Merry Christmas!

We have SO much to be thankful for this year. It is so special to have a little guy to share this special holiday with. While we share all our family traditions with Crockett and try to teach him the REAL reason for the season, please know that our thoughts and warmest wishes are with all of you this season as well. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone!

Love,
The Stone's

Crockett, meet Santa!

WHO ARE YOU???

I DON'T LIKE THIS GUY!!!

My sweet baby!

The Holliday Eagle Band

Crockett and Uncle Casey

Horsey!

Holliday Volunteer Fire Department

Emily

Kayleigh

Sue, Tommy, Andy and Nathalie

Crockett and I got in the Christmas spirit this morning and went to the Holliday Christmas parade! It was his 1st parade, and although it was loud and he wasn't quite sure what to think, I think he enjoyed it! The weather was chilly, but not nearly as freezing as it has been the past week. We met up with Uncle Casey, Aunt Amie, Kayleigh, Emily and Nathalie, Sue, Andy and Tommy (Amie's mom and her grandsons)! Uncle Casey is always so excited to see Crockett... I think he is just happy to have another boy around! :) There were quite a few floats and cool cars and all of them were throwing candy for the kids. They were so excited! Once the girls had picked up all the candy around us, we headed to the elementary school to go see Santa! He was on two floats and made it to the school... he is one quick fellow :) Crockett and I shared a donut... he LOVED it, of course! Santa.... not so much! He was not sure what to think, looking back and forth from Santa to me. Then he broke out into a full blown cry. So maybe next time :) Hopefully Santa will not hold it against him and still bring him some good stuff this year :) He really has been a good boy!!! I guess we will try it again another time!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Susan!!

The Birthday Girl!

Doesn't he look like a mess?!?

All the guys watching the big game

Grandpa and Crockett

T-Pa and his best buddy (who did NOT leave his side :)

The Stones, T-Pa, D-Ma, Aunt Susan and Jan

Dad and his sweet guy

Last Saturday, December 5, was special day for a special person in my life... My Aunt Susan turned 60!! Chris, Crockett and I packed up and headed South to the big city to help celebrate :) Aunt Susan is known in my dad's family for her cooking and catering skills... she never comes without shrimp, barbecue, or her awesome chocolate chip cookies! She is ALWAYS in charge of cooking for birthdays, get-togethers and pretty much every family event, so for her birthday, everyone decided to keep her OUT of the kitchen! For once she got to put her feet up, relax and enjoy her day! Dinner was catered by a chef out of Dallas at Aunt Anne's house. The food was so yummy and the italian cream birthday cake was DELICIOUS! We all had so much fun getting to celebrate such a special day with her. She has always been so supportive of me and is one of the people I know I can always call or talk to. I love spending time with her, although it doesn't happen nearly often enough anymore! It is so important to me, now, that Crockett gets to know her and have her in his life. He already LOVES his Aunt Susan too :) It was so good to see everyone and celebrate such a special birthday!!

NOVEMBER... Where did you go??

I am not sure how I managed to get SO FAR BEHIND, but I did! The month of November came and went in such a hurry... So much happened and we have been so busy, that I did not take the time to document everything that was going on. I am always so excited for this time of the year, and this year, since it is Crockett's 1st EVERYTHING, I am even more excited :) During November we went to visit our family in Lubbock. Crockett and Braidy actually played a little bit... chased each other around the table and actually noticed each other. I have a feeling Christmas will be a very exciting time for these two cousins! We went to the park with the Curry's and fed the ducks and played at the playground... I can't believe I left my camera at home! We had such a good time and Lulu got her Crockett fix for a few weeks! It is difficult not being closer, but it makes our visits even more special!

Crockett had his 1st Thanksgiving! We stayed here and went to Grandmaw Elwanda's for lunch. Rachy, celebrated this Thanksgiving with us and was so helpful to have around.... I could definately get used to having her here :) It was a small group at Elwanda's this year, Chris, Crockett and I, Rach, Elwanda and Grandma Welch (Elwanda's mother & Crockett's great, great grandmother who is 98!) but it was very special! Crockett looked so cute in his new outfit and loved getting to eat all the big kid food :) He had mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, some turkey... he was one FULL baby when he got done! It was such a nice day and such a wonderful way to remind us how much we have to be THANKFUL for!

Crockett also had his 8 MONTH BIRTHDAY!!! I know I say it every month, but, WOW! It seems as if each month just goes by faster and faster. Crockett is now crawling, actually crawling, not doing the "seal walk" everywhere! Boy, is he fast! He is pulling up onto everything and has gotten very good at falling on his bottom. I think my heart stops a little everytime I think he is going to fall, but he has gotten better. I guess that is part of the learning process. He said his 1st word.... drum roll, please... MAMA!!!! It was pretty funny. Chris and I kind of looked at each other when we heard it (my heart was melting :) So now we are working on dadadada... He is such a big boy, about 20 lbs and growing by leaps and bounds daily. We still are not sleeping through the night and I can get a little frustrated with him, but I wake up in the morning and look at him and realize I love him more than I did the day before... even after being up half the night! That is LOVE! He is the greatest gift Chris and I have every been given and so this holiday season, we are so thankful that the Lord blessed us with this child. It really changes everything.