It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

With Christmas only days away, I find myself with built up excitement...almost as if I am a child again, in hopes Santa will come see me and that I was on his "Nice List" this year. :)

I LOVE the holidays and am always in the Christmas spirit, but this year I find myself overly excited! It brings a whole new meaning to a holiday when you have a little one to share it with.

The month of December has flown by! I couldn't believe the month was half over when we finally got our Christmas decorations up!! I am usually pretty on top of things--but this year time just got away from me. I have taken on a much more "carefree" attitude...but in a good way. Those of you who know me, know I can be a tad extreme in writing my daily "To-Do List." Each and every day I have a written list and mark off each task as I accomplish it. Though I still write my daily lists, I now often choose to just save it for the next day because I would much rather sit home and play with my sweet Eli.

My sweet Eli and I...



I realized I better get a move on getting the house decorated the weekend of the 13th. My wonderful husband came home from work, (he has been working weeks on end without a day off) hung lights and decorated the outside for us!!

The first official yard decor of Christmas 2009...



While Charlie decorated the outside of the house, Eli and I listened to Christmas music and decorated the inside. One of the things I most look forward to each Christmas is looking through all of the decorations and remembering the significance and history of each piece.

One of my favorite decorations came from my Mom the first Christmas Charlie and I were married. She gave me this Nativity Scene and it reminds us what Christmas is truly about. This represents our thanks to God for the gift of his son on Christmas Eve long ago...



I had mentioned to my Mom last year that I thought it would be fun to start collecting Nutcrackers. She surprised Charlie and I on Christmas and bought us our first set of Nutcrackers to display around our house!





My Mom picked out this one especially for Charlie. I can't help but laugh at the fact that it is a pirate Nutcracker...



These are some of the little touches around the house to put us in the Christmas spirit...











One of the things we most look forward to on Christmas morning are the stockings Santa fills! We are hoping Santa fills our stockings again this year. :)











Each and every year, I see pictures of Christmas trees decorated in all red and gold or blue and silver and they are just beautiful!! I always tell Charlie,"We should decorate our tree like that next year." Truth of the matter is, our tree represents our personalites. There is A LOT going on--it's bright and fun! We also have sentimental attachments to many of our ornaments...whether they are from our childhood, or were given to us as a gift from someone...many of them have a very special meaning. Therefore, we are unable to limit ourselves when it comes to tree decorating. :)

Our happy, fun, colorful, bright Christmas tree...







I wanted to do something with the red and gold theme, so I decided on gift wrapping in those colors. I LOVE to wrap presents!!



My FAVORITE wrapping job ;0) ...



I just love that little face and those sweet, squeezble cheeks!!

We are ready for Christmas at the Webb household! One of my favorite things about being a Mommy is dressing up my little guy!! I am glad Eli still has awhile before he is able to tell me "No." Until then, I get to dress him up in adorable holiday outfits like this...





Eli has been quite a busy little guy lately. He is awake most of the day now (which means more playtime with Mommy!). He makes new faces and new noises each and every day.

I love watching the little faces he makes...



Smiley boy...



Charlie is quite entertained by his "Little Man"...



Eli also likes to kick his legs! He will kick and kick and kick....Charlie and I get a "kick" out of watching him. haha. It is so fun to watch!

So of course, I had to share... :)



We still are having "Tummy Time" several times a day. Eli is really starting to want off his tummy! He has started pushing himself up the past week. He gets frustrated because he can't go anywhere yet....but it's only a matter of time. :)

Big boy pushing himself up...



He is getting the hang of it...



After a busy week of playing, napping, eating and pulling Lulu's tail...Eli got to visit with his "girlfriend," Sara. Anne and I took Eli and Sara shopping at The Strand. The Strand is located in the old, historic part of Galveston and consists of various unique shops and places to eat. I now know to go visit there BEFORE I complete my Christmas shopping next year. There were too many fun, "must have" items!

The Strand...









Everything looked so festive! The street lanterns were decorated with wreaths and the shops all had the prettiest ornaments and trees displayed. I loved the Christmas tree located in the center of all the excitement...

Anne and Sara...



Pretty girls up close...




Eli and Mommy...



Some of my favorite pictures I took during our fun day were taken on a bench at the end of our visit. I don't think it gets any sweeter than this!

Eli and Sara...





There is one task I have left to complete prior to Christmas--cookie baking. I have been postponing getting started because I did not want to be left alone in the house with a ton of cookies! I would be too tempted! :) I am now off to go begin my baking marathon.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!

Love,
The Webb Family

Courtney & Charlie...



Eli...



and Lulu...

Eli is 2 months old!!!

Our baby boy is growing up so fast...Eli is already 2 MONTHS OLD!! Where has the time gone? It is bittersweet to watch him grow older...I LOVE watching all of the new things he learns and does each day, but part of me wouldn't mind being able to keep him this little just awhile longer. :)

Eli is really starting to develop quite the personality!! A couple of weeks ago, he started smiling...I am talking those HUGE, open-mouthed, capture-your-heart smiles. It is just too cute!! I find myself sitting with a camera, waiting for him to wake up so I can take pictures of him grinning from ear to ear.

Such a smiley boy...



Mommy just can't get enough...



I am waiting for Eli to just sit up on his own. I know that sounds crazy since he is only 2 months old, but he does get a lot of practice posing for all of these pictures!



