Santa's on his way!

We've been having such a ball decorating for the holidays, shopping, listening to Christmas tunes & eating sweets...and Christmas isn't even here yet! I realized very early on in Mollie's life that I was going to be shopping for her more often than myself! Now with our first gift-giving holiday upon us, I realized that it's not just me. I have in turn given gifts based on Mollie to possibly everyone on both sides of our family. Example: Matt received a new stroller. I know what you all are thinking, 'a stroller?!' Oh joy. But he loved it, as I knew he would!! For the record, he also got other 'cool' stuff so don't poke fun at me. My sister Julie, told me I was lame..maybe so, but I've come to accept it, haha! Don't worry Julie, I didn't get you anything a stroller:)

I love my new stroller, too!

This past weekend we hosted Matt's parents (GiGi & Poppy) and did our Christmas with them. M could not get enough of their dog, Raleigh. She thought he was a hoot and just wanted to keep grabbing at the fur ball!

Not only do I purchase things to give based around Mollie, but we also receive! Not that I can think of anything I'd rather get than things for her, but it is pretty funny:) Although, maybe a nice spa day certificate thrown in for me is awesome- thank you Matt, you're the best! One gift from Matt says 'To: Leigh Ann' and inside is a Lands End tote with Mollie's initials. Another says 'From: Santa' and it's a steamer basket for making Mollie's food--actually that one was FROM Matt TO Matt, in reality! Sneaky..
GiGi & Poppy gave her a sweet new high chair seat, which we of course put to use that day. Special on the menu that day: Avocado--her new favorite! The girl ate 1/2 an avocado Saturday and the other 1/2 Sunday! Yummm I adore them too.

Lil bird

Matt, Mollie and I are all headed in the direction of Beech Mountain, NC (just outside of Boone) this Thursday. Mom, Dad & Jane have been there for a few days and Julie & Stephen are arriving today! They arrived with 4+ft of snow on the ground and it's not going anywhere. We can't wait...forecast is calling for snow mid-week and then big time on Friday. Yayyy for a White Christmas! We're keeping our fingers crossed & how cool for M's 1st Christmas!! I look forward to snuggling in with all of my favorite people, laughing, making memories and cooking yummy stuff.

Merry Christmas to you & your family. Have a blessed holiday and safe New Year!

A new world is born!

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”  Anais Nin

As I opened my email this morning, I read this quote. On so many levels this was perfect timing. Our dear friends welcomed a new baby into their lives yesterday! Some might have thought maybe they would never have children & heck, they might have even thought that themselves. When Matt & I learned of their pregnancy we were, of course, beyond excited. Mollie wasn't even born yet, but we just knew that including a child into our lives would make a new world possible and we were so happy our great friends would share in that experience with us.

The Haskins have been such wonderful friends to both Matt & I over the past few years. I love that in due time, people meant to be together do find each other. Mike & Kendra met 'later' in life and have such an awesome, authentic relationship. They are best of friends and work well together in so many different circumstances. As wonderful as they are just the two of them, I truly believe that sweet baby Colin will take their love for each other to the next level.

The day Mollie was born, Matt & I looked at each other with a mix of emotions, mostly tearful smiles of pure happiness knowing our lives would forever be changed. We were so blessed to be given a perfect newborn baby girl and to be given the responsibility to be her parents.

As Kendra & Mike got to experience that first moment of pure love with their new baby yesterday, I cannot WAIT to see & hear about what's to come for them. Friends, it only gets better & your new world has just been born when Colin Michael Haskins arrived:) Congrats!!

It's December!

November sure did come and GO! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in Myrtle Beach with us 3, Matt's parents, 1 brother, aunt & uncle, sister-in-law & 2 nieces..and a partridge in a pear tree:)

Mollie enjoyed her first turkey day and celebrated with some yummy sweet potatoes! As I told my co-workers earlier this week, I'm not sure Molls will meet a food she does NOT like. 2 for 2 so far and going strong!!

Who took my sweet 'tators away?!

 Matt created her first menu last night of roasted squash & zucchini. Think we'll try that this weekend!

Mollie also got to meet Santa last weekend!!! Luckily (as of now) we have no issues with friends, etc holding Mollie or her being weird about who she gets held by if not mom & dad, so that's good! We didn't quite know what she'd do with Santa, but her classic expression of 'What the &^%$' came to face...

My parents arrive in Charleston tomorrow & we cannot wait for them to see M and show off all of her new tricks! It's just insane how quickly babies learn things and these early months it almost seems like daily something new happens or changes. Tuesday the girl will already be 5 months!! Wowsa.

Lately she has been sleeping less & less-- Over Thanksgiving & now this week too, she wakes up multiple times in the night just talking or laughing even! It really is funny, but not necessarily after the 4th time..Matt went in there the other night about 4:30am and she just laughed at him. Literally laughed at him. We joked that Matt had to bust the after-hours party she had going on, although it was a party of ONE! I've heard babies have some sleep regression before a new skill or a tooth...so not sure what her poison will be, but momma is ready for some decent shut eye:)