There's always a party

New Year's Eve is a weird birthday to have...There's always a party, but it's rarely for you. But...Mom always did a great job of making mine special, like having a breakfast birthday party at McDonald's with my name on the marquee....sound familiar?

At my age, birthdays are a bit overrated. Mine was a good one though.

It actually started yesterday, opening a few gifts at Becky's. My how my gift requests have changed...I now delight in anti-aging skin care...yikes!
Went to church together in the morning. Massage at the Estee Lauder spa at noon, thanks to my tennis gals.

Snacks and coffee at Breadwinner's with Tara, Melanie, Anne and Angela. There was much smiling and laughing, both from the company and the waiter. See Angela's post. It was really impromptu and I really appreciated them taking time out of their Sunday to share the time with me. I could have stayed all afternoon just laughing and talking.

These gals, and a few that I wish could have been there as well, have made my life so much richer just by knowing them. Thank you.And then there was the one that made this year the most incredible of my life...So, there couldn't be a more appropriate birthday gift crafted from Melanie's own talented hands, as a portrait of my Reece. It is so dear, and now a treasure for our family.Aggie bonfire perhaps? Nope, just the mass of candles that makes my birthday cake. It was nice and warm, though...
...and delicious!We ended the day reading Reece a new nursery book from Scottie and Nancy.Then we watched a movie and headed to bed just after the new year.
Happy Birthday to me.

Holiday on Ice

Ice skating at the mall today for Damon's 10th.

We waited for open skate.Reece walked around everywhere.He roamed around the mall, even pushing away my hand to hold a few times. Already growing up too fast. He loved the escalator...not quite grasping the concept of stepping off yet.
He is more adventurous every day...and sooooooo busy.
I am still just getting used to him taking steps on his own, often finding myself tearing up with pride and joy for my little boy....my sweet, sweet baby boy, who evidently is becoming something called a 'toddler'.Skating was a blast.
I really enjoyed racing around the rink with the kiddos and skating with my hubby. Damon and his friend Austin were really fast on their feet...and Dylan was pretty speedy himself. Michelle is so agile and did great for her very first skating experience. I heard big Damon ate it, but I missed that altogether. Reece missed his morning nap, getting tired and partial to momma there at the end. It was exhilarating though, and I felt a little younger today, which is good considering I am aging a whole year tomorrow...stink.Back to Grandmama's for presents and cake. Damon was a little crabby, but livened up later after a snot joke from Aunt Sundee. You can always get them with some bodily fluid humor...and you can usually count on me for that. : )Still recalling the Christmas feast, mom and I begged Becky for her incredible chocolate pie recipe. (Desserts is stressed backwards. Hidden meaning?...I think so!) After dinner, I always have some of her chocolate and pecan pie...both are slices of heaven. She whipped out this old recipe book, and it truly looked like a treasure.
Her desserts are sweet, but she is sweeter.

I love family time.

Little Red Riding Reece

Not red, not riding, and just in our hood, Reece still looked hilarious walking around the house with this basket of Christmas cards. It's amazing what each day brings right now...new found confidence and carrying things around.I missed the perfect shot with him actually drinking his milk, but this is a common kickin' back position for Reece...the arm, the ankles crossed, he's funny.Stood up without pulling up on something...only the first or second time he's done that...Yo baby yogurt is something he loves in the morning. I like the one with cereal in it, which has less sugar. Looks like he's saying, "Can we get some more of this?"

Walking Proof

Just a little glimpse into our walking boy...it is just wild how it clicks and then he goes!

(still haven't posted from Christmas or my year old sentimental mommy post...give me time, lots of time!!!)

Christmas

While Annie seems anxiously awaiting the celebration of gifts,
Lucy could care less about hers...
Daddy opening the gift from Reece...
an Orvis kids fly fishing setup, nicely embroidered with Reece's name on it. If you remember, Reece tried to prepare by reading the Orvis fly fishing guide a few months ago.Technically Reece will be using it,
but was most assuredly a gift for Darren.It truly touched his heart as I could see him imagining memories made with he and his son fishing together.
Reece is already so good at this gift giving thing.Tootie, still not feeling well, mustered up enough energy to open gifts with us on the couch. Reece was a good helper.He was still much more into the ball ornaments than the gifts.
He got just one this year from mom and dad...Requested a little help from dad...
He loved his new phone. It rings, records, and makes great noises.Playing "Wheeeere's Mommy" by the tree in his new airplane jammies from Grandmama...I can't think of anything cuter.
Other than the gift given by the one
whose birth we celebrate this day,
I cannot imagine any gift greater
than the one we brought home exactly 1 year ago. (birthday present from mom and dad)Merry, Merry Christmas Reece. You certainly made ours.

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve is always at Grandmama and Papa Ben's...Except last year of course, when just a two day old Reece was in the hospital with his Daddy and Momma. Back to the traditions this year...

Tootie got a little stomach bug or something and felt horrible all day. Sadly, we left her to rest as we headed to Grandmama's house for Christmas Eve. We ate a scrumptious meal and even more delicious desserts...the pecan and chocolate pies are always my fav. Reece had a wide selection including turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, broccoli rice casserole and more. But, I still had to break out the Veggie Booty to make it through the family meal.He was getting a little restless, but loves those spinach and kale veggie puffs.After dinner amongst all the activity,
Reece crawled to the corner and played with some tinsel.If you weren't sure what I meant by activity,
I think you can get a sense of it here...a literal sea of presents...
and this is just part of the loot....crazy!
Grandmama has a big heart for giving.Clearly Dylan needs some maroon from Aunt Sundee.Cousins Damon and Dylan got a ton of cool toys, yet I found them "sharing" Reece's Hammer Away toy. Last visit, they liked his stackable cups (Measure Up Cups). The grass is always greener!Reece showed off his new walking skills.The older boys were play wrestling...Reece came over to join in on the fun.Let's hear it for the boys...