Look at my handsome little man! My sweet friend Shannon crocheted this adorable nautical sweater (it even has little boat buttons!) and booties he has on in this picture. She also croceted a matching hat and blanket (see below on his rocking chair). I absolutely love this little outfit!! Eli has his booties halfway kicked off in the picture...he does not like anything on his feet. haha.




Eli is starting to enjoy his toys! He likes anything that makes noise and lights up!! He especially likes this Pooh Bear his Auntie Alison gave him because Pooh makes a "jingle" noise when you shake him.




Lulu did not take Eli getting a new toy to play with very well. She took his Pooh Bear and ran off with him, but came back and dropped it next to Eli. It was almost as if she was wanting him to play with her. It was too cute!

Lulu just LOVES Eli...



I really love watching Eli grow and change. Some days I look at him and he looks so much like a mini-Charlie it is unreal!! Other days, I can't help but see myself when I look at him.

I think he has Charlie's eyes and mouth and looks just like his Daddy here...



When I look at him in this picture I think he has my cheeks and nose...



Eli is a growing boy!! He now is regularly wearing 3 month size clothing. I bought a storage tub to put his clothes in as he outgrows them. At first, I would put the storage tub back on the top shelf of his closet under some boxes after I used it. Lately it hasn't moved from the floor in the nursery because by the time I put it back in the closet, I have more clothes to put in that he has outgrown. haha.

Auntie Courtney bought Eli this 3 month size "Super Duper" tee shirt. I caught him mid-sneeze when taking the pic...



Yes, Eli is growing, growing, growing!! Do you remember the comparison photos I took of Eli when he was 1 month old?

Eli with Mr. Bear at 1 month old...



Eli with Mr. Bear at 2 months old...



I also am taking monthly photos of Eli in the rocking chair in his nursery to compare each month.

Eli in his chair at 1 month old... (remember how upset he was with me in this picture? haha)



Eli in his chair at 2 months old...



Eli is also "talking" quite a bit...We have no idea what he is saying, but he sure does have a lot to share!! He likes to make loud noises because he likes the sound of his voice. He also figured out how to make a "brrr" sound with his lips. He will make his "brrr" sound and just smile and smile.

Eli now reaches for things he sees...his mobile on his swing, the animals hanging on his bouncy chair, toys you hold in front of him... it's really neat to see how his gross motor skills are already starting to develop!

Charlie is determined to teach Eli how to "high five." It is kind of funny because Eli DOES reach out to touch Charlie's hand.

Eli "high-fiving" Daddy...



We have also been having "Tummy Time" every day. This will help Eli get used to being on his stomach. Eventually, he will start to push himself up. Eli doesn't seem to mind being on his tummy...he doesn't get upset, so that is a good thing! :)

Eli will push his legs and stick his bottom up when he is on his tummy...



Love that precious little face...



Maybe he is starting to enjoy being on his tummy...



The smile says it all! :)



Eli is a VERY good sleeper!! He takes after his Daddy and can sleep through anything. He now takes two solid naps during the day. He will sleep anywhere between the hours of 11am and 3pm for 2 to 3 hours. He will take another nap from 5pm until about 7pm. I think he does this so he can be well rested for when his Daddy gets home. :) At first I was nervous about Eli wanting to nap during the evening, but he still has no problem going to sleep at night. In fact, (drumroll please...) he will now sleep 6 to 6 1/2 hours straight during the night!!!

One of my favorite things to do is watching Eli sleep. I love watching his little expressions and wonder what he is dreaming about. When Eli is in a very deep slumber, he laughs and smiles. He will cut his eyes to one side and he will laugh while he is sleeping. It is the cutest thing ever!! I knew you would all think I was being silly telling you about that, so I GOT IT ON VIDEO!!!



Monday was Eli's 2 month appointment with his pediatrician. He is in wonderful health! Eli weighed 13lbs 2 1/2oz and measured 23 1/4in long!! He is a growing boy!!

He also had his 2 month shots. His shots consisted of 5 different ones, one of which is to prevent Eli from getting Pneumonia, so that is good. Luckily, they now have combined shots, so he actually only received two (as opposed to five). The nurse gave him one shot in each of his little leggies. I was hoping since he has a little extra chunk on his legs maybe his shots wouldn't hurt as much? The nurse gave him the first shot and Eli looked at me, stuck his lip out and yelled, "Wah! Wah, wah, ahhh!" It was as if he was mad at Mommy and he was telling her just how unhappy he was. Poor baby :(

Here are some of the things Eli is doing at 2 months old:

*He is smiling A LOT, especially when he recognizes voices.
*He is eating 7-8 ounces per feeding.
*Eli will now sleep for a good solid 6 to 6 1/2 hours at night!
*He KNOWS when we put his bib on it is time to eat! As soon as the bib is on, the crying stops and he is all smiles. :)
*He likes to "hum" when I burp him because he likes the vibrating sound of his voice.
*His legs are getting strong! He likes to push up against me and tries to climb over when I have him resting on my shoulder.
*He LOVES hair! I am always pulling mine out of his fingers and he has a VERY strong grip.
*He is really starting to take notice in his surroundings and will reach for things.
*He is starting to enjoy the mobile on his swing, the animals on his bounce chair, the chimes on his car seat. He really likes looking at these things and "talks" to them.
*Eli went from sleeping majority of the day to taking 2 solid naps. He will take an afternoon nap and an early evening nap. He will then stay awake until about 9 or 10pm.
*He can hold his head up pretty well! Pretty soon he will be able to keep his head up. :)

We LOVE our precious 2 MONTH OLD baby boy!