Ella Kate's First Christmas

Wow - what a busy time of year!!! I always love the Christmas season but this year has been extra special with our new little addition. The festivities all started the weekend before Christmas which is when we celebrated with my side of the family in B'ham. Everyone came over to my moms house and we had a blast watching all of the little cousins play together and of course we played our traditional dirty santa game. It is amazing how competitive our family can make dirty santa. Keith was nice enough to videotape the Johnson/Wiginton family Chritmas party including the Dirty Santa game. I can't wait to watch it back on video. Unfortunately Dave did not make it to the B'ham family Christmas and my Uncle Ken wanted me to make sure to ask him Who did he think he was?-- You just tell Dave that he is no better than the rest of us :) Dave had the chance to go hunting with Casey and I knew he really wanted to go so I let him outta the B'ham Christmas this year - but don't worry B'ham I will make sure he is back next year.

Ella Kate and I drove back to Atlanta after lunch the Sunday before Christmas and I think I unpacked for almost an hour b/c we came home with so many fun gifts. Ella Kate got some really nice things from the B'ham crew including a beautiful Strasburg outfit from Uncle Keith and Aunt Tina, a Pottery Barn Kids My first Anywhere Chair and a bazillion toys from Nana, and some cute things including her first Christmas ornament, purse, monogrammed tea set, toy train, books, outfits, silver coins, etc. from all the family.

On Christmas Eve my mom came to Marietta and arrived at Dave's mom and dads house just as we had all returned from church and were finishing up dinner. She got to visit with Ella Kate and my nephew Josh who was in town for Christmas from Houston. We had a nice visit but went home before it got to late to prepare for Santa Claus.

We all woke up early on Christmas morning to open gifts at our house before going to Papa's and LeLe's for lunch and more gift giving and receiving. Santa brought Dave a playstation 3, electric knife, and digital probe thermometer and Santa brought me some smelly good bath stuff plus a nice spa/massage gift certificate. After the busy Christmas holidays I can't wait to go enjoy a day at the spa. Santa brought Ella Kate more toys including a talking baseball bat and mound, ABC/123 toolbox, doll stroller, ball popper, and several others. While Ella Kate had no idea what was going on she did enjoy unwrapping presents and playing with them.

I dressed Ella Kate up in one of my old Christmas dresses for lunch with Dave's family and off we went. We had so much fun visiting with everyone. And of course we were all spoiled even more. Dave's Mom and Dad got us a SLR camera that I have been eyeing for months now - so you can imagine how thrilled we were and also how many pics I have been taking lately. Dave got some more great clothes, books, and a nice web camera for our pc. I got more great clothes, silver mint julip cups, and more of my Waterfod crystal. Miss Ella Kate got tons more toys in fact I have no idea what we are going to do with all of her toys that she already has and she is only 6 months old :) LeLe also got Ella Kate her first silver cup which I am excited to let her use.

Let's see the next day, Friday, we had all of Dave's family over to our house and Dave cooked an amazing prime rib in which he got to use his new electric knife and digital probe thermometer and I got to break out some of my new waterford crystal. Dinner was excellent in fact Josh who is only a year old liked and ate the prime rib.

We also had a nice relaxing and uneventful New Years. I was very happy to spend it with the two ok I guess 4 people I love the most (Dave, Ella Kate, Sally, and JoJo). It has been a nice long weekend for us and the 3 of us have really enjoyed some good ole quality family time.

Happy Holidays and Love to all, Trina

Our 2008 Christmas Tree with two of our kids (Sally and JoJo). I decided to go for the natural Christmas Tree look this year.
Aunt Helen and Ella Kate at my mom's house for the B'ham Christmas festivities.

Ella Kate telling Uncle Harold that while the party is fun she is ready for a nap.

Ella Kate and Whitley playing with their new toys.

Logan, Uncle Keith, Whitley, and Ella Kate.

Ella Kate talking Uncle Harold's ear off. Sorry Uncle Harold it kinda runs in the family :)

Ella Kate all dressed up in my old Christmas dress getting ready to open presents on Christmas Day at LeLe and Papa John's.

Ella Kate and Daddy opening presents.

