2009 - The Year of the Snuggie

With only two days left in this decade, I thought today would be a good day to review our whirlwind year. And, what a year it has been!

When 2009 began, we had just recently moved back to Alpharetta from Sydney, Australia. We were engaged, planning the best wedding EVER, and making googly eyes at each other. Then, on January 24th, I married my best friend in the ballroom of an Antebellum house in a small Southern town.

[caption id="attachment_374" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="My feet were freezing in this picture. It was January and I still don't know exactly where I had left my shoes when this picture was taken."][/caption]

I turned 32 exactly one week later, while we were on our honeymoon at Disneyworld. Yes, folks. I got to spend my birthday at the happiest place on earth (next to Starbucks) and Dan took me to Cirque du Soleil, which was awesome but the real attraction on the anniversary of my birth was the Snuggie I got to unwrap! I've decided that if I ever return to teaching Sunday school to six-year-olds, I'm going to wear my Snuggie and be a life-sized, felt Bible story board.

[caption id="attachment_375" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Think this is a picture of Cinderella's castle? Nope! It's a picture of a bunch of Floridians wearing those ever-so-fashionable fanny packs and sun visors. Black socks with sandals, anyone?"][/caption]

Just before Easter, God blessed us with the miracle that would become Madeline. We loved her from the second we saw that second pink line, and her story is chronicled in this blog.

[caption id="attachment_377" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="What a sweet face!"][/caption]

This fall, Dan accepted a new job in Birmingham. So, I quit my job at Tutoring Club, loaded up my big, round belly full o' baby and we moved into our new place.

We've wrapped up the year by welcoming our beautiful baby girl to the world.

[caption id="attachment_380" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Don't you just want to cover her with kisses?"][/caption]

It's been crazy, but it has all been worth it.

So, farewell, 2009. You were good to us. I'll remember you fondly every time I kiss my loving husband good night, every time I look at my precious little girl and see both Dan and me, every time we take her to Disneyworld, and every time I snuggle up in my Snuggie.

Thank you for sharing this year with us, and stay tuned to watch our sweet Madeline grow!

Prayers

I'd like to solicit your prayers for a friend who suffered a terrible tragedy over Christmas weekend. There are some things that only God understands, as His ways are not our ways.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:15

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."   - Luke 2:8-14

Dear Santa,

This Christmas, Dan and I will be celebrating two "firsts." It's our first Christmas as a married couple, and it's Madeline's first Christmas ever. Hey, that's what happens when you get married in January and pregnant in March. :) So, in light of those two wonderful milestones, here is this year's list of Christmas wishes:

• A marriage that continues to grow better and better with each new day, bringing surprises, laughter, and love - just as it has all year.


• Hope and joy for Madeline. She's new to this world and it's so easy to become cynical and jaded. We'd like for her to see the world as a place full of things to enjoy and people to love.


• A lifetime of Christmases without "The Gimmes." Again, Madeline is brand new and has no idea about the selfishness and competition that often surround this season. We would like for her to know Christmas as a time of anticipation - not of presents, but anticipation of Christ and of peace and goodwill towards other people. We want her to know that the best things in life are not things at all, but people and how much we can love them.


• Food for the hungry, blankets for the cold, hope for the hopeless, and love for the lonely.


• Good health.


• We want our friends and family to know how much we love them and appreciate them.


• The ability to be good parents and set the right example for the miracle God has sent us.


• Correct grammar for the world.


• A pony. (You always have to ask for a pony. It's the law.)

Merry Christmas with Love,

The Head Family

Things are a little different this year...

As you can probably imagine, life has been a little busier than usual in the Head family house. Heck, this time last year, we weren't even the Head family yet!

For as long as I can remember, I have sent out Christmas cards on December 10th (or the 11th if the 10th fell on a Sunday). This year, it just didn't happen. We chose to get birth announcements, instead. :)

There is no Charlie Brown Christmas tree in the living room, or any Christmas tree for that matter, because we just didn't have time to go out and get one. Plus, it's been a bit cold to take a newborn out to shop for a tree.

Another huge difference is that I have only done Christmas baking out of a box this year. (Hiding face in SHAME!!!) I promise to at least bake some real brownies between now and Thursday, though!

Have I stressed about it? Of course I have! This is me we're talking about!

Is it worth it? You bet! Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and our hopes that Madeline soon would be there have been fulfilled. We'll do cards, a tree, and famous Christmas cookies next year. This year, we're just going to hang out with the babyhead.

And, for now, that's just going to have to be OK with everyone.

Just a Couple of Pictures

[caption id="attachment_361" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="A picture of me with my eyes open!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_362" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My very first Starbucks experience!"][/caption]

One Week Old!

Thoughts on My First Week of Life: A Memoir in Pictures by Madeline

 

[caption id="attachment_353" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This bouncy seat is the perfect place to sit and collect one's thoughts. It's been nice talking to you, but I'm getting tired and should probably go rest. I have a busy week of discovering new things ahead!"][/caption]

SHE'S HERE!!

Please welcome Madeline Grace Head to the world!

Madeline was born on Friday December 4, 2009 at 7:45 pm.

She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and is a little over 21 inches tall.

But, we know what you really want, so here you go -

[caption id="attachment_340" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Getting squeaky clean"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_341" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My first salon experience"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Daddy holds his baby girl for the first time."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_343" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Snuggling with Mommy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Please, dahling! I've had enough of the paparazzi!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_345" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Going home"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_346" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Milk coma."][/caption]

She is a sweet, beautiful baby girl and is more loved than even we could have ever believed possible.

December Already??

Yep. And on the NBR (Not Baby Related) side of things, that means that it is almost  Christmas, almost New Years, and we only have a few weeks left in this decade. Wow.

Anyway, for those of you who might need a little push to help get you in the spirit of the season, here's a little video that might help you with that. Just try to listen and not sing along. I dare you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7xjjlUbpJ4