Warm Springs Georgia

On Saturday the 27th, the Belton family ventured to Warm Springs, Georgia. I love it there with all the little artsy stores and antiques. We met at the Bullock House Restaurant for a great meal and then we hit the stores. Taft always enjoys riding in his stroller so that he can see and "talk" to people. He is so social!

After finishing up in Warm Springs we made a quick stop at the stores in Pine Mountain. Mommy was able to find some more milk glass pieces for her collection and some paper white bulbs to try to grow. Taft got a few hot finds from Gran - a piggy bank, plate set, books, and a camo cooler for his snacks.

It was a lot of fun and I think that everyone enjoyed it.

Evan at the soda shop

Izzy on a rooster

Christmas With The Belton's

By Christmas night, we had arrived at the Gran's house. We got there in time for dinner and gifts. Taft loved seeing everyone, especially Jenna, Evan, and Izzy. He always loves kids. He got WAY to much stuff and we wonder how we are going to get everything home. Even with his schedule a little off he was very good and even let us eat dinner in peace before getting a PJ photo with cousins. We all enjoyed spending time with Scott, Teresa, Izzy, Evan, Jenna, and Gran.

Izzy with her new apron for the Easy Bake Oven

Taft already loves money
Jenna and Gran

Izzy, Jenna, and Taft

Santa Came!!

When we woke up on Christmas morning it was due to Taft deciding that it was a good idea to get up at 5:30 am. I guess that even at his age he knew that Santa came. We all got up and got dressed and packed to go to Alabama before looking at the Santa gifts. That way we were less rushed knowing that everything was ready to go. Then Taft was able to see his toys. He seemed to really enjoy them, especially the boxes which he liked to chew on. Mostly he got learning toys and crib toys, and a few chew toys since those little teeth are trying to come in. Then we picked a few new gifts and the videos for the ride home to Alabama to visit family and friends.

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve, we decided to have a few friends and their families over for dinner. I started cooking and on Monday and we got everything finished just in time. Friends brought dishes over also and we had tons of great food. The only little problem was that the stores were out of red food coloring for the Red Velvet Cake so we had a green one. Nobody seemed to mind!
We want to thank Dawn, Marsha, John, Cheyenne, Andrew, Travis, Anna, Sherri, John, Peyton, Shelly, Wes, Jordan, Felipe, Emma, Dean, Lauren, Brian, Stacy, Amber, Denny, Sam, Olivia, Angel, Isabel, Richie, Chad, Colton, and Grandma Mary, for coming over to celebrate Taft's first Christmas with us. Also a big thanks to Dawn and Marsha for all the clean up afterwards while I got Taft ready for bed.
After everyone was gone, Shane and I read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to Taft and watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Then it was off to bed to wait on Santa.

Wood Family Christmas

Last night has was the Wood family Christmas. The Wood family became some of our "Florida Family". We love doing things and going on trips with them. This year they were so nice to invite us to their family celebration. It was fun with all the kiddies running around getting gifts, eating the yummy food, and of course the marshmallows roasting. I still seem to think that it is a little strange to see a campfire and marshmallows for Christmas when people are still wearing shorts. Here are just a few photos for the night.

Mommy and Taft opening his gifts

Taft was excited to see Jed

Emma and Lulu roasting marshmellows

Quincy Arrives From the North Pole

Taft heard rumors that little elves could come visit you during December. He watched a video of his friend, Hallie, and her elf, Whitney. He was very excited! His daddy told him that he had written to Santa to ask for a elf to visit him but his elf was still not here. To our surprise, Mawmaw and Pawpaw said that a little elf named Quincy came to their house looking for Taft. He had gotten lost and had the wrong address. I guess that he is a little of a misfit elf! Since they were driving to our house they told Quincy that he could catch a ride with them. Finally, Quincy got here on Saturday. He wasn't able to bring Taft gifts this year since he was so late in getting here but he is getting to know him before he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Next year Daddy is going to send him a ticket to the correct address so that he can stay the entire month.

Mawmaw & Pawpaw Visit

Mawmaw and Pawpaw arrived on Saturday for a very quick visit. They were only here to spend the night and had to get on the road early this morning. They were able to visit with Taft and go to dinner with the family. Taft really enjoyed them being here and loved to pull on the hair in Pawpaw's beard. He made sure to walk to end of the street to watch them drive by on their way back home. He's very happy that he will be in Alabama to visit them in about a week.

Taft's Tree

I have gotten a few requests to see Taft's finished tree and not just selected ornaments. I finally took a photo this morning. I did get the ribbon on top and the John Deere tree skirt that he wanted. Also I took a few photos of the other trees and decided to post them also. Shane and I put all the ornaments that we collect on the family tree. The formal room tree hopefully one day will be a family tree also when we collect enough ornaments. His manroom tree is for him to collect golf, sports themed, and fishing ornaments.

The family tree

The bar tree
The trees on the fridge

Shane's manroom tree. Maybe next year I will get to a ribbon and skirt.

The formal living room tree.

Taft's First Gift

Taft received his first "Official" Christmas gift today. Shane came back from the mailbox and Taft had mail. His aunt Libbie had sent him a gift card. We went to the store tonight to let him pick out something that he liked. I took him to the baby toy department and we found two gifts that I really thought he would enjoy. We were right. The little book is made for teething babies and makes crinkle noises on every page. Taft liked it so much that he played with it while we ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. As soon as we got home I got his little palm tree out. It has a suction cup that holds it to his highchair and then the branches spin and the animals on each branch spin also. He loves it! He had a great time with it and played there right up to bed time. Thanks Aunt Libbie! We hope you have a great Christmas!

One happy boy!

The duck teething book

We finally got our Christmas cards. I guess that I am just too picky. I didn't like the ones to choose from at Portrait Innovations so I search every site that I could find to get one that I liked and that was not outrageous in price. I finally settled on this one from CVS since it has Red Nosed Reindeer on it and Taft is REALLY into Rudolph. I did learn that CVS photo department in the store has no idea what is going on with your online order and instead of just telling you that they each tell you a different thing. Next year I will just order sooner.

Silver Springs Festival of Lights

Last night, our family, along with the Wood family and Alex, traveled to Silver Springs for the Festival of Lights. They had lights on everything and Taft enjoyed riding in his stroller through them all. He would squeal and wave his arms every time we went around a new corner. He also got to ride his first carousel. Mommy had to help him of course, but we found a great rooster for him to ride. When it started to move he gave me a look that he was not sure what was going on. Then he thought it was great. We took a few photos but even with the night setting on the camera they didn't all turn out great. Emma, Jordan, and Alex were able to see Santa while Taft and I shopped for Christmas tree ornaments. Shane and I have always tried to get ornaments as souvenirs everywhere that we go. It's the only cheesy souvenir that we like. We were able to get a new family tree ornament and one for Shane's manroom tree and Taft's tree. Then we were all hungry and found a great Japanese Steakhouse. Taft fell asleep during dinner and didn't really wake up until this morning.

A little blurry but I am still posting it.

A pretty little deer

A palm tree with monkey

Taft's rooster

Jordan and Alex

Wes and Shelly

Emma

The Wood Family

Taft loves Rudolph

Christmas Photos

We finally got to Portrait Innovations for our family/Christmas/6 Month Photos. We had an appointment at 1:00 and they were an hour behind. I just knew that Taft would meltdown having to wait that long. Thank goodness he did not.

I think that he did a great job and we love the ones of him alone. Picking a family photo was harder since Taft is just a lot cuter than we are! Be looking for a photo Christmas card soon!

PS - Gran, take a close look at that book Taft is reading. He wanted to take it with him. =)