HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

And, we're back!!! So here we are and it is 2010....so crazy! Reese is already almost 8 months old....where does the time go??

December brought us down to Arizona to celebrate Reese's first Christmas with our family and friends. Overall the travel went smoothly, but traveling with a 7 month old is VERY different than traveling with a 2 or 4 or 6 month old. This little one has tasted a wee bit of independence and she no longer wants anything to do with sitting still in mommy or daddy's lap. So, a 2 1/2 hour flight was spent juggling our little girl and entertaining her in every which way we knew how. We made it safe and sound though and the fun could begin!

We actually ended up celebrating 4 Christmases this year....anyone seen that movie? The first was celebrated at Grandma and Grandpa Spencer's on Christmas Eve. This was special because Reese and her cousin Sarah got to spend their first Christmases together. I imagine this event will become much, much more interactive as the years go by....this year it was pretty much all about eating tissue paper and chewing on bows in front of the DVD fireplace. But still kinda neat that they got to spend it together. We also got to see our good friends Pablo and Sarah as they made annual Christmas Eve dinner stop! Gotta love tradition.

Next up was Christmas Day at Nanny's house! Again, I imagine that Christmas mornings yet to come will bring with them much more excitement and sheer joy, but still fun to watch Reese revel in all the gifts and pretty paper and lights on the tree! Aunt Holly and soon-to-be Uncle Mark came down from Phoenix with the pups (there were 4 in the house all together - WOOF!) and Deane and Nanny were there as well of course. It was so wonderful to have everyone together in the same place....doesn't happen nearly often enough. Of course, there was no Christmas afternoon movie this year....babies change everything....but we all had a great time visiting and playing with Reese and all our wonderful Christmas gifts!

Christmas #3 was spent with all of our close friends. Ryan and Sarah had us all over to their house for a wonderful dinner and white elephant gift exchange. It is amazing how quickly you fall back into easy conversation with old friends....even those you see all too rarely! This was the first time Paul and Sarah got to meet Reese and she was super excited to be the center of attention. Everyone was way too generous and spoiled Reese with wonderful gifts! She is one lucky little girl! We resisted the temptation to put the "Bump-it" in her hair (one of the white elephant gifts) but we were certainly tempted....It looked better on Jen!!

Finally, Christmas #4 was done right here in the comfort of our own home...That's right....more presents (as if the two giant boxes that we shipped back from AZ were not enough). While it is always tough to leave our family and friends in AZ, we were excited for our little girl to sit under her own tree and "open" her gifts. This is where traditions begin! The dogs were happy to help when she started to struggle with the paper! It was so nice to have our little family together for this very special holiday!

Bottom line.....a lot can change in just a year. While Christmas has always been a special holiday, this year took on a whole new meaning. This is what it is all about. While she is a little young to "get it", I think there was an extra twinkle in her eye when were celebrating this holiday. I know there was in mine!

As the clock changed from 2009 to 2010 this year, I admit that I did tear up a bit. 2009 was the best year of my life to date and it is hard to believe it is over already. But, the fun is just beginning and 2010 will bring with it a whole new set of joys, discoveries, and love from and for our little girl!

So.....CHEERS everyone! May 2010 be even better than the rest!!!