Y2K plus 10 = Happy New Year!

In just a few hours, it'll be 2010. The biggest year of my life so far will be over and we'll have to say that Mac was born "last year" when people ask. Unbelievable!

The last twelve months have flown by in a blur of exciting news, doctor's visits, ultrasounds, epidurals (well, just the one and only for about 10 minutes!), late-night feedings and hastily-purchased holiday gifts. Whew!

We'll always remember 2009 as the year we celebrated our second anniversary, survived the flu and, most importantly, brought home our sweet baby boy.

So many wonderful things are in store for our friends and family in 2010; Bradley and I can't wait to see what unfolds as the new year - and new decade - begins. For my part, I'm just glad to have my three favorite fellas by my side tonight. One big, one little, one furry and all adorable.

Hope you have a wonderful, wonderful New Year, friends! (And I hope that Mac continues a trend and sleeps through the night once more, despite the firecrackers!)

xoxo,
Anne

P.S. This little man has gone to bed, but he toasted the new year with a "tux" and a bottle of milk.

Merry, merry Christmas!

This year, more than any other, the story of Jesus' birth and the gift of God's perfect Son has had incredible meaning to our family. Looking at our Mac, a sweet blessing but still a human little boy, and knowing that God sent his only child to be crushed - it's overwhelming.

I am so thankful this Christmas for the gift of our son, of my incredible husband and of our loving families - but most of all for the gift of God's Son and the opportunity to celebrate his birth this Christmas.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
-Isaiah 9:6

Have a safe, warm, wonderful Christmas, everyone!!

xoxo,
Bradley, Anne, Mac and Blue

Precious Little Elfin Kristin

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Mimi and Grandpa (my parents) have just left and the boys and I are now preparing for Christmas Eve service. I took a moment to catch upon some long overdue blog reading and came upon this video on My Blonde Reality.

Could Kristin Chenoweth be any cuter? Sweeter? Or more talented?

The only Christmas connection I can find is that she's just about as tiny as a Christmas elf - and maybe as happy too. I'd love to have dinner with this girl!

Valentine's Day

Don't worry, I'm not skipping Christmas! I just saw the trailer for Valentine's Day and it is such a deja vu moment... Wasn't it just last Valentine's Day that I saw a chock-full-of celebs, criss-crossing characters, lucky-and-unlucky in love movie called He's Just Not That Into You?

Valentine's Day clearly has my name written all over it, but I wonder if anyone else finds the star-studded cast and rom-com feel to be a little reminiscent of the February 2009 date movie du jour?

Take a peek for yourself:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

(Not) Dreaming of a White Christmas

Am I the only person who's anti-snow at the moment? We're supposed to travel to Columbia in the morning to see my family and I'm so hopeful that this wintry mix will disappear (magically) by then. For now, though, I'm going to enjoy a delightful Friday evening with all three of my guys. With my return to work getting closer by the minute (the Monday after Christmas), I'm treasuring all of these moments.

Our plans for tomorrow may be uncertain, but our cozy pre-Christmas Friday agenda looks something like this: laundry, movies, a hot batch of Christmas cider, maybe a nap, some babytime and Christmas tunes. Not quite a night on the town, but it's heavenly to me.

Our plans to meet with Mac's teachers and have lunch with friends were quickly derailed by the icy morning we had, but I'm so grateful to have this perfect evening to make up for it. Mac has had a tummy bug all week, which has made me a little more sleep-deprived than usual and so grateful for some time to lounge around.

Tomorrow Mac will meet some more family members and we'll have the first of our Christmas gatherings for the year. Exciting! (And unbelievable how quickly this month has flown by.)

Gotta run check on my holiday punch, my mom's Christmas tradition. It makes the whole house smell like Christmas - apple cider, orange juice, cranberry juice, cloves, cinnamon and a few other secret treats go into it. Just as yummy to drink as it is to smell!

A quick snapshot from today as Blue guides Mac in the art of enjoying tummy time. He's an expert at lying around!

A Few Favorite Things

Dressing up with my husband for Sloan Christmas party number one - wish you could see my fabulous red heels in this shot!

Catching up with the girls at Sloan's Christmas party number two. SO nice to feel like a grown up, but it was tough to hit the town two nights in a row. Mac barely recognized me without jeans and flats on!

A sweet baby boy to come home to - wearing an outfit I've been looking forward to seeing on him since our first shower last summer. (And the grandparents who kept him two nights in a row as Christmas parties kept us busy. So thankful!)

Kiehl's Coconut Lip Balm - Kiehl's #1 is my very favorite lip balm; I keep a tub of it on my bedside table and never travel without it. I just ordered this coconut scented version and can barely contain myself! I am so tempted to sprint to the beach and grab a pina colada that only the gray, chily weather is holding me back. Run to Saks.com and get your own; everywhere else is all sold out!

Honorable Mentions:

• Playing James Taylor, Josh Groban and Amy Grant's Christmas albums all day long.
  
• A pediatrician's office who squeezes us in with an hour's notice after an Exorcist-style evening - I'll spare you any further details. Mac is currently napping off in his swing and I hope to do the same soon!
• Almay eye makeup remover pads - because I have dark enough circles on my own!
• Scarves in every color - part warmth, part accessory, part baby stain coverer. Love 'em!
  
• Laughing out loud! I spent so much time chatting with the girls at a Saturday night cocktail party that I barely saw Bradley. As we passed each other halfway through, I said to him, "B, we're going this way but I'll be back soon!" A few quizzical looks later, someone asked me if he minds that I call him "Beaver." Yes, I'm sure he would. Going to work on my enunciation next time!
• Sending and receiving Christmas packages. Are we supposed to open them on Christmas Day? Because I'm definitely not waiting...sorry, Santa!

Hope y'all are filling up these final Advent days with some of your favorite things, too. Check out my sweet friend Kristen's favorite beauty things and enter to win a favorite thing of Erin's (aka Blue Eyed Bride) on her blog, too.

What've I been up to?

Watching this two-month-old grow (while staring intently at Christmas tree lights)

Reading to this particularly adorable little face (and reliving

my childhood through some favorite books from way back when*)

Helping this guy recover from his first set of shots (hated the tears but didn't mind the snuggling!)

Chasing this smile (and watching college football)

Kissing these cheeks (and trying to squeeze in a nap myself)

Squeezing these thighs (and working on my own at the gym)

Introducing our boy to some precious small group friends (Ashley and Kerri Grace) at our annual Christmas party.

Decking the halls (and counting my blessings)

**Remember the Berenstain Bears? When did they have a new baby? A sweet friend gave us a Berenstain Bears Christmas book in which Brother, Sister, Mama and Papa are joined by a baby named Honey Bear. Hmm? How old am I that I've missed an entire generation of bears?