th birthday last month. (I'm waaaaaaay behind with my blogging.) Since the center of attention, Samantha, goes to bed at 7, we had a little shindig here at the house. We could have gone to McDonalds and Jerry would have been happy as long as Samantha was with him! Here are some photos from his big day.

Samantha helping blow out the candles.

With Wawa and Papaw

Watching Papaw's video with him, a gift put together by yours truly.

Samantha inspects Papaw's new picture frame by licking it.

Helping read the card.

The guest of honor with his favorite granddaughter.