Ella Kate and Aunt Laura. Fun Aunt Laura broke the rules and let Ella Kate sit on the dining room table after we finished lunch. As you can see Ella Kate loved every minute of it.

Ella Kate and Joshua posing for a picture in their matching Christmas outfits on Christmas afternoon. Josh sat still as a mouse and was so good. Miss Priss was good too but she did not sit still as a mouse :) She is a very busy little person.

LeLe and Josh and Ella Kate and Nana

Dave proud of his prime rib that he cooked for the fam the day after Christmas

Ella Kate loved her new chair that Nana gave her for Christmas.

PlayDate with Harry, Ali, and Rhodes

Today Ella Kate and I went over to Jamie's house for a playdate. We had so much fun!!! Mollie and Harry also came over and Ella Kate was amazed watching Harry, Ali, and Rhodes. Rhodes is such a sweet and calm baby. Jamie put her to sleep in her swing and it was amazing as she did not make one peep and went right to sleep. Baby Harry is a crawling and pulling up machine. He was so cute and I am sure that he will be walking on his own very soon. As for Ali she sang Jingle Bells to Ella Kate and gave her the biggest hug. What a sweet group of little ones. It was also nice to have adult conversation with Jamie and Mollie. It is always fun to catch up and I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends. We are all especially lucky that so many of our good friends from high school and college have kids so close in age to Ella Kate. I am really looking forward to watching them all grow up together.

Sleighbells on the Square 5K

Saturday morning Dave, John (Dave's dad), and I all ran the Sleighbells on the Square 5K at the Marietta Square. The race allowed jogging strollers and although we originally planned to bring Miss Priss it was 29 degrees the morning of the race so thank goodness for LeLe as she babysat while we ran. Attached are pics of the race. It was so much fun although a little harder than I thought - but alas I ran the entire way and only finished 2 mins behind Dave.

Below are pics of the Marietta Square. It is a beautiful place all year around but especiallly at Christmas time.

Saturday afternoon Dave did some Christmas shopping on his own and Ella Kate and I stayed at home and played and wrapped Christmas gifts. When Dave got home Ella Kate was so glad to see him and I got some great pics of them playing together.

Saturday night, Papa John, LeLe, and Aunt Laura all came over for dinner. We had a nice dinner complete with Christmas China and all. Dave grilled a couple of whole chickens and LeLe and Aunt Laura brought the sides. As most of you know I am not a big cook therefore I made the Christmas cookies :)

This morning we went to church with Miss Priss dressed in one of her Aunt Laura's old Christmas dresses that LeLe had hand smocked. It was gorgeous and Ella Kate looked so sweet. She did great during church. She has just about conquered sitting up and she in fact sat on the pew in between Dave and I and played with her toys. Then she decided that she wanted to stand up and look at the sweet ladies sitting behind us. She smiled and flirted with them for several mins until I think she got so wrapped up in her flirting that she forgot where Mommy and Daddy was b/c out of no where she started crying. I took her to the nursery and we sat in the nursery for the rest of service and she just watched another little boy in the nursery and played with her cell phone. Her dad is not a big fan of the cell phone toy but I just could not resist. As soon as we found out we were expecting Dave told me that we were not going to buy her any toy cell phones or purses. :) Sorry Dave that is an impossible request.

Ella Kate is gettingto be extra cudly these days. She is starting to put her head on my shoulder and just want to snuggle more. I absolutely love it and can't get enough of it. I love watching her discover new toys and she never ceases to amaze me as she reaches for objects that she wants. As soon as she makes up her mind that she wants something you can be sure that she is going to try her hardest to get it and then of course put it right in her mouth. Her coordination is amazing to me.

Christmas PJ's

When we first found out we were expecting Leigh gave me Dave's pj's from his very first Christmas. Ella Kate slept in her Daddy's old Christmas PJ's last night and looked so cute. It is amazing how much she looks like him. I took some pictures of her playing with her reindeer under the Christmas tree last night dressed in her Daddy's pj's. She is doing so good sitting up by herself. We went to Target this morning and it was so fun b/c she sat up in the buggy with me instead of in her carseat. We went down the toy aisle and her eyes just lit up. I think we are going to be in big trouble. I was looking at some of the more girly Fisher Price toys but the one she stared the most intently at was a Fisher Price toolbox. So guess what I bought - yep a toolbox. :)

