Playing Catch-up

What a whirlwind December and January! I was deep in the throes of planning a gorgeous January 24th wedding and having a lot of fun doing it. More on that later, complete with photos! So, I've just now gotten to my Christmas photos...Mickey, Jacob and I had a great Christmas this year. It may not look like it, but we DID scale back on the gift giving. We have overdone it in years past. Here's some photos of our Christmas celebrations, both with our local family and at home on Christmas Day! I'm leaving out the photos of my niece, Ava in her birthday suit..lol...after all the celebrations on Christmas Eve, she decided she wanted to run into the Great Room with just her frilly socks and black patent shoes and say, "I'm NAAAKKEDDD!" But I have to say it was hilarious! Enjoy!

Jacob got his first set of REAL golf clubs!

Notice Ava's squinty eyes!

Here are the Reece's.. My mom's side of the family...we get together every year!

You can't see it in this photo, but Papaw Gil got him a Lite Brite...do you remember those!?? I loved mine when I was little!

From Granny Lanny!

From Auntie Tina, "Fireman Mike" and Jessica...

We're Having a Girl!

Imagine our surprise (for those of you who know us well!) when the ultrasound showed us on Monday that we were having a little girl!! We feel so blessed by this miracle! I think Mickey and I both were expecting a boy...and why, I'm not sure (thanks to Mickey's Dad!). But my favorite reaction was that of our son, Jacob. He had "requested" a little sister all along, and when we told him the news, he said "Alright! I win! Yes!" with all the joy a 5 year old big brother could muster! Well, congratulations Jacob...yes, you win. As we all do...thank you Lord!

Baby New Year Maier! (well, almost!)

This Auntie and Uncle are PROUD to announce that Beck Lachlan Maier arrived at 1:46 AM on New Year's Eve weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long!! He was an early New Year's Eve present to all of our family and we love him so much already! He's SO CUTE! Mommy Kristi and Daddy Mark are doing great and are at home with him now. Big sister Ava Grace is super excited and loves to show Baby Beck off to everyone. She loves to touch him and hold him and kiss on him...sweet! Our son, Jacob, who is off having some fun at the beach with his Nana and Papaw, will get to meet his new cousin next week. Beck's so sweet and cuddly that it's hard for us to stay away til then...especially Uncle Mickey, who is completely smitten!! Here are some photos taken of Baby Beck on his first full day. Congrats Kristi, Mark and Ava!! Welcome Baby Beck!
Mickey, in training for our upcoming arrival...

This is just about an hour after he was born...
All cleaned up and sleepy...
How neat...Beck looks like he's smiling in this one!
Proud Mimi and Poppy...

Ava Grace loves "Baby Beck"... and so does Granny Nanny...

Fall Family Portraits

Instead of sending photos out this year via Christmas cards, I decided to let technology do it for me. In October, Mickey, Jacob and I had family portraits made by McCardell Photography. If you follow this blog or my website, you know I am a big fan of Renee and Jonathan's work and we were really excited to have them do the honors this year! Also, my sister's family joined us for some shots as well. You'll see Kristi, VERY pregnant (who at this posting is currently in the hospital in LABOR!!) and her husband, Mark and their 2 1/2 year old, Ava. Jacob and Ava had a blast getting to be themselves and we love our photos! Special thanks to McCardell Photography for (ONCE AGAIN!) phenomenal photos and for braving the cold with us to get these special memories! Hopefully my next post will be of "Baby New Year Maier"!!

Jacob at The Polar Express

This past weekend, Mickey, Jacob and I went to Bryson City, NC to the Great Smoky Mountain Railway to hop aboard The Polar Express. If you've ever seen the movie you know it's really great! If not, now's the perfect time of the year to rent it. Jacob enjoyed himself and loved seeing Santa and asking for "Star Wars stuff". And of course he received the sleigh bell at the end of his trip for "believing"! The big hit for Mickey and myself was the Train Museum with the model trains on display. One display was MASSIVE and as you can see in the following photos, some of the details are very realistic. There were power lines, waterfalls, trestles, a school, a make-believe car accident... on and on. It was really something to see. Jacob was looking forward to this for a long time and we're glad we could share in his Christmas joy!!