Santa!

On Friday, Ray, Emmett and I taking our first family trip to Georgia to celebrate Christmas with my family there (woohooooo!), so we had an early Christmas with Ray's side of the family this weekend. I had so much fun opening presents with Emmett for the first time, even though he just wanted to eat all of them. His grandparents spoiled him of course, but his favorite gift was the wrapping paper. :)

Hangin out in his new BabyBjorn! 

After we opened presents, Santa made an appearance!

Isn't this the cutest hat you've ever seen?

So far so good...

Have I mentioned I'm so excited for Emmett's first Christmas??

Emmett's First Christmas Tree!

This past weekend, we picked up our Christmas tree! This is an outing I look forward to all year, although buying a Christmas tree in Arizona is a VERY different experience than what I'm used to in Georgia. Back home my family goes to this beautiful tree farm in the middle of nowhere, where they drink hot apple cider, take hay rides, and choose the perfect tree to be plucked out of the ground and tied to the top of their car. Doesn't that sound dreamy? In Arizona, we go to Costco... Where we pick up a hotdog or a slice of pizza, drink a Coca Cola, and choose the perfect tree from the back of a semi parked on the side of the building. Then we struggle for an hour to tie the chosen one to the top of our car (in 80 degree heat!). It's different for sure, but it's still fun and I've learned to love it just the same.

Of course this year is even more special, since this is Emmett's first tree! Everything about the holidays is better this year. It's so much fun to carry out our family traditions now that we have a little family of our own.

There are so many things I love about Christmas trees- the smell of pine filling my home, the soft twinkle lights sparkling in the other room as we prepare dinner or bathe the baby, but the thing I love most is decorating the tree. I'm just a tiiiiiiiny bit obsessed with Christmas ornaments, so unpacking all of my favorites is like.. well, it's like Christmas!!

I'm making an effort to take tons of pictures of all of our "firsts" with Emmett, for posterity's sake, as well as for your viewing pleasure. :)

Yes, that's a Jiffy Lube in the background...

Baby Emmett was mesmerized watching Daddy put up lights.

Emmett "helping".

Here are a few of my favorite ornaments!

My sweet friend Bridget made this for Ray and I- she cut up our wedding invitation and twirled the
pieces inside an ornament. Such a sweet gift!

Aren't these guys so cute? My grandmother gave them to us when we were engaged. :)

A souvenir from our honeymoon.

And a souvenir from when I lived in London. 

Merry Christmas everyone!!

5 Months!

My baby is 5 months old. 5 MONTHS! He's getting so big, and he seriously get's cuter every day. Every new thing he does is so funny and exciting, and Ray and I are having so much fun with him.

I used to tell Ray that I wished Emmett was a "forever baby". When he was little tiny it was hard for me to imagine him getting bigger, and I wanted him to stay tiny and snuggly forever. But now, I have to admit, he gets better every day!

He has become super interested in everything that Ray and I do- he loves to watch us talk, eat, cook, whatever. He laughs and laughs at us and our hearts break at how cute he is. It's pretty great.

My new favorite thing he does- every morning when we are waking up I bring him into bed with me and he lays there and "touches" my face. I say "touches" in quotes because he's mostly scratching and grabbing and pulling my hair, but it's the absolute sweetest part of my day. He is all boy- wild and a little violent (in that baby boy way) and stinky and so silly.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I can't wait until he is sitting up, and then crawling all over the house, and then walking and talking one day. Gah!

Here are a few pics, so you can watch him grow. :)

(Go Dawgs!)

Holiday Gift Guide: Christmas gifts for everyone on your list

I LOVE giving Christmas gifts. I love everything about it- I spend weeks searching for the perfect gift for everyone on my list, and once I find them, I spend hours wrapping them. My dad is a gift-wrapping expert- he spends practically every extra minute over the weeks leading up to Christmas posted at our dining room table, with scissors in one hand and Scotch tape in the other. I learned from the best, and wrapping presents is definitely one of my favorite parts of Christmas!

I've been scouring the internet for great gift ideas (who has time to actually GO shopping??), and I've come across some pretty awesome gifts, so I wanted to share a few of my favorites here. Happy shopping!

1. This would make a really great stocking stuffer for that friend (or spouse) who always seems to lose track of their car keys!

Magnet Key Chain $16.95

2. Another stocking stuffer, for pretty much everyone on your list. I can think of about 3,000 ways this might come in handy, and at only $9.99 for a 10-pack, you can afford to buy one for everyone!

All-purpose Rubber Band + Hook $9.99

3. For the world traveler on your list, these packing cubes are a must-give! Super useful, and come in a ton of colors.
Luggage Packing Cubes $17.49 for a 3-pack

4. One more stocking stuffer, perfect for every man on your list. This tiny tool includes a small flat screwdriver, medium flat screwdriver, cross screwdriver, pry bar, wire stripper, lanyard hole, and bottle opener. Not bad for only $6.99!
Keychain Multi Tool $6.99

5. For the coffee drinker in your life, this beautiful glass coffee maker will look good on your counter while it makes the perfect cup of joe. Comes in 3, 6, 8 and 10-cup sizes.
Glass Coffee Maker $34.95 - $42.95

6. For the lover of fine whiskey, who also loves tradition (with a twist!).
Whiskey Advent Calendar $241.34

7. These next two are perfect for the newly married couple on your list.
Mr. & Mrs. Cocktail Glasses $18 

8. Doesn't this look cozy? It makes me want to sleep under the stars (maybe with that Whiskey Advent Calendar in tow?)
Double Sleeping Bag $119.93 (on sale!)

9. For the amateur chef. Given only on the condition that there will be many delicious meals made for you in the future. ;)
Windowsill Herb Garden $37.95

10. For baby's first Christmas! Isn't this the sweetest?? I want one for Emmett so bad. Find coupons here!
Mini Book of Names & Faces $29.99