The Village

While this doesn't even come close to capturing the awesome people in our lives, we've been lucky to have so many great friends stop by to meet Anna Helen.

Anna Helen has many awesome women around her to teach her how to be strong, confident, and caring.

Anna Helen in Black and White

AH is definitely an expressive baby... when she's awake.

But that's a post for another day.

For now, enjoy the many looks of Anna Helen and the happiness of Mom that these photos were caught at 9pm and not at 3am.

I think we may get a real smile out of this gal in the next couple weeks.  The last photo sure does look like one to me!

30,000

Over 30,000.  The number of blog hits on Palmetto Baby as of a few days ago.

Welcome to all of you.  Most of you are family and friends.

And the person who got here googling "drunk giraffe"?

Welcome to you too.

Here's our little drunk giraffe who gets steadier on his feet every day.  We're not far off from running. 

It's the Holiday Season...

We had a little different of a Christmas this year, just feeling like it was a little too early to travel with Anna Helen (and brave an 8+ hour road trip with a 16 month old).

I spent a good part of maternity leave feeling sad and worried about it, but Christmas?  It was more than ok.

We had the Edwards in for a few days before the holiday to meet AH and celebrate, and ended up inviting 4 other families in the neighborhood to join us for Christmas dinner.

Robbie favored the boxes and paper over the majority of the gifts, and despite our promise to not get Robbie anything (Scrooges we are!), he loved our last minute purchase of a toddler table and chairs from Ikea.

Bought out of function for dinner, it was the best $50 we've ever spent.

The village?  It's never what you expected it to be.

But I'm so glad for the village we have.

Silent Night