Happy Birthday Jesus!

Every Christmas is special...but this Christmas will be one we will NEVER forget...it was our first Christmas as a family of three...and it couldn't have been more perfect!!! We spent the day grateful for all the joys and blessings in our lives...Happy Birthday Jesus...we PRAISE you!

Brad and I woke up SUPER early on Christmas morning...we were so excited to spend the day with Naaman Jack that we couldn't wait for him to wake up! I went and got him out of his crib and put him in bed with us...we LOVED every minute of our cuddle time...he LOVES mornings!

Naaman's first Christmas present ever was a BOB stroller...thank you Daddy! Now all Mom needs to do is to get running...

This is a rare occurence in North Texas...but 2009 was a WHITE Christmas...that's right, we had snow!!! First time that's happened around here in 90 something years...

Laura Jean and Naaman Jack...

Uncle Tony, Aunt June, and Laura Jean...

Popi and Naaman Jack...

Nana and Popi with Naaman Jack...

Nana's birthday is also on Christmas Day...we were SO glad she was here to celebrate with us...we love you Nana...

Uncle Jer...

Naaman was pooped by the end of the day...

Christmas Eve...

We spent Christmas Eve at my sister's house...Daddy left work early and we just hung out and then went to Christmas Eve service at University Christian Church...when we were exiting the church it was like a blizzard outside...literally, it was snowing CRAZY!!!

Si Si with Laura Jean...she is so excited we let her play with Naaman Jack's toy rings...

We were all cheering her on as she took a few steps...she was SO proud of herself!!!

NaNa and Naaman Jack...

Brad decided to take a little nap after dinner...we had Beef Bourguignon and he said it made him sleepy...I think it was the Crown & Cokes that made him sleepy...NOT the dinner!!!

A few new pics...

I am really bad about posting pictures...but here is what our little man was up to in November...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this series of pictures...it is amazing how much he is growing and changing every day!

Naaman has really become fond of his thumb! He prefers a paci...or puckey as we like to call it...during the day, but at night he is fine with just finding his thumb...which makes life easy for Mom!!! This is often how we find him in his crib...

Naaman and Crew...best buds in the making...

Aren't they so cute? They are creating their own secret "man" hand-shake already!!!

Notice how serious they both are...

Hanging out with Daddy...watching the Clemson Tigers play football...we start 'em early around here!

Naaman's Newborn Pictures!!!

Naaman's First Syndicate...

Here is Naaman at the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate...we start 'em early around here!!!

Aunt Lolo comes to visit...

Brad's sister Laura came from Clemson to visit. We had such a great time!!! We started out at The Ginger Man for some beer drinking on Thursday night. We had to take her to our favorite little hole in the wall...Fortuna...for some good Italian eats. Here is a picture of Naaman's first experience at Lonesome Dove...He REALLY loved the wine...


Naaman was all smiles for his Aunt Lolo...



Saturday night we went to a friend's house for some BBQ...we also watched the TCU football game on a huge big screen...they creamed Utah...


I love how Jeb and Kylie had to be right there with Laura as she was giving Naaman some lovin'...

Naaman's First Bottle...

At 9 weeks old it was finally time for Naaman to have his first bottle. Brad has been asking me for quite some time now if he could feed him. It was VERY hard for me to let go and do this but I figured it needed to be done in case of an emergency and I was unable to feed him for whatever reason. Naaman did great! It was MUCH harder on me than it was him...

2 Months Old...

WOW...I can't say it enough...Naaman is growing up WAY too fast!!! I cannot believe it's already been 2 months since our precious baby arrived into this world. At his check-up he weighed 10 pounds, 8 ounces and was 22 3/4 inches...putting him in the 25th percentile for weight and 50th for height. A lot has happened since I last updated...

*Naaman is now sleeping in his crib...IN HIS OWN ROOM! This was a big step for me...and I worried a lot about it...but he had no problems at all. It was more of an adjustment for me than him.

*He is awake A LOT now during the day.

*His eyes are looking around and he's moving his head following objects or voices...and his neck is VERY strong.

*The little man LOVES lights!

*He is a big fan of bath time...or should I say shower time...we give him his baths in the kitchen sink and turn on the faucet to "spray mode"...he eats it up!!!

*He's also a big fan of being naked on his changing table. He kicks his legs like a mad man and smiles and coos, but...the minute I put a diaper on him and get him dressed he stops...it's the cutest thing!

*He's been smiling since he was 3 weeks old but now he does it ALL THE TIME and we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!

*So...he really likes his paci, or "puckey" as his NaNa calls it, and has taken it really well until just recently, but...he now prefers his right hand. I find him sucking on it non-stop!

*Naaman Jack still really enjoys his walks...and being outside in general. We are still working on the Baby Bjorn...but he is doing better with it.

One of Naaman's favorite spots...Daddy's chest...


Uncle John and Aunt Hope came from Arkansas to meet our little man. We really enjoyed their visit...especially since they brought TONS of fresh basil, tomatoes, and peppers from their vegetable garden. They also cooked us delicious meals while they were here. This is pretty much how our weekend was spent other than eating...

I LOVE this picture...Naaman really likes to sleep with both hands up by his head...

One of Naaman's favorite...Si Si (Aunt Heather). He lights up every time she comes to see him. She can always seem to soothe him and he is very comfortable in her arms...




He DEFINITELY looks like a Ballentine in this picture....right?

We had some other visitors this month too...Aunt Katherine and cousin Caitlin came all the way from Maryland to see baby Naaman...Caitlin was a BIG help! Maybe she should move closer so I can have an on-call babysitter!!!



I LOVE how big and blue his eyes are in this picture...sweet boy!!!

Check out this smile...