The Nutcracker

I was so excited to take Caroline to see The Nutcracker. The ballet was performed by Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet where she takes dance. I was curious to see how interested she would be in watching it and she loved it!



Caroline and her friend Anna during the intermission



After the performance we went to a tea party where Caroline got to meet some of the characters like Clara, the Nutcracker, the Mouse King, and other ballerinas.





We had a great time together, and I hope to take her every Christmas and start a new tradition. I look forward to taking Catherine and Olivia with Caroline when they get older, too!

Catherine's Baby Dedication

Sunday, December 4th, was parent-child dedication at our church. Tripp and I were so glad to take part in this and dedicate our precious Catherine to the Lord and dedicate ourselves to raising her in a loving Christian home and pointing her always toward Jesus. Leading up to dedication Sunday we were required to take 2 parenting classes at our church. These classes were very encouraging and challenging. The classes discussed being intentional with your faith at home. Tripp and I also had to pick a verse for Catherine that was a Scripture of blessing that we will pray over her as she grows up. The verse we picked was Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." As we pray this verse over our precious Catherine, we pray that she will always know that God has a special plan for her life, and He desires to use her to impact this world for Him.

Daddy and Catherine before the dedication service. Catherine wore the same dress that Caroline wore for her dedication.



Our family. Caroline got to go on stage with us during the dedication. She behaved very well, and Catherine slept through it all!





Caroline with Aunt Toni and Uncle Hal



With Winnie and Granddaddy



After church, we had everyone over to our house for lunch. This day was even more special because we got to share it with our wonderful family.





















Tripp and I are so thankful for our two girls. We are not perfect parents and often feel overwhelmed at the job before us in raising our girls. But our prayer is that by relying daily on the grace of God, we will model Christ for them and teach them about Jesus every opportunity we get.

Christmas Fun!

Caroline is having so much fun this Christmas season. She is enjoying every little part of Christmas even more than last year. One morning Caroline, Catherine, and I put up her sweet treats Christmas tree. Caroline loved her new white tree!



The Madison Christmas parade was the first Saturday in December. The parade passes right by the entrance to our neighborhood so we met up with some neighbors and walked to the parade.



Caroline Grace and Caroline Reese enjoying the parade





Caroline and Alex, another neighborhood friend



Caroline loved seeing all the floats and cars, but the highlight of the parade was Santa and Mrs. Claus riding by on the firetruck!



One day last week Caroline, Catherine, and I met Aunt Bessie and Olivia at a paint your own pottery store. I wanted Caroline to to make a handprint Christmas tree plate. Caroline had fun, but I was a little stressed out! Luckily Catherine slept the whole time in her carseat.









Olivia made a handprint ornament. It turned out so sweet! I was not brave enough to wake Catherine up to make an ornament!

6 Weeks Old and Santa

On Thursday Catherine had her 6-week doctor's appointment. This appointment was not fun because she got her first round of shots, but we were excited to find out how much she had grown since her 2-week appointment. She weighed 11 lbs. 4 oz. (80th percentile) and was 23 inches long (90th percentile). She is our growing girl! She is also starting to smile and enjoys her play gym. She has started batting at things when she is under her play gym and sometimes will even grab hold of something! She is sleeping great. She only wakes up one time during the night around 3 am. She really is such a sweet baby and we are enjoying every minute with her!

On Friday we took the girls to see Santa. I did not want to take them to the mall so I asked around and it seems that the best place to see Santa in Jackson is Bass Pro! We met Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Bessie, and Olivia there.



Waiting to see Santa



We have been asking Caroline what she was going to tell Santa she wanted for Christmas, and she always answers a pink shopping cart. And that is what she told him! So I guess Santa will be bringing her one even though she already has a white shopping cart she got last year for Christmas!



We got a picture of all three girls with Santa!



Caroline insisted on being in this picture!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family this year. It was so nice not having to travel for the holiday. We are enjoying being back home so much! We ate lunch with Tripp's family and dinner with mine. Yes, two thanksgiving feasts in one day!

Tripp's family gets together at his cousin Tracy's house in the country. Tripp had the great idea to bring Caroline's bouncer for the kids. They had a great time jumping!



Catherine and Granddaddy



Ashley and Caroline



Catherine and Uncle Tyler



Winnie and Caroline after visiting the horses



Caroline loved playing with her cousin Ruby. This is the first year they have really noticed each other and played together. I know this is a start to a great cousin friendship! They will have fun together at Thanksgiving for many years to come!



Making silly faces



Me and Taylor



My family celebrated at Puppy and Granddaddy's house. We ended up eating dinner in shifts because that's what you do when you have two babies who have to be fed and held!



Dandy and Gomme holding their great-grandbabies.



Tripp and Olivia



Dandy's first time holding Catherine. I love this sweet picture.



Puppy gave Olivia and Catherine these matching outfits with their name monogrammed on the back. Lesley and I wanted to get their picture together.



Sweet sisters



We are so thankful for our precious family. They are such a constant blessing to us. We loved spending the day with them and it was so special to celebrate our newest blessings, Catherine and Olivia!