Santa Baby

Betsy Grace was obviously not as amused as I was...had to show off her outfit, never too young for Ugs :)

We had the best time this Christmas!!! Betsy Grace was such a trooper, despite all the places we went, naps we interrupted, etc. She was just my happy little girly and we felt so blessed this Christmas! We got to see all of the grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins...lots of family love! She received lots of toys and loved watching everyone unwrap their presents, she was taking it all in.

Brun is busy telling her all kinds of stories

Christmas morning at Ellie and Brun's...Betsy Grace was loving all the action!

Chatting with Aunt Frannie

Joy!!!

Getting sleepy, so relaxed in Grandpa SanSan's arms

Dancing with Papa John, she has started belly laughing and it's hilarious...she was really giggling in this picture :)

Love to all of you and hope you have a happy new year...

2010, here we come!!!

5 Months old!!!

They all did pretty well considering the constant camera flashes :)

We could not live without those hands in our mouths!

Loving the camera

Someone is trying to be a matchmaker

Not everyone could come but this was the Christmas gang

Mac did not like the way Robert was "leaning" on Betsy Grace :)

Mommy and bebe, baptism day

Wiggle worm, always on the move

Aunt LouLou and Uncle Ricco

Joy!!!

Our family

Carl was awesome and discretely took pictures during the service!

Waiting to go into church

No wonder she is so spoiled!

Snacking on the hands, once again

I can't believe that it has been 5 months since Betsy Grace was born, time really is flying and we are having the time of our lives!!!

December has been super busy and filled with lots of fun!

Betsy Grace was baptized last weekend and it was such a special moment for Mac and I. I was not really sure how she would do in a large crowd but she was perfect! Milly, the minister who carried her down the aisle, said that she stuck her tongue out the entire way...which is really a compliment, she loves her tongue :) We had a luncheon at my mom and Sandy's afterward and it was a wonderful celebration with all of our loved ones.

Then, this past weekend, Mac and I went to Florida for Marshall and Liz's wedding...it was our first weekend away from little miss and was wonderful but super hard to be away from her. I definitely cried when we left her but my mom was so good about sending pics the entire weekend. The wedding was beautiful, intimate and just lovely, we love you Marsh and Liz!

I mentioned in my last blog that we were awaiting the the arrival of baby Utsey and he was born December 11. His name is Van Tillman Utsey and he is precious, congratulations D and Mel! Now we are waiting on 2 more babies, Baby Murphy and Baby Mattocks...Betsy Grace can't wait to meet you :)

Yes, life is busy and time is flying but we are not taking a second for granted. The sweet stuff is the best...the snuggles, the kisses, the smiles and belly laughs, the way she rubs her eyes when she's sleepy, her sweet breath, the way her eyes twinkle...I could go on and on! It's all so good, God is so good!!!

Betsy Grace's new thing is that she loves to stand, with assistance of course! She is a little wiggle worm, trying to sit up and taking in all of the action around her. We are so thankful to be well for Christmas, hope I am not speaking too soon :)

Hope all of you are able to spend wonderful moments with family and friends this Christmas, we are definitely looking forward to our best Christmas yet!!!

Lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Libby, Mac, Betsy Grace, Vince and Sadie

Getting ready to go on a walk, think she'll be warm enough?

Bath time

Sweet little eyes

Mac and I are trying to be really simple this Christmas, in an effort to not spend a lot and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. When I really think about it, my happiness and joy comes from the small things, and one big thing...Miss Betsy Grace. So, as I am still feeling incredibly thankful and blessed after this Thanksgiving Season, I thought I would make a list of all those little things that make our lives so rich!

-my faith in God

-my waterbottle that I always have in my hand

-coffee in the morning, hot chocolate in the afternoon

-pumpkin bread

-Betsy Grace's sweet chubby cheeks

-my mom, who is everything I want to be

-Elise, who loves me like her own

-our playgroup

-a clean house

-Gossie and Gertie, Betsy Grace's fav book characters

-the smell of our Christmas tree

-Clorox Cleanup

-soup, any kind

-cereal in the morning

-Soy Milk, how have I lived this long without it!

-constant inspiration from my amazing friends

-Mary, she is a wonderful friend and teacher

-rubberbands for ponytails

-icecream after dinner

-long runs, listening to the world, no ipod

-all of my friends who have children

-WOW, which I cannot wait to get back to in January

-smiles and giggles from my baby

-Christmas music

-laughing with my husband

-magazines, I don't have time to read a book but a quick flip through a mag is wonderful

-Vince and Sadie, my first babies

-bouncy seat for sleeping when a cold hits

-the memory of Betsy Grace moving in utero

-little giraffe blankets

-the stroller

-Daddy, when he gets home from work, the best part of our day

After thinking about all that I am blessed with I realize that I want nothing and couldn't possibly ask for more!

