Happy New Year! Welcome 2014!

It's hard to believe, but the new year crept up on us so quickly!  We opted to do something low-key and hang out with Evelyn instead of going out on New Year's Eve.  We did go to dinner with my parents and several of the neighbors that I grew up with.  It was nice to catch up with them and let them play with Evelyn.  Following dinner we headed home where our good friends, Katie and Kam, came over to have a relaxing night with us.  They brought Evelyn a Christmas present, a super soft little lamb and a cute book with a finger puppet.  After playing with Evelyn for awhile, we put her down for bed, and waited until midnight.  At about two minutes til, we brought Evelyn back downstairs, put on a hat, gave her a streamer horn, and brought in the New Year with her by our sides.  She was a bit out of it and confused, but she smiled as we gave her hugs and kisses and yelled, "Happy New Year!"  To our surprise, she fell right back to sleep when we took her back upstairs!  I don't know how we could possibly have as great of a year as 2013, but we are looking forward to the many surprises and amazing memories to come!  Happy New Year, and may you all be blessed with health and happiness in 2014!

 Take 1 and take 2 of trying to get a family photo....

 Take 3....

 Finally!

 Thank you for my gift Katie and Kam, and thank you for being such great friends!

 A little out of it :)

 Literally, the second Katie went to take the picture her hat fell down

Standing Tall!

The past few weeks have not only been exciting because of the holidays, but Evelyn has hit some huge milestones!  Not only is she crawling around in the room, but she is exploring several rooms by crawling down the hallways and through the kitchen.  Lately, I can't put her down for a nap without her standing up to check out her mobile.  She has no interest in sitting anymore.  As soon as we go to sit her down, she straightens and locks her legs so tight that all we can do it stand her up.  Each time I go to get her out of her crib she holds onto my fingers, stands up, and walks towards me.  It is absolutely amazing to watch her grow and learn.  I'm sure she will be doing cartwheels before we know it!

Christmas with the Fields!

After celebrating Christmas with my Dad's side, we headed over for a Christmas afternoon with Chris's family.  Evelyn is the only baby on this side of the family, so it is always quiet and relaxing, the perfect way to end a busy Christmas day!  When we arrived we played with Evelyn and talked with his family.  Next came gifts!  Chris, Evelyn, and I received a renewal to the Cincinnati Zoo, which we are so excited about!  Evelyn also got a rocking horse that sings to her!  Her feet don't quite touch the ground on it yet, but it will be something she will grow into and love in just a few months!  After gifts, we had a lasagna dinner.  It was a wonderful afternoon with Chris's family, and the perfect ending to our first Christmas with Evelyn!

 It isn't as easy these days to get a family picture where she is looking at the camera, smiling, and with nothing in her mouth!

 Helping Daddy open gifts

 We got Chris's mom and Grandmother Pandora bead for her bracelet :)

 Pulling herself up on some gifts to go see her uncle Greg.

 Uncle Greg got Evelyn a little electronic cat that she can chase around!

 Already playing with toys!

 Chris got an air compressor, which he was very excited about!

Christmas with Great-Grandma Koumoutsos!

After opening gifts at home and getting cleaned up, Chris, Evelyn, and I headed to Amelia to celebrate Christmas with my Dad's side of the family.  By this time Evelyn was a pro at pulling tissue and wrapping paper, so she was able to help open a few of her gifts.  She received clothes, toys, and a nativity set!  It was a great morning with Grandma and my aunts, uncle and cousins!

 Grandma's new coat and scarf :)

 Chris is running the Flying Pig marathon, so these books will help with the training!

Merry Christmas to Our Beautiful Little Angel!

Our little girl sleeping soundly waiting for Santa to come to our house!

The Field family woke up around 6:30 Christmas morning to see that Santa had been to our house; crumbs were the only thing left on our Santa plate, and the milk was almost gone.  Evelyn walked in with Chris with a big smile on her face.  It was like she knew that today was a special day.  You could just see her excitement when we started opening gifts with her.

Evelyn opened a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD and some Doc McStuffins books.

 Someone loved Daddy's new sweater!

 She absolutely LOVES Minnie Mouse!

 Santa Claus brought Evelyn a Bitty Baby from American Girl.  Now she can have play dates with Liliana, and they can play dolls :)

 

 Santa Claus brought Chris a Garmin GPS watch so he can train for his Flying Pig Marathon!

 Playing in all of the tissue and wrapping paper!  I would call the morning a success :)