The McRae Family: Six Christmas's and an ER visit...

I can't believe that Christmas is already here and gone. I still feel like Callie is just a newborn baby, but in 2.5 months-she's going to be turning 1!!! Where is this time going, and who can I talk to about slowing it down!?

Big girl

On Thursday, December 23rd, we celebrated Christmas-just the three of us :) It was perfect! Callie opened a ton of gifts and had so much fun playing with some of her new toys! I know I didn't need to go crazy being she's so little, but it's my daughter's FIRST Christmas...my first child...I couldn't even help myself :) Besides - we all know she's already spoiled, so what's the big deal!

Callie got her own Tent - she loves it :)

My little snowman tipped over freshly folded laundry! How can you get mad at that cute face!?!

We have baskets of books in our house-easy for her to grab :) She loves crawling over to them and pulling them out!

Look what Santa brought her :)

She's 9 1/2 months old, and she's excited about her new walking toy!

This picture is priceless!

On Friday, December 24th - Christmas Eve - We ventured up to my mom and dad's house to begin our Christmas festivities. The snow had fallen, the roads were iffy, but we made it in great time! Callie had begun a mild cold - her cough was still horrendous, and her nose was running like a leaky faucet. We took pictures with Santa (AKA - My Dad!). I love these pictures for a few reasons:

1. It's my dad, so this will forever be a special picture of Callie and Santa!

2. They both look SO BEAUTIFUL!

3. In the one picture, she's looking at him - like "Hey, I know you!"

4. In the other picture (where she's looking at the camera), she has her hands up like she's practicing her basketball skills!

My Dad's side of the family (Shellum Side) came over on Christmas Eve to my mom and dad's! It's a crazy, wild bunch - but it's fun! I don't have a lot of pictures from that night, because our dear Miss Callie got sick :( Her temperature rose, which I'm not 100% sure it wasn't caused by the amount of people in the room causing the room temperature to go up...or if it indeed was from her cold. Her cheeks got red, she started to feel sick, so Josh brought her in the room to change her - well, she threw up...all over him :( After a while, we decided to bring her in to Children's Hospital - ER in St. Paul. They were so good to her there...She ended up having an ear infection and a viral infection. After some medication and a lot of sleep, she started to feel better!

There are several "Shellum's" that were not in attendance, but it sure was a big group! Callie was sleeping in the other room, and because she was sick, we didn't want to wake her. So we held up the newspaper that she was on the cover on instead! Yup - that's right, she was on the cover of the Austin Post Bulletin!

Poor red cheeks :(

We woke up Christmas morning to a beautiful sight - Santa Came :) The pajama's I had sewn for us were ready to finally be worn on Christmas morning! Josh forgot his white t-shirt at home, so he made due with what he had (next year it looks like he will have to wear the top and bottoms!!!). Callie had a blast opening all of her presents! I'll post some pictures, but for more-look at my facebook album!

Look who is standing (I took the picture right before she fell, but she is standing on her own)!!

Her own ball bag - how fun :)

Merry Christmas 2010 :)

That afternoon we packed up all of our things and headed over to my Grandma & Grandpa's house (My mom's side) for Christmas Day. It was great having more family time! Unfortunately, not everyone could make it. Callie sure had fun playing with her cousins again though :)

Playing with Auntie Colleen!!

That evening (Christmas Day for those of you who are following), we headed over to Grandma Lynn's house (Josh's Mom). Callie pretty much took a bath and went to bed right away! We (Josh, Lynn and myself) enjoyed popcorn and watched a movie :) We woke up the next day (Dec. 26th), had a delicious breakfast and opened presents! Callie once again was spoiled by another one of her Grandma's! She LOVES this little "Alvin and the Chipmunks" doll that Lynn gave her. It sways from side to side and sings the "Alvin Christmas Song". He giggles and dances along with it...it's pretty comical.

This is her Alvin doll that she LOVES

A NEW BIKE :)

Matching winter hats :)

That day we were going to go sledding together, but with Callie being sick, we decided being outdoors was not a good idea, so we headed to the Mall of America to go to the Underwater World Adventure! It was the first time for Josh, Callie and myself :) It was pretty neat! Callie absolutely LOVED all of the sea creatures :) It was neat to watch Callie and Grandma interact together :) Then we shopped around the mall, ate dinner and headed home! Callie did cry the entire way from the mall to Maple Grove...that might have been the longest time both Josh and myself has heard her cry! As soon as she was out of the car seat, she was fine!

On Monday, December 27th, we headed over to Don & Sharon's house to celebrate Christmas (Josh's Dad). Auntie Kayla was there to celebrate, but poor Uncle Mike had to work :( We had a blast together - enjoyed a delicious meal (Callie ate hamburger for the first time and scarfed it down!), played the Wii, opened gifts and played! Callie got her very own computer (she really likes ours), so I think this picture is absolutely PERFECT of her and her daddy! That and the two of them with Wii remotes in their hands :)

Check out her new train :) She can sit and ride or it comes apart and she can push it ;)

Nappy time :)

This shirt from Auntie Kayla rocks :)

Overall, although we did a TON of traveling, we had an amazing Christmas and enjoyed spending good, quality time with our families :) We were sad that Callie was sick on her very first Christmas, but so happy that she has bounced back!

When we got home, we quickly realized that 1. we need a bigger car, and 2. we need do some serious rearranging in our living room to accommodate her toys! During nap time, I did just that :) This child has so many toys, but is in baby heaven when she is in her new corner :) I like to keep them in one general area. That way we can still have our living space, and she can have her own space of just toys!