Speaking of things to be thankful for, Betsy Grace had her 4 month checkup with Dr. Swetenburg last week. Little miss short stuff is now 11 lbs 2 oz, 21 1/2 inches. They are really proud of her growth and progress and were amazed that she is doing so well sleeping through the night. She is babbling up a storm, mimicking the sounds that we make, it's like she is really trying to tell us something. She loves talking to her daddy, it's hilarious!!!

We are trying to get into a good bedtime routine...bath, books, bottle, etc. These moments at the end of the day are so sweet, I wouldn't trade them for anything.

We have a big month ahead...her baptism, her first overnight weekend at her grandparents (Mac and I are going to Florida for a wedding..woohoo!), then there's Christmas and New Years. Hopefully we can stay well and soak up as much time with family and friends as possible! Enjoy these pictures..merry, merry!

So Thankful...

Thanksgiving Day

The whole Barksdale, Tuck, Lewis, Corder clan :)

Love my daddy!

Sweet girl

Look at my tongue, Great Grandmommy

Eyeing that bottle :)

Playing with Aunt Lou Lou

She has her favorite toy on lockdown :)

Picking out her first Christmas tree

She picked the prettiest one on the lot

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!! I have the most amazing family and friends! Betsy Grace and I have both been sick and I could not have managed without my incredible husband and my wonderful mom. Both of them really pitched in and took charge, thank you so much, y'all are the best! I am also thankful for our health. Betsy Grace had her first cold this past week and of course, I also got sick. It was no fun! Just like any mom, I don't sit very often but 2 ear infections and a sinus infection made me take a time out. As I lay on my sofa last Monday, the 23rd, I realized that this time exactly, last year, I lay in the same place in the bed rest part of my IVF cycle. Not that I didn't believe it would work, because I did, but I surely did not have the foresight that a year from then I would be looking at my precious and beautiful 4 month old. How amazing is that! This is such a busy time of year and I am sure that if I were not sick, I would have never been able to sit in that same place and reflect. What a wonderful God, God is!!!

We are now all better and Betsy Grace goes for her 4 month checkup on Thursday, can't wait to see how much she has grown! We saw Dr. Swetenburg last Monday, for a sick visit, and I was so tempted to put her on the scale but I didn't :) She is doing great and although I was prepared for the cold to set us back on sleeping through the night, it never phased her. Good thing because I was sick too, like I said, what a wonderful God, God is!

There is a lot going on this week...

My best friend is moving away from Charlotte. I am so incredibly sad that I haven't spent much time thinking about it but I will miss her more than she will ever know. You know how you have that friend whom seems to be going through the same thing you are going through at the same time, that is me and Morgan. It always has a slight variation but we have seen each other through everything! Friendships, college, boyfriends, marriage, jobs, moves, pregnancy, children...and it goes on and on. We are truely sisters in Christ, I feel like I know her inside and out. This move is the best thing that has ever happened to them and we praise God for all of his blessings but I tear up everytime I think about her not being 5 minutes away. Don't worry, I will be going over that mountain before January is over but it's just a hard thing, saying goodbye to your best friend...what do you say exactly? I love you Mo.

On another note, Melissa and Derek are patiently awaiting the arrival of their son Van :) He could be here any minute and we can't wait to meet him!!! We pray that his mama is comfortable and content until he decides to present himself to the world.

Enjoy these pictures from the past couple of weeks, some were taken while Betsy Grace was really sick but she was always happy, she is pure joy!

Loving this Fall Weather!

Go Panthers!

Loving my bumbo!

Who isn't this happy after 12 hours of sleep :)

My BFF Margaret Blount

I love to watch TV

Halloween Morning

At the neighborhood Weenie Roast

The red faced lobster, told you she didn't like her costume :)

All my friends at playgroup

"Mom, why is Margaret Blount crying?"

Each and everyday get better and better! Betsy Grace is really showing us her little personality and she is such a joy! She sleeps 7 to 7, so life is good:) Our favorite thing to do is take walks, we are soaking up this amazing weather! She is also holding her head up, so she loves sitting in her bumbo. She is on a constant quest to find her thumb but for now she settles for the entire hand in her mouth! She is still a little munchkin but growing everyday, as her doctor says, "she is doing very well on her own chart" :)

She was a lobster for Halloween and didn't care too much for her costume, you will see in some of the pics. We are so excited about the approaching holidays, to spend wonderful moments with family and friends. Mac thinks I am insane but I am loving the weekend Christmas music on the radio...must be the retail in me!