Happy New Year!

I woke up this morning with a really bad pinched nerve in my neck. So bad I was crying every single time I tried to move. SO THANKFULLY Skip was off of work today and I was able to just lay around on the couch and he took care of Little M and everything in the house. He even brought me home the most beautiful pink bouquet of flowers, and shoveled out our whole driveway! {because we woke up to all this snow we didn't even know we were getting!}

Thankfully our New Year's plans were very low key, and my neck pain didn't change any of them. After Little M went to sleep we ordered in some Italian take-out and watched 'Four Christmases' {very funny and enjoyable!} Now we are flipping around on TV {umm, and blogging!} and awaiting the new year. We will then immediately be going to bed as Skip has to be up for work at 5:00 am!! I am just so thankful that he is home with me tonight and we are spending our New Year's all alone {first time ever! He is normally working, or we are with friends}

2009 was a wonderful year for us, and I am excited to see what a new year and a new decade will bring to our family. Happy New Year everyone!

A Year in Review

Here's a little review in pictures from my year in 2009!

January

Little M got to watch her very first Superbowl {and no the Giant's weren't actually in it!}

And Skip turned 27!

February

First Valentine's Day with my love

March

First family trip to the beach

April

Little M had her first real taste of solid food

Celebrated her first Easter

And went to her first Draft Day at Giant's Stadium

May

We spent the warm days taking walks and relaxing as a family. Little M got much better at tummy time!

June

Little M was baptized and welcomed into our church

And she took her first solo trip to the beach with Mommy!

July

First Fourth of July

First trip to the zoo

Skip and I celebrated four years of wedded bliss

And we took many more road trips to the beach

August

First time in a baby pool

Little M began to crawl!

September

Little M became extremely more mobile and we had to think of creative ways to keep her contained!

October

Little M picked and 'carved' her first pumpkin

I celebrated my 27th {23rd haha} birthday!

First Halloween as a bear

November

Just walking around

First Thanksgiving

Our baby turns ONE!

Such a big girl

December

We reinstated our annual Christmas party

Full time walker!

Christmas baby

I can't wait to see what 2010 brings to our little family!

Decorating Our Tree

Okay, so this post is REALLY late, but better late than never! Every year since I was born, my mother has gotten me an ornament to put on the Christmas tree. It always signified something important that had happened the previous year. My mom still gives me an ornament each year and sometimes I get another one for myself! I have also carried this tradition on with Little M for the past two years. Here is a little chronicle of me decorating our tree this year and some of my more important ornaments.

The tree before decorations {check out our very fancy gate to keep Little M from pulling all the ornaments off, haha}

All the ornaments

Of course I have several Giant's ornaments!

Patriotic / military ornaments

Our two bulldog ornaments...I realized this year that I have none for Shiba Inu...I'll have to rectify that next year!

Little M's first year ornament{on the left} and my first ornament

Skip's and my first Christmas together 2005

I once wrote to Santa and asked that if he was real to open all my heart ornaments on Christmas morning

He did!

Meredith 'helping' Mommy

Waiting to put this year's ornament on the tree

Finished product!

Christmas!

Okay, so this post is a little late, but I've just been so tired and busy recently, so sorry! We had a wonderful Christmas day, spending time as a family {at least until Skip had to go to work that afternoon:( } Little M and I also got to enjoy a nice dinner with my family. It was a wonderful second Christmas for Little M!

Family Christmas photo

Love this guy!

Santa came!

All of Little M's gifts

Playing with her new farm from Grandma and Grandad

Kisses from Mommy

Singing

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. We visited with my Grandma in the morning and went to my parent's house for dinner that night. Little M had a great time because she got to eat her very first {mini} ice-cream cone and got to open her presents from her Aunt E. She was *ecstatic* to receive the new Elmo Live Encore. It is definitely one of her favorite toys! Here are some pictures from all evening. All of them are taken by my bog sister L. I *love* her photography skills!

Sticking out her tongue

Just hanging out

Princess M

My loves

Santa baby!

Ice cream cone!

Opening her gifts

She's very excited!

Pure joy

Her face says it all!