An Amazing Holiday...

I am so blessed to say that we really had a wonderful and special 1st Christmas with Eva. I can't believe the holiday has come and gone so quickly! I love Christmas and I am very tempted to keep the holiday alive for several weeks to come. But it might be odd to decorate our Christmas tree with Valentine's Hearts!

Our Christmas started on Christmas Eve (which Drew has decided to rename "Christmas Eva"). Our little family spent the day together preparing for our yummy Christmas Eve dinner. One of the traditions that Drew had growing up was having a fondue dinner the night before Christmas. So we decided to do the same.

First though, we went to Christmas Eve mass with my parents and brother. My mom surprised us with a beautiful red and sparkly dress for Eva that she hand made. It was so pretty that Eva didn't even need a big red bow on her head to go with it! I just had to take her out in public with it on! And church seemed like a pretty good place to do it. Granted, by the time we got to the church, it was too full for us...we ended up in the church basement with all of the other late-comers, watching mass on a big screen--kind of weird if I do say so myself.

My pretty girl, in her pretty dress. She was done with the shoes!

Eva was getting tired here! Christmas is a lot of work!

After mass, my parents and brother came over. We enjoyed a huge meal-cheese and bread and veggies and fruit and ham and wine--all sorts of goodies. I was soooo full. We started a new tradition of reading a letter to Santa and then hanging a key on the tree so Santa can use the door instead of the chimney--apparently it is cleaner and there is a greater chance of getting more gifts!

Then, Eva was all tuckered out...we opened her 1st Christmas present, new Christmas pjs and put her to bed. Down she went without a problem!

The rest of us stayed up with some hot coffee and watched Elf..."I love syrup!!!" Then we opened our 1st gifts...Christmas pjs...and everyone went home, I went to bed and Drew stayed up, preparing my surprise!

Christmas morning was spent opening gifts...we gave Eva a couple, but she was really more excited about the wrapping paper. Then I opened my jewelry box. One that I have been wanting for awhile! It is a cabinet kind that you hang up, with places for pictures on the front. Drew had written me a letter on the front in all of the different openings. And at the bottom, it told me to open the door...

...I was thinking, "oh my God, this is it..." but when I opened the door, there wasn't a ring, there was a card. I was already crying because Drew has a way with words, I opened the card and read his letter...more tears. At the bottom of the letter it said "I've heard somewhere that for good luck you should try kissing the bare baby Buddha belly," which is what we call Eva's belly. I knew right then what was happening...more tears! Drew was holding Eva, I unsnapped her Christmas pjs and tied around her neck on a red ribbon, was a diamond ring and a little white note that simply said "Will you marry my Daddy?"...yes, more tears! It was so awesome.

So with all of the teasing that Drew has endured, he held up his end of the bargain that he had with Michelle...one of my oldest and closet friends. They said, if she got pregnant, he would ask me to marry him. Well she got pregnant (I am sooooo excited) and he asked me to marry him.

We didn't tell anyone until we headed up to my parents for the rest of the day. Mom cried, Dad hugged...it was an around special moment. Then we made all of the calls to the rest of our friends and family!

We spent the rest of the day opening presents, enjoying the Christmas tree and big feast that Dad prepared for dinner. We were all spoiled rotten! Eva was a trooper...was cheerful, smiley and happy...in between her long naps! The only thing we were missing was the rest of the family...Drew's dad and sisters, and Jen, Brian and Sam, but they were with us in spirit!

All 3 boys in their new shirts!

Peanut is investigating the presents.

Eva's 1st candy cane.

This is the really, really great blanket that Auntie Jen knitted for Eva, (she was napping when we opened it.)

Gramma opening her picture of Eva.

Eva and Daddy in their matching Sock Monkey hats.

Motley is helping Grampa make dinner.

What a wonderful and memorable holiday. We have so much to be thankful for! Thank you to everyone for making this holiday so SPECIAL. I hope everyone enjoyed their day as much as we did!!!

One of my favorite things...

At Christmastime, one of my favorite things to do is go around the neighborhoods and see the Christmas lights. On Saturday night, we loaded up Eva in the car, stopped at Starbucks for Peppermint Mocha (very much in the holiday spirit), turned up the Christmas music and headed out to view the sparkly lights.

We drove down to Castlerock, where one of the managers at work puts on an amazing display with lights that light up according to the music on his very own radio station. We loved it! Didn't want to take Eva out of her car seat, primarily because putting her back in is very similar to putting her in a straight jacket, but Drew did take her out of the car and tip her seat to see the blinking lights...she was memorized! Below are a few pics of some of the other homes in the neighborhood. People go all out...I love it!!!

For those of you in Colorado...if you are interested in checking out my manager's lights, you can find them at Mikelson Blvd. and Lantern Trail in Castle Rock, CO 80104. Tune to 104.9 FM and it is best if you park on the east side of Lantern Trail.

Or you can follow this link for all sorts amazing light displays in the Denver metro area...http://taybrynn.e-flatirons.com/driving-tours

Drew took a video of Don's light display...for whatever reason, it is sideways, so use your imagination!!!

Eva's Sitting Up!!!

Monday night, Eva sat up by herself for the first time. Well, really, i put her in a sitting position and let go. She held herself up for a few minutes without toppling over! (Peanut was helping in the background.)

