Knitting Lesson

Before Christmas, Michele had mentioned several times that she would like to learn how to knit! 

So, for part of her gift, I got her a knitting bag, knitting needles, several skeins of yarn, and some other knitting accessories!

On Tuesday night, we went over to Pat and Linda's house to get a knitting lesson from Grandma Drewes.  She has been knitting for many, many years and is so good at it!  She was very patient in teaching us how to cast on, knit stitch, pearl stitch, and bind off.  Michele has already improved so much!  I am hoping to learn more some day, but for now I am busy getting the baby's room ready.:)

Zaya was "helping.":)

 

Bryan even learned a little bit about knitting!  He knitted a whole row with a little help!:)

Emerson Kaylin Neuenschwander

On December 19, 2011, Emerson Kaylin Neuenschwander was born!  We have prayed and prayed for this little girl and we were so excited to go spend some time snuggling her last night.  Our baby girl is so lucky to have another little girl to grow up with!:)

Bryan and Emerson

What a precious baby!  She is just beautiful with dark hair and really long eyelashes!

Hall Christmas 2011

Christmas with the Hall/Drewes fam was fun, as always!  We ended up doing our evening meal and then opening gifts afterwards.  Our normal schedule was a little off this year since Christmas was on Sunday, but it was so nice to wait until everyone was able to be there at the same time!

Bryan and I

Grandpa and Grandma Drewes

Pat and Linda...soon to be Grandma and Grandpa Hall!

PJ and Rachel

Rachel, Sarah, and Tim

Drew and Tara

Carol and Paul

Lexi's first gift to her grandparents...a picture frame that says "When a child is born, so is a grandparent!"  It has her full name at the bottom and an ultrasound picture of her in the frame.:)

Our Last Christmas as a Family of Two

This was our last Christmas as our little family of 2!  We are so excited to start new fun traditions with our girl next year!

On Christmas Eve

Our stockings...with Lexi's tiny pink one in the middle!:)

Looking handsome in his new dress coat!

Christmas morning...Bry loves to make self-timer pics as interesting as possible!:)

Daddy with his gift from Alexis...a football for him and a ball for her, too!

Campbell Christmas 2011

On Christmas Eve, we went to my parents' house!  Kate had been sick so it almost didn't happen...but I'm so glad that it did!

The grandkids in front of the tree

Grandpa reading the Christmas story to the kids

With my favorite little niece!

Michele and Shane got Alexis a minky blanket!  I LOVE it and can't wait to snuggle with her in it!

I was REALLY surprised to get my very own minky blanket!  It coordinates with Lexi's blanket...we may not get out of the recliner for weeks after she comes home!:)

Uncle Bry with his precious baby niece

Lily in the tutu that I made for her!

 

The boys with their Cars light up shoes!  I have joked for years that I would buy them light up shoes and I decided that it was time.  I'm glad I did...they loved them!:)

We are so blessed to be a close, loving family.  I am thankful that we get to spend so much time together throughout the year and not just at the holidays.  I can't wait to watch our baby girl grow up with her cousins!

DIY Christmas Card Holder

Before Christmas, I was looking on Pinterest for a new way to display our Christmas cards.  I found this idea that suggested running a piece of ribbon down the middle of your kitchen cabinets and then securing the cards to the ribbon.  I tried it and I LOVED it!

I actually bought rolls of 4" mesh from Kirkland's instead of ribbon.  I loved how sparkly it was and I think it was a little stiffer than ribbon would have been.  I bought mini clothespins from the office supply section at Walmart to hang the cards. 

 

Christmas cards are one of my favorite things about the Christmas season and I loved looking at them every day when I was cooking or doing dishes!  

Peyton's 4th Birthday

On December 11, 2011, Peyton Campbell Blair turned FOUR years old!  

 

He had a sports-themed birthday party and had lots of fun.

We got him an Angry Birds t-shirt and took him to Build-a-Bear for his birthday!  He made himself an Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Of course, the batteries in my camera were dead, so I have no photographic documentation of this.:)

 

Zaya and his cousin Mia at the party.

I can't believe that Peyton is already four!  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was following HIS progress in utero while Michele was pregnant with him.  I love that big boy so much!:)

Peyton's 1st Christmas Musical

On December 11, 2011 (his birthday!), Peyton performed in his first church Christmas musical!

The musical was called The Great Christmas Giveaway.  It had a very sweet message about some kids who were searching for the perfect Christmas gift for their teacher.  There was a song in the musical called "Where's the Line to See Jesus?" that really hit home...we need to spend as much time looking for Jesus at Christmas time as we do the perfect gift for all the people on our lists!

Peyton was a sheep at the end of the musical.:)  He was SO adorable!  He didn't want to be a sheep, however!  He wanted to be a dinosaur.  He told Michele that when he turns 16 he is going to drive himself to the craft store and buy green paper to make himself a dinosaur costume!  Ha!:)

 

He got a little hot towards the very end and started removing parts of his costume.  He was the cutest sheep I have ever seen!:)

Hadley Kay Blair

On September 22, 2011, Hadley Kay Blair joined the world! 

She is so precious and we are so thankful that our daughter will have this sweet friend to grow up with!

Big sister Josie will also be a good friend for our baby girl!

24 Weeks!

On Christmas day, I was 24 weeks pregnant!

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of baby: just over a pound in weight and about 12 inches long, about the size of an ear of corn

Gender: It's a GIRL!!!

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing mostly maternity clothes with some regular stuff still mixed in. I got a new pair of maternity skinny jeans and a pair of maternity leggings...I pretty much live in those two pairs of pants!:)

Weight gain: 22 pounds

Belly Button: It is still in!

Movement: Yes!!! She starts moving almost immediately when I start eating!

Sleep: I've been sleeping okay!  My hips and shoulders get uncomfortable because I sleep on my side for so long, but so far it hasn't prohibited me from sleeping!

Symptoms: A little acid reflux and that's about it! I am so blessed to be having an easy pregnancy so far!

Cravings: M & M's:)

Best Moment This Week: Celebrating Christmas with our amazing family and getting several adorable gifts for our precious girl.  Also, I passed my glucose test...woohoo!!!!!