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Monday, December 21, 2015

Bills Family Christmas 2015

We had so much fun celebrating with Josh's family the weekend before Christmas. We cherish setting time apart to enjoy our family and reflect on the birth of our Savior. Here are some pictures of our time together!


{Fletcher hanging out} 

 {The beauty of celebrating early is that Starbucks is open!}

{Lincoln loves his big cousins} 

{Christmas carols with Aunt Kissy}

{There are so many of us and so many gifts!!! We are indeed blessed.}

{My two itty bitty guys}

{Lincoln's cute Rudolph hat from Aunt Anna}

{Sweet Audrey Girl}

{This kid.}

{Sweet boys. May they be the best of friends throughout this life.}

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Lincoln: 3 Months

I feel like a completely broken record, but these months just keep going by so fast! At the end of month 3 we were in a serious transition phase as a family. I had just gone back to work, Josh started his new job as an auditor with The Bonadio Group and was a week shy of finishing grad school! All wonderful changes, but so much change to manage. That being said, it was a really fun month and 45 days later I'm trying to catch up!

We don't go back to the doctor until 4 months, but I estimate that you weigh 14-14.5 pounds.

How cute can you be???





Here are some things you have been up to this month:
-Mama went back to work half days on November 16 when you were 9 weeks old. You're spending the day with Nana, Dayton and a myriad of other little friends! Daddy drops you and brother off and mama picks you both up. We miss you so much during the day, but you're in the BEST hands.
-You nurse before you leave in the mornings and then you eat 16 - 18 oz while I'm working and then usually eat 2-3 times before bed.
-You go to sleep around 9:00 and get up around 5:45-6:00.
-You've started playing with a couple of toys. We're just waiting for you to start reaching for them!
-You experienced your first Thanksgiving, and it was a first for all of us. We celebrated at your Unca, Aunt Minda, Graham, Claire and Conner's house.
-We're pretty terrible at doing tummy time, but mama spends so much time wearing you (and occasionally daddy) in either the Tula, wrap or ring sling that we know you're working those core muscles.
-You're mama is over the moon for the cute honest company diapers we're using on you. My favorites right now are the plaid and sled dog. They have sled dog pattern diapers. Seriously!
-On December 8, you sat in your Bumbo chair for a few minutes. We're not sure how you felt about it, but you didn't cry!

Here are pictures of what you've been up to this month!


 






We love you so much little stinker!

Mama





Sunday, December 13, 2015

Second Annual Mug 'n Muffins Party

Last year I threw together a last minute copycat party called "Mug 'n Muffins." I cannot take credit for the concept's cuteness. My sweet friend, Anna, back in Oklahoma threw a Mug 'n Muffins party every Christmas before I moved to New York. I decided last year that I wanted an annual little party like that with my closest friends. These ladies support me, love me, tell me the truth and make me laugh! As I am coming up on 5 year in New York (impossible, but true), I'm thankful for friends like these in a place I thought would be so barren.

Now for the fun....

{mugs wrapped and ready for stealing} 

Here's how it works for us:

1. You must show up in some form of lounge wear or pajamas.
2. You bring a wrapped mug. It can be Christmassy, but it is not required. This year's mugs were so darn cute!
3. I provide an egg casserole, muffins and coffee -iced and hot. Everyone else brings a yummy breakfast treat.
4. We eat and let a movie like Elf play in the background. Something we can stop and laugh at and still allow lots of conversation.
5. Then we play Dirty Santa -lots of stealing encouraged, until we all have a mug to take home.
6. Everyone goes home with a little something from the host. Last year it was a Christmas cookie cutter and this year an ornament.

{so much yummy food -yogurt parfaits, baked oatmeal, apple cinnamon and cranberry orange walnut muffins, fresh fruit, egg casserole -mmmm!} 

{congregating in the kitchen is totally universal} 

One of my original posts on this blog was about being gracious home owners. We always want to open our home to our community and to do life with the ones we love -make them feel special. This is my way of doing that for friends who are my little village throughout the year. My kids, my family and my home wouldn't be standing tall today without them.

{super cute mugs and precious friends}

Stephanie