The Mellins: 2012

Christmas 2012

We started out the Christmas season on my birthday when we set up the tree and other decorations. I practically listened to only Christmas music every day after that while Jason was at work. Christmas really makes me so cheerful and thankful for the wonderful life and family I have.

Assembly

Assembled

Finished

Jason and Liberty playing with the train under the tree.

Working retail means Jason had to work all of Christmas Eve, so the girls and I went to see family. I was so happy to be able to see my mom and dad. Plus Libby is always happy to play with her cousins.

Playing with Cousins

Christmas Day was just such a great time to have the girls' Nana, GrandDad, and Uncle Travis down. It was so much fun to see Libby kind of get the presents idea. I joke around to everyone that it is like Libby got double the Christmas gift, since Madison is really too young to enjoy any of her toys.

Christmas Morning

A White Christmas

Sneaky Girl!

Daddy helping Libby!

Madison and her stocking!

The same outfit Liberty wore last Christmas!

Family

What an amazing time of year to spend with family! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

Madison

On December 3rd at 7:34 am our second baby girl joined our family. She weighed 8lbs 9oz and was 20 inches long. Labor and delivery was incredibly fast. I awoke at 4 am and we were at the hospital by 6 am giving hardly no time before the arrival of our beautiful dark haired princess. I kept saying I would stay in the hospital for the whole 2 days this time, but by that evening we were all ready to go home. We were also really missing Liberty. By the next evening we were all together as a family.

Going Home

We all watched Flushed Away the first night together as a family.

Our New Family Member

The 28th of September we added a new addition to our family... and no it is not our baby girl (still 8 more weeks before she arrives). We went to a shelter and picked up our new cat, Archimedes! He is such a great cat!! I think he has a very unique personality. He is very sociable and very gentle with Libby. My favorite part is that I don't have to change the litter box until after Madison is born. We are super excited he is a part of the family and everyone has adjusted well to his arrival.

Yes... this is what he came home in!!!

Archimedes

Out of The Box

Such a great cat!!

Archie, playing with my journal sting.

No longer any room for me in my own bed for Sunday nap time!

He is so great with Libby!

Madison 3D Ultrasound

Madison

Saturday we were able to see our little belly baby girl on a 3D Ultrasound! It was so amazing to see all the detail of our little growing Madison. At one point while Libby was sitting on Jason's lap she put her face right in front of Jason's and Jason joked around that the sibling rivalry for attention had already begun. Jason moved his head to see Libby just put her face right in the way again. It was super cute. Well here are some pictures.

She looks like she has such a displeased face here.

Awe... she is being shy. :->

Sucking on her thumb.

Libby's 1st Birthday Weekend

Our beautiful baby girl is a year old!! I can not believe she is no longer an infant and now in the toddler years. "We don't have a baby anymore" as Jason so thoughtfully informed me this morning. Libby has done so much in her first year! She is a speed crawler and explorer which keeps Jason and I on our toes. She still loves to watch the dogs, and they are constantly making her laugh and smile even though they both would rather be left alone. She only takes a bottle at bedtime and drinks from a straw cup with ease. Her favorite word (and really only word associated with something/someone) is "Dada". She can do all of the actions to Pat-A-Cake and also really likes If You're Happy and You Know It. She loves to lean in and let you give her "kisses" and "snuggles". It is amazing me all she can do and how far she has come from the little bundle we brought home a year ago.

This weekend has been so much fun for our little one year old. On Thursday we ended her first year with a trip to the zoo. She loves animals and had a big grin on her face for the whole zoo trip... even up until she passed out.

Then on Friday she opened her walker gift that Jason and I got her. Plus that night at her uncle Travis' she stood up for the first time without holding onto anything.

To finish the great weekend off she had her Birthday Party. She loved her gifts unless I tried to take them away. Plus of course her smash cake was a fun experience.