Normally I only go into the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays however this Thursday we had a big meeting and I needed to go in. Leigh was planning on going to Houston to visit Dena, Chris, and Josh so Dave and I were frantically scrambling to find a babysitter. We have never left Ella Kate with anyone besides Leigh or my mom so I was nervous about whom we might find. Thankfully our good friend Lauren whom has a 2 year old offered to babysit. Thanks a million Lauren. When I went to pickup Ella Kate Thursday afternoon, Riley Grace, Lauren's 2 year old was so so cute. Ella Kate was sitting up on the floor and Riley Grace was offering her a bottle, blanket, toys, anything you can imagine. Lauren says that Riley Grace is really into baby dolls and having a real one for the day was a big deal. When we left sweet Riley Grace started crying b/c she did not want her little baby doll to leave. It was so cute!!!!

Tomorrow should be a really fun day for us as we are going to run the Sleighbells on the Square 5K. It is a really cute run as you can have jogging strollers in the race. The race goes from the Marietta Square to Kennestone Hospital and then back to the Square. After the race Santa Claus greets and talks to all of the little kids. I can't wait it should be so fun.

Let's see what is new with Miss Prissy Pants. Wells she is sitting up and wants to move so so bad. She loves her sippy cup filled with water during lunch and dinner time. She is infactuated with Sally and JoJo. Oh yeah we think that she is definately double jointed. It is amazing how that girl can bend her arms and legs. It sometimes scares me but she seems to do it on purpose. It made me feel better when Lauren told me yesterday that she thought she was definately double jointed too.

Dave and I are so thankful for our healthy little angel and I am having so much fun with the Christmas Holidays watching her react to lights, etc.

First Santa Visit

Sunday evening Ella Kate got to meet Santa for the very first time. As you can see from the attached video she did great!!! I love the part where she turns to look at Santa and just stares so intently. So So sweet.










Casey, Harris, Dave, and Ella Kate at the Posten's house waiting to see Santa.
Dave holding Ella Kate close trying to keep her warm.

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Ella Kate and Livie waiting for Santa

Ella Kate's First Thanksgiving

Keith, Tina, Mom, Me, Dave, and Ella Kate
Me, Dave, and Ella Kate
Uncle Ken, Aunt Helen, Mom, Uncle Tom, Uncle Don, Aunt Nancy, Aunt Ann, & Uncle Wendell

Ella Kate & Whitley (Wendy's youngest)

Miss Whitley - such a sweet smile

Tina and Ella Kate

Mom feeding Ella Kate

Me and Ella Kate at the Elliott Thanksgiving

I know I am a little late updating the blog but time just seems to fly. This year was Ella Kate's first Thanksgiving and we had a great time seeing all of the B'ham family over at my Aunt Ann's and Uncle Wendell's. Aunt Ann and Uncle Wendell were perfect hosts and I truly treasure getting together with the fam. All the cousins had fun playing Catch Phrase and taking golf cart rides. This was one of the first times that we did not play any football but with so many little ones we kept busy and entertained. We had Thanksgiving with Dave's side of the family the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. We missed having Dena, Chris, and Josh at the Elliott Thanksgiving but are so excited that they will be coming in town for Christmas. I can't wait for Ella Kate and her cousin Josh to play together.

This past Tuesday evening we bought our Christmas tree and I am so excited about our first Holiday with Miss Priss. Since we have been married, Dave and I have always bought a live Christmas tree each year. However we are having one little problem with the live Christmas Tree this year. JoJo, one of our dogs has discovered that it is a great water bowl. Dave finally figured out last night why the water for the Christmas tree was going so fast. Oh JoJo he is our little challenge :) But we love him anyway and would not take anything for him.

Ella Kate absolutely loves our dogs, Sally and JoJo. She watches their every move. I only let them inside if she is playing in her bouncer, pack n' play, or basically something where she is not just sitting or laying on the floor. We have taught the dogs since we first brought her home that she is off limits but now she is the one reaching and trying to get to them. She is not quite sitting up on her own yet but I know she is very close and we work on it everyday.

Dave and I have so much to be Thankful for this holiday season. We have a healthy and happy little angel, our health, great jobs, and our wonderful family and friends.