Christmas (catching up part I)

So.... it's been awhile. I actually felt itchy to blog for awhile, when I didn't really have the opportunity to do so, and then I finally got the chance and decided it felt nice to take a little hiatus so I extended it a bit. I have a slew of things to catch you all - all four of you - up on but I'm going to try my best not to make it one massive post and photo dump.

So I start with Christmas. R and J and I went to Dallas to celebrate Christmas with my family. It was really nice to see my sisters, since I haven't seen them in awhile and we don't get a chance to talk as much as I'd like. And it was nice to be someplace festive (remember our lack of decorations here at home), so Mom and Dad, I appreciated you two putting up all those decorations and baking all those cookies. I think everyone got a kick out of Julia; she was noticeably (at least to me) more interactive and interesting than she was the last time she was there, which was only two months ago.

The trip itself was exhausting though, and I was really happy to make it back to my own bed. (As was Julia - she was the major contributor to the exhausting nature of the trip...) I flew solo with her back home, since R came back earlier for work, and even though we sprang for an extra seat for her, Julia was in tears and I was near tears by the time we landed. Thankfully it's a short flight. I thought flying with J would be easier the older she got, but it's definitely not the case. She is less and less content to just sit in one place for a long period of time without the chance to roam around and explore.

Anyways. Julia got some adorable gifts - I haven't gotten photos of her playing with them all yet but I plan to - and I got a new camera lens that I love so much I want to marry it.

And without further ado, here are a few pics of us before Mass on Christmas Eve:

The girls.

Posh baby.

Family!

And here are a few photos of J on Christmas morning and with her presents. 

Playing with her laptop (and wearing Mommy's new necklace)

So does this bottle go in the baby's mouth, or my mouth? (She tried both, repeatedly. Seems to prefer "my mouth.")

Baby doll schmaby doll - I like to carry things!

Oh the baby's okay now. I see I can carry her too.

More post-catching-up to come!