Santa Clause

I was on top of it this year.  I took Jillian to meet Santa at Northpark on December 1st.  That's right, the 2nd day Santa was even available for photos.  So we show up at 10:30 thinking this will be a breeze.  Who else plans this far in advance and already has a Christmas outfit?  (Luckily Jillian got the MOST precious Christmas outfit from Nana's store over Thanksgiving, so we were ready.)  Oh, let me tell you there were TONS of kids there already.  I was number 65!  How can that be?  We were told maybe around noon we'd get a photo.  Not too bad.  So we walked around, carefully enjoyed Chick-fil-a for lunch, and went back around 11:45.  They were only on # 31!  But Santa's Helper said I could step in line anyways... thank goodness!

I had been prepping Jillian all morning that she would be meeting Santa and she'd sit on his lap all by herself like a big girl.  She pretended she understood and would shake her head in agreement, happy as can be. Well, look at how it turned out......

I think this picture is hilarious.  Does that make me a bad mommy?  I think photos like this are priceless.  Someone asked me if I was going to go back and re-meet Santa and hope for a better picture.  NO!!  I love this one!

Speaking of her outfit, we had a little photo shoot with Jill a few weekends ago trying to capture a great picture for our Christmas card.  I made the decision that since I was prego, and already in my head I think I'm enormous, that it would only be Jillian on the card this year.  

Here is the picture we decided to go with:

But what you didn't get to see is the rest of the outfit!  Check out that tutu.  Jeff is not really a fan of the tutu, but I remind him that this could be our only girl, so she's going to wear a tutu! 

Thanksgiving 2010

We had an incredible Thanksgiving with Jeff's family.  All the siblings were in, and it was so much fun to spend 5 days with everyone!  We have so much to be thankful for.

Debra took tons of pictures from the week (thank you again!).  She's SO talented I couldn't decide which pictures to leave out, so there are quite a few!  I took 2-3 photos below and you can definitely tell it ;)

Jillian with her Nana & Papa, right before Thanksgiving dinner.  28 people came over, and Jillian loved it!  She sat in Nana's lap happily entertained and stayed up way past her bedtime!

Our best attempt at a family photo.  Jillian was rather antsy.

Jillian also got to see her 2nd cousin Ashlyn during the week.  These 2 cuties were so fun to watch.

Jillian LOVED playing with the pool table.  

I think I slept in this morning; Debra took some great pictures of Jillian and her dad.

Aunt Lauren & Uncle Shale

Aunt Debra and her hubby Adir

Jillian has her own rocking chair at Nana & Papa's house, and she loved it!

Lovin' her PB&J sandwich.

We loved seeing all of Jeff's family for so many days over Thanksgiving.  Thank you again Debra for all the wonderful photos!!!  I love them!!  

BIG NEWS....

From a soon to be

BIG SISTER!!

Jeff and I so happy to announce that our family is growing to FOUR!!  Jillian will be a BIG SISTER in June!  Baby #2 is due TWO DAYS after Jillian's due date.  Jillian's due date was 6/26, but I had to be induced on 6/18.  Baby #2 is due 6/28!!  

Now you understand why I am been gone in the blog world the past 2 months.  Going through all the first trimester woes with an energetic toddler left me with no energy for blogging.  Or really much else, to be honest.  But I'm starting to get my energy back, and my stomach is settling.  

We should know the gender of our little one late January!  Jeff and I feel overwhelmingly blessed to have another child on the way.  Needless to say, our Cup is running over!

Playing Catch-up

I haven't abandoned the blog world - these past few months have been hectic.  So let's play catch-up!
Jillian had a great Halloween.  She was sick with a cold, and sadly didn't stay up long enough to go trick or treating.  She did love wearing her costume all day :)  She wouldn't stand still for one second to get a staged picture in her outfit.  So here's what we got from the day...

I didn't dress up for Halloween, but these 2 did.  Here's Jillian in her jammies and Jeff before all the trick or treaters showed up.

Next I'm working on a Thanksgiving post and Jillian already met Santa Claus this year!  WOW was this year TOTALLY different sitting on Santa's lap :)  Great picture to follow.

Introducing JADEN LEE BURDEN!

My wonderful sister Shelby and her husband Matt are PARENTS!!!!  I have the most handsome little nephew that I can't wait to get my hands on!  What an exciting few weeks this has been for my family - especially Shelby, Matt and baby Jaden!!  Check out this precious little one:

Born October 20th, at 7:19pm.

Weighing 6pds 11 oz

Jaden Lee Burden has no idea how blessed he is to have them as parents.  How many children can say their parents, grandparents and extended family have prayed fervently for years for them?   Truly, Jaden has been covered in prayers by not only our family, but so many friends for years.  What a blessed little boy!  And he doesn't even know it yet.  Some of you know (and thank you SO MUCH for your prayers) that after years of infertility and praying without ceasing, Shelby & Matt felt overwhelming peace that God was leading them to adoption.  I admire my sister and brother in law for never ever losing sight of God.  And what a perfect, precious, adorable baby boy He has now blessed them with!!!  Look at Jaden - he is perfect!!!    I could honestly go on and on about how excited I am for them.  How I'm beaming with joy at their little miracle!  Everyone is SO thankful for Jaden!

Here are a few more pictures of the handsome little man:

 Seriously.  Isn't he so darn cute?????

I'm hoping to make a trip to Colorado soon and meet sweet Jaden!!
What perfect timing from God - Jaden arrived just in time for all the Holidays!!!!  He is gonna get loved on so much!

Congrats Shelby and Matt.... now get cracking on a blog of your own.  I need to stalk your family :)

Little Pumpkins

This week we tagged along with Mariam and Leila to the Arboretum!  Our little pumpkins had fun in the pumpkin patch...

Trying to make them hold hands... 

 That didn't work, so we told them to hug each other....

Maybe Leila loved Jillian too much??

Down they went...

 I couldn't stop laughing.  Jillian, on the other hand, didn't think it was that funny.