A Grateful Heart.

This holiday season, our family has so much to be thankful for. Seven months ago we were blessed with the most beautiful, perfect, healthy baby girl, and we have been thanking God for her everyday since. When I think about the past year, I realize how much has changed. Last Thanksgiving, Chris and my dad were painting Emma Claire's room and my parents and Chris all felt EC kick for the first time. As magical as those moments were, nothing compares to the joy I felt as the four of us sat in Emma Claire's room this Thanksgiving watching her giggle as she rolled around on the floor...at 11 o'clock at night.

 This month, Emma Claire discovered her second word, and much to Chris' dismay, it was not "dada." She has learned the "ba" sound, which we like to think sounds like "bye bye." My dad likes to think it stands for "Boppy" or "Bob." After all, Boppy and Emma Claire have deep conversations.

EC has been working on strengthening her legs for quite some time in her exersaucer. She would walk a thousand miles a day if she had two fingers to hold onto to stay up. She has also started getting up on her knees and rocking back and forth. This girl will be crawling before Christmas, I guarantee it!

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the weather, and all the fun festivities that the cool air brings. We had lots of fun weekends this month. We gathered with our close friends, Katie and Bobby Moore, to celebrate my godson's baptism, John Robert.

Katie and I with Emma Claire and John Robert.

We visited the pumpkin patch at Mitchell Farms in Collins, MS. This was such a fun day with the Moore family.

October also marked Emma Claire's first Halloween. We went to a Halloween party on October 21, where EC was Tinkerbell, Chris was Captain Hook and I was Peter Pan.

 That same weekend we brought Emma Claire to her first Southern Miss game. She was such a trooper! We were there for over six hours and she was an angel for every second of it.

We took Emma Claire's six month pictures in mid October. Our photographer does such a fabulous job!

 Chris and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary on October 28. It's amazing what can happen in five years! We have been truly blessed with such an amazing relationship. Chris is my best friend, an amazing father and the heartbeat of our family! He keeps me going through the tough times and is always there to remind me how lucky I am :)

We are looking forward to our first Christmas with Emma Claire. It's funny how having a child changes your perspective on EVERYTHING, right down to how you celebrate the holidays. We always go to my parents' house in Mobile for Christmas Eve. However, because of Emma Claire, we are moving the tradition to Hattiesburg! I am excited to be able to share her first Christmas with both sides of the family gathered together. It may get crazy at my house, but it will be so memorable to look back on her first Christmas. My brother will be visiting for Christmas, and I can't wait for him to see how much she has grown. He hasn't seen her since her baptism in June, so he will be quite shocked when he sees her!

 The holidays can get so busy and stressful if you let them, but we have to come to the table with a grateful heart. That is the reason families gather together. These times are a blessing, and something I am very thankful for.