A few photos of my favorite pugs...

The first "babies" in our life...

Merry Christmas to ME!!!

SO...I got a new ride!

After last weekend, with friends visiting and Christmas shopping, we realized just how cramped we were in the Accord and Drew's truck--with suitcases and strollers and shopping bags and diaper bags and coats, etc, etc, etc. Not to mention that, even though there has been NO snow in Denver thus far this year, we figured it was probably a good idea for one of us to have a 4 wheel drive.

Say hello to our new Honda Pilot! I love it!!!

Make the Moment Last

We have the best photographer ever!

So lucky that we found her! Thanks Megan!

Eva's First "Real" Food

If you call rice cereal and pureed carrots "real" that is. Not sure if she liked the rice cereal...we gave that to her for 3 nights in a row. And then tonight, she tried the carrots. I think she liked the carrots more!!!

Our Weekend With Jen & Daniel

Last weekend, our friends Jen and Daniel, came to visit us from Phoenix!!! We had such a great weekend!!

They flew in on Friday night and we headed straight from the airport to dinner...sushi! I have not had sushi since before I was pregnant and that was vegetarian sushi. So I have not had real in over 3 years. It was delicious! From there we headed home, tucked Eva into bed and watched Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. While this may seem kind of strange to some, Jen and I have known each other for over 10 years so we consider watching TV and relaxing to be a pretty good time. Now the boys? Not too sure how thrilled they were with our choice of shows to watch.

Saturday morning we headed to the Highlands for breakfast at the Coral Room. Breakfast included omelets with brie, apples and spinach, banana bread french toast, lots of coffee and bloody Marys! So delicious! We wondered around the Highlands shops for awhile and then headed to the grocery store for ingredients needed for the cookies that needed to be made for Michelle's Cookie Exchange that evening!!

We spent the afternoon making cranberry & white chocolate cookies and banana & chocolate chip cookies! Soooooo great!!! The boys actually headed off for Drew's work Christmas party while Jen and I packed up the cookies, wine and Eva and headed to the party!

While the boys were eating Filet Mignon, lobster tail, frog legs and fried alligator at Pappadeaux, Jen and I were enjoying a HUGE variety of cookies, fudge, toffee (and other goodies that Michelle prepared) and of course WINE!!! Eva was kind of fussy, but all the girls took turns holding her! It was so nice to see all of my friends!

The four of us ended up back home, very full and relaxing in front of the TV again.

We spent Sunday driving to Silverthorne, Christmas shopping and on the way back from the mountains we stopped at Beau Jo's pizza! Then, sadly, we had to take Jen and Daniel back to the airport.

While I am pretty sure I gained at least 10 pounds from all of the eating we did while they were here, we had such a great time!!

Thank You Jen and Daniel for coming to visit us!!

We miss you!!

It's been a week...

Our good friend Jonathan informed me today that there has not been a blog posted in over a week and that it was unacceptable.

I have been making a list of several things I was going to blog about. So...here you go!

December 2nd, 1990

On this day, this world lost a remarkable and amazing man. And it was on this day, that a little part of me died.

Every year, on December 2nd, I remember my grandfather, Carl Edward Hargroves, Sr. Well, to be fair, I think of him all of the time and I miss him so much, more than any words could ever explain and more than anyone could ever understand.

I think of him on every holiday, every time I eat blackberries, every time I see a little girl with her grandfather, every time I look at my father holding Eva. My heart breaks, wishing he were here with us now.

I was 10 years old when he died of lymphoma cancer. I will never forget the day he actually died. I was in the basement at our old house, playing with my dolls. My Dad had flown to Washington state to say his goodbyes and my mom came downstairs to tell me that Grandpa had passed away. I can't really describe how I felt...lost, sad, afraid, disappointed and I knew that I would spend the rest of my life missing him. Until that moment, I didn't know what death meant...but now I knew it meant never going to visit Grandpa in Washington, never picking blackberries with him again, never taking a nap with him and cuddling into him, never smelling his cigarette smoke anymore, never watching him use one knife to take the butter out of the dish and another to actually butter his bread--all because he hated crumbs in the butter dish, never wandering through the woods with him as he practiced his archery, never playing penny poker with he and his friends in his small town. Somehow, at 10 years old, I knew that things just were never going to be the same.

Fast forward 20 years and it catches my breath to think that it has been so long since he was here with us. I sit here writing about him, still crying as much as I did the day he died and still missing him as much.

My grandfather wasn't perfect. I know in his life, he made mistakes, but he was a good man and I love him for it. I only had 10 short years with him, not near enough. I don't know if I believe in heaven, but I know, without a doubt, that Grandpa is here with us, looking over us, protecting and taking care of my family and, because I can't physically have him here, I take comfort in knowing that he has never really left us.

Carl Edward Hargroves, Sr.

October 11, 1924 - December 2, 1990

If you get there before I do, don't give up on me.

I'll meet you when my chores are through;

I don't know how long I'll be.

But I'm not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.

And between now and then, till I see you again,

I'll be loving you. Love, me.

Between now and then, till I see you again,

I'll be loving you. Love, me.

4 Months Already!!

Our beautiful baby girl is 4 months old! It seems like time is flying by and I can't hardly believe that it has already been so long since Eva entered this world! Here is a look at her evolution so far! She is getting